Before my son came into my life, I used to take a long whirlpool bath full of lightly scented bubbles while playing my favorite CD loud enough to drown out the sound of my own singing at least once a week That was the best stress buster I have ever found! After 4 years of being a Mommy, one night I decided I needed to do just that. Please God I prayed, at least one more time before my son turns eighteen and hopefully goes away to college!

My husband graciously agreed to take my son out to play in the snow for one hour. So I raced upstairs and turned on the bath water. My tub is a double size and it takes 50 gallons of water to fill it. After about 10 gallons, the steaming hot water turned ice cold. That never happened before! But I was determined, so I sat on the floor with my back propped up against the tub and waited for the hot water heater to give me more hot water. Every 10 minutes I tried again, and every ten minutes I got another few gallons of lukewarm water.

Forty  minutes or more had passed and a friend dropped by for a visit. Thank God it was good news, but my tub water story doesn’t seem to deter her from staying a little longer. It took all the graciousness I had in my entire being not to push her out the door. Finally she left and just as I was about to retreat upstairs, my husband came home with my son. My hour, or his, I’m not sure who’s, was up! I hurriedly told him my story and ran up stairs to the bathroom.

I turned on the music, lit the candles, poured in the lightly scented bubble bath, climbed in the tub of barely lukewarm water, laid down, turned on the whirlpool jets and started singing and who should appear? You guessed it, my son. I think, thank you God, because just the other day he decided he doesn’t like to take baths anymore!

First my son asked me, “What are you doing Mommy?“ so I explained. He was satisfied for the moment and started  singing and dancing to my music. Finally he got bored and left the bathroom. Ahhh… I thought, I really am going to enjoy my bath after all. When I emerge I will feel fully relaxed and completely stress free. I can’t wait!

Approximately five minutes later, just when I was starting to get a hint of what feeling relaxed and stress free was like, I hear, “I want to take the bath too Mommy!”  I opened my eyes to see my naked son standing beside the tub looking as if I said no, he would surely die. Pop! My bubble burst!

I lifted him into the tub and he scrunched down in the water and walked like a duck all around me in the tub yakking away a mile a minute. Then he proceeded to shake his naked, bubble soaked bottom right in my face! Every little inch of him and his innocence was just so… cute, he sparked that special rush of Mommy love within me and all my stress just floated away

Elaine K Stephen
Inspirational Gift Gallery
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Inspirational Christian Stories, Poems, Gifts Blog
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Do you go to parks, zoos, amusement parks, festivals, busy, crowded places on vacation? What would you do if your child got lost? What would your child do if she got lost?

 

Usually luggage and pets have better identification than children – why? Is it because we think kids can talk for themselves? Or maybe you think “my child will not get lost, I am a great parent and I am always watching them.” If your child is lost, do you think she will know the right information and be able to communicate it to others? There is no substitute for parent supervision, but are you going to let your pride keep you from preparing for this very real issue? A better idea is for your child to have the phone numbers and information written down in an identification bracelet, tag or card and be taught what to do if they become lost.

 

Children are infinitely more precious than luggage or pets and therefore need to have some sort of ID at all times, especially when on an outing or vacation. The best way for a lost child to be returned quickly is for them to have all the information needed to reach you, written down.

 

There are many different styles of child identification. You have to pick what will work best for your child and the situation. There are stickers to go inside shoes, shoe tags that go on the shoelaces, ID bracelets, ID tags that can be attached to the child’s cloths, ID cards that can be carried in a pocket and our newest product – a temporary tattoo.

 

The ID should contain all the information needed for the child to get in touch with you. At a minimum it should include: mom and dad’s cell numbers, grandparent’s number(s), and your hotel phone number. Give it some thought and see what you think your child would need if they were to become lost. Then, put that information in writing and put it on your child in some form.

 

Another help is for you to carry a wallet ID for each child. These IDs contain a photo, height, weight, birthmarks, thumb print. If your child becomes lost your can immediately give this card to others to speed the correct information being given to everyone helping you look for your child. Anyone caring for your child should have this wallet ID.

 

Caution: don’t put your child’s name on the outside of bracelets, bags or clothing. This would give a stranger the opportunity to speak to them by name, making some children feel like the person is not a stranger since they knew their name. All the information can be written inside the bracelet or tag so that it can be looked at only if needed.

 

Small children need to be taught what being lost means. One way to describe it is if they can’t see mommy or daddy. Then, they need to be told what to do if they are lost. One suggestion is to teach them to look for another mommy with kids to ask for help.

 

 

Cynthia Powell, Chicks & Cubs

Offering Child Safety Products for Families

http://www.chicksandcubs.com

http://www.chicksandcubs.com/child-identifcation-bracelet.htm

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By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of the No-Cry Sleep Solution and Gentle Baby Care

Question: Our first-born is showing extreme jealousy towards the new baby. He’s obviously mad at us for disrupting the predictable flow of his life with this new challenger for our attention. How can we smooth things out?

Think about it: Before the baby entered your family, your toddler was told he’d have a wonderful little brother to play with, and how much fun it would be. Then the little brother is born and your toddler is thinking, “Are you kidding me? This squirming, red-faced baby that takes up all your time and attention is supposed to be FUN?” He then “plays” with the baby in the only ways he knows how. He plays catch. You yell at him for throwing toys at the baby. He plays hide-and-seek. You yell at him to get the blanket off the baby. He gives the kid a hug, and you admonish him to be more careful. Is it any wonder that your toddler is confused?

Teach: Your first goal is to protect the baby. Your second, to teach your older child how to interact with his new sibling in proper ways. You can teach your toddler how to play with the baby in the same way you teach him anything else. Talk to him, demonstrate, guide and encourage. Until you feel confident that you’ve achieved your second goal, however, do not leave the children alone together. Yes, I know. It isn’t convenient. But it is necessary, maybe even critical.

Hover: Whenever the children are together, “hover” close by. If you see your child about to get rough, pick up the baby and distract the older sibling with a song, a toy, an activity or a snack. This action protects the baby while helping you avoid a constant string of “Nos,” which may actually encourage the aggressive behavior.

Teach soft touches: Teach the older sibling how to give the baby a back rub. Tell how this kind of touching calms the baby, and praise the older child for a job well done. This lesson teaches the child how to be physical with the baby in a positive way.

Act quickly: Every time you see your child hit, or act roughly with the baby, act quickly. You might firmly announce, “No hitting, time out.” Place the child in a time-out chair with the statement, “You can get up when you can use your hands in the right way.” Allow him to get right up if he wants – as long as he is careful and gentle with the baby. This isn’t punishment, after all. It’s just helping him learn that rough actions aren’t going to be permitted.

Demonstrate: Children learn what they live. Your older child will be watching as you handle the baby and learning from your actions. You are your child’s most important teacher. You are demonstrating in everything you do, and your child will learn most from watching you.

Praise: Whenever you see the older child touching the baby gently, make a positive comment. Make a big fuss about the important “older brother.” Hug and kiss your older child and tell him how proud you are.

Watch your words: Don’t blame everything on the baby. “We can’t go to the park; the baby’s sleeping.” “Be quiet, you’ll wake the baby.” “After I change the baby I’ll help you.” At this point, your child would just as soon sell the baby! Instead, use alternate reasons. “My hands are busy now.” “We’ll go after lunch.” “I’ll help you in three minutes.”

Be supportive: Acknowledge your child’s unspoken feelings, such as “Things sure have changed with the new baby here. It’s going to take us all some time to get used to this.” Keep your comments mild and general. Don’t say, “I bet you hate the new baby.” Instead, say, “It must be hard to have Mommy spending so much time with the baby.” or “I bet you wish we could go to the park now, and not have to wait for the baby to wake up.” When your child knows that you understand her feelings, she’ll have less need to act up to get your attention.

Give extra love: Increase your little demonstrations of love for your child. Say extra I love yous, increase your daily dose of hugs, and find time to read a book or play a game. Temporary regressions or behavior problems are normal, and can be eased with an extra dose of time and attention.

Get ‘em involved: Teach the older sibling how to be helpful with the baby or how to entertain the baby. Let the older sibling open the baby gifts and use the camera to take pictures of the baby. Teach him how to put the baby’s socks on. Let him sprinkle the powder. Praise and encourage whenever possible.

Making each feel special: Avoid comparing siblings, even about seemingly innocent topics such as birth weight, when each first crawled or walked, or who had more hair! Children can interpret these comments as criticisms.

Take a deep breath and be calm. This is a time of adjustment for everyone in the family. Reduce outside activities, relax your housekeeping standards, and focus on your current priority, adjusting to your new family size.

Excerpted with permission by NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group Inc. from Perfect Parenting, The Dictionary of 1,000 Parenting Tips by Elizabeth Pantley, copyright 1999

http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth

By: Susanne Myers

There isn’t a simple answer for this question. The truth is each child decides on his or her own when it is time to start peeing in the potty. There is however a general age range and somewhere during that time your child will be ready for potty training. We’ll talk about what the age range is and how you will be able to tell that your child is ready.

Most children will potty train when they are between 2 and 4. Girls tend to be ready a little sooner than boys. If there are older siblings in the house, your younger child will also get interested in using the potty sooner than a single child. I have seen children as young as 18 months, who could barely walk wanting to use the potty like their older sibling. These children were ready for potty training and were out of diapers in no time.

Your child will give you quite a few signals to let you know he or she is ready to give the potty a try. Pay attention to your child’s behavior and you will know if it is time to start the training.

A child that is ready for the potty will start showing interest in what mom, dad and older siblings are doing in the bathroom. Take some of the mystery out of the potty for your toddler, by allowing him to accompany you to the bathroom, or leave the door cracked. Curiosity will get the better of him and sooner or later he will take a peak. When he does, explain what you are doing in a simple, straightforward way.

Does your child start pulling on his clothing or ask to have a diaper change? Is he getting increasingly more uncomfortable running around in a wet or soiled diaper? This is another sure tell sign that it is time to start potty training.

If you think your child may be ready, give potty training a try. If you read your child’s signals wrong, he will let you know and you can just give it a little more time before trying again.

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About The Author: For more information about potty training, potty training tips and a free ecourse to help you potty train your child visit www.mypottytraining.com

By: Jenni Hunt

Are you worried about your child’s current eating habits? Instead of worrying about it, plan a routine for feeding your little one. If you are unsure about how to plan your child’s diet regime, follow the tips below:

· Well-timed snacks can help in balancing out an uneven diet and will surely help your baby be happier and healthier!
· If your children are being difficult when you are trying to feed them, then the best option is to engage them in conversation during this time, preferably by sitting together and eating as a family.
· Cook more than one dish, so that your child has a few options to choose from. Also try to make the dishes look tempting.
· Don’t force your child to eat a large portion of a food item. Allow them to eat a small portion if that is what they want.

Children can be finicky eaters sometimes. They like something one day and a few days later they simply detest it. Also, sometimes they don’t like to eat too much at one time and prefer to eat at regular, but frequent, intervals. For this reason, snacks form a very important part in a child’s diet.

It is very essential that you take charge of your child’s diet now, otherwise it will be too difficult to monitor their eating habits when they are older. Since they are still dependent on you and can’t run to the nearest store to get food for themselves, they rely solely on what you serve. So, now is the best time to take advantage of this fact. Choose the most nutritious food you can. Give them foods with higher content of proteins, nutrients, minerals etc.

It is a known fact that with a proper routine, children eventually develop good eating habits. If you start serving your kids healthy snacks at regular intervals from an early age, they will get accustomed to it and prefer these healthier foods to junk food.

Now let us see why small children need snacks?

Young children have small appetites and they need adequate nutrients for healthy growth and development. So nutrient rich snacks through the day, will provide all the necessary nutrients their bodies need, ensuring proper development.

Many children decline certain foods at certain times. By offering small snacks frequently will make your child happy and at the same time, fulfill their dietary requirements. With healthy snacks, your child can be prevented from over eating as well as under eating, helping to maintain a good balance.

Healthful snacks are imperative in providing essential nutrients and energy. Avoid giving heavy snacks too close to mealtimes. Giving nutritious snacks will ensure maximum energy in the young kids. To give them appeal, make the snacks as interesting as possible. Some popular, yet healthy, snack ideas would be fresh fruits, cheese, peanut butter, raisin bread, fruit loaf, muffins, biscuits, vegetable sticks, etc. Treat your baby with something new each day. They will simply love it!

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About The Author: Looking for new snack ideas? www.snacksfortoddlers.com offers healthy snack ideas for busy children to help get them through their day.

By: Kids Activity Calendar

Start your children off early with their love of reading. Read to them whenever you get a chance so they can learn about books and how special they are. Once they begin to read, they will return the favor by reading to you. Here are my picks for the five best ever children’s books for toddlers.

1. Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell- When Emily Elizabeth gets her very own puppy, neither she nor her family have any idea of how he will change their lives. She names him Clifford. Clifford is a special dog as Emily Elizabeth soon finds out. Clifford grows up and up and up until he’s too big for their apartment. That’s when Emily and her family move to Birdwell Island so Clifford can have some room to play. Through Clifford’s adventures, children learn the values of sharing, apologizing, making friends, and helping out.

2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle- All of Eric Carle’s stories feature loveable creatures from nature in bold colors and shapes. As soon as you see a cover, you know that it is one of his books. The first one that I ever read was about the caterpillar. It seemed that caterpillar was never satisfied and always hungry. Why was he so hungry? Then one day, he disappeared inside something called a cocoon. What happened to caterpillar next will surprise and amaze your toddler. Carle’s books teach practical lessons about nature and how animals function in it. Children will learn about the animals and their native habitats.

3. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein- This book is one that your toddler will ask you to read over and over again. The Giving Tree is a touching book about life and love as told through a young child’s relationship with a tree. Sometimes, though we forget what our parents and friends have done for us. It hurts them when we turn out backs on them, but they always welcome us back with open arms. Parents will like this story because it mirrors a parent’s bittersweet love and sacrifice for a child.

4. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne- Who hasn’t heard of Winnie the Pooh? Pooh belongs to Christopher Robin, a young boy who joins him on many adventures. Winnie the Pooh lives in the Hundred Acre Wood in a tree house surrounded by his friendly neighbors. Your toddler will meet Tigger, the orange and black tiger that bounces around on his tail. They’ll also meet Kanga and Roo, the mother and son duo who live near Pooh. There is Rabbit who tries to keep order in the community and seems to be the only responsible party besides Kanga. Pooh’s favorite fearful friend is Piglet, who runs to Pooh when he’s in trouble. I don’t exactly know what Eeyore is, but the pinned up tail suggests that he is a blue donkey of sorts. He may seem sad, but he comes through for his friends when they need him most. Owl is the wisest of the group, always giving advice to the others on practical matters.

5. Corduroy by Don Freeman- Children love animals especially cute, cuddly teddy bears. Corduroy is a stuffed bear that sits on a shelf in the department store day in and day out waiting for someone to buy him. When a young girl’s mother points out that he has lost a button, Corduroy goes in search of it. As he explores his surroundings, he notices all of the wonderful things that are kept in the store. Does Corduroy ever find his button? Read the book and find out. Corduroy will become one of your toddler’s favorite stories.

When they are not old enough to read, you must do the honors. Any of these books will offer adventurous and heartwarming stories your child will love. If you don’t own any of them, get a copy today.

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Are you ready to challenge your preschooler’s mind even more? Take a look at www.kidsactivitycalendar.com for Alphabet Fun for your preschooler. The alphabet audios, coloring sheets and other activities are a great way to prepare your little one for kindergarten. To get your free sample lesson, stop by www.kidsactivitycalendar.com/letter-a-sample.htm today.

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory

About The Author: Are you ready to challenge your preschooler’s mind even more? Take a look at www.kidsactivitycalendar.com for Alphabet Fun for your preschooler. The alphabet audios, coloring sheets and other activities are a great way to prepare your little one for kindergarten. To get your free sample lesson, stop by www.kidsactivitycalendar.com/letter-a-sample.htm today.