7 Tips for Parents

I like change. You can ask anyone. I LOVE change! So this can be a great thing, and it can be my biggest downfall! When I was single, change was FUN change was inevitable! But NOBODY prepared me for the Life changing experience kids would offer. So along the years I've picked up some GREAT tips to become a better mom, avoid losing my sanity, and to create peace and unity into my home. Lets get started...


1. TAKE TIME FOR YOU
We as Mothers are extremely busy. We are constantly multi-tasking, juggling kids, animals, and the home. When you become a Mother, you begin to give 110% of yourself to your kids, your spouse, to everyone around you. We all have a Love Jar in our heads. We cannot forget that we are the only ones who are able to put into that jar, and to take out. If your Jar is 50% full...you'll only be able to GIVE 50%! If your jar is only 10% full, you guessed it, you'll only be able to give 10%. Your kids, your spouse, your animals, your life NEED more then 50% to live off of before you go crazy. This is why it's SO incredibly important to take time for YOU! Filling your jar is not only done by taking some relax moments for yourself, but it includes taking care of yourself. Getting ready in the morning, exercising, eating right, and spending quality time doing things that make YOU happy. In doing this, you will fill your jar, which then allows you to give 100%. It's just that simple.

2. CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY

When we make the conscious decision to CHOOSE HAPPINESS, our circumstances change. They become better! The hard, rough, sad depressing times of our lives, begin to disappear. Not because they literally disappear, but you're choosing to focus on the GOOD in life.
"If you try to find the Bad in things, you'll find it" The same goes for the good. Choosing to free yourself of all those bad feelings, those insecurities and realize we only live once! Why hide behind those insecurities when we could let our our 'SHINE' for the world to see? Release all those feelings, write them all out and burn the book, throw rocks that represent your struggles into a stream, I don't know! Do what you have to do, to CHOOSE HAPPINESS. In doing this, you will become a BETTER YOU, and a BETTER MOM, and a BETTER SPOUSE! Elsa from Frozen has engrained her song into every parents head by now. Why not take her advice, and LET IT GO.


3. TAKE IN THE MOMENTS
These moments don't last long. In fact, they pass us by so quickly we sometimes miss them. Taking in every moment is crucial. Her first steps, his first bike ride alone, their graduation, her wedding. When you aren't there for those moments. When you are absent, whether it is from work, hobbies, friends, and other priorities...now is the time to put yourself in check! Your kids NEED you. You are fully responsible for them, and their upbringing. So make an impression. Make their childhood a good one. Make it COUNT! Be there for them. Because when it really counts, they will TRUST you to be there for them. Think about it. Would you like your kids to trust YOU, or someone else? Be there for them, from the beginning, and if you're realizing this in the middle or towards the end of a lifetime, IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START!!! Family is and should be the #1 Priority. I understand some of us don't have that ideal "family". Guess what? I bet you can look into your life and find at least 1 other person who has cared for you, or has treated you with respect, and kindness. They are considered "family"! As for us parents, our own family is what this article is centered on. You as parents are responsible for being your kids trust system. To becoming the best parents for your kids! Take in the moments. UNPLUG (Get off your devices) and take in the moments! You'll experience so many more memories then you ever thought possible when you're there physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Try it!



 Because they don't last long.....



4.  LAUGHTER REALLY IS THE BEST MEDICINE
 
Whether it is with your Spouse, or your children remember to laugh, even if it's at yourself. We are all human and make mistakes. With our children it's really easy to get into discipline and rules to have an orderly home, but sometimes it's good to just laugh and live in a mess for a little while. Look back on your childhood. I remember the times we had pancake batter all over the kitchen, or the huge tents we'd create in the living room. The times my mom held me and said everything was going to be okay, or the time my Dad would laugh at a TV show and we would all laugh because his was so contagious. I remember the Happy moments that lead to laughter.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: When becoming a parent, you and your spouse will most likely grow closer together or further apart. (Sometimes parenting can bring out the worst in us) The KEY to a Happy Marriage is to LAUGH it off! Sometimes we make mistakes; sometimes we don't understand what the other person is going through. But I can tell you, the moment someone starts to laugh, is the moment those unhappy feelings, memories or circumstances in your life...fade. It's beautiful to see it happen in my own marriage. My husband and I have been married for almost 6 years now, and some would consider that "Newly Married" still, but for us it feels like a life-time. Of course everyone has their ups and downs, but boy I'm eternally grateful for my Husband who taught me this very important lesson. He taught me to laugh. He taught me to BE HAPPY. He taught me to be a better me. I love him for that. So remember, LAUGHTER is the BEST medicine! --And Fighting Naked-- ;) 


5. TEACH BUDGETING, HOUSEWORK, AND LIFE SKILLS NEEDED FOR THE FUTURE
 
Teaching your kids the necessary skills for their future is essential coming from you. Teach them how to budget, encourage savings, encourage getting a job and making their own work, encourage HARD WORK. In doing this, you're creating a Hard working outstanding citizen. Some are brought up and are given everything they want. No hard work required. Enabling such children will unfortunately make them learn this lesson the HARD way in the future when they are adults. Teach them now while they are young, so they can start strong!
Teaching them Housework, and social skills, and life skills are so important for the 'real world'. You must allow them to make choices, and decisions, but to also allow them to endure the consequences, and reality of life. This will make them into stronger people! Now I'm not saying to be extremely hard on your children (You're smart, you know what a Happy Medium is) I simply want you to create responsible, hard working, self-sufficient human beings who we can trust coming into this next generation. It all starts with your lessons, and hard work, and examples.



6. DISCUSS PORNOGRAPHY WITH YOUR CHILDREN
  This topic is very difficult to discuss out loud. It's awkward, and uncomfortable...but NECESSARY! Especially going into our new Generation of technology we need this talk more then ever now. Instead of telling your children if you look at pornography you're a horrible person, teach them how to avoid it, teach them of the better things out there other then that, love them unconditionally, accept them for who they are, FORGIVE them, understand them, and most of all know that it is VERY likely that your poor little angels will be exposed to this horrible thing. But teaching them the importance of strength of turning away, or avoiding it knowing you will give them the answers they seek, they will be stronger when they are alone. For that, is when the temptation hits them the hardest...when all ALONE. You can't be there to protect them every step of the way, but you can prepare them so when they stand alone, they know what to do, and can be strong enough to do so. For some the #1 Reason why little kids or teenagers expose themselves to pornography is because of CURIOSITY! Knowing this is a very uncomfortable discussion to have with your children, wouldn't you rather feel the uncomfortable feeling rather find out years later they are addicted to pornography not able to function without it? I know I would! Prepare your children for the new generation! It is Crucial.

7. DON'T LIE TO YOUR KIDS, BE TRUSTWORTHY

 If you're going to be the one they come to when they need someone, don't lie to them. Keep their secrets, don't mock them in front of others, be on THEIR side. You never want to be on the opposite side fighting against them. You'll never win. In fact, you might lose them. Even as a small child, you should never lie to them. (Ex: "If you don't stop hitting your brother, you're going to Time-out" *Hits brother another time. TAKE HIM TO TIME-OUT. If you say it, commit to it. Let them know you mean every word!) 


Images came from Google