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
elite cleaning services Mundelein ..A great many parents are concerned that the electronic games... Read More
Plus size children and overweight children need patterns and clothing... Read More
the woes of being a parent of an ADHD child.....Like... Read More
Best friends! It may seem impossible to believe, but today's... Read More
What should the goals for counseling be when the patient... Read More
Every year over one million parents have to talk to... Read More
Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green... Read More
It's no surprise that the self-image and self-esteem of overweight... Read More
Public-school teaching is structured in such a way that it... Read More
Graphology for Child development.:- Graphology is the science of understanding... Read More
So you want to be a mum? Every time you... Read More
Summer Survival The... Read More
Everyone loves penguins. And now, everyone has a chance to... Read More
My son recently had his third birthday party and it... Read More
"My son won't go to bed at night without a... Read More
I know as a single parent or even with 2... Read More
It's funny how people seem to think that they have... Read More
There is little doubt that reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic are... Read More
Child tantrums are a way for children to express their... Read More
What is Happening in the brain of children, teens, and... Read More
The brightly colored plastic mobile dangles lazily overhead in the... Read More
The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid... Read More
Some people can concentrate on an assignment, to the exclusion... Read More
You have just received a call from your child's teacher... Read More
Very often, new parents rely on a parenting tip or... Read More
Airbnb cleaning service Mundelein ..Get into their world. The world that teens are growing... Read More
Most of us really don't like it when someone is... Read More
The popularity of EEG Biofeedback Training continues to grow both... Read More
We're all familiar with the over-indulgent parent. But there's another... Read More
At the ADHD Information Library we are big believers that... Read More
IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best for your children,... Read More
Young people generally want to fit in to their various... Read More
Lead is one of the most dangerous toxins a person... Read More
Having worked with parents for the last 35 years and... Read More
Many children enjoy TV, and they can learn from it.... Read More
Home schooling. What is it? What does it mean to... Read More
To every thing there is a season, and a time... Read More
Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted... Read More
When my daughter was born, I must admit there was... Read More
Learning responsibility is an ever widening and lifelong process.As thinking,... Read More
There are only two ways to get more money:1) Increase... Read More
One of the implications of the current trend toward smaller... Read More
As parents, we strive to address all of the questions... Read More
A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is... Read More
"Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing... Read More
I still remember the scene vividly. I was getting out... Read More
Vinegar or honey, what do kids really want? "Toys, candy,... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
A friend phoned her neighbor, complaining about the wafts of... Read More
Thank you for all that you do in the classroom!... Read More
Parenting |