Let's be honest! When it comes to parenting, men expect their wives or partners to do the lion's share.
There are signs that we're moving toward a more enlightened age in which ALL parents play their part.
But in the meantime, let's concentrate on some help for tired moms.
Apparently the number one question mothers ask their doctors is, "How can I get more energy?"
Fatigue is a serious problem when it robs us of our happiness, our sense of balance, and even our effective parenting skills.
So what's the answer?
Ironically, the best way to overcome the energy crisis is to first of all spend just a little bit more time and energy. But hang in there! It will pay great dividends in a short time.
The first area to tackle is managing the household. Too many mothers do too much work.
And that's not fair!
Divide up the chores so that everyone pulls their weight. Even young kids can be involved.
I know of one family who have a game of 'Lorries' (or 'Trucks') when the rooms need tidied. Mum is the boss. She lines the kids up and 'loads' them with toys, books, magazines, the ironing - whatever needs to be tidied - and the kids are then 'dispatched' to make their deliveries. Yes, a bit of training may be required - especially on how to carry and put away newly ironed clothes! - but with practice and perseverance kids can learn.
A chart can record contributions, with the promise of a reward at the end of the week. A trip to the cinema, the swimming pool or ice-skating, a special treat at dinner - it doesn't matter, so long as you honour the commitments made!
With the household chores now being managed effectively, the next step is to build in some QRT - Quality Recovery Time.
Insist on it. Demand it! Yell from the rooftops if necessary, but make sure you get your entitled share of time-out.
And it must suit YOU. What's good for one person won't necessarily suit another. To my wife, for example, the T in RT stands for Retail Therapy. Shopping malls are just not my scene, so to me it stands for Torture!
Individual time-out, then, means doing whatever is important to you. Many women like to have a 'general pampering' session, ranging from a bath with scented candles and soft music to working out at the gym.
So where does the time for these individual sessions come from?
This is when you call on partners, extended family or friends. Sharing the kids' supervision with trusted friends is a great idea. You take their kids with yours on an outing one time, and they take yours the next. This frees up time for individual relaxation, or gives you and your spouse or partner a chance to relax away from it all.
So - get organised. Run your household with a clearly defined routine.
Have family outings and/or activities where you all relax and enjoy each other as a family unit.
Call on family or friends to share the load, and enjoy some well-deserved time-out with your spouse or partner, AND build in some personal QRT when you do what suits you and ONLY you.
If your lifestyle follows this pattern, your energy levels will take care of themselves.
Happy parenting!
Why do some parents and children succeed, while others fail? Frank McGinty is an internationally published author and teacher. If you want to develop your parenting skills and encourage your kids to be all they can be, visit his web pages, http://www.frank-mcginty.com/peace-formula.html AND http://www.frank-mcginty.com/peace-formula.html
bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..To protect children's self-esteem or deflect complaints by parents, many... Read More
Much has been said about the "gifted child" but in... Read More
Oh yes you have! Suddenly, "Where's Bobby?" You instantly realize... Read More
A fun way to build your child's imaginationWriting is still... Read More
The cost of being a parent and raising a child... Read More
``Mom, can I go to the mall with my friend... Read More
After giving up my profession to become a wife, a... Read More
Here are fourteen spontaneous time-outs, specially designed to help you... Read More
Why Is Spending Time with Your Child So Important?For children... Read More
When I was pregnant, we knew that we had some... Read More
There is a front line and a back end to... Read More
Life is comprised of pieces of time sprinkled with pivotal... Read More
IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best for your children,... Read More
Can you draw a straight line? Most adults don't consider... Read More
Everyone loves penguins. And now, everyone has a chance to... Read More
How many times have you flipped through the pages of... Read More
1. STOP focusing on what you are going to make... Read More
How well do you really know your child?There is so... Read More
We adopted our first child when he was three months... Read More
Everyone needs friends, and, as parents, you and I both... Read More
"Family Matters" was the headline that caught my attention in... Read More
Many parents would like to homeschool their children but are... Read More
'I felt great until I walked into the classroom -... Read More
The back-to-school shopping is done. Brand new pencils, colored markers,... Read More
Children and teenagers are relentlessly bombarded with merchandise that entices.... Read More
insured cleaning company Wilmette ..A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is... Read More
A strange thing happened to me today. Or more precisely,... Read More
I love Google and Yahoo. With Google and Yahoo I... Read More
Very often, new parents rely on a parenting tip or... Read More
Peaceful Parenting? ideas are very different from other kinds of... Read More
Most parents at some stage are driven to distraction by... Read More
Do you live with an ADD / ADHD child? If... Read More
The older my daughter gets the more it's sinking in... Read More
Potty training fears, often called toilet terrors, are common among... Read More
Despite the theory that people have kids because they want... Read More
As part of the whole-language (or "balanced") reading-instruction philosophy, many... Read More
My thirteen-year-old daughter recently called me up to say she... Read More
Parents, do you have children who do poorly in school,... Read More
1. Make stronger connections among individuals and, therefore, creates a... Read More
Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children... Read More
I'll never forget my first lesson in a glider.I'd been... Read More
NY -- Strange as it may sound, bordom promotes happier,... Read More
Optimists do better academically, socially and enjoy better health than... Read More
When is a person brilliant? When does a person show... Read More
It's been said, time and again, that for a child... Read More
Many public schools not only fail to educate our children,... Read More
Here are ten simple pleasures you can enjoy with your... Read More
Q. With another school year starting, we are not sure... Read More
Jason Meridith's two-year old son whines when he wants more... Read More
What exactly makes safety glasses different from regular glasses? There... Read More
Parenting |