Sitterphobe "I never have a second to myself," this mother tells you (and tells you and tells you). You agree, judging by her slightly frazzled demeanor, that she could use a break. Maybe a trip to the gym. A date with her husband. Time to herself. So you recommend the great babysitter you've found. She responds with one of those "but-I-love-my-children" looks. And says something like: "Nobody can care for a child as well as her own mother."
Reality check: "A lot of mothers suffer incredible guilt about needing help to care for their children," Dr. Berger says. "And if Mom works full-time, the guilt is compounded. Every spare second, she figures, needs to be lavished on her kids." Trouble is, an overwhelmed mom isn't going to be on top of her game. Every parent (and every marriage) can benefit from the occasional kid-free outing. "It recharges your batteries and allows you to breathe in a different kind of atmosphere," Dr. Berger says. "When you take care of yourself, you take better care of your kids." And if you don't work outside the home, hiring the occasional sitter teaches your children that people other than you can provide them with care and safety. Besides, there's another bonus to getting away every now and then: When you return home, not only will you appreciate your kids even more, they'll appreciate you more too.
Cold Cop A one-woman germ patrol, this mom is always on the lookout for telltale signs of germs that can cause colds. When you're around her, you're forever fearing that your child may -- horrors! -- sniffle or cough, resulting in one of Mrs. Germophobe's nervous "you're-putting-my-children-at-risk" looks.
Reality check: The fact is that kids get an average of six colds a year, says Eric Neibart, M.D., an instructor of infectious disease and internal medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. Thus, at any given time, a good 10 to 15 percent of your child's peers are contagious. And the culprits are impossible to detect, since colds are contagious a few days before symptoms appear and from two to ten days after. "Even a doctor can't tell you exactly when a cold is no longer transmittable," Dr. Neibart says. So unless you care to raise your child in a bubble, he's going to catch colds -- lots of colds. And that's okay. For the most part, colds are more of a nuisance for kids than a serious health problem. As for proper cold etiquette? Keep your child home until any fever or lethargy has subsided. Then, once he's feeling better, let him go about life as usual.
Mommy Einstein She plays Mozart CDs for her infant, uses flash cards on her toddler, and spends her week chauffeuring her children to and from karate, art, soccer, piano, ballet, and more. After an hour with one of her French-speaking, tennis-acing prodigies, you ditch your secret hope of an Ivy League education for your preschooler (whose extracurricular activities include playing "Princess Barbie Gets Married" and painting her shoes with nail polish).
Reality check: "There's simply no evidence that overexposing young children to flash cards, Mozart, or early-reading programs leads to higher intelligence or even better SAT scores," says child and adolescent psychiatrist Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D., coauthor of The Over-Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper- Parenting Trap. Yet our culture pressures concerned parents to begin early if they want their child to be academically competitive. "That attitude is doing much more harm than good," Dr. Rosenfeld says.
Sugar Shunner This mom enforces a strict no-sweets policy. No cookies, candy, or ice cream. Her idea of a "treat" is a granola-and-yogurt "sundae."
Reality check: Loading up on nutritionally void sugar calories isn't wise, but forbidding sugar entirely isn't the answer either, says Lynn Marotz, Ph.D., R.N., a professor of human development at the University of Kansas and coauthor of Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child. Completely restricting sugary foods can backfire big time: Instead of having a child who occasionally indulges his sweet tooth, you may create a kid obsessed with cookies, candy, and cake.
About The Author: Shelley Borle is a Virtual Assistant, Writer & Expert On Boys. Visit Her Country Variety Lifestyle Magazine http://www.countryvariety.com/cvl.htm as well as her CountryVariety.com Professional Virtual Services site http://www.countryvariety.com/cvl.htm. Email http://www.countryvariety.com/cvl.htm
green cleaning service Park Ridge ..Fizzy sherbet in a paper bag with a strawberry lollipop... Read More
Bearers of life, wipers of noses, givers of unconditional love... Read More
As a hypnotherapist, I am acutely aware of the power... Read More
When our oldest son was 2, my wife went out... Read More
Are your children truthful, kind, and helpful? If so, read... Read More
Are you looking for the Ultimate Airplane Themed Party Games... Read More
I recall somewhere in the recesses of my aging brain... Read More
You do what you can to keep your little ones... Read More
After giving up my profession to become a wife, a... Read More
One of the challenges for parents with a gifted child... Read More
Home schooling benefits children. As a parent, I feel it... Read More
Oh Please, Don't Say Maybe!!!!Are you often a participant in... Read More
There are so many learning labels floating around these days... Read More
Teens don't learn responsibility overnight. If you haven't been working... Read More
Before my daughter was born my house was... Read More
Q. "What do you want to be when you grow... Read More
There are some grounds to assume that a cognitive dissonance... Read More
It's among the top criticism wives have of their husbands:... Read More
(Excerpted from Jim Rohn's 2004 Weekend Leadership Event)You have to... Read More
What makes parenting so challenging at times? One widespread research... Read More
The last decade has seen heightened interest in and awareness... Read More
Q. I don't like my children spending so much time... Read More
Anorexia nervosa is a serious medical disorder that is statistically... Read More
Hints from Ruowen Wang? Keep a small basket filled with... Read More
Many families do not want to believe their child is... Read More
emergency cleaning services Morton Grove ..Most people have more training before they receive their driver's... Read More
Discipline is a necessary part of parenting yet it makes... Read More
When your child shows signs of potty training readiness, it's... Read More
At age seven months in the womb, humans begin language... Read More
Be sure to respect the intellectual changes that mark adolescence.... Read More
Can you draw a straight line? Most adults don't consider... Read More
Dexedrine is not prescribed very often for the treatment of... Read More
I WAS AMAZEDI could hardly believe what I was hearing.... Read More
Single parents are not often thought of as good parents.I... Read More
There may really be a real monster under your kid???s... Read More
Until the moment I became a mother, I couldn't quite... Read More
So you're going to become a father. Now is not... Read More
A parent writes in, ``We are having a hard time... Read More
There are moments in a parent's or grandparent's life, when... Read More
Once your little boy/girl goes off to school, you may... Read More
From the time the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock in... Read More
Q. My daughter has gotten very good at manipulating us,... Read More
If your parenting methods include abuse of any kind; physical,... Read More
One of the basic issues we need to understand is... Read More
There are many reasons for treating your twins as individuals... Read More
The last decade has seen heightened interest in and awareness... Read More
For parents, keeping our kids safe is a constant top... Read More
Did you know that over 75% of teens aged 16-17... Read More
If you really want to get your children to eat... Read More
You are at the grocery store with your daughter and... Read More
Parenting |