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Being a mother means experiencing more love and frustration than you've ever felt - sometimes at the same time. This means going ahead, even if you are not sure you will do what is right but you are still progressing as you continue to learn how you want it. This means constantly worrying about things you can not control but want, like a nation state and the kind of world in which your children are growing up until they believe everything will eventually be all right.
Mother of little children have special challenges because they raise small people whose personality is suddenly too big for the bodies they live in. Facing the pain of emotional and physical growth on a daily basis requires a special form of love. Here are a few things kids need to teach them as they go through this difficult time of life.
Your toddlers need ...
... to know they are enough
There's enough pressure in the world urging kids to learn more and grow up faster. Toddlers are already growing at a mile a minute. Sometimes they need their mother to slow things down and let them know it's OK to just be themselves. Let them move at their own pace for once, let them show you their favorite toy 50 times in a row, let them bask in your attention and feel confident that you aren't wishing you were doing something else.
... to see a good example of healthy living
If you want your toddler to eat his or her green beans, you'd better be willing to do the same. At this age, kids love to copy what other people do, so setting a good example of healthy eating and exercise will prompt them to follow suit.
"You don't have to be perfect all the time, but if kids see you trying to eat right and getting physically active, they'll take notice of your efforts. You'll send a message that good health is important to your family," says the American Heart Association. Try inviting your kids to help prepare healthy meals and make a point of being active half an hour every day.
... to hear loving words
Mothers serve more on a daily basis than perhaps any other line of work in the world. They clean, they cook, they work, they change diapers (hopefully not all at once) then they wake up the next morning and do it all over again. But in the midst of all this selfless giving, you might forget to tell your children what all these acts of service mean: that you love them, unconditionally. So in the midst of all your serving, make sure your toddler hears you express your love, as well.
... to be read to
There's no better way to bond with your child and be fully present him or her than by reading books together. Even toddlers can get caught up in the pages of a good book.
"Study after study shows that early reading with children helps them learn to speak, interact, bond with parents and read early themselves, and reading with kids who already know how to read helps them feel close to caretakers, understand the world around them and be empathetic citizens of the world," according to The Washington Post.
... to be told "no"
Telling a toddler "yes" is one of the easiest things in the world. Having the courage to say no, on the other hand, takes the bravery of a knight facing a sleeping dragon and intentionally poking it in the eye.
The thing is, kids grow up and if they've never been told no, they're in for a rude awakening. Getting used to making do with what they have or realizing there are limitations to their desires at an early age could help your child deal with rejection more easily as he or she grows up.
... to be allowed to make mistakes
Mothers struggle to let their toddlers make mistakes when it would be so much easier to do everything for them, protecting them from the big, bad world. And yet making mistakes is a crucial way that kids learn and grow.
For instance, when the time is right, your child might graduate from a stroller to a trike, giving them more freedom, though it also means mom has to sacrifice a little control. These small developmental steps are crucial for every child to experience, though, yes, there might be a few more bumps and bruises along the way.
Credit: FamilyShare
I love this!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. Saying no to a toddler can be very hard due. At the same time parents have to bear in mind that they could easily get spoilt when the toddler keeps hearing yes all the time.
ReplyDelete