Let's be honest! When it comes to parenting, men expect their wives or partners to do the lion's share.
There are signs that we're moving toward a more enlightened age in which ALL parents play their part.
But in the meantime, let's concentrate on some help for tired moms.
Apparently the number one question mothers ask their doctors is, "How can I get more energy?"
Fatigue is a serious problem when it robs us of our happiness, our sense of balance, and even our effective parenting skills.
So what's the answer?
Ironically, the best way to overcome the energy crisis is to first of all spend just a little bit more time and energy. But hang in there! It will pay great dividends in a short time.
The first area to tackle is managing the household. Too many mothers do too much work.
And that's not fair!
Divide up the chores so that everyone pulls their weight. Even young kids can be involved.
I know of one family who have a game of 'Lorries' (or 'Trucks') when the rooms need tidied. Mum is the boss. She lines the kids up and 'loads' them with toys, books, magazines, the ironing - whatever needs to be tidied - and the kids are then 'dispatched' to make their deliveries. Yes, a bit of training may be required - especially on how to carry and put away newly ironed clothes! - but with practice and perseverance kids can learn.
A chart can record contributions, with the promise of a reward at the end of the week. A trip to the cinema, the swimming pool or ice-skating, a special treat at dinner - it doesn't matter, so long as you honour the commitments made!
With the household chores now being managed effectively, the next step is to build in some QRT - Quality Recovery Time.
Insist on it. Demand it! Yell from the rooftops if necessary, but make sure you get your entitled share of time-out.
And it must suit YOU. What's good for one person won't necessarily suit another. To my wife, for example, the T in RT stands for Retail Therapy. Shopping malls are just not my scene, so to me it stands for Torture!
Individual time-out, then, means doing whatever is important to you. Many women like to have a 'general pampering' session, ranging from a bath with scented candles and soft music to working out at the gym.
So where does the time for these individual sessions come from?
This is when you call on partners, extended family or friends. Sharing the kids' supervision with trusted friends is a great idea. You take their kids with yours on an outing one time, and they take yours the next. This frees up time for individual relaxation, or gives you and your spouse or partner a chance to relax away from it all.
So - get organised. Run your household with a clearly defined routine.
Have family outings and/or activities where you all relax and enjoy each other as a family unit.
Call on family or friends to share the load, and enjoy some well-deserved time-out with your spouse or partner, AND build in some personal QRT when you do what suits you and ONLY you.
If your lifestyle follows this pattern, your energy levels will take care of themselves.
Happy parenting!
Why do some parents and children succeed, while others fail? Frank McGinty is an internationally published author and teacher. If you want to develop your parenting skills and encourage your kids to be all they can be, visit his web pages, http://www.frank-mcginty.com/peace-formula.html AND http://www.frank-mcginty.com/peace-formula.html
house cleaning near Lincolnshire ...Are you glad for the chance to put your child... Read More
4 traps to avoidTrap 1 - Parents need to realize... Read More
Tripping over the shoes and toys that seem to clutter... Read More
A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the way... Read More
Voices have a way of falling into a pattern, not... Read More
"I WON'T DO IT!" "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"Whether parent or... Read More
Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted... Read More
Many research studies have shown the overall effectiveness of stimulant... Read More
Every children in the world whishes to have toys and... Read More
One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
Home schooling benefits children. As a parent, I feel it... Read More
The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid... Read More
How do we deal with our seriously distressed children and... Read More
Q. With another school year starting, we are not sure... Read More
As parents, we want our children and teens to grow... Read More
It's hard to explain to the uninitiated the changes that... Read More
You may think once your child has gone off to... Read More
It is human nature to feel competitive and envious toward... Read More
Much has been said about the "gifted child" but in... Read More
1. Create... Read More
Bi-Polar Disorder, or Manic Depression, is characterized by mood swings,... Read More
1. They are leaders as well as parents. They don't... Read More
Diagnosing children and teens with ADHD can be a challenge.... Read More
Whether children attend public or private schools, they benefit when... Read More
Many people still think that the game of chess is... Read More
cleaning service near Buffalo Grove ...Quite simply, an absolute nightmare for parents and babies alike,... Read More
For the first year or two of life outside the... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
My husband and I have a 12-year-old daughter who wanted... Read More
As a parent you will be asked to assist with... Read More
Creating and making special memories with your child is very... Read More
Do you praise your child when he fulfils a basic... Read More
There are a few points about shyness in children which... Read More
Reasearch into children's friendships shows that those children who are... Read More
You want your daughter to wear a dress to the... Read More
Strattera came out around January of 2003, and is becoming... Read More
Some people can concentrate on an assignment, to the exclusion... Read More
Many parents seem to be more than a little confused... Read More
Valentine day has always been a special day in my... Read More
Although it's hard to say when the first stuffed dogs... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
Late vs. Too LateEvery now and then, I'll hear a... Read More
'Whose room is it anyway?'If you have a teenager, you're... Read More
Uh oh.Your kids arrive home with their school reports and... Read More
The advances in science over the past century have been... Read More
Are you a frustrated parent who sometimes finds it is... Read More
I am a dad. I have been now for over... Read More
When my firstborn arrived into this serene and peaceful household,... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
Below is a copy of our eating program for Attention... Read More
Parenting |