Good advice....

[Leanna]

What's the best advice you've been given about raising kids....
... or what good advice do you have to give to those following you....

 

[frankincense]

Have them while your young and have the energy...

No matter what, always hug them and tell them you love them each and every day.

No matter how stressful today is, tomorrow is always a brand new day.

Wisdom from my grandmother.

 

[shainamsu]

never tell them "no" without giving them a reason or say "b/c i said so."

 

[simi]

when they do something stupid, dont call them stupid for doing it, rather say that what they did was a stupid thing to do.

the last thing we want are kids thinking they are stupid cause they make mistakes. mistakes and silly things happen, lol its part of life, but the kids dont understrand that.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

hmmmm...does "open the window before tossing them out it" count?

My daughter is very much two with that infamous two year old temper and I joked with my hubby's grandmother about that. She paused and then just about fell on the floor laughing.

And, my real advice. Every child is different. Do not compare them and, if you do, make sure you save enough for their future therapy.

 

[sammipher]

The best advice I ever got on parenting was..whatever advice you get...store it if you like it...let it go out the other ear if you don't and sometimes...just say "I appreciate it...smile..and change the subject".

 

[Tawny]

The best advice I ever got on parenting was..whatever advice you get...store it if you like it...let it go out the other ear if you don't and sometimes...just say "I appreciate it...smile..and change the subject".

Same for me.

I always make sure the last words she hears before she goes to bed are 'I love you'

 

[Princessperky]

I don't have a cute way to put this, but DH and I parent the lazy way, which isn't always easy now, but we know it will be. IE PTing DS at a young age, wasn't the drema of those who waited till the kid asked, but it was a dream starting at 2 (when he finished) and I watch MANY of his peers still struggling. So we are really lazy, and we do things now to make life easier later. Like nursing, much harder at first, but Oh so much easier later (no bottles to wash, or wean from or buy, or store, or any of that)

 

[jusluvm]

I had a fairly hard time when I realized that "my baby" was growing up. A few times I mentioned my woes to my grandmother about my baby's natural advancement or growth (whether it was the fact that she was starting to walk or talk or start school) and this is what she told me:

Well of course she's growing up, she's supposed to, it's normal. Now listen, you would have something to worry about if she wasn't growing and changing. And it's your job to help her grow up and learn to take care of herself. Let her be normal. Don't try to keep her a baby. Just love on her all you can while you can.

I remembered her remark many times over the years. Learning to drive, dating, graduating highschool, going off to college, her wedding day, and finally having a baby of her own---all these things are "normal" and good! And she does know how to "take care of herself" and is a wonderful mommy, so maybe we didn't mess up too bad with "our baby".

God is good!

 

[andiesmama]

Pick your battles....so what if she wants to wear her rain boots when it's 95 and sunny? So she wants to have mac&cheese for breakfast....who cares?

Also, take time to be silly....today I jumped in rain puddles with Andie and then we came in and played Princesses (Cinderella and the Prince got married....it was a beautiful wedding! )

Make happy memories for your little one....

 

[Leanna]

Pick your battles....so what if she wants to wear her rain boots when it's 95 and sunny? So she wants to have mac&cheese for breakfast....who cares?
...

Oh my goodness the idea of mac and cheese for breakfast makes me get very uptight and stressed.....!!! I don't think I can handle a toddler, want to borrow mine for a few years and give him back when hes normal again.... hehe....

 

[andiesmama]

Oh my goodness the idea of mac and cheese for breakfast makes me get very uptight and stressed.....!!! I don't think I can handle a toddler, want to borrow mine for a few years and give him back when hes normal again.... hehe....

The other day she had a PB&J sandwich & fruit for breakfast!!

And take yours?? No thanks sister...I'm barely making it through with mine! lol

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

(Edit: actually if I hadn't gone with my gut against what all the doctors were saying, we never would have known Abby had torticollis so early on.. they all said her head tilt was "favoring a side", "normal", "just a habbit".. just goes to show you that sometimes even the professionals are wrong )
~ ~

Hey, if I hadn't been dead set against a d&c and turned it down two weeks in a row for my 'blighted ovum', I wouldn't have my daughter. My doctor was VERY wrong there.

Trust your doctors but get second opinions when need be.

 

[Stringaling]

Oh my goodness the idea of mac and cheese for breakfast makes me get very uptight and stressed.....!!! I don't think I can handle a toddler, want to borrow mine for a few years and give him back when hes normal again.... hehe....

I make the decisions about what my kids will have for breakfast. Sometimes they get to choose, but for the most part I do. They learn obedience and that whinig won't get you what you want.

My advice: Never give in to begging and whining. They will learn that you are a pushover and that they can get anything they want if the complain loudly enough. be firm in your decisions and you will have more parental authority than those who constantly give in to their children. Your kids will have more respect for you and in the long run your relationship with them will be nicer.

 

[Princessperky]

Pick your battles doesn't mean you have to pick the same ones as your neighbor, but I did learn I need to figure out which ones I am not fighting.

My two pick breakfast (and lunch) from an approved list, so I only fight half the battle I also don't care if they use a fork or spoon so long as it isn't their hands.

I was faced looking like I fought over everything and I had to go out of my way to figure out what the kids could do all on their own. Which truthfully for their age is quite a bit more than thier peers. Like clothing, no rain boots so no question of what to wear . but the dresser is stocked with in season wear anytime clothing, os they always pick. (so long as it matches) What to eat is another I don't care so long as it doens't make more work for me (like toasting a muffin vs bread, no big, you pick, fruit A or fruit B, whatever, so long as it is in the house)

Anyway, I agree Do not let whining win (in fact if you whine about breakfast, I pick) but also don't let silly things (to you) become a fight that your heart wont be in winning.

BTW I thought of the cute short way to say what I tried before. "an ounce of prvention is worth a pound of cure"

 

[McDLT]

My best friend told me, "Remember it's only for a time. They are only this age once." So when stressing over something the kids are doing, I'm always reminding myself of this and then trying to find ways to relate and understand them.

 

[Stringaling]

I agree with Princessperky, limited choices are good. that way they feel that they have more input and you still have say over what they consume. I often have to make the choice for lunch--My three year old boy would happily have peanut butter 3 times a day 7 days a week! Seriouly, He cried yesterday when i wouldn't let him have peanut butter and jelly for breakfast! he makes me laugh!