Permission to Parent: The Mindful Parenting Conundrum
Mindful parenting is a buzzword that has been gaining a lot of traction in recent years, and with good reason. There are many benefits, but as with any parenting trend, a completely mindful approach, won’t work for everyone.
Simply put, being mindful (whether it pertains to eating, parenting or life) means learning to slow down and becoming aware of your thoughts and feelings, so that you can be present in the current moment/situation.
How to spare the rod without spoiling the child
With South-Africa’s new anti-spanking legislation, even parents who are responsible and loving spankers simply cannot afford to stick to their guns (or wooden spoons) and continue their normal disciplining tactics.
A modern teen and a screen go hand in hand (quite literally, if you consider how their smart phones are glued to their palms). While this phenomenon is a natural product of the digital age, it is also very unnatural on many levels.
Holidays are amazing, and so is letting go of the everyday routine with our kids, but we all know how hard it can be to re-establish routine once the fun is over:
“Ungrateful, selfish brats” were definitely not what most of us envisaged our sweet little babies to grow up as. Yet, many of us are often appalled to find – when we are really honest with ourselves – that our youngsters are in fact, well… ungrateful, selfish brats.
I am often posed with the question of whether children should be involved in chores in the home. My answer is always a resounding “Yes!” But, before I answer this question I think we should clarify the difference between jobs and chores.
A few fabulous ideas to get you thinking on how to be creative and engage your children this holiday!
Are you a busy parent? You can now become an empowered parent in the privacy of your own home (and in your own time) with the help of international parenting coach Andalene Salvesen (aka Super Granny), author of a Brand New Child in 5 Easy Steps and co-author of Raising Happy Healthy Children.
Inspired by Professor Johan Mostert’s (PhD, AOG Seminary, Springfield Missouri) book, Kinders, Tieners en Soortgelyke Rampe (which can roughly be translated as Children, Teenagers and Similar Disasters), the purpose of this ‘Peace in the Home’ diagram is to encourage you to stand back and see your situation in perspective. It depicts the different aspects of parenting to consider when you are confronted with a situation.