LATEST FROM OUR BLOGGERS
Parents Give Their Children Eating Disorders
Do you eat to punish yourself, or to gain some control over your life? Will your chil...
View More
Today's Everyday Sweepstakes Action: Reply to Today's Community Chalkboard Question!
Getting to know our members better is truly important to us. One new way to do ...
View More
Share Your Inexpensive but Delicious Lunch Ideas
It’s that time again. Every year, around the beginning of summer, our f...
View More
BLOG roll
poll
Do you, your partner, or your other children suffer from allergies or asthma?
BLOG archives
BLOG contributors
Random Ramblings
Thursday, April 14, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
It's all about baby steps.
I don't mean that literally, although those first steps your infant takes are pretty exciting! I'm referring more to the process. The process of your infant's or toddler's development.
Don't blink. Seriously, trust me on this one. You may want to close your eyes and enjoy a long, long slumber (Zzzz...sorry, I'm back
), but time passes too quickly and development just seems to have magically happened.
When it comes to writing about child development, I obviously have a lot to say.
Today isn't about anything in particular when it comes to development; it's about the random ramblings that pop into my mind.
For instance...
*What you dream your infant/toddler/child will be and what they might actually become are two distinct things. The moment I held her in my arms, I knew she was perfect. Obviously, I've learned that she's not and that is okay with me too. How will you deal with the realities of parenthood versus your dreams?
*Don't compare development. Whether it is sibling to sibling or friend to friend, don't do it. My baby talked at X months. Walked at X months. Read at X months. DON'T. DO. IT. Seriously, take your child where they are and, as long as they are developing happily and healthy, embrace the moment.
*All you need is love. Okay, our munchkins need optimal nutrition, proper clothing, and shelter, but other than that, their needs are quite simple. They thrive with love. Hold them. Hug them. Comfort them. Be their number one advocate. THIS is what our children really need. Don't get sucked into to all the marketing gimmics thrown at you as a new parent. Fancy gizmos and gadgets may support your little one's development, but really, really... in the end, it's the interactions with you that matter most.
*We all do it differently. There are many kinds of parents. Be who YOU are. As a team. Be in it together with your significant other. Understand and expect the "bumps" in the road. Get over them. Work through them. Work to always stand together in support of your child. When you talk with family and friends, acknowledge that you (or they) may do it differently. Celebrate and respect those differences. The world is a better place because of our diverse perspectives.
A moment in time, a day at a time, it's all about baby steps.
Thanks for letting me ramble with you through it together.
Cheers!
