About a quarter of a century ago I gave birth to a baby girl and decided to start a private practice as an Educational Consultant. I thought that it would allow me to  have it all (motherhood and career).   It did and it was one of  the best decisions that I ever made because it has given me the opportunity to do so many of the things that I love to do - not the least of which is and was to spend time with my daughter (who is now an attorney). 

            I have enjoyed parenthood thoroughly and so it saddens me when I hear from parents who tell me that they regret having children or that they can’t wait until their kids are gone.  My feelings go way past sadness when those parents say that within earshot of their children. At any rate, here are five things (that anyone could do) which made our quality of our lives better.

 

Talk, Talk, Talk

            When your child is an infant talk to him or her as much as you can about anything and everything.  The more you talk the more language connections the baby’s brain will make.  The smarter your child will be.  As your child gets older and begins to talk and ask questions, answer those questions.  Nothing is off limits.  No question is stupid.  Try not to be too judgmental. You never want your child to be in a situation where he or she thinks that there is something that you can't be told.

 

Read, Read, Read

            Even before your child can walk, talk, or crawl, you can cozy up together and read.  If your child is very young choose short colorful books which are written in a rhyming and/or rhythmical manner. While you are snuggled up together your child will develop a love for books and reading, a longer attention span and better listening skills.

 

Share a Natural Sense of Discovery and Wonder

            The world is a wondrous place.  Try to see it through your child’s eyes.  There is a big difference between, “Wow! Look at that!” and “Get over here and look at this now!”

 

Never Give in to a Temper Tantrum

            This has to be an iron clad rule.   Toddlers start tantrumming because they are frustrated or tired.  Children keep tantrumming because it gets them what they want.

 

Have Dinner as a Family Without the TV

             Dinner is about more than eating.  It is a time for families to be together. It is a daily event in which children can learn that sometimes they have to do things when they are told (like come to the table and have dinner). Sometimes they have to sit and wait and participate (even if that is not exactly what they wanted to do at that moment). Take time to let everyone to talk about their day, their accomplishments, their problems and anything else that comes up.

 

            It may not always seem so, but childhood is fleeting.  I remember how the 30 seconds it took to warm a baby bottle could seem like an eternity, but I also know that my daughter seems to have grown  up in the blink of an eye.  So count your blessings and enjoy all of the ages and the stages of your child growing up.