I find the funniest thing about being a young mom is the astonished looks from "older" moms when they see how I parent. Like they think I let my child eat chips and drink koolaid all day while running about peeing and pooping on the floor.
So, how do you raise your child(ren)? What types of food are mainly consumed, how is discipline handled, religious beliefs, bedtimes, routine, etc?
With Hayley im really into making sure she gets enough protien and calcium. I cook her breakfast 90% of the time which usually consist of turkey bacon, an egg, yogurt, and a piece of fruit. Lunches are either at preschool, or on the weekends it consist of Boca nuggets and beans(she loves to eat cold beans out of the can- her and my mom will do this for breakfast on Saturdays) She usually has a snack of fruit, cheese, grahm crackers or something of the sort. Dinners are typical family meals.
Im really picky about her consuming junk food and soda. I know her dad and his mom allow huge amounts of cheetos and sugary fruit punches, but I limit her intake on chips/cheetos to about once a month and she'll have a drink of my moms Pepsi a few times a week. Its not that I think people who allow their children to consume these things are wrong, its just that i want to delay that addiction as long as possible :D
I believe in time outs. I think that when a child gets to the point of acting out in anger, back talking, or just emotionally exhausted they need to take a break. I also think that its important for them to realise that if theyre going to hit, push , scream, etc., they will be removed from whatever activity that is taking place. Hayley rarely has to have one at this point, and usually when she needs one she is the one to say , " I have and attitude im going to my room for a time out!". She also slams the bedroom door at the point, which I dont get on her for because im the same way :oops: :lol:
Hayley attends church about 2 times a month with either her dads mom or a friend of mine. She really enjoys it and likes to sing "Jesus Loves Me". I want her to have a faith in this world when it seems like nothing else is there. If she gets to a point where she doesnt want to go or has different beliefs it will be her decision to make. I will fully support whatever she comes to believe.
Bedtime is 8:00pm for Hayley and shes up by 7- if not I wake her up. She takes a nap in the afternoon around 12:30/1.
Since its summer time she is swimming a lot. And she now can SWIM like a big girl!!!!!!!! We also go out and jump on our trampoline. SHe watches about 30mins of cartoons in the morning, but other than that shes active all day.
Horrible mom alert! :D
My kids eat whatever. McDonald's, Burger King, Mac n cheese, whatever. Fruits, sandwiches, hot dogs, whatever.
Discipline is usually yelling, taking away privileges, or in extreme cases, a smack.
We try to go to church at least once a week, I found a great one a few months back. I've taken them on Wednesday nights, too. They love Sunday school. I myself am Presbyterian but we go to one of those large ampitheater Assemblies of God churches.
Bedtime is whenever they grow tired of protesting. Seriously. One night it can be 8:30pm, and the next night it can be 11:00pm. I've tried to set bedtimes but they end up screwing around in bed for HOURS and I've just grown too tired of running in the bedroom getting all upset, and they don't listen to me anyway. So as long as they're quiet and laying still I just don't care.
Routine? None to really speak of, unless you count work and daycare. Our meals are never scheduled.
I don't seem like a very "fun" mommy, in any aspect really ;) My son is vegetarian, he doesn't eat dairy, but he does have eggs. We have a lot of tofu, soy alternatives, lentils, kale, asparagus, beans, rice, all that .. fun stuff, heh. (It sounds like a gross way to live, but he loves it all). I'm not too amazingly rigid though, he gets chips once in a while, never any pop but we do give him diluted sugar free iced tea, and he drinks potato milk.
As for discipline, I don't discipline him really. I talk to him, I'll use a stronger voice if he's doing something he shouldn't, if he's hitting with a toy he gets the toy taken away for an hour. We don't do time outs yet, although we probably will when he gets a tad older. I don't believe in spanking. He's still *knock on wood* a really well behaved child. He's thrown one temper tantrum in his life, he's just a sweet quiet little boy. I'm counting on that to change, though ;)
As for religion, I'm not going to take him to church. It took me a while to come to that decision. I'm going to raise him spiritually, with a strong sense of native culture, and when he gets old enough to be curious about any organized religions, then we'll take him to whichever church he wants to check out.
Bedtimes, He goes to bed @ 9:00 every night. He gets a bath an hour before bed time, and a book right before bed. He still wakes up once during the night, but I don't mind. Once in a while if he's really worked up and bedtime's coming close, we'll put a movie on for him so he can unwind a bit. We don't let him watch television and we won't get cable, but he has some disney movies and children's movies.
Routines, things aren't very routine yet for him. We've been lucky enough to have a relative be able to sit for him in our house, so he wakes up usually between 8:30-9:00 am, plays all day, goes to the park, eats whenever he's hungry, takes his nap between 12:00-1:00 every day. That'll change though, as we're getting him into a dayhome in September, he'll start to need a bit more set routine.
I get a lot of flack for my parenting. I've been told I deny my son a childhood since he eats healthily and doesn't watch TV, and that it's child abuse not to give him meat, etc. I've never ran into a doctor that didn't applaud me for it though, they're wary at first but I tell them how I supplement and they think it's great. My son still has a great childhood, we still roll around in the grass together, and laugh together. I'm on my knees chasing him and playing with him for the majority of the days, go to the parks, etc. So really, any one else who thinks otherwise, gets a big earful, because I know I'm doing the best I can. If they don't agree, they can shoo, because it's my life and my son's life, and they aren't at all involved.
My parenting style is a mixture of things.
Chloe's nursing and I plan on letting her wean when she's ready, but I do offer alternatives (sippy, snack, cuddles) to nursing sometimes. We eat meat, but I try and have at least one meat free day a week and include many veggies in our meals. I like giving her "dips" (yogurt, cottage cheese, pb, even ranch dressing) to dip her veggies/fruits in (she discovered ketchup thanks to a neighbor kid and loves that too, but if i don't want her she'll only eat the dip..). She's had cookies, chocolate, and junk food but it's in moderation.
She gets time outs, but that's usually for something very unacceptable (like biting, hitting, or throwing things at people), otherwise I distract her attention (by sitting her in a quiet area with a book or puzzle since she loves those). She's a very shy girl in public, but can be a handful when it's just her.
We go to church each week, but she's in the nursery playing with toys during it (I teach and A helps me so it's easier that way). She has a few Bible based books too. I disagree with many people in my Church and in other churches, so I hope that will show Chloe that she doesn't have to believe everything others do to be spiritual if she wants to be.
The only real routine we have is trying to get her to sleep around 9pm. Otherwise our days aren't very organized, but that will change when she's back in Even Start.
I've been told I'm spoiling her for attending to what she wants when she wants it, but from the same people I hear how good she is. I think that we all do our best.
Are you joking?
I have a bit of a mixed parenting style.
Im a vegetarian and and the food at home is all veg, too but my kids eat chicken when they visit their grandparents. I have NEVER given my kids McDonald's, they have never had soda.
I do not ever spank. I use time-outs and take away privileges.
I have yelled before, because sometimes, after 5.5 of parenting I get a little tired and impatient, but it's very rare for me to raise my voice.
Bed time is 8:00 during the winter and 9:00 during the summer. Well, this is the first summer it's been 9:00 and it's gone OK so far. I work 40 hours a week and we live at the beach, so I try to fit in as much fun as possible.
We went to church regulalry until a few months ago. I'm church shopping. I beleive in God, but I've had political issues with the church, so I'm looking for a place that is more apropriate for me.
Food is usually cooked "whole foods." Our junk dinner, about once a week, is organic gemelli alfredo- YUM!! M loves eggs, potatos, green beans, peaches, and lots of fruits and veggies. We don't consume a lot of dairy- some butter and cheese a few times a month. We drink goat milk about once a month for a treat and I cook with it occasionally. He loves tea. He drinks more than he should. He NEVER gets his own soda but he does sip my g-mas sometimes. Although often her "soda" is actually water so he gets very little. He doesn't like sweets so he doesn't eat them often but he will share ice cream with my grandpa sometimes. He eats chicken but that is the only meat he consumes, by his choice.
I have allowed my child to eat fast food when I could not get him to eat anything else (like when he's been sick on antibiotics.) He's had it rarely.
I do not ever spank either. I have yelled. When I do- I tell him I'm sorry for not using an appropriate voice and we try again. Most of the time I tell him to walk away from something he doesn't need to be into and I take his hand and act excited at the thing he CAN do. I do use time out for physical violence against another person.
We go to a church and I like it there. I don't like the nursery so I don't leave him in there but I like the vibe of the church.
So, how do you raise your child(ren)? What types of food are mainly consumed, how is discipline handled, religious beliefs, bedtimes, routine, etc?
Ok, Well Eric is only going to be one so mine might be alittle different but.
For food, he doesnt eat meat but he has a lot of beans, and veggies and fruits. His favorite foods are refried beans, sliced avocado and banana pieces. He likes to feed himself. He still has a few bottles of formula a day and is ocassionally breastfed, but more for comfort than for nourishment. Obviously he doesnt eat the "bad" foods to give babies like peanut butter, honey and eggs. He doesnt get milk but for a treat i give him a little taste of ice cream and he has like mac and cheese. But he usually just eats whatever I am eating.
Basically my discipline is saying a lot of no, and recently saying gentle touch because he is starting to hit :shock: ... I dont use physical discipline and I dont plan to. If he is doing something bad I usually just try to help him find something that is not bad because he really doesnt know or care I think.
As for religious beliefs, well I took him to my moms lutheran church a few times but I personally just get bored, so I guess you could say none of the above? I plan on teaching him a variety of religion beliefs and kind of letting him decide for himself what to believe.
Bedtime is between 9:00 and 10:00 most nights, unless occasionally we have an activity that goes late. I base his bedtime on how tired he seems but he is pretty much always ready for bed by 10.
Routine, varies by my work schedule depending on when I have to work and if its a weekday. On weekdays when I work at 9, he is at daycare by 8:30 when I have to work at 1, I usually drop him off around 10-11 because i sometimes need to get stuff done, and when I work at 4 I try to take him and do soemthing fun, but sometimes I drop him off at daycare and go back to sleep... yeah I know I'm bad. Every day that he is at daycare, he gets picked up by the time they close at 5. He usually has dinner around 6 or 630 then plays till about 830, has a bath and gets ready for bed.
I think thats about it.
i dont think i have a style so to say.
ive always had a laid back schedule and so has riley. though with kindergarten right around the corner things are really going to have to change. i think now is the time for riley to sleep in her own bed and im hoping that i can start a fairly rigid night time routine in the next week or so.
as far as food... well im a horrid cook. we are huge snackers. thankfully my kid would rather have grapes and apples than anything else. with our schedlue consisting of her gone for two full days, and us eating with my parents at least once a week, i dont have to prepare to much around here. we are huge meat eaters, we love salads, and riley loves pasta and rice. so that is what we eat the most of.
discipline??? well lots has changed in six years. time out worked well, till she was using them more as time out for her than for her behaviour. we do lots of talking and riley has lost priviledges in the past.
I have never followed any kind of schedule/parenting style/whatever.
We eat when we are hungry. I make sure she eats a large variety of healthy foods but I am a single mom,and sometimes Wendy's saves the day. For breakfast,she usually has a bowl of healthy cereal while I let her watch cartoons so I can get ready.
She eats lunch at school, i usually pack her a sandwich,fruit,and yogurt, or leftovers from dinner.For snack she likes dried fruit and crackers. I dont mind if she eats cookies sometimes. And she looves popsicles.
She usually falls asleep about 10 pm but she's not a kid who requires a lot of sleep.
I have taken her to church maybe 3 times. I think I will take her when she's a little older. We pray at night when one of us remembers. Sometimes she asks to say "my prayer" which is the Hail Mary. But more often than not,we just read stories and cuddle up in my bed and she falls asleep.
Discipline is time outs and talking things out calmly. I have been known to lose my patience and spank her,but I have been working on that and doing soooo much better.
My whole parenting philosophy is very laid back,but I know that kids need discipline to feel loved. SO i try to work that in there however I can. That's the hardest part for me. I am very adament about herr using manners and not demanding things or whining. I also make sure to tell her about money and how we don't have a lot of it.Now if she asks for a toy at the store, she understands "I would love to buy it for you,but I just don't have the money". I told her all about the tsunami disaster when that happened. I try to keep things honest with her in a non-scary way.
No, i'm not joking. That is how things go in my house. Why?
I try to be a scheduled and fun parent who is always learning! As far as meals go, we eat probably an 8 or 9 on a scale of ten health wise- we have fast food about once a month (French Fries!) and the occasional treat, but otherwise have carefully monitored consumption. We eat a lot of fruits and veggies, I try to give her three healthy snacks a day and three meals, and I try to limit additives. She really likes butter and margarine, which would be the most unhealthy aspect of her diet. She likes butter so much she gnaws on a stick of it! She loves to pray so we pray before about every meal and dinner for sure.
For discipline we use a mix of time out and natural consequences (including distraction!). I feel like a very patient mom. We also talk A LOT about desired behavior and the differences between acceptable actions and unacceptable ones. I try to raise her to feel a lot of empathy to others and to always care for others.
For bedtime we sometimes do a bath or shower depending on how dirty she is. We have a snack, brush teeth, tell random things goodnight and pee. We have a bedtime schedule regarding who puts her to bed; when I put her to bed I read 10 books and then we say our thanks and sing the ABC song (that will change, as may the books when the get longer). Sometimes she needs extra love so I rock her and sing to her and tell her stories when she asks. She is an "active" child so putting her to bed can be tough and it takes about 45 minutes.
We have a routine that goes something like...
When she wakes up I run to greet her and look as happy as possible. I give her a huge hug and tell her how much I love her and missed her while she was sleeping. We then talk about her dreams and use the potty. Some days she wants to brush her teeth in the morning and then we go have breakfast. I offer her two choices most mornings. After breakfast we chill at the table for a while and color or paint. Then she either takes a shower with me or her dad and the other parent gets ready for the day. We tell dad goodbye and then I clean for about 15-30 minutes while she helps or plays nearby. We go outside after that for about 30 minutes and come back inside for a snack. After snack we either go back outside or have an indoor activity. Then we have lunch, and she colors or "reads" while I prepare it. After lunch cleanup there's five minutes until nap and then we get ready for a nap by reading ten books. I sing to her and then she naps for about two hours. After nap I do the whole "wake up" routine and then she has a snack. We either fold or hang up laundry after her snack and then go outside again. We come inside at about 4:15 so I can start preparing dinner and we eat between 5 and 5:15. After dinner we all clean up and do a family activity. Then it's bedtime. We have certain days of the week for certain activities (outdoor water play, library, biking, playdates, etc) and I work some mornings as a nanny.
I try to limit TV to two-three hours a week. Something my friends think is wierd is that we listen to classical, kid or enya type music when she's awake. sheesh that was long.
I do not follow any style of parenting. I'm trying to parent naturally, meaning that I do what I think is best at that time for my child.
Mornings
Bety wakes up between 8 and 9 PM in the morning. Sometimes she wakes up earlier than 8 but when she's sure I'm asleep and thus not going to pick her up out of her crib, she just goes to sleep again. After she wakes up, I usually take her to the bed with me for a moment or just carry her around the house while I make her tea because she's definitely not the sort of person who'd wake up and be ready for everything in the second, she takes her time. After about five minutes I take her to use the potty. Then I rid her of the diaper she's still using at night, wash her intimate parts and let her run around for a while naked so her skin could breath. Meanwhile I prepare breakfast - she likes to get bread with jam and stuff like that. She never was a huge eater but she's been improving lately, which I'm really happy about.
Evenings
I usually give her bath around 7 PM. Right now in summer we sometimes stay outside longer so it's between 7 - 8 PM. Then I put her PJs on and we have a dinner together. She loves soups so when possible, I give her a warm soup. Then she usually hands me one of her favorite books and I put her on my lap, let her lean against me and read to her. Sometimes she goes to play a little but I make sure she does something she doesn't get too worked up over. Then I take her to se the potty and carry her to the bedroom. When she struggles, we lay down together and we do some talking, then I put her into her crib and she either 1) entertains herself and falls asleep within 10 - 15 minutes, 2) starts crying. Depends on the phase she's just in, her mood etc. She's always had problems sleeping so I'm used to it, and what works best for me is to just leave and try to ignore her. She calms down within 5 minutes and falls asleep within another 5.
Discipline
She's still a little young for time-outs but I plan on trying this out. So far I use distraction or, when she tries to hit (she's trying that though just to find out whether I will allow that or not - you should see that curious look she casts me after each attempt) I tap her fingers lightly, tell her that her hands are not for hitting and try to distract her.
Types of food
We eat everything, really. We don't have a McDonald's or any other type of a junk food restaurant anywhere near us so junk food is out of question for us for now, though I'm not against it. I want junk food to be an occasional treat, though, not something that's done daily. Other than that I allow Bety eat anything she desires because I'm happy that she actually eats. She loves soups, some vegetables and a lot of kinds of fruits.
Religion
My daughter is raised as far from organized religion as possible. I have my reasons. She will, though, be given the choice, just as I have been given the choice by my mother. I generally don't like children being taught religion because they can't really grasp the concept and they are taught something before they can decide whether they want to follow it or not. I will give her true information about any kind of religion she should ask about in the future, but I'm not letting her near any kind of organized religion now, or in the near future.
ok,
i dont follow any certain style really.
the girls get up between 6am-9am depending on their moods..than:
breakfast
cartoons
bath
play
snack
run errands
lunch
nap (emma)
play
snuggles
snack
outside play
dinner
more outside play
the girls usually go to be around 9. i want to get them down earlier because they are cranky before bed normally.
for disapline (cant spell)
i give jaiden time outs if she does something she shouldnt do like jump on emma. other than that i use distraction with emma.
religion.. well i will let the girls choose their own beliefs when they get older.. that isnt for me to decide :)
I don't have a parenting style either. We just go with what works for us.
Xander doesn't eat a lot of junk. I try to limit what not so good foods he does eat during the week b/c hes with his dad on the weekends and well I have no control over that. He eats meat but lots of fruit and veggies. Hes lactose intolerant so he only drinks soy milk and soy yogurt. FOr snacks he eats gram crackers, veggies, fruit, cereal... For breakfast its waffles, eggs or yogurt depending on how hes feeling. Lunch is always meat anf fruit. We live with my parents and so dinner is normally whatever my mom makes, you know the deal, a carb, a meat and veggies.
Xander is in the bath around 8 or 9 each night b/c we try to spend as much time outside as possible after dinner. Hes asleep by 10:30 or 11. I know that sounds bad but with me not getting home from school until 10 or 10:30 its easier for him to stay up with me. He doesn't normally wake up until 8 or 8:30. Oh yea and we cosleep so normally I go to sleep when he does and get up when he does. He also naps at 1 each afternoon.
As far as church goes... he goes when I go, which is like twice a year. As others have said I have yet to find a place that encompasses all my beliefs but whatever Xander wants to check out hes more then welcome.
We are just really getting into disicipline since hes not even two. We don't spank and so its mainly time outs. Once he gets older I am sure taking away privledges will come into play but we're not there yet.
We have a pretty rigid routine. It works very well for us and I think routine benefits children because they know what is coming and what to expect throughout their day. I know I wouldn't like it if my professor told me we were going to have a "surprise" final exam instead of watching a movie some day and I think children are the same way.
M-F
I wake up at 5 and get ready and then wake up Tavin at 6. I get him dressed and we leave. He gets to daycare at 7 AM and is there until 3 on TThF and 6 on MW (due to the times my classes are finished).
We go home and either have snack or dinner depending on the day. Play/read/color for a while, maybe go swimming if it's not 100 degrees outside, then he has his bath, a night time snack and then goes to bed. He needs to be asleep by 8:30 or 9. We coslept until recently and now he has his own toddler bed. Rinse and repeat.
Saturday and Sunday
We wake up around 6 and have breakfast then play time and have a snack around 9 or 10. Lunch at noon. Then nap time from 12:30-3:30 or 4. Snack, play, dinner at 6, play, bath, snack, bed time at 8:30 or 9.
Food
We are vegetarian and Tavin drinks soy milk (as do I). He is not allowed to have fast food except Chipotle (which I love) and that is not exactly grease-logged crap. I am pretty strict about what he eats.
Religion
I am agnostic (basically atheist) and we do not go to church and I have no plans to do so in the future. I am raising him with a lack of religion and it is his choice if he wants to learn about something in the future when he is able to understand.
Discipline
I honestly do not have to discipline Tavin very often. When it does happen, I will take away whatever is causing the problem and tell him why and what is going on. He's only 2.5 and really does not totally understand yet. Time outs don't work with him but if he does something particularly irritating I will set him on the couch, and he knows when I pick him up and move him that he has done something he shouldn't be doing. Redirection still works for him. I do not hit and don't plan to, ever.
OMG, you guys are all awesome mothers. Me and the kids, although I try to stick with a routine, the house seems pretty chaotic most of the day.
Austyn goes to bed pretty early so he gets up around 6 and plays for about a half an hour in his room. Harley wakes up around 6:30. I get them their cereal (usually cheerios or something healthy, but I'm a sucker for fruit loops and lucky charms). Owen and Ally wake up around 7 or 7:30, it's summer so I don't set my alarm anymore. They get their cereal while I change the babies diapers.
After breakfast I set the kids up in the living room to watch tv while I get some laundry done. Harley and Austyn usually just play with toys (Austyn doesn't really understand tv yet cause he can't hear, I think he just thinks it's a box with pictures). After the laundry is done we go outside to run. Mon, Wed, and Fri are daycare days for Owen, Ally and Austyn, me and Harley use these days to run errands.
Food wise, my kids are ALWAYS hungry. They eat everything from cheerios at 7, to crackers and cheese at 8, at 9 they want cookies, at 11 they want something else (but they can't eat at 11 because I'm already cooking lunch). Lunch is usually kraft dinner or hotdogs or sandwiches. We play outside a lot in the afternoon, because my parents come home from work and have a nap (they are getting so old, lol). If the kids are really driving me crazy with all their energy (which aparently I don't have even though I'm young, the second you have a kid your energy levels drop) we go to the park, or the kids race to see who can run around the house 10 times the fastest, then I feel their heart beats.
As for discipline, every one of the kids is different. Owen really only needs a stern talking to to get the point, and he's usually a pretty good kids, but we have our days. Ally (oh my she so got attitude from me, and stubborn) nothing seems to work. I've tried time outs, I actually have to hold her or she flips out, and she tries to kick me, bit me, scratch me, hit me, you name it. I don't like the concept of spanking kids, but I have on occasion. I've taken away privledges from her, I've taken away toys, nothing seems to help.
Austyn usually gets a time out in his room, when I get him out I ask him if he's feeling better, or if he's done, and then he's usually ready for the rest of the day. Harley is really too young to discipline, if he's trying to grab at something he's not supposed to have I say no, he cries, but he's learning.
Bedtimes are so messed up in my house. Like I said, I try to stick to a schedule, Austyn will play in his room for an hour after I put him to bed, it doesn't matter what time I put him to bed at. If I put him down at 8 he plays til 9. I find though that if he doesn't fall asleep by 7:30 he just ends up so cranky that he's crying and he gets himself all worked up. Usually he goes to bed at 6 or 6:30 and falls asleep by 7 to 7:30. If he completely skipped his nap that day (which aparently he's doing today) I'll put him down at quarter to 6 and snuggle for a few minutes to help him wind down.
Ally goes to bed at 7:30 during the summer, but at 7 during the school year. We have days however that she stays up, and our basic rule is it's bedtime, you can read, play in your bed and that's fine, no yelling, screaming or disturbing other people who are trying to sleep. Ally's big thing is being hungry at bedtime. I can give them a snack 15 minutes before bed, and as soon as she goes to bed she's hungry. It's driving me nuts.
Owen goes to bed at 8:30 in the summer and at 8 during the school year. He's the only one I have who goes to bed when I say bedtime, and ACTUALLY tries to sleep.
My bedtime is like 9, I'm so wiped by the end of the day. I think I should call Nanny911.
wow thanks mamas im pregnant and wondering how to bring up my bubba , still not sure i guess it comes naturally huh? well have to wait and see.
i use to be a nany so hmm? ill probably treat my girl a lil the same though i dunno she aint here yet :P
religon hmm im not religous but bf is kinda well use to be , and wants baby christend i dont mind about tht ahhhhhhhhhh i dunno but it was good looking at the way other mamas are bringing up there child/children
I would never force my child to be chrisitned. Couldnt you tell him that while you dont mind her getting christined, if she makes the desicion too herself, you dont think its right to make her do it when she has no say in the matter? I was baptized and all that when I was too young to have a say in it, and I hate that. Theres no sence in the ceremony unless it means something to the person having it done.
There are a lot of reasons people get their babies christened. I did it personally out of respect and as a tradition to my Irish-Catholic family. To some people it does mean a lot. i would have been fine waiting until my daughter was old enough to decide on her own,but if it helps my parents sleep better at night then why not? it's definately not hurting anyone,and if she wants to get re-baptized or whatever when she's older than thats her call.or if she thinks the whole baptism thing is stupid,thats her call too.
just my opinion :)
AmberG, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Your house sounds like my house!
I personally want Stella from Nanny 9-1-1. I've fallen in love with her.
I am a bit of everything. The biggest thing with me and feeding my kids is avoiding colors and 'empty" foods- but I take it in moderation. my beby eats organic baby foods, but when she gets teeth and eats table food she'll eat our non-organic stuff.
I don't buy empty foods like soda, sugar cereals, or poptarts.
My kids are VERY high energy. They go from 7 AM to 9PM and have to be moving moving moving. My boy is homeschooled for this reason- he can do a lesson, get up, fidget, do another lesson. It must work because he is in first grade math and 3rd grade reading at the age of 5. But put him in class and the teacher spends so much time getting him to stop fidgeting he doesn't get to learn anything.
The biggest thing for me is to keep my kid outside and active. my boy does not have a video game system. He does not have any electronic games. he does have books, pygmy goats, a pony, a dog, a swingset/gym, soccer balls, and 4 acres of yard.
I try my best not to spank. But I have lost my temper and spanked his butt- at the end of a horrible day when he is going psychotic and I have just done everything and he does something like flailing his legs and ends up kicking me in the chin. Those are our darkest moments for sure.
But most of the time getting his attention, and re-doing the behavior in an acceptable way, is what we do for discipline.
I try to shelter against commercialism. Only TV at our house for kids is PBS so he doesn't see commercials.
I wanted to say too, that my mom doesn't agree with my parenting style. her culture (Irish Catholic) reveres male children and exalts/ spoils them. Her opinion is that I should feed more treats and let him watch more TV and buy him a game system. Basically turn him into a hothouse flower.
My dad is all about survivlaist/woods type living, so he agrees with me about my style.
Hmm, hard to put labels on parenting.
Our diets are overwhelmingly whole foods (ie lots of fresh produce, whole grains, very little processed-comes- in-a-box stuff). But it's not a hard and fast rule; it's just the way we typically eat. My dd is 5, and if we do eat out in a restaurant, then I often let her have a sprite, or other soda without caffeine (I can definitely feel the effects of caffeine, so I'll figure my little one would too). I don't feel that occassional junk is too big a deal, as long as the diet is overhwhelmingly healthy.
I tend to stick more with "gentle discipline" although I hate the way that sounds :) I don't like to describe discipline in terms of the punishments we use, because discipline encompasses so much more than that. Discipline is teaching, and punishments are an absolute last resort for me. So I guess talking is our biggest discipline tool. Respect is another big one. It seems so much easier for a child to give respect, when they get respect. I like to treat dd the way I'd want to be treated, while of course still maintaining the boundary of me being the grown-up who knows better, and has her best interests at heart. So I do have the "what I say goes" attitude, but I try to present it in the most palatable way possible :D
We're also homeschooling now, and more specifically, unschooling. Dd is thriving with this approach. She is learning a great deal, and none of it is a chore.