Parenting Styles
Summary:
Every grandmother and grandfather will tell you hilarious stories of their children when they were first born. And for every funny and touching story they have, they will be able to tell you another for every hardship they encountered. Parenting is something that is done in many different ways by each parent. The following are four general styles employed by parents.
Authority: Authoritarian parents rule on just that: authority. Commands are given to children that they mus…
Keywords:
parenting,children,kids,parents
Article Body:
Every grandmother and grandfather will tell you hilarious stories of their children when they were first born. And for every funny and touching story they have, they will be able to tell you another for every hardship they encountered. Parenting is something that is done in many different ways by each parent. The following are four general styles employed by parents.
Authority: Authoritarian parents rule on just that: authority. Commands are given to children that they must follow regardless of the circumstances. If these commands are not followed, harsh punishment will ensue. These parents do not welcome feedback from their children. In fact, it is met with severe punishment. The children tend to be quiet and unhappy. They have more of a fear than a love for their parents. Male children have trouble dealing with anger and female children have trouble facing adversity due to their heavily structured life where nothing ever changes.
Indulgent: Indulgent parents tend to be described as lenient. They allow immature and childish behavior. These parents expect the children to learn from their mistakes and to fend for themselves in most times of need. These parents tend to be democratic and allow for feedback from there children on issues. They will hear both sides of an argument and usually make a compromise. Indulgent parents usually avoid confrontation with their children by all means, but do tend to be more involved and emotionally closer to their children.
Authoritative: Authoritative parents are a combination of the two styles previously mentioned. They are the happy medium. While expecting proper behavior from their children, they welcome feedback and questioning on certain issues. They’re able to demand things of their children but are also able to respond to what they’re child says, questions and requests. These children tend to be the happiest, most confident and self assured of all the mentioned parenting styles. It is very difficult to be a purely authoritative parent.
Passive: Passive parenting is being completely uninvolved. These parents may never be home due to immaturity, work or the like. These children are usually raised by grandparents, older siblings, babysitters or themselves. There is no parental involvement at all.
We wish you many happy stories!
Tips for Taking Great Baby Pictures – Even If You’re Not a Professional
When my daughter Layla was born I had a hard time putting the camera down. And apparently I wasn’t the only one. The cashier at the photo developing shop told me that new parents comprised a fairly sizable chunk of their business.
We can’t help it! Babies are such beautiful creatures that you want to capture every new movement and every fleeting smile that comes along. (Even if that smile is attached to a smelly gas bubble!)
However the problem many parents have is that their lack of good photography skills can translate into pictures that are too dark, too bright, blurry, out of focus, uncentered, and so on. Perhaps this describes you.
If so, don’t sweat it. These problems are easily fixable. An album full of mishaps can quickly be transformed by following these 4 tips…
1) When taking pictures of babies lying on their backs, stand directly over them and shoot straight down.
I used to take a solid color baby blanket and place it on the floor in a bright, sun filled room. When I was ready to take a picture I would put Layla on the blanket, and adjust it around her, making sure not to put her directly in the sunlight. Then I’d get on my knees right over her, aim straight down and snap away.
This technique will allow you to center the camera properly and you’ll get some great close-up shots. The natural sunlight will often give you just enough light so your picture isn’t too dark or too bright.
2) Capture a range of emotions.
Smiling babies are cute. But so are crying babies and pouting babies and messy babies and sleeping babies.
Be sure to take pictures of your little one in all phases of his or her emotion filled life. You’ll be amazed at how truly beautiful they are in non-traditional picture taking situations.
3) Make bath time picture time.
While there are some babies who don’t like water, most love it. They often become very expressive in the bath tub – laughing, cooing and splashing. So bath time often becomes a great opportunity to capture a few precious shots of your little one.
I’ve personally used the bathtub to document how Layla has changed over her 2+ years. Every couple of months I take a few close-up pictures of her in the bathtub. Then I take the best one and place it in a special section in the photo album.
It’s truly amazing to see how her face changes so dramatically with each new picture.
4) If you use a disposable camera, choose a good one.
I purchased 3 dirt cheap disposable cameras before I had Layla. When we brought her home these were the ones we used for the first week of photo taking.
Boy was I disappointed! The pictures developed horribly. And as a new mommy with hormones still raging, you know how sad this made me. Those cuddly little moments can never be relived again.
I learned a good lesson though. You get what you pay for.
Now my disposable camera of choice is the Kodak Max HQ. It’s one of the more pricey disposable cameras. However the quality is fantastic in comparison to other disposables I’ve used.
You can usually buy them inexpensively on eBay. Popular retailers like Target and Wal-Mart also run sales on them quite frequently.
Baby Shower Gifts That Mom Will Love
With the pregnancy bug in the water system, you are bound to know someone who is having a baby, if you aren’t having one yourself. Pregnant women equal shopping time. Here are 5 gifts that any mother will most certainly be appreciative of. The baby shower gift ideas are great for those who are shopping or for mom’s to put on their gift registry.
- Diapers, diapers and more diapers. That is quite a bland gift but a very much needed gift. I don’t any mom who will complain about having too many diapers with a newborn at home. To make diapers snazzy you have to dress it up a bit. You can find diaper cakes in lots of gift sites. Some come with as many as 150 diapers, plus booties, bibs and tons of other essentials for baby, but all in the shape of an all so cute cake.
- Layettes, blankets, socks and burp cloths. Chances are they are going to get tons of these. However, these gifts tend to come in newborn or 3 months sizes which after a few weeks probably won’t serve its purpose anymore. Making this a great gift is if you buy them in larger sizes. After a few months, mom still has brand new gifts for the baby to enjoy.
- Pamper products for Mom. The last few weeks of pregnancy are very uncomfortable and can be hard on Mom. Let Mom have the star treatment as well. Once the baby is born, Mom’s 15 minutes of fame are over.
- Savings Bonds. A savings bond is a great way to help invest in the child’s future. While everyone is thinking of now you are thinking ahead. It may also help jumpstart parents to jumpstart on baby’s future if they haven’t already.
- Gift Certificates. You can never go wrong with a gift certificate. Mom and Dad get to choose what they want and you gave them that satisfaction. The obvious choice for a gift certificate would where the registry is set up. If they do not have a registry set up, good choices could include their favorite supermarket (formula, diapers) or baby store. Another gift certificate idea could be a check card gift certificate. It works like a credit card and can be used anywhere.
Tip: I don’t suggest buying clothing unless the parents-to-be suggested so. Chances are they have already gone shopping and couldn’t resist those tiny adorable outfits.
Great Ways To Enrich Your Children’s Conscience
Summary:
Children are living with curiosity. They learn lots of things in life, gifted naturally with intuition, and open toward everything they find.
Everything seems to be interesting to them. That’s why they want to know about many things. It’s indeed a sign of good development.
Parents need to help children develop their conscience, which will be a great means of getting spiritual experiences. Through these, they’ll learn about self-esteem and moral values.
Of course pa…
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Children are living with curiosity. They learn lots of things in life, gifted naturally with intuition, and open toward everything they find.
Everything seems to be interesting to them. That’s why they want to know about many things. It’s indeed a sign of good development.
Parents need to help children develop their conscience, which will be a great means of getting spiritual experiences. Through these, they’ll learn about self-esteem and moral values.
Of course parents want children have and familiar with good values in life. As parents, what can you do then? Here are 5 ways you can do to enrich their conscience:
- Give good examples. What you say and do everyday reflect what you think about the world. If you say good stuff, your children will do the same. Children are great imitators. It’s important for you to say and do nice things anytime anywhere.
- Listen when they talk. Sometimes your children ask questions that sound silly to adults, like “Mom, where does the sun sleep when the night comes?” Listen to them and answer seriously, “The sun doesn’t sleep. It shines in other places in the world.” By listening, children will feel that they get respect from their parents.
- Show happiness. Show and share all the happiness and positive energy and thoughts with the children. If you’re happy, they’re happy too. By doing this, the children will learn that life is enjoyable.
- Introduce them to nature. Tell them that all things happen in the world are connected to each other and that there’s a reason for it. For example, water is needed to irrigate plants and plants are food source for other living creatures.
- Be flexible with your rules. Children should be informed about what they should do. However, always take notice on their development. There will be time when they can decide what they want to do. By being flexible with your rules, children will stay cheerful and expressive.
Those 5 tips are actually easy to carry out. Just place yourself as your children’s parents and friends as well.
Again, remember that children are good imitators. Once you do or say something bad, there’s a great chance that they will do or say the same.
Love Languages and Those Who Contribute at Home
The work around a house or apartment has got to be some of the least thanked work ever created. Whether it is the yard work on the weekend, plumbing as it arises, daily dishes & errand running, we tend to overlook the assistance that our spouse and children offer us regularly.
Part of why being at home is so tiring for some is the simple fact that the ongoing work of maintaining regular life is hardly regarded as special.
We don’t forget to say thank you for trips to Hawaii, or Prague (gift love-language).
We sparkle with delight after a full body massage (touch love-language).
We treasure all those times of close one-on-one talks (quality time love-language).
But what about gifts of service? Do we appreciate those?…………….. sometimes.
When someone in your house regularly contributes to the existence of the household—be sure to commend them. The trick is that you need to give back appreciation/love in a way that they recognize it.
Find out the number 1 love language of the family member that is contributing to your household running smoothly. Then show them love by speaking that language to them. For instance, lets say your husband mows the lawn and fixes the electrical problems around the house. He also irons, walks the dog, changes the baby in the middle of the night, and waxes your car by hand after every wash. Now, he is obviously contributing love to you and the family through the language of gifts of service.
Does that mean you are to do service back to him so he can feel loved too? Sometimes. In some cases being tended to or waited on will help him feel loved and reciprocated to. However, he may have grown up watching his dad do those things and merely believes that is the way to show love. This may be one way he contributes but doesn’t prove it is his love language.
Do a study on him. Find out what his PRIMARY love language is so that when he contributes to the household in anyway—you will have ideas of how to appropriately show your appreciation.
Reason I bring this up = If you show appreciation in one of the 4 secondary love languages that rank below your husbands primary love language— he may not fully feel appreciated. He may eventually feel taken advantage of, and slowly over time he may decrease his input in this way. So, if you want the help to continue be sure to show your appreciation in HIS primary language.
Example:
If “Tom” has a primary language of touch—then hugs, kisses, and caresses would be appropriate to say Thank You.
If “Tom” has a primary language of gifts — then perhaps a new golf club or video game might be nice to say Thank You.
If “Tom” primarily speaks the love language of words of affirmation—then be sure to praise him during and after his service.
If “Tom” leans towards the love language of quality time—then go someplace alone to hang out and spend time together, or send the kids to bed early so you can cuddle and talk.
Finally, If indeed “Tom” primarily values love through the giving and receiving of acts of service then find some ways for you to contribute to his life through some acts of service—pick up dry cleaning, wash his car, have dinner ready get the house & kids cleaned before he gets home etc.
As I have told several of you…. We speak 5 unique languages.
It is not enough to just pick one and speak it to everyone in the house.
If your son or daughter are “touch” kids and you primarily use words of affirmation to show love… chances are they are not feeling ALL the love you are trying to show. A simple hug, or touching of toes while watching a video would go much much further for that “touch” kid.
Each person is unique. And they develop their own world accordingly. It actually is possible to be showing someone a HUGE amount of love—yet they complain they are not loved at all / or at least enough. This is a simple sad truth. The reason for it is they register love primarily in a love language that you are not using to give back.
So let’s fix that !!
If you are in a family or friendship with someone that is feeling under appreciated—take an inventory to discover their primary love language.
Then try for 20 days to daily show them 3 small doses of love in THEIR love language of choice.
When it is all done after 20 days… send me an email and tell me of all the differences that came about from your giving love in the way they needed it.
Until next time– all the best,