Being a parent is a very challenging role which gives you the best and (the worst) of both worlds. When your kids are growing, you grow as a parent too. I learn something new every day – failing and falling are just a part of the parenthood journey.
We read a lot of quotes about how beautiful the journey of parenthood is. Indeed, it’s beautiful but like all other things in life, rewards come only after hard work. We give birth to the kids after so much struggle. Whether you are a parent or a child, there are always myriad of responsibilities, lessons and learnings that we should be ready to perform and absorb each day.
When kids are infants, they are completely dependent on parents. Once this phase is over, then come stages of terrible two-s and troublesome three-s. So much fun and so much pain – First day of playschool, first tricycle, that first fall on the playground, those vaccinations, that high fever – all new experiences – for both kids and parents. When I now think about the whirlwind ride, they were not just moments but each one taught the kids and I something new, something that we will carry with us for life.
Some of us must be homemakers and some must be working moms. I am a working mom myself and believe in spending quality time with kids. Doing things together is something we all enjoy. Be it arts n crafts, or playing outdoors or even study.
Let me share with you a couple of examples where we managed to cope with the situations together and achieved our small goals successfully.
Vaccination Panic
Kids fear big time when they see that tiny needle in the doctor’s hands. 2-3 years back, my daughter caused a big scene while taking a flu jab and it was so embarrassing for the parents and staff at the clinic. By the way, when it happened she was around 8 years old so she was not very young.
Even if she had taken a few flu jabs and other vaccines before and that too without much fuss, no idea where this fright came from? Kids have ever-changing emotions and as a mom I should have reiterated the benefits of the vaccination and should have re-elaborated the process of taking it to her one more time.
Lesson learnt – by her and by me!
- She had to still take the flu jab even after trying to run away and crying and all. After the jab was done, the girl realized that all this fire was without any smoke. It was quickly and professionally done by the Paed and was even less painful than an ant bite.
- For me, I got to see the other side of my child who is always ready to try new adventures and is generally willing to experiment. She had developed fear of injections suddenly and I assumed that she is a brave girl and since she has taken vaccines before, it would be a breeze for her. My mistake! When it comes to kids, no assumptions please. Parents must make kids ready for any new experience by describing it, by giving them step-by-step info and what to expect pointers.
Thankfully, for my younger one, I followed all these steps, in fact, I demonstrated to them that vaccines are not painful by taking a flu jab myself before they took it. They clearly knew what’s going to happen and were 100% ready! In fact, they were laughing about how last time, the Sister made a scene and how it was unnecessary.
Somewhere in their minds, these experiences have made them stronger for sure. As a mom, I understood the importance of working together with them. We all tackled the vaccination panic together and made it easy peasy. This article helped me with a lot of tips to make kids mentally strong. Very good read!
The curious case of “My hands pain when I write”
Two kids, same parents – yet they can be as different as chalk and cheese! Each child is indeed unique.
My daughter though a third-grade preemie, was quite an early reader and writer. She picked up writing fast even if I didn’t give her too many writing practice books and other assignments. I was so wrong to assume that since the sister started writing fast, the brother would follow the suit. No!!! He became almost 4-4.5 years old and still he showed very little or zero interest in writing a single alphabet. When it came to recognizing letters, numbers or speaking the language accurately, there were no issues. In fact, the boy could do simple Maths sums mentally and all. But when it came to putting anything on paper, it was always a BIG NO. He came up with novel excuses like – my hands pain when I write, I already know all letters, I have already written on my book in the school.
We were getting worried. Something must be wrong with him? Why is he not writing? Then I decided after observing this for a few months, I decided to work on this aspect before it became an issue. This is what I did. In fact, am still doing.
- On some days, I stopped showing and giving him notebooks, pencils and writing practice books totally. He said he was “feeling tired” just by looking at them. Not a good sign! Kids can form firm likes and dislikes quite easily at this age.
- Instead, I gave him more of play-dough, kinetic sand to improve his motor skills and make his grip firmer. I let his elder sister play with him so that he could “copy-cat” a few things and learn from her. Siblings having different interests and skills can complement each other very well.
- Pretend play like Doctor-Doctor came in handy too. He role-played the doctor part, checked his “patients” and scribbled something on the prescription notebook. He was willingly doing this. With his dad, he started learning ABCs of piano too.
- More of arty and crafty stuff we introduced for him. Drawing, painting and so on.
- Meanwhile, in school, teachers started writing practice for the kids.
All these activities finally started bearing the fruits and the kid opened up to writing. Now he writes and writes nicely. Handwriting is still not that great but he is making progress.
These two episodes heightened my belief that if we work together with the kids, nothing is impossible! Study or play or any situation – all things become simpler when you all complete tasks and move your little mountains together as a family!
Do share with me your mommy moments of how you conquered a tricky scenario with family power.
This blog post is in collaboration with Friso.
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This is such an interesting article. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thanks for sharing these valuable experiences as a parent. It’s tough job and heavy responsibility. Will share with my friends who have young children.
Thanks for a thoughtful personal parenting experiences sharing here! Enjoy reading it & learn from you. Cheers, SiennyLovesDrawing
i always love to follow your parenting story. It is interesting to read your journey as a wife and mother. I should learn more from you.
Thanks for this very informative post – gonna share it with my sisters.
Nice to read your mommy moment stories, your kids are simply adorable 🙂
Interesting post and I agree about the sibling part. My mother used that approach to get all 4 of us to write. Though now we have the youngest with a big age gap so getting him to like writing is a challenge. He prefers story telling instead.
we will always learn from it no matter which role we are playing, it will be a good lesson in life when being a parent, appreciate, good luck 🙂
very nice written. It’s a blessed experience to grow with the kids
what a very helpful and super informative post. Vaccines are huge help to kids and even for adults, and I think parents should invest for kids healthy more importantly.
Our youngest son’s development is so unlike our first two. In regular school standards, he would most likely be marked as behind, but in homeschooling standards, he’s doing just fine. Kids catch up eventually, and I’ve proven that with all of my kids – just in different areas. My youngest’s fingers had a bit of a problem with his fine motor skills and I see he struggles still. But he is soo determined. For me,it’s a win.
Your son will be just fine, mommy. As long as you continue providing him with the support and time, he’ll do just fine.
i know the feeling … my youngest daughter just is turning 13, so I know how it feels like and all the challenges faced…but well just enjoy the ride and let the kids enjoy their childhood as well on the way, some parents are so strict and want their kids to be achievers they steal the joy of childhood away from their kids
This would be useful if I ever become a parent in the future. When I was younger my brother and I were opposites too and it took my parents a while to figure out how to deal with my brother because he was stubborn..haha.
It is really challenging to have kids. I had 5 Little Angels and learning it everyday to become the best Mom.
Parenthood is about team works from parent and kids as well. I love this kind of write up.
I think i’m not ready yet to ‘conquer’ this challenge, because there are a lot of factors to make it happen. Well i’d rather enjoying my life right now than taking responsibilities as a parent
yes parenting can be challenging. Its good to see them growing up everyday. bonding time is important 😀
Parenthood is really hard. It’s where your patience is really pushed to the limit. And it doesn’t end even if they are full functioning adults. I really like the fact that you have your son focus on arts and crafts which I think interests him a lot. I can see by the beautiful result that was made.
Intriguing post indeed! Kids and injections is always a difficult combo. Good to know your daughter overcame the fear. Totally happy to see that your son is so much into art and drawing!
Being a parent is a life long job and you get to learn something new everyday. Growing up with kids would really be a good experience and it would make them feel comfortable.
I guess we were lucky that my kids were not fussy with their vaccinations, or their dentists or their ear cleaning. The first experience should not be traumatic so that they will not be afraid of the next time. The correct choice of doctor and dentist for the first time is essential.
as a single guy and the yongest among my siblings, i really cant relate much of this.. although i believe once i decide to have my own family, this will be so much useful especially on my first few years as a father… waiting for that time.. 🙂
Love it – makes me look at parenting in a very new way. I see so many complaining mommies that parenting really scares me. I love how you have made it sound like a co-educating journey – growing with your child must be fun!
Clever mom. You are smart in integrating activities to develop the skills of your child rather that pushing on the skills.
I think it’s challenging to spend more time with the kids if parents are both working. Most children now are left at their grandparents or are taken care by the nannies. Couples need to plan out how they’re going to have a well balanced life.
This is a great post for all us parent out there. My husband and I is dealing with our teenager right now, sometimes I feel like we are failing as a parents. Especially when there is two parent and each have different rules, one has to be best while other is trying to be a parent. Thank you for sharing this.
This was such a beautiful post. I’m not a parent so I usually do not know anything about kids, but I was really touched with what you said about also growing as parent when your kids are growing up. There will always be 2 experiences with each milestone and it’s really important that parents are there with their children to share these moments, whether they’re big or small. Vaccines for instance – they’re scary but I am just amazed at how there’s still something special about it between you and your kid.