Best Parenting Ideas

I recently blogged about the benefits of parenting in community.  So, I thought I’d share some of the great ideas that my friends have come up with.  I think it’s fun to hear what ideas have worked well for others. I hope you find something helpful for your current parenting stage and needs! Of course I’ll have to add a few of my own ideas too.

Melani—“One thing that I remember doing was taking my daughter out frequently for an hour or two.  We often went to the mall to walk around — it kept both of us from getting bored, but the outings were short enough that they didn’t take a lot of preparation.”

Selena—“I loved getting my exercise before the kids woke up and before my husband left for work. I had a gym membership and I loved the feeling I was doing something to get my body back, not to mention that it gave me more energy.  Also, taking naps when they took naps gave me renewed energy.

Find a playgroup!  Get connected with other moms and give kids chance to have friends; it helps with combating depression and isolation.”

Veronica—“When my kids reached toddler age, we put them to bed at a certain time, i.e. 7:30pm, but I didn’t require that they go to sleep.  As long as they were in their beds, they could listen to stories on tape or look at books or play quietly in their beds, with a small lamp or lights dimmed in their room.  It gave me some time to myself, and they fell asleep when they were ready.  I’d check on them later and turn off the lights.

Now I have to tell my two older kids to turn out their lights and go to sleep because they can stay up really late!  Most of the time, my youngest still falls asleep when she’s ready.

Donna—“After my second was born, I always took a shower in the morning—even if it had to be a quickie because one of the kids was fussy.  I learned that the benefit to my attitude was worth letting a baby cry for 5 minutes while I did my splash and dash routine.  When I stayed in my pj’s until the baby napped, as I did with the first, I often felt less than my best.  But I must add that I’ve never been a pajama lounger.  So just be yourself!

I’ll add onto this list of “best ideas” throughout the coming months. If you have a “best idea” you’d like to share, email me at donna.detweiler@comcast.net.

-posted by Donna Detweiler, who loves to collaborate on just about anything in life—the more the merrier, as they say.