As a mother of three children, I have had my fair share of toddler tantrums over the years. They are often exhausting for parents and frustrating to deal with, especially whilst in the middle of grocery shopping. The sweet baby smell is long gone and the baby clothes are boxed up. You now have a toddler to contend with! However, there are many things that can be done to make life easier for everyone involved. Here are some mommy tips on how to handle life with a toddler!
Tips on How to Be a Good Mom
There seems to be so much advice out there about how to be a good mom. Unfortunately, the information can feel overwhelming, and difficult to discern what advice you should take on being a good mom. But there are some critical tips you need to know to help your kid.
Learn When to Say No
One of the essential tips you need to know is that you can say no to your kids. The more you say no to things that are not good for your child, the better it will be for them. This can be as simple as saying no when your child asks for candy at the grocery store. By telling your child no, they become more aware of what is not good for them and stop asking you for things.
Have A Routine
One of the best ways to keep your kids on track and ensure they get the right amount of sleep, activity, and food is to keep them on a schedule. A schedule will keep both you and your child organized. It also helps you to plan their naptimes and help them to know what to expect next. This can eliminate anxiety for some kids and help them to enjoy each part of their daily routine.
Be Flexible
Even though it is crucial to have a routine with your child, you will still want to be flexible. This can mean that you have a special event going on, and you will have to change your child’s nap time for that day; that is okay. Sometimes things come up, and you will want to have the flexibility to go with the flow and adapt to your child’s needs.
Know Your Kid
Another important tip is to learn and know what your kid likes and dislikes. Knowing these things ahead of planning an event, dinner or schedule, can help you tailor these things to your kid. Also, kids have different strengths, and using those strengths can help you determine how to respond to them. This will help kids feel valued and active in the process of learning.
Go Small With Changes
When your child transitions from different ways of living, make sure you give them time to adjust to them and take your time with them. This can be as simple as leaving your child in their new bed for a few minutes or having them play with their new cup. Giving them this opportunity to have minor interactions with their new routine helps them adjust to the new normal and not cause as much anxiety.
Establish Chores
One of the best ways to give your kids ownership in the household is to establish chores. For example, having kids unload the dishwasher, set the table for the family dinner, or take out the garbage helps children become active members of the home and earn some income. Having weekly chores are good for child development.
Trust Your Instincts
You may have heard of the phrase, ‘go with your gut.’ In parenting, that is important. If something feels off, it probably is. You will want to trust your instincts and make the best decision for your kid at that moment. This can also be critical for making decisions on what to do when your child is sick. More than likely, your gut will err on the side of caution and help you help your child.
Own Up to Your Mistakes
It can be challenging to say when you have been wrong, but it is essential to be a role model for your kids and own up to your mistakes as a parent. If you do something wrong or you tell your kid the wrong answer, apologize. Your kid needs to see the benefit of apologizing and helping them learn it is okay to make a mistake. Being an empathetic mother to your toddlers will help with this.
Be Consistent
One of the most important tips for being a good mom is to be consistent. Being consistent with punishments, advice, and expectations helps your child know what will be expected of them and keep your child following the rules. In addition, it is essential that your rules are fair and do not change for kids of different ages. This will help kids feel like the rules are appropriate and are more likely to follow them. Using established rules is essential for busy families to keep family life as smooth sailing as possible.
Be a Role Model
Finally, it is important to know that children are impressionable. They will watch you and follow what you do. This means you must be a role model for your child. Make sure that you follow the expectations you have set for your child and ensure they see that every day. That will keep them following the right expectations. This is part of respectful parenting.
Best Mommy Survival Tips
Finally, this can seem like a stressful time in your life. It can be challenging to keep your cool and help your children through their life. Take these tips and try to help yourself have a better life balance.
Take Time to Yourself
One of the best things you can do is take some time for yourself. Have your spouse or a babysitter watch the kids for a little bit and do something you enjoy. This can mean taking a nice bubble bath or going out to the store on your own. The choice is up to you, but having that time to yourself can help you ensure you are getting what you need. Remember that not every waking second is family time!
Give Yourself A Timeout
Sometimes you can be so frustrated that you want to lash out in anger or sadness. Give yourself a timeout from the situation before addressing the problem. This will help you feel more in control and not allow your emotions to get the better of you.
Find Your Crew
Sometimes being a mom can feel very isolating. But find yourself some people that are going through the same thing in life. These can be people you meet at playgroups, the park, etc. They will understand your struggles and give you tips and support. These can be lifelong friendships that will help you navigate life.
My mantra is, healthy mothers, healthy kids.
A toddler is a challenging stage in any parent’s life. It can be frustrating, overwhelming and exhausting to have to deal with the tantrums of toddlers who don’t know how to express themselves clearly!
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
There are many things you can do as a parent which will help make life easier for everyone involved, including yourself. If you want more tips on handling this difficult time in your child’s development, check out these other articles here on our site 🙂
