Tag Archive for 'Children'

Happy Mother’s Day!

Published on May 12, 2013 in Pregnant. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Whether you are pregnant today and expecting your first baby or you are a veteran mom to other children, we are all touched by Mother’s Day. This is a good day to focus on all the best of motherhood because anyone who’s been a mom knows we have earned it! Motherhood is not for wimps, there is nothing simple about carrying and birthing a child and nothing simple about taking care of a newborn, a toddler, a big kid or a teenager. Motherhood changes us for life, hopefully for the better.

Motherhood teaches us to be more giving, more caring, more patient and a lot less selfish. Sometimes we can surprise ourselves with the love we have to give to another dependant human being. Oftentimes the things we used to strive for and hold in the highest regard, might come second to taking care of a child, or are put on hold. Motherhood shifts everything; it gives us a new perspective.

After I had my first child, I made the decision to shift my career focus. True my career was important to me but I also wanted to nurse my baby and pump milk for my baby when I was in the office or at home on a conference call. Due to this decision I didn’t go after certain opportunities that presented itself in my corporate career as I knew this nursing decision would not be well accepted or compatible with some of the areas where I wanted to advance my career. Maybe today, ten years later, this would be more possible, but still not easy.

I don’t hold myself up for the model of making the perfect choices, but this is just an example of the kind of tough choices mothers are faced with everyday. There is a lot of trade-offs and juggling that goes on to make it all work and to balance all the areas in our lives and our relationships. For this reason, our priorities take a major re-evaluation as our time and energies are needed with our baby, toddler or older child. Personally I was lucky to be able to shift my career to an online business that has been very fulfilling. But like every mom, it is a juggling act to hit the right balance every day. We all do our best and challenge ourselves to do better.

Although work will always be important to me and an important part of who I am, my kids are my lifeline. They are the ones I look at with pride as they learn and grow and mature and have their daily (or hourly) ups and downs. I am grateful to experience Motherhood and all it has taught me about love and living each day the best we can.

Written by Amy

Enjoy your kids: They don’t stay young for long

Published on December 4, 2010 in Children. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

The picture currently on the desktop of my computer is of my two older children.

My daughter, the oldest, is about 2 years old and is lying on a pillow next to her 4-month-old baby brother. Her light brown hair is wispy and her arms have that chubby toddler look to them.

My son is wearing a blue onesie, his tongue is sticking out, and he has that funny, unfocused wide-eyed look that only babies get (probably thanks to the camera hovering over his face). The picture is already five years old.

When my kids were very little, during what I called my baby years because it felt like I had one baby after another during the course of five years, people often commented on the same thing: Enjoy this phase, it’ll go by fast.

Caught up in diaper changing, waking up multiple times a night and not being able to leave home without a giant bag of supplies, I thought to myself, “Enjoy this? I’m exhausted – I can’t wait till the day they can all walk by themselves!”

Don’t get me wrong, I love my children and loved them when they were very little, too. However, I still recall the work of keeping an eye on a baby nonstop just in case he crawled too close to the steps or put some random piece of trash in his mouth. Or juggling a car seat and a toddler who liked to run away from me at the park (my daughter did this all the time!). Or the effort it took to get three kids in and out of the car when none of them knew how to buckle themselves.

Today, though, I’m feeling a little more sentimental and am beginning to understand what people mean when they remind me to enjoy this phase. Seeing a picture of my daughter at 2 years old is a reminder that we can never go back in time. I will never get to spend time with her at that point in her life again. That infant/toddler phase is almost over for our family now that my youngest is a few months shy of turning 4. I see our old pictures and think, wow, they were so little (and so cute). They’re not even very big now!

What will I be thinking in 10 years?

Twenty years?

Naturally, time will keep passing. I’ll keep trying to remember to enjoy watching my kids grow, but inevitably I’ll always look back and be amazed at how quickly they change.

Just this weekend, we took the kids on a bike ride, and I thought about how often my husband and I looked forward to being able to have outings like that.

Well, here we are at this point in time. Can we step back and appreciate it the way we ought to?

Jen Kayton is a freelance writer and mother of three children. She also works at Colorado State University. You can reach her at jenniferkayton1@hotmail.com.

Written by Amy

Eight Sleep Tips for Every Child

Published on November 2, 2010 in Advice and Children. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

This article by Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution

Up to 70% of children under age five have sleep problems. Sleep issues are complicated and have many causes. They’re hard to deal with because when children aren’t sleeping, parents aren’t sleeping, and that lack of sleep affects every minute of every day for every person in the family because lack of sleep isn’t just about being tired. Sleep has a role in everything — dawdling, temper tantrums, hyperactivity, growth, health, and even learning to tie his shoes and recite the ABCs. Sleep affects everything.

The following ideas are of value to almost any sleeper, of any age. These tips can bring improvement not only in your child’s sleep, but also in her daytime mood and last, but not least – improvements in your own sleep and outlook as well.

# 1 Maintain a consistent bedtime and awaking time.

Your child’s biological clock has a strong influence on her wakefulness and sleepiness. When you establish a set time for bedtime and wake up time you “set” your child’s clock so that it functions smoothly.

Aim for an early bedtime. Young children respond best with a bedtime between 6:30 and 7:30 P.M. Most children will sleep better and longer when they go to bed early.

# 2 Encourage regular daily naps.

Daily naps are important. An energetic child can find it difficult to go through the day without a rest break. A nap-less child will often wake up cheerful and become progressively fussier or hyper-alert as the day goes on. Also, the length and quality of naps affects night sleep – good naps equal better night sleep.

# 3 Set your child’s biological clock.

Take advantage of your child’s biology so that he’s actually tired when bedtime arrives. Darkness causes an increase in the release of the body’s sleep hormone — the biological “stop” button. You can align your child’s sleepiness with bedtime by dimming the lights during the hour before bedtime.

Exposing your child to morning light is pushing the “go” button in her brain — one that says, “Time to wake up and be active.” So keep your mornings bright!

# 4 Develop a consistent bedtime routine.

Routines create security. A consistent, peaceful bedtime routine allows your child to transition from the motion of the day to the tranquil state of sleep.

An organized routine helps you coordinate the specifics: bath, pajamas, tooth-brushing. It helps you to function on auto-pilot at the time when you are most tired and least creative.

# 5 Create a cozy sleep environment.

Where your child sleeps can be a key to quality sleep. Make certain the mattress is comfortable, the blankets are warm, the room temperature is right, pajamas are comfy, and the bedroom is welcoming.

# 6 Provide the right nutrition.

Foods can affect energy level and sleepiness. Carbohydrates can have a calming effect on the body, while foods high in protein or sugar generate alertness, particularly when eaten alone. A few ideas for pre-bed snacks are: whole wheat toast and cheese, bagel and peanut butter, oatmeal with bananas, or yogurt and low-sugar granola.

Vitamin deficiencies due to unhealthy food choices can affect a child’s sleep. Provide your child with a daily assortment of healthy foods.

# 7 Help your child to be healthy and fit.

Many children don’t get enough daily physical activity. Too much TV watching and a lack of activity prevents good sleep. Children who get ample daily exercise fall asleep more quickly, sleep better, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling refreshed.

Avoid activity in the hour before bedtime though, since exercise is stimulating – they’ll be jumping on the bed instead of sleeping in it!

# 8 Teach your child how to relax.

Many children get in bed but aren’t sure what to do when they get there! It can help to follow a soothing pre-bed routine that creates sleepiness. A good pre-bed ritual is story time. A child who is listening to a parent read a book or tell a tale will tend to lie still and listen. This quiet stillness allows him to become sleepy.

Work with these eight ideas and you’ll see improvements in your child’s sleep, and yours too.

Written by Amy