The Commandments of a Perfect Mom: A Guide to Happy Parenting
Introduction
Every mother strives to give her child the best. However, the ideas of what is best for the child vary from person to person. What you consider right might differ completely from the opinions of your grandmother, friend, or another mother. No matter how hard you try to follow their advice, someone will always think you’re wrong. But the worst thing is when you, after listening to all the advice, desperately want to become a perfect mom.
The Truth About Perfect Moms
Fortunately, children don’t need perfect moms; they just need good moms. A good mother is a woman who is calm and content with her life. So, don’t get nervous when you hear another “You’re a mother, so you should…” Let’s figure out together what you really should do.
Breastfeeding: To Do or Not To Do
Breast milk is the ideal food for a baby. It is easily digestible, contains all the necessary nutrients, and breastfeeding helps the mother and baby establish a closer bond. Therefore, make an effort to establish full breastfeeding. But if you can’t, don’t despair. Use a quality milk formula and hold your baby in your arms while feeding. Don’t blame yourself for not being able to breastfeed; remember that formula from a balanced and happy mother is better for the baby than breast milk from a stressed mother.
Entertaining Your Child: Finding the Balance
Children are wonderful inventors who can entertain themselves perfectly. Moreover, they sometimes need to be left alone to invent their own games and entertainment. This promotes the development of their imagination, independence, and ingenuity. While a child plays with an adult, they remain led, so they cannot fully express themselves. So, even if your child loves playing with you, don’t try to entertain them all the time they are awake.
Loving Your Children Equally: Is It Possible?
Unfortunately, it’s impossible. Parents always love their children differently. For example, the love for one child may contain more care, while for another, it may be more demanding. No matter how much mothers and fathers assure that they treat their children equally, most parents still have favorites. This is not terrible if the other children are sure that they are also loved and if the parents do not treat them unfairly.
The main thing is to give the children equal amounts of attention, not to let the favorite child control you, and not to make concessions for them. If children feel that one of them is allowed more than the other, it can cause discord in the family.
Keeping Your Cool: Managing Your Emotions
Do you sometimes feel like you’re just bursting with anger? The child doesn’t want to obey or help around the house? This can upset anyone’s balance. Don’t pretend that you accept such behavior and it doesn’t cause you any emotions. Being angry with a child and showing aggression are completely different things.
Don’t hold back your anger if it’s about to burst out. Let the child understand that their behavior upsets you. And be sure to explain to them what they should do so that you don’t get angry with them.
If you hold back your anger for a long time, you can fall into depression. Then you might really snap at your child. And this will be a shock for them. Their mother was always calm and kind, and suddenly… Don’t bring it to this. But even if you yell at your beloved child, don’t torture yourself. It’s better to explain to the child later what caused your anger.
For more insights on parenting, you can refer to authoritative sources like Zero to Three, a renowned organization dedicated to early childhood development.
