Parenting Tips
Bringing Up Children
When you are a new mother, I wouldn’t say the mother of a newborn, but when your firstborn child has just grown into a toddler. Staying at home in the evenings becomes difficult, as kids become restless and need a change.
It is the stage where he or she is still not ready for school, speaking skills have yet not developed and they cannot express themselves. At times like these, it’s important to make an evening schedule for getting out of the house, not only for some fresh air but also for children to have space to play in the open!
And that’s what I did when I was in this situation, that helped me in raising my children. Having a park close to your house is so convenient, and I didn’t have to venture far for that.
Luckily I met a young mother like me, with a kid older than mine, and a friendship forged instantly. We were staying in the same neighborhood and that was a bonus, we could meet regularly. Probably both of us (our kids and ourselves) were looking out for friends and the opportunity came quite easily. Life is such a great learning experience and often through our children, we get to do a lot.
Initial Ice-breaker
After an exchange of pleasantries and introductions, the ice was broken quite easily and we got chatting. She was already friends with another mom staying in the vicinity, having a child of the same age group. Similarly, I too was acquainted with another lady, who shared similar interests.
So from two, we became four, and that’s how quickly our group formed.
Interestingly, is’nt this a perfect example of group dynamics and it relates well to our everyday lives.
A group of four mothers and four children, coming together for a common goal (making friends), sharing similar interests (keeping themselves and their children occupied ) and values (sharing and helping one another when in need). Mutual coexistence and interdependence being an important element.
The daily routine consisted of meeting every evening in the park at a fixed time.
The children were really happy getting together with friends and playing.
Additionally, learning to bond and socialize, an essential factor contributing to their overall development.
Though exceptions are always there. So for that bossier kid, it is the duty of the mother to protect her child.
Apart from the usual chit-chat, for the mothers it was also about sharing ideas, knowledge, and helpful tips about our growing toddlers or some special recipes.
As the friendships grew, visiting each other’s homes, especially when the weather was bad outside, became a part of the agenda. And a vital component was to teach our kids to tidy up and put the toys and books back in their places where they belonged, before leaving. This approach made our lives happier and easier!
