In our last class, we looked forward into our kid's lives and discussed upcoming growth. Discussion QuotesCh. 28 Adapting to New Development p. 123
Class DiscussionsDuring our discussion, we had a great dialogue about balancing the mental load of parenting and about sleep. Here are a couple resources and thoughts to expand on those ideas. The Mental LoadThe mental load is the weight that American parents, typically mothers, feel when it comes to raising kids and balancing every day life. We are expected to manage a lot: perfect children, an insta-worthy home, a job, a social life, and a romantic life. The transition to having kids throws us for a loop. It's extremely hard to find the right balance. The best parents are not the ones who sacrifice the most for their kids. The best parents are the ones who seek the balance. Sure we love our children and we are in awe of their uniqueness, but they are only one part of our picture. It is not your job to get your kids into IVY league school. That is their job. So trust them to do their work so you can do your own. It's OK to say "I'll be there in a couple minutes after I finish this" to a crying baby. It's OK to get a babysitter so you can leave, do work, meet with friends, or go on a date. It's hard at first, but it is necessary to finding balance. This balance is what will make you shine as a parent and, most importantly, as a person. SleepSpeaking of shine, we can hardly function let a lone sparkle if we're exhausted. Yet we are bombarded with the "right" and "wrong" ways to handle a the sleep situation. Here are a couple resources for you to check out to help you on your path:
Our job is to listen to them but not assume anything. If you simply wait a few minutes before tending, you can start to observe the differences in their needs. Perhaps you'll see that they cry for 5 minutes then go back to bed - they just needing to readjust. Or, perhaps you'll see the crying escalating and you'll know they need some attention like patting or shushing. I hope this information was helpful for you in starting to navigate some of the intricacies we discussed in class.
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Emily BarstadParent Educator Archives
March 2020
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