When you decide to have kids your entire life will change. You’ll now be in charge of taking care of a baby and making them a top priority.
Some days may be harder than others and there are times when you’ll feel tired and overwhelmed. You’re not alone and everyone feels defeated as a parent sometimes. What’s most important is that you continue to learn and do your best. Here you can review six pieces of advice that moms should live by so you can have a positive experience.
- Encourage Healthy Habits
You want to raise healthy and happy kids. Therefore, it’s important to encourage them to take good care of themselves and live a healthy lifestyle. Be a good role model and set a good example in your household so they follow your lead. Consider teaching them healthy eating habits and having them help you prepare meals and snacks. Get exercise together as a family and have a set bedtime schedule so that you all feel as well-rested as possible. Have them brush their teeth twice per day and take them to the doctor for regular checkups.
- Focus on Education & Learning
Another piece of advice that moms should live by is to focus on education and learning. Put importance on having your child grow, develop, and challenge themselves from a young age. Keep in mind that there are many benefits of childcare and early learning opportunities such as researching preschool programs to enroll them in. It will free up your days and get them out of the house and interacting with other kids. They will learn a lot in these programs and develop the necessary social and educational skills to have a more successful experience in kindergarten. It’s a healthy environment for them to be a part of that will foster independence and confidence in your child.
- Enjoy the Journey & Milestones
The days can get long and busy being a mom. However, time goes fast and it’s important to stop and enjoy the journey and milestones. Your child will grow up fast and you’ll want to be able to look back on all the happy memories you had together. Commit to slowing down and being more mindful so that you are present each day and can have fun engaging with your child. It’s important to make time to be silly and play with your kids and take pictures when they do something that’s part of their growth and development. Make it a point to savor and appreciate all the moments, both big and small.
- Seek Help & Support
Parenting is a lot of hard work and takes up much of your day and time. It’s not something that you have to go at all alone. In fact, it’s wise and courageous to seek help and support from others along the way. Sit down with your spouse or partner and talk about roles and responsibilities so that you’re each giving an equal effort to the household and taking care of your child. You may also want to reach out to friends or family in the area who can step in when you need something or a break. There are also online mom and parenting groups you can join and follow to gather information and advice to be more successful in your parenting role. If you continue to struggle and your stress is getting out of hand you can always seek out professional help from a therapist as well.
- Practice Self-Care
You want to make sure you feel your best daily as a busy mom. This will entail that you practice self-care and take good care of yourself. Put your needs first and live a healthy lifestyle so that you can boost your mood and energy levels. When you fill your glass up first you’ll be a better caretaker in the long run and can make sure you are there for others. You’ll find that you’re a more effective parent when you feel good mentally and physically. Find time for yourself and activities you enjoy doing. Remind yourself of your identity outside of motherhood and adjust your expectations to take some pressure off of yourself.
- Remain Calm & Patient
You don’t want to let your emotions get the best of you as a mom. It’s important to not say words or take actions that you’ll later regret. As a mom, you should commit to remaining as calm and patient as possible in all interactions. Your child is more likely to respond and listen to you when you come at them with a steady and loving demeanor. Stay focused on the positive and forgive yourself when you make mistakes. When you are patient you’ll discover that you are able to better communicate with your kids as well.
