Thoughts of buying children’s clothing begin even before baby is
born. Usually at a baby shower and then shortly after baby is born,
parents receive some clothes as baby gifts. Often these are small sizes
that the child will outgrow rather quickly. With this in mind, you can
easily see that buying children’s clothes is an ongoing task for
parents.

Infants will change sizes every few weeks because of the rapid rate
at which they grow. With this in mind, be sure to buy durable clothing
in washable, comfortable fabrics. Babies have many accidents so make
sure you buy clothes that are easy to clean. Buying several onesies and
sleepers are your best bet when shopping for clothing for an infant.
All in one outfits are also a great find, as they are easy to put on
and take off for all those diaper changes!

As children grow and reach the toddler stage, their clothing needs
will change. For example, during potty training separate tops and
bottoms are best to dress children in.  This makes training easier for
parents as well as encourages the toddler to be independent. It is a
very good idea to buy clothes that are easy to put on and take off so
the child can learn to dress him or herself. Buying clothing that is a
little big will ensure that the child won’t grow out of it too soon.

When shopping for children’s clothes, keep in mind that designs and
fashions are ever changing, so it’s important to keep up with the
latest fashion trends so your child is in style. Even newborn apparel
is has changed and is trendier in style these days. Sometimes you will
spend a little extra on good quality children’s clothes but remember,
children play hard and can be quite rough on their clothing. You want
to make sure that what you buy will last through whichever stage
they’re in. If you have younger children of the same gender, or if you
plan to have another baby soon, keep unsoiled clothing put away for the
next child. The money you spend on good quality , you can find beautiful clothing for children that they will feel comfortable and that will withstand the test of time!

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I was just surfing the internet and browsing through questions on a networking website that I belong to for working mothers. There were so many moms on this website asking the same question. “How do you make the decision about what to do with your children while you work?” The question came up many times and each time the answers were all very different. So with so many different answers, how do you decide?

My children are school-age now, and it makes it so much easier to work that I can’t even imagine how I got it all done before when my three kids were home with me all day. Reading everyone’s answers was bringing back memories of the times when I struggled with the decision to use day care centers, family day cares, nannies, or just work with them around.

As mothers, we all go through the same struggle over and over again. You know what the options are, but how do you know which one is right for your child? There is always the emotional battle in your head. You want a fulfilling business to grow as a person, yet you want to stay home for the children. You want to work from home to be there for the children, but you do get anything done when they are always striving for your attention. It is a constant dilemma both emotionally and physically. It is a common problem that many entrepreneurial and working mothers struggle with. How do mothers manage to decide the best course for their family?

I have been through it all. I have used day cares, nannies, babysitters, working at home with just myself and my children, using my husband as the provider when he can be available. My parents and in-laws all work, so that was never an option for me. I can’t even tell you which option I liked the best. None of the options seemed to be just the right thing. They all had their pros and cons. Also, our decision changed every time we moved or had another child.

Each of our children was different. Our son craved the social atmosphere of day care. Our oldest daughter loved the one-on-one attention from a nanny. Our youngest daughter was only happy when I was spending time with her. She refused to like anyone else.

I also found that the location you live in makes a huge difference in the quality of care you can receive. We lived in a college town for a while and there were always smart college students willing to babysit in between their classes. In another area we lived in, I found a great family day care. The family day care worked really well because I could use it as a drop-in for my children. If I had a meeting with a client or a day when I just couldn’t have the kids with me, then the family day care always had room for me to just drop them off. She was a lifesaver!

While reading the responses to people’s questions regarding this topic, I was realizing that their answers were similar to the answers I would have given. It depends on what day care centers are near you. It depends on whether you are lucky to find that perfect nanny. It depends on the nature of your business and on your personality. Some people can work with kids playing in the background, and others just cannot get used to it.

I personally found that a mixture of everything worked well for us. Sometimes I had a nanny. When my youngest was really small, I just cut way down on my hours for a while working only at night, got rid of the nanny, and played with the kids all day. Those were the years where my husband watched them for a few hours a day while I snuck down into my basement office and cranked away.

I think the key to making it work is to realize that you need to be flexible, and you need to find care providers that can be flexible. You will always need that backup care provider or backup plan for days when your child is sick, or you have a meeting that happens to fall outside of your care provider’s regular hours. What happens when your nanny wants a day off? Find yourself multiple options. Learn what makes your child happy. Follow what your heart is telling you. You cannot be successful at a business if your heart is telling you that you made the wrong decision with your child. They are young only once. Nurture them and watch them grow. If everyone is happy , then the decision was the right one for your family.

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Save The Date cards can be simple, listing only your names and the date and location of the event. However, your Save The Date cards could also include important messages about special aspects of your event that guests may need to prepare for. For example, indicating an adults-only event on your Save The Date card allows parents to make prior arrangements so that no one has to miss your special day. When planning a destination wedding, Save The Date cards can offer necessary travel information. There is no standard form for , Save The Date cards are the way to go.

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I want to make it known to you that you probably will have a tougher battle to keep your marriage together than we ever faced. We didn’t have the lack of respect children appear to have today. Respect for parents, the law and any kind of authority. Why this is so I will not guess. We only know it is a huge problem today and one that can drive parents to distraction making a lasting marriage tougher to attain.

Five Must-do item for a long lasting marriage.

Ladies, if your husband has not read this article , be sure to print it off and leave it where he cannot miss it.

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The use of baby slings, or “baby wearing? as it’s sometimes called, is very common in many cultures around the world. More parents in the United States are learning about baby wearing from attachment parenting books and websites, and are realizing the benefits are numerous. The sling a comfortable and simple way of carrying your little one, and can be used for infants and toddlers alike. It’s simple to be discreet when breastfeeding if you’re using a sling and it is much friendlier to mom and dad’s skeletons than backpacks and simple arm toting.

Evidence has also shown that babies in slings are less susceptible becoming colicky, and are less likely to spit up excessively.  Slings have also been shown to lower mortality rate in premature infants, and that the natural movement and stimulation provided by being in a sling promotes neurological development. 

One of the greatest benefits of baby wearing is that either mom or dad can more easily complete daily tasks around the house. 

Lastly, babies who are nurtured in a sling realize they are safe, secure and loved, and the sling assists in continuing the bonding process.  Parents who use a sling are usually more tuned in to their baby’s needs, and the baby finds comfort in the sling environment which simulates the pressure, motion and warmth sensations they experienced before birth in the womb.  It can also reduce fussiness and crying , and can help lull your little one to sleep.  They’re more likely to sleep longer and more comfortably while in a sling as well.  It can also help reduce the level of stress hormones in your baby.  All of these result in a more restful night’s sleep for both baby and parents.

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Besides being the optimal source of nutrition for your baby in her first year, nursing has obvious psychological benefits for both mother and baby. At birth, infants see only 12 to 15 inches, the distance between a nursing baby and its mother’s face. Studies have found that infants as young as 1 week prefer the smell of their own mother’s milk.

Many psychologists believe the nursing baby enjoys a sense of security from the warmth and presence of the mother, especially when there’s skin-to-skin contact during feeding. Parents of bottle-fed babies may be tempted to prop bottles in the baby’s mouth, with no human contact during feeding. But a nursing mother must cuddle her infant closely many times during the day. Nursing becomes more than a way to feed a baby; it’s a source of warmth and comfort.

When the baby is being fed and nurtured in this way, it’s natural for her to fall asleep quickly. When you know how much she can consume in one feeding, try to gently nudge her awake if she falls asleep too soon. You can easily rouse her with a little tickle of the feet.  Otherwise, she’ll get hungry sooner and you’ll be feeding her more often.

Breast-feeding is good for new mothers as well as for their babies. There are no bottles to sterilize and no formula to buy, measure and mix. It may be easier for a nursing mother to lose the pounds of pregnancy as well, since nursing uses up extra calories. Lactation also stimulates the uterus to contract back to its original size.

A nursing mother is forced to get needed rest. She must sit down, put her feet up, and relax every few hours to nurse. Nursing at night is easy as well. No one has to stumble to the refrigerator for a bottle and warm it while the baby cries. If she’s lying down , a mother can doze while she nurses.

About the author

Every part of our society seems to shift attention away from the family. We never have time for anything anymore and cant seem to squeeze time in for our kids. Meaningful calls from our children have now transformed into 3 word text messages. Our teens are becoming more independent and media influences them to think glamor and fame are essential in life. No wonder teens are struggling when they come to grips with reality.

As parents we still desire to live how we remember our own childhoods. Family dinner at 6. Telling our parents about our day at school. Going to soccer practice and having our brothers and sisters watch the big game on Saturday afternoon at the local park. Good family values make us happy as humans.

So what do parents do if their , which makes it easier to help them. They will start to learn discipline and respect. Education is something they will learn to value most above anything else. They learn how to make correct choices and how to deal with consequences.

Contact us and we can walk you through some options you have as a parent. teenoptions.com 800-591-0115

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We have all done it.  Well, maybe not the few perfect parents out there but for the rest of us… we say “no” to our children only to allow them to change our mind.  When the “yes” comes out of our mouths, we usually regret it but… too late. 

And, for those few perfect parents out there, (the ones that have perfected effective parenting skills) although we cheer you, please keep your perfection to yourself!  See, we actually admire your parenting skills but we just don’t want to know about it.  In comparison, we would just feel worse!  We know we have good parenting skills, we just haven’t had the energy to perfect them, yet!

So, here are the dreaded words… that come out of OUR MOUTHS!

Well, okay, but just this time. Don’t ask again!!!!!

Sound familiar? And we wonder why our children won’t accept the answer the first time.  And, although it isn’t ha ha funny, it is truly humorous that we are amazed and frustrated at how often the children push our “no” into “yes”.  We absolutely know it is because we give in too many times but we just don’t have the energy to argue out the issue. 

So, how do we get our children to respect our answer “No” the first time? Easy, say “NO” and mean it. It isn’t open for discussion.

Most of us have experienced the store scenes? we say “No”, the child throws a fit and either we give in or we think the world suspects we’re horrible parents.

Either way, so-be-it!

All too often we forget we are the parents and allowed to make the decisions. Some decisions we encourage the children to make, but that too is our decision. If we fail to take control, how can we expect any different from our children?

When your child is asking something that you are unprepared to answer, tell them that you will think about it. At that point, tell the child when you will give them an answer. If the child pesters you by bringing it up again, give them one and only one warning. A simple warning that will only take once to be effective: “If you ask me again before____, I will give you the opposite answer of what you want.” If they ask again, make your point and turn the request down. Of course it will be painful, but it should only take once. If not, keep up the consistency until they take you seriously.

If you are asked a question and decide to say “No,” look directly in the eyes of your child or speak lovingly, but firmly on the phone and say “No.” If you choose to explain, that is fine, but be careful. Once you start explaining too much, that leaves room for debate. You must say “No,” give a short explanation as to why, and end the conversation. The child may pursue you and attempt to engage in a discussion as to why you are wrong and they are right. Don’t allow it. Listen attentively, give them a hug, tell them you heard them but the answer remains “No” and there will be no further discussion. If you need to, walk away. But do not offer any further discussion regarding the subject. If they still continue, ignore them. It will be hard, but if you stick to your decisions they will become final , for real!

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