Parenting Tips for Struggling Parents: Lesser-Known Gems

Parenting is a task that comes with a lot of responsibilities, challenges, and fun moments. However, it can be a daunting task for parents who are struggling to make ends meet. The struggle to balance work, family time, and personal time can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are some lesser-known parenting tips that can make life easier for struggling parents. In this blog, I will share some of these parenting tips that you may find useful.

Have Time for Yourself: This sounds counterintuitive to what parenting is all about, but it's vital for your well-being and that of your family. Take time to engage in activities that rejuvenate your energy levels, such as hobbies, exercises, or meeting friends. Set some time for yourself regularly when your child is asleep or engaged in another activity.

Celebrate Small Milestones: Parenting is a continuous journey, and it can be challenging to celebrate milestones when you're focused on the next steps. Celebrate small successes like your child's potty training or their first solid meal. This creates a positive atmosphere, and your child will be encouraged to celebrate their milestones, no matter how small they may seem.

Take Advantage of Technology: Yes, too much screen time has negative effects, but technology can also be a helpful tool in parenting. Use parenting apps that can schedule your tasks, track your child's development, and engage them in learning activities. You can also use devices like baby monitors to keep an eye on your child as you attend to other tasks.

Embrace Routine: As parents, we can't overemphasize the impact of routine in our children's lives. It brings a sense of structure, consistency, and predictability, which can reduce anxiety and improve their relationships with others. Create a daily routine that's flexible enough to incorporate spontaneous activities and make your child feel engaged in the process.

Don't Avoid the Hard Conversations: Sometimes, as parents, we tend to shy away from difficult conversations like death, sex education, religion, or divorce. However, these conversations are essential in our children's lives, and avoiding them can have long-term negative effects. Be honest, use age-appropriate language, and allow your child to ask questions or express their thoughts. 

Parenting struggles are real, and as parents, we need to invest in strategies that can make our lives easier. While these are lesser-known tips, they have a significant impact on our parenting journey. Take a deep breath and remember that parenting is all about figuring out what works for you and your child. Try implementing one or two of these tips and see the difference it can make in your life and that of your child. You've got this, and you're doing a great job!

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How to Be a More Engaged Parent and Meet Educational Goals

Parenting can be a challenging responsibility, especially when it comes to education. As a parent, it's your duty to ensure that your children are receiving the best education possible, but it's not always easy to do. The good news is that with a little effort and dedication, you can become a more engaged parent and meet your educational goals. In this blog, we'll be discussing a variety of ways that you can be more engaged with your children, improve your parenting skills, and achieve your educational goals.

Spend Quality Time with Your Children

The foundation of any strong parent-child relationship is quality time. It's essential to spend quality time with your children to help them develop emotionally, build trust, and cultivate a love of learning. You can do this by simply reading books together, playing games or engaging in conversations. When you spend quality time with your children, you'll be able to learn about their interests, likes, and dislikes. This will help you tailor their education to meet their unique needs.

Create a Learning Environment at Home

Creating a learning environment at home is an effective way to promote education and improve your children's learning outcomes. You can start by setting up a designated study space, stocking it with educational resources like books, posters, and learning aids. You can also consider setting up a homework schedule, so your children know when they need to study. Don't forget to put away all electronics and distractions during study time!

Engage in Learning Activities Together

Another way to enhance your children's education is by engaging in learning activities together. This can be as simple as visiting a museum or attending an educational event at your community center. You can also attend parent-teacher conferences, read educational books, or even take an online course together. By participating in these activities, you'll be able to learn alongside your children and show them the importance of lifelong learning.

Utilize Online Resources

In today's digital age, there are plenty of online resources available to help you improve your parenting skills and enhance your children's education. From parenting blogs to online learning platforms, the internet can provide invaluable resources to help you become a more informed and engaged parent. You can even find educational videos and games to help supplement your children's learning.

Prioritize Communication and Accountability

Last but not least, communication and accountability are essential to achieving your educational goals as a parent. It's important to communicate effectively with your children to understand their needs, challenges, and successes. You should also hold yourself accountable for your role in their education, setting goals, and tracking your progress. If you're struggling, don't hesitate to reach out to other parents, educators, or community resources for support.

Being a parent is no easy task, but with dedication, effort, and a willingness to learn, you can become a more engaged parent and meet your educational goals. Use the tips in this blog as a starting point to build a more positive parent-child relationship, create a learning environment at home, engage in learning activities together, utilize online resources, and prioritize communication and accountability. Remember that education is a lifelong process, and as a parent, you have the opportunity to inspire your children to be lifelong learners.

Learn more about parenting children and teens When Mothers Cry blog for new and mature moms.

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20 Things Parents Can Do with Children who are Bored that Don't Cost Money

Relying on others to entertain your children is expensive isn't it? So for the family who has a limited budget it is always a good idea to watch spending and come up with other ways to enjoy time with your family. These ideas kept boredom away on most days. Here are 20 tips that might help. Most of these I have done with my four sons during long school breaks.

1. Engage in imaginative play: Encourage your children to use their creativity and imagination by engaging in pretend play. This could involve building forts, playing dress-up, or creating a make-believe world.

2. Go on a nature walk: Take your children on a walk in a nearby park or nature reserve. Explore the outdoors, point out different plants and animals, and encourage them to observe and ask questions about their surroundings.

3. Cook or bake together: Involve your children in the kitchen by allowing them to help with age-appropriate tasks such as measuring ingredients, stirring, or decorating. Cooking and baking can be a fun and educational activity that also yields delicious results.

4. Have a family game night: Gather the family and have a game night with board games, card games, or even video games. This not only helps pass the time but also promotes bonding and friendly competition.

5. Create art and crafts: Provide your children with art supplies such as paints, crayons, paper, and glue. Encourage them to create artwork or engage in simple craft projects. This can be a great way for them to express themselves and develop their artistic skills.

6. Read books together: Choose a book that suits your child's age and reading level and read it aloud together. You can take turns reading, discuss the story, and even act out scenes from the book.

7. Set up a scavenger hunt: Create a scavenger hunt around your home or in the backyard. Give your children a list of items or clues to find and let them explore and search for the hidden treasures.

8. Plan a family movie night: Let your children take turns choosing a movie and set up a cozy movie night at home. Prepare popcorn or snacks, dim the lights, and enjoy the movie together as a family.

9. Visit a local museum or exhibition: Check if there are any child-friendly museums or exhibitions in your area and take your children on a learning adventure. Many museums offer interactive exhibits and hands-on activities specifically designed for kids.

10. Teach them a new skill or hobby: Use the opportunity to teach your children a new skill or introduce them to a hobby. It could be anything from learning to play a musical instrument, knitting, gardening, or even basic coding. By engaging in activities like these, you can help them discover new interests and develop their talents.

11. Have a family dance party: Clear some space in your living room, put on some music, and have a dance party with your children. It's a fun and energetic way to get moving and enjoy some quality time together.

12. Build a blanket fort: Use blankets, pillows, and furniture to create a cozy fort in your living room or bedroom. Let your children's imaginations run wild as they design and decorate their own secret hideaway.

13. Host a family talent show: Encourage your children to showcase their talents, whether it's singing, dancing, telling jokes, or performing magic tricks. Everyone can participate, and it's a great opportunity to cheer each other on and have a good laugh.

14. Plan a backyard picnic: Pack some snacks or sandwiches, grab a blanket, and have a picnic in your backyard. Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine while having a relaxed meal together.

15. Organize a treasure hunt: Create a treasure hunt by hiding small objects or clues around your home or backyard. Provide your children with a list or series of riddles to solve, leading them to the hidden treasures.

16. Teach them card games: Teach your children simple card games like Go Fish, Crazy Eights, or War. Card games are easy to learn and can provide hours of entertainment for the whole family.

17. Have a storytelling session: Sit in a circle and take turns telling stories. You can start with a sentence or a theme and let each person add to the story. It's a fun and imaginative activity that sparks creativity and storytelling skills. I took this a step further as my third son and fourth son got older. Here is an example: 

18. Do a DIY science experiment: Look up simple science experiments online using household items. Engage your children in hands-on learning by conducting experiments like making a volcano erupt with baking soda and vinegar or creating a homemade lava lamp.

19. Play charades: Write down different activities, movies, or objects on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat. Take turns picking a paper and acting out the word or phrase while others try to guess. It's a lively and interactive game that requires no additional props.

20. Create a family scrapbook: Gather old magazines, newspapers, scissors, and glue. Sit together and cut out pictures, words, or phrases that represent special memories or interests. Help your children arrange and glue them onto a large piece of paper or a scrapbook, creating a personalized family keepsake.

Remember, the most important aspect is spending quality time together and nurturing the bond with your children, regardless of the cost of the activity. Now that two of the four sons are adults, I have checked in with the guys to get their feedback about those many school breaks and all the fun stuff we have done. What was most important to them was being with me and sharing quality time with the rest of the family no matter what we did. They mention they enjoyed playing games and going outside to play the most before they started spending more time playing video games. 

Make great memories Moms and Dads!

Have a fun summer!

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What to Say to a Teen Who is Having a Tough Time with Family Members

When talking to a teenager who is having problems at home with parents and siblings, it's important to start by asking questions about the situation. Ask them how long this has been an issue in their household, and what steps have already been taken to try and resolve things? It can be difficult for teenagers to express how they're feeling, so make sure you provide an open and supportive environment where they feel comfortable enough to talk about their experiences.  

Try to get some insight into why the behavior of family members may be causing issues. This could help identify any underlying emotions that need to be addressed, such as unresolved anger or hurt feelings. If possible, encourage the teen to take part in activities outside of the house - getting fresh air, physical exercise, and socializing can all help to improve their mood.  

It's also important to emphasize the importance of communication within the family, and point out that while it may be uncomfortable at first, talking through problems together can help foster understanding between family members. Encourage them to speak up in a respectful way when they feel something is wrong, but also make sure they understand that their parents' decisions should still be respected.  

Remind them that no matter what happens in their home life, you are there for them as a source of support and stability. Reassure them that these types of issues are very normal, and with time and effort things will eventually get better. With your guidance and patience, you can help them to build healthier relationships with their family.  

Finally, seeking professional advice is also recommended if the situation does not appear to be improving. A therapist or counselor can provide further guidance and support for a teenager struggling with familial issues, so encourage them to seek out such sources of assistance if needed. Talking about these matters can be hard, but it’s important that they know they have someone in their corner who will listen and assist when things get tough. Together, you can work towards helping the teen find ways to cope with the difficulties they face at home, and ultimately strive towards creating a more harmonious environment within their family.  By providing understanding, guidance and support, you can help the teen to move towards a more positive home life.  

The teenage years are often tough enough as they are - but when it comes to family issues, having someone there to offer an empathetic ear and sound advice can be invaluable in helping them through this difficult time. With a little patience and understanding, you can do your part in helping the teen navigate this challenging situation. Keep the faith!