All posts filed under: Parenting

My baby is no longer a baby

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This summer has brought amazing changes in Emma. Not only does she talk but she forms her own thoughts and voices her opinions. Not only does she love other children but she is pursuing socialising opportunities with a passion. Not only is she polite but she is also kind and compassionate and fun to be with. Not only does she love being read to but she loves “reading” to herself and to anyone she cares about(Giagia had the privilege to be read to the entire Oxford Reading Tree collection when we visited at the weekend). I an proud to be her mummy. Proud to hear people who haven’t seen her all summer commenting on how independent she has become. How considerate she is and how smart. I know that this summer’s challenges were worthwhile when I see what a well-behaved and sensible little girl she has become. It was worth putting my dreams of personal fulfilment on hold for Emma’s sake. I love this little woman and I never thought that three years ago when …

Traditional family roles

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Traditional family roles. Admirable idea in theory. A pain in the buttocks in reality. Before you pick up a stone, let me explain. I come from a family where both my mum and dad worked. My dad drank. My mum had to make decisions, not because she wanted it but because she had to. I was raised with a strong mother character to emulate. This might as well could have been imprinted in my DNA. Monkey does what monkey sees.  I need to make decisions and I need to work in order to feel good about myself. This is how I have been “programmed.” And then I married a man who had been raised with an exactly opposite role model. His dad still believes he has to have the last word in absolutely EVERYTHING. His mum never worked after she got married. She was never empowered into making decisions because this was “a man’s job.” Just like a woman’s job was to feed, entertain, educate, nurse and nurture children. Clean the house. Stay in her …

New discoveries

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I am always on the look out for good websites where I can find inspiration and ideas to be a better mum. Today I run into I Can Teach My Child and I was very pleasantly surprised to find a LOT of resources, printouts and parenting tips. The website is very neatly organised into themes and ages so you can find what you’re looking at a click of a button. I’m so impressed with it that I think I’m gonna make it a tradition to write about excellent parenting websites every time I find one! My challenge to you all(and to myself) will be to do one respective website-inspired activity with Emma or apply one tip to my daily life! Happy Sunday, everyone! P.S.-this is not a sponsored post, by the way!  

Parenting with less grace. Remedies

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I have been struggling with some of Emma’s behaviour lately. Or maybe not only lately but my reactions have become more dramatic and anything to be proud of. I shout and I smack. There, I said it. I do it in certain circumstances and I thought I might be brave and share them with you just in case other mothers struggle with the same things. 1. My number one trigger is TIREDNESS. Both mine and hers. When we’re both tired and short-fused and when I expect Emma to sleep and she plays up(quite expertly lately, I must add!) I lose it. And it’s not a pretty sight. Remedy: stick to a sleeping routine even if it’s painstakingly difficult to do it. Reinforce your words and actions(thank you, Supernanny!) until the child understands you mean business. Even if that means putting her back into her bed 100 times until she’s dead tired of playing the same boring game. AVOID sleepover with relatives less aware of routine/unwilling/unsupportive. 2. BOREDOM. Yeap, we’re all guilty of it as mothers. …