My Top 5 Tips To Being A Great Mom
(1.) Take time-out for yourself.
This is very important. You must take care of yourself to be able to take care of others. “God calls a mother to pour into the lives of her children, but first, she must fill her own cup with God’s love and mercy.” No quote can be clearer than this, thanks to flourishingmama.com. Leave the kids with hubby (or someone trusted) and do something for yourself. It’s important that you relax on this self-retreat and not rush back. I often take walks alone and just listen to an uninterrupted music playlist of choice. I draw inspiration from this relaxation technique. A spa treatment, among many other self-care routines, does wonders.
(2.) Treat your mental health as paramount.
In order words, prioritize exercise and/or meditation, eating healthy and taking one step at a time to give yourself a mental mind balance. Again, a spa treatment is a sufficient treatment.
(3.) Learn to “follow your child(ren)”.
This is a Montessori principle of observing your child and letting their unique personality groom you, as opposed to you forcing them to be what they are not. This allows the child’s needs and education to be met at their own pace and capacity.
Check out https://bitsofpositivity.com/the-child-montessori-word-art-freebie/ for more Montessori quotes.
(4.) Pay attention to your child’s emotions by acknowledging what they say and/or feel.
Communication (the art of speaking and being heard) is important in any relationship, such as between mother and child. I often act as interpreter between our 3-year-old daughter and my husband and other family members on some words she says. I’m no ‘Joseph’ to interpret her burgeoning language but because I’m with her most of the time, I choose to pay attention to the terms she uses.
(5.) Make time for your youngsters – no matter their age/stage.
Your child’s current age will determine the forms of activities you do with them – supervised or unsupervised. What you don’t care for, withers, even relationships. Be intentional about creating play and bonding time with your children. Toddlers love the outdoors and ample space to run around, so a playground or park works well. Sometimes, a 5-minute chase around the house might be sufficient for the day. Alternatively, read their favourite book to them (over and over again – they never get tired of the same book) or play with their toys with them. My children and I build a train out of their leggo blocks each night just before lights out.
If you’ve tried or decide to try any of these tips, do share your thoughts and/or experiences.