Potato hedgehog

How to entertain a child while doing potatoes stew!

Like this ...

Required:

• potatoes,
• toothpicks.

At least I managed to drive them a little, so I could alone to cook.

You were tired and nervous, reacting in a way that hurt the feelings of your child. What should you do in such situation?

You’ve just come home from work, nervous and exhausted. Your child wants to do something, but you harshly say NO! The child tries to explain why he wants to do it, but you simply don’t want to listen. Has such a situation ever happened to you, when you’re torn between so many duties in the office and other responsibilities, that you start to yell at your child for a trivial thing when you finally get home? Frankly, it happened to me on several occasions.

People say that the things the child remember most from their childhood are your failures and certain mistakes. That is true. Therefore, try to control your behavior, act positively, and give good examples to your child. Don’t let them have a pocket full of bad memories.

Don’t try to justify yourself with lame excuses for not being able to listen to their stories. How many times have we heard from others they lead a pretty hard life, that they’re constantly struggling with the lack of money, or similar things. It can all be true, it can be something that troubles and prevents us from being perfect parents. But, your justifications won’t work with your children. Only other parents can really understand what you are going through. They would nod, cluck, and confirm everything you say, since all of you share the same problems. However, whose love and understanding you need more, of those other parents and people, or of your children?

Therefore, you should be aware how important is to apologize to your kid for any mistakes you make (we all make them). Saying “I’m sorry” can mean a lot in the situation when your child is sitting in the corner in his room alone and sad (and in my case, angry), where you have just sent him because he wanted to tell you something incredibly important (for him, at least ). If you skip to apologize and comfort yourself with the thought how your parents did the same thing when you were young, (“and now there’s nothing wrong with you”), you will endanger future relationship with your child. There is a possibility to repeat the same mistake more than once. Thus, when your child comes to you with a scratch on his knee, believing he has a good reason for your attention, don’t turn away your head, saying you fell million times as a child, asking him to stop acting like a baby. Or one night, when you get home exhausted, still having a lot of work to do, and he interrupts you with some very important and urgent issue, be patient. Don’t say something like “For goodness sake, leave me alone and get back into your room!”, although you would feel like it.

Similar situations may happen several times until your child stops communicating with you. No one will ever ask you anything or disturb you. You will have plenty of time to work or do whatever you like. However, this might not be good. You will shut that small door that leads to your child. That door isn’t small at all. In fact it’s the biggest door you’ll struggle not to close, for your lifetime

So the next time you fall into this “trap”, don’t forget about your little one to whom you are the whole world. Think how he might feel and don’t make any excuses saying that he will forget everything eventually. 

Children can forget words and events, but they will never forget how they felt in certain situations, especially if they were hurt by your actions. Thus, go back to your child, hug him and say magical “I’m sorry!” Then, explain him what was the cause of your reaction, and let him to tell you what he wanted. If the child is angry and refuses to communicate, tickle him, tell him something that will make him laugh, or find some other way to cheer him up. You should also be prepared to accept his criticism. My kids, for instance, never miss the opportunity to tell me how rude I was 

(My post on NDF Blog)

Road-trip with baby

Summer come! Lot of family are prepare for holiday. Bab's first holiday, for herself, doesn't have any significance, but I believe that pressure on parents is almost on maximum. How travel will pass, will baby feel nice in new environment...

How to make road-trip easier for mom and dad:

Car seat

Car seat is necessary! If you don't have it, you can borrow it from your friends, because road-trip in it, for kid and you, will be more simply. Before trip, check one more, is it adequate instal.

 More is better

For difference by regular recommendations for adults, for babies and toddlers recommendation is- More stuff is better! Especially, if this is first time out-home-for-few-days for you and your kid. Better is to return lot of unused things, then searching for something in strange town (you don't know where to find it!).

Timing

My experience- at night! Night can be problem because of dark and temperature changes in dawn, but kid will sleep all the way. We usually depart around midnight, and arrive about 7 AM. It is easier for me to walk by the sea, waiting for arranging room, than fighting with nervous kid in car. I believe this is easier for kids, too. One time we make mistake (last summer) and never more, unless this "small one" grown up.

Toys for trip

Unless you are supporter of night-trip, you go on short trip or simply you don't want to risk with waking in car (kids), put toys next to car seat. It should be soft toys, so they can't hurt kid if you  by suddenly stop the car.

Extra mirror

I planned to buy this (few times), but till now, i didn't. And I think it's a great idea, especially when only one adult go on road trip with kids. With this you'll less turn your head to supervise kids. Instal extra mirror next to "regular" one, and position it well. If your baby is very young, and is turn to back of the car, then you can put one more mirror. Baby will have fun, you will be calm.

First aid 

Small toiletry bag with things like dry and wet wipes, few Pampers (if you need it), some plastic bags, painkillers...I suppose that you have First aid kit in trunk.

Medications

 

About this, I'm pretty thoroughly. Where ever we go, only pharmacies are better equipped. Cream for insect bites, cream for allergies, antibiotic cream, antipyretic drugs (thermometer), painkillers, probiotics, herbal spray for throat, nose spray….

Food, drink

By parents choice and kids wishes, but water is the best solution. Drink must be in bottle, so please, don't choose  no-spill cups, because you can spill liquid when you  pour into it.

Psychic prepare

This is only road-trip, and it will last only couple of hours, and you and your kids will beautiful spend that time. Most of all, they will sleep, and you will have time for rest. If kids became nervous, you can make as many pauses as you want. No need to hurry!