Parenting tricks from Marissa Anastasi: Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff. Lean into your support system. You can’t do everything, so don’t try. If someone offers to help with housework, cooking, errands – TAKE IT! You are not a failure for asking for help. Self-care is important. You can’t be the best Mom you can be if your own gas tank is empty. Accept help and make sure you take care of yourself too!
Understand That the Parent-Child Bond Is a Relationship like All Others. “It takes work. Lots of it, so expect that there will be times when it feels hard to connect [with your child] or that you need to work through some issues,” says Kelly and Perren. “Meditation and reflection are really helpful tools for this, as is leaning on your mom friends as all mothers go through this with their kids,” they advise. “Sometimes, although you have it in you, you just need a little guidance to get back on track,” the founders add. Expect that there will be times when it feels hard to connect [with your child] or that you need to work through some issues.
Get to know their friends. This does not mean scrutinize your child’s friends because they have a Mohawk in liberty spikes. It means get to know the kid with the Mohawk in liberty spikes. Share information about yourself and ask them information. Act as if you are talking to an adult, not a kid you are “looking over.” Ask them about their favorite subject (it may be the same as yours when you were in school and that would be a great conversation opener.). Instead of asking the kid WHY he has his hair in liberty spikes (or the Mohawk for that matter) ask him HOW he got them that way. Stay neutral and don’t put them on the defensive. Find extra details at Motherhood blog.
Having the privilege to nourish, nurture, teach and watch your child grow. It’s a surreal, rewarding, challenging experience that I love. It has given me a deeper appreciation for my own Mom and given me new confidence and purpose. I love surprise cuddles, the presentation of flowers picked on a walk and given with wide eyes and a beaming smile. When he masters a new skill and the pride and excitement of that. When you suddenly realize that you have become something of a cross between a superhero, warrior, full of love woman and you cannot possibly imagine any other experience transforming you in the way that being a Mom has done.
My blog is really about my passions in life and my struggles and it’s probably the same for many people. I feel like I could share a lot of experiences, good and bad and blogging also gives me a platform to share moments in our ever-changing life from babies, young kids to teenagers. There’s a mixture of topics, not just motherhood but lifestyle, house design, fashion, travel. I’m passionate about supporting small businesses, especially local ones and those that are run by mums like myself, as I know first-hand how difficult this is and how much the small shops need local support to survive. If YOU have a small business and would like to collaborate, please contact me…. ALL FOR SMALL!! Discover additional info on www.marissaanastasi.com.