If you had told me a few years ago that I would be the mother of a vivacious 5 yr old, I would have laughed at you. Parenthood, while I knew would happen someday, was not in my sights. But then love happened and with that, life moved forward and I became a mother.
To say that my daughter is my greatest joy is putting it mildly…but just as parenthood can bring me my greatest joys, it can also drive me the craziest. From the second she was born, Sofia has been a little force to be reckoned with. She has always been vocal (aka LOUD, or as my husband says, just like mama), stubborn (he also says she gets this from me, um, no comment) and fearless (did I mention GREY HAIRS?). All wonderful traits IF taught how to use them for good and not to melt down in the middle of a store because she can’t have ice cream instead of vegetables…cough.
As you can see, she is 5 going on 15. Every day she teaches me something new and every day she outsmarts me. But with five years under my belt… this mama has a trick or two up her sleeve. While I may not have parenthood completely down, I do have a few tips and tricks that I have learned while “on the job.”
- Listen to your kiddos. Yes they break down and have whine-a-thons but sometimes the whining and meltdown is cause they were trying to tell you something and it just didn’t get through. Take a moment and listen…are they tired? hungry? just want attention? Even infants have cues to let mama know something, all it takes is a little patience and an open ear. If that doesn’t work…hey, there is always bribery.
- Be prepared for the unexpected. Ever heard the phrase “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans”? With kids, that phrase goes for double. While you shouldn’t be overly paranoid, taking certain precautions will always pay off. With infants and toddlers, having a “emergency” clothing and diaper kit in your car is a smart idea. As well as packing snacks just in case and planning ”unexpected” potty stops on a long drive. Maya Angelou said it best, “Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between.”
- Take a moment for you. You can’t be a good parent unless you take care of you first. Whether that’s an evening out with your friends, a cup of coffee alone before everyone wakes, or just a moment of sitting in your car in silence…whatever it is that you need to recharge and be the super parent you are. I like to drink wine. A glass or four usually does the trick.
Now you can survive the parenting battleground with others that know just what you are feeling. Mexican TV personality and father of two, Poncho de Anda, teamed with Huggies to helping Hispanic parents everywhere with tips, advice and a new webisode series on tackling the everyday stresses and messes of parenthood. Premiering today on the Huggies Latino Facebook Page, these webisodes feature the experiences of Poncho, his wife Lina Amashta and their two children (ages 2 and 10 months) as they deal with the challenges that come with being a parent – whether that’s packing for a trip, preparing for house guests or mastering the art of feeding children. Check out one of the videos below, then head over to the facebook page where you can to share your own tips and stories afor a chance to win a fully-stocked Huggies diaper bag.
Disclosure: This was a compensated campaign from Latina Bloggers Connect and Huggies. All opinions are 100% my own.
Good tips! The “prepare for the unexpected” bit made me laugh. WORD.
Good tips! Having kids has really mellowed me out a lot, learning to be patient is a daily struggle, but my two boys have helped me come a long way. I now find myself constantly telling other people ‘don’t worry about what you can’t do anything about , let it roll off your back like a duck’