Tuesday November 10, 2009
I've been thinking recently about how we parent our children differently as they grow older. We still love them like crazy, but as time passes, we step back a bit and let them try out their independence. No matter how old they are, though, some things don't change: they still need to be loved, and to know they are loved.
That can be a little tricky, though, because sometimes you may think you're communicating love--particularly in all the things you do for your kids, day in and day out--but they're looking for love to come in a different form. Gary Chapman, in his book The Five Love Languages, points out that we all feel love in different ways. You may have one child who feels most loved when you spend chunks of one-on-one time with her, and another who feels most loved when you affirm him with words.
Chapman also points out that some kids feel most loved through physical touch, such as hugs and wresting; through service, such as making their breakfast every day; or through gifts.
The trick is to find out what each child's love language is, and look for ways to weave that into your interactions, so that what you're intending to communicate really does get through.
For more on The Five Love Languages, read Communicating in Your Child's Love Language or Parenting With the Five Love Languages.
Related: 7 Words to Include in a Letter to Your Child
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Saturday November 7, 2009
This week's highlights include a discussion of whether dating single parents should let their significant others have a say in child discipline, a popular myth about single parents dispelled, and more.
On the Blogs:
When Do I Let My Boyfriend Discipline My Kid? - Rachel wonders whether her daughter is learning to play her and her boyfriend just a bit.
Is Divorcing a Military Member More Complicated - Cathy explains some of the differences between civilian and military divorce.
In the News:
Most Teen Parents Not Raised in Poverty, by Single Parents - The myth about a connection between teen pregnancies and single parent households gets dispelled.
State Hopes to Update Child Support Guidelines - Maryland is considering the first major update to their child support guidelines since 1988.
Photo © njgphoto of www.istockphoto.com.
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Thursday November 5, 2009
Want to spend less on kids' toys this holiday season? Grab a cup of coffee, and spend some time reading your newspaper's most recent toy ads. Several stores, including Wal-Mart and Target, are offering price matching this season, which means they'll match any price printed in a competitor's ad circular. This kind of bargain hunting may require more of a time investment up front, while you're comparing ads and planning your shopping strategy. However, spending less time running from store to store, and knowing that you're getting the best price, is well worth it. Just don't let your kids find your stash of marked-up toy ads!
Online Price Matching Policies: Wal-Mart | Target
Read More Thrifty Thursday Blog Posts on the About.com Parenting Channel:
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Tuesday November 3, 2009
I think October was just about the most action-packed month we've ever had. Between soccer, football, my daughter's broken arm, both kids having a flu-like-virus, and various other activities and obligations, it seemed like there wasn't a single date on the calendar that wasn't filled with something to do (or devoted to recuperating). So when I turned the calendar over this week to November, I was thrilled to see nothing written down for this weekend! It's so exciting to be free to choose something fun, or even to deliberately choose to do nothing at all.
What about you? If you have a couple of hours to spare this weekend, see if you can plan a fun, seasonal activity with your kids, like going hiking or baking your favorite pumpkin treat. For ideas, read 30 Fun Things to Do With Your Kids This Fall.
Related: Ten Weeks of Fun Fall Activities.
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