If I could start my parenting journey what would I do differently?
Interesting question.Honestly, I would rather not start again.I have covered a little ground and it has been great.Ups and downs, overall wonderful.But when I think hard about this I realize a few ground work, real and wishful, could definitely make the journey easier.
My 10 point Checklist
1)I would attend the practice breastfeeding session and breast pump practice session(are there those anywhere in Kolkata?).Who knew it would be so difficult? At least it was for me.
2)Make a list of all snacks I could make for Tiffin every day.It has to be different, tasty, nutritious nonmessy. look pretty, not get spoilt and a few more things which I have forgotten!This one is like overcoming a sudoku puzzle.
3)Make playsheets, worksheets, activity sheets according to age.I am making them now, but it’s a race against time. The best way to keep children happy (and mommy gets housework done), is to keep them interested.For that, a lot of research is needed.It’s no less than astrophysics!I wish I could have researched this when she was still inside.
4)No shouting at all in front of the baby. This I rarely do but, even when I do I wish I wouldn’t.
5)Plant more trees in our locality, town, city, country, world.Make the earth cleaner. The air cleaner and greener.
6)Find more moms I like, hoping the children will turn out like them.Then Rai could have good friends.Finding well behaved good playmates, that’s a challenge!
7)Grow ten hands and three heads.Mommy head,Doctor head ,daughter,wife,blogger,author,gardener, et cetera head.Can you do that?Grow heads and hands?I am still researching this one.Very important for coping.
8)Learn martial arts, fighting skills like Devsena(the Bahubali femme fatale).Then I can teach my daughter.I can’t find age appropriate Coaching Centre where I live.Now youtube videos are our best bet.
9)Read even more to her slowly.I tend to read at full speed.This I am trying even now.It has helped develop her vocabulary .language skills, good .story telling skills with little effort.
10)Stress less and Pray more.All will good.
What would you do differently if you could start your parenting journey again?
Writing this for #MondayMommyMoments.
Wow nice list Amrita, many things to learn. For me if I could start my parenting journey, then I will surely reply there all questions patiently, Kids don’t care what you are doing, they just want their answer. But honestly I do answer them half time, as mostly, when they ask, I already talking with someone, doing some work and want to complete that soon or I am tired 🙁 . I wish I give them all answers and give more time.
Nice article, it ask you to sit and think, don’t race every time.
Thanks Seema.
I also want to shout less in front of kids and smile more. But mostly the situation is beyond control. This is one area I am trying to find peace in.
I loved your list Amrita, planting more trees is definitely nirvana from stress. I love the mom-daughter picture such an adorable one.
hahah learning martial arts like Devsena!! I truly connect to this thought, in fact have told my husband abt me enrolling her for karate class at her school.
Lovely post 🙂
I liked the idea of 10 hands and 3 heads…haha…but with kids I still feel that will seem less some day 😉
The only thing that I would add up to the things that I could have done is to be more honest and straightforward about the requisites in life – the consequences of not learning how to do the house chores, of not telling the truth, of giving importance to life’s morals and values, etc.
You have some great tips listed! My children are in their 40’s and I can’t even remember if I would do anything different, except the last one! I constantly pray especially for my grandchildren and great grandchildren, that they will grow up in a happy and healthy world.
Some great points in your list. I agree we wish that we would have known many things before but it wouldn’t have been this much fun..right? Suspense in the store makes it all fun and motherhood is also like unwrapping the boxes full of surprises.
Such a enriching list it was. I too love for no shouting as my repeat parenting thing.
this is a real cool list of things you wish you’d do. But i think its still not very late for most things.
Love your tips. Last one is so true for me. Should stress less!
Some good tips! I resonated with #4 for the same reason (I rarely do, but I always regret it) and #6 – we moved out of a traditional neighborhood, and one indirect (positive) result of that was getting away from some children who were bad influences. However, now, we are too far out for the kids to have automatic play dates – it takes some time and effort to get them together with friends.
Thank you so much fro your feedback.Finding friends for kids take effort.
I would take the time to spend time each day doing something with my children as tomorrow isn’t promised and make sure they no, how much I love them. As well as teach them to take care of themselves as one day I will not be here to take care of them.
Thats very true.I do that too!
Great ideas – always top for me – spending more time with them. Can never get that time back.
Very true.Thats something I always do .Spend time.
I think you are better off making a clone- or building a drone!
Haa haha .Thanks a lot, will keep in mind.
This was a funny read. Don’t forget to play more! You won’t get these moments back, so enjoy them immensely and make great memories.
Thank you .I do play a lot !