October 14, 2022
top trending topics
🦅 For those empty nesters out there…Adjust to this new phase of parenting!
💔 If your child is on the brink of divorce, here’s what can you do.
🌟 Bring out the best in your kids & teach them kindness.
👨👧 When Dad is active and involved, daughters benefit in many ways.
💕 Treat your family really well by doing these 7 things.
tips & tricks for growth
live in the present with your child
Does it feel like you’re at war with the clock? Like you don’t have enough time to do all the things on your to-do list? Struggle with finding time for yourself? Feel disconnected from your kids?
If you answer any of these questions with a “yes,” welcome to parenthood! Being a parent is one of the most difficult, yet rewarding jobs. You have so many things on your to-do list. Often, we are spouses, employees, caregivers, dietitians, Uber drivers, and teachers for our children “going” to school digitally. With so much on our plate, we become overwhelmed and stressed. This easily can turn into not being really present. We feel disconnected from our children, ourselves, and from our lives.
Things You Can Do First Thing In The Morning To Be a More Present Parent:
- Lovingly rouse them from sleep.
- Wake them by singing a good morning song.
- Cuddle in the bed with them.
- Ask them what they are looking forward to today.
Things You Can Do At Bedtime To Be a More Present Parent:
- Read them a book.
- Ask them about the highs and lows of their day.
- Give them backrubs and back scratches.
- Snuggle up with them.
Kids aren’t looking for perfect parents; they are looking for present parents. Don’t allow the stress of “Am I doing enough?” hamper you from enjoying what you are doing. Spending quality time being present with your child should trump your feelings of guilt and stress about not spending enough time with a child.
new parents! set boundaries with YOUR parents as you become one
You’re learning what it means to be a parent yourself, and your parents are finding out they’re no longer in control of everything – to whatever extent they have been. Stress and tensions can rise quickly. Chances are, you’ve seen traits in your parents that may not be healthy. Or maybe you’ve simply decided to do things differently from your parents. There must be boundaries for your relationship to continue in a healthy way.
This is new territory for you and your parents. Now you’re both parents…
Without healthy boundaries, tension can easily build from things your parent may do like:
- Offering unsolicited advice about your parenting style, social life, or career choices.
- Frequent unexpected visits.
- Purchasing items for your home, personal life, and children without asking.
- Disregarding your opinions or choices and offering what they think is best for you and your family.
This lack of boundaries can be frustrating. They may have the best intentions, but you must help them understand that you’re an adult.
let’s get REALatable
It’s time to take things a step further & get a little intimate with a Q&A. What do you say?😉 Learn a little bit about the faces behind all of this relationship gold. This week we’re chatting with Kelly Brugh, (Our newest addition to #TeamFTF!) wife of 6 years to husband Landon, #dogmama to a chocolate lab, and the Vice President of Development here at First Things First. Let’s get REALatable💛 & learn a little bit about her:
Q: Best way to pass time?
A: 🐶 My husband, Landon, and I love being outside and taking my dog on walks. His name is Roscoe and he’s an 8-year-old chocolate lab. He’s getting older, so our walks can’t be too long, but he loves smelling everything in sight. Our favorite places to walk is the Riverwalk and the Walnut Street Bridge.
Q: Your favorite age so far?
A: 💗 My favorite age so far has been 28. I married Landon just before my 29th birthday. Not only did I marry my partner for life, but wedding planning helped me reconnect with family. My father passed away when I was five and we lost touch with his side of the family over the years. We invited my dad’s side of the family to our wedding and have kept in touch. My mom and I visited my dad’s sister at her home in Phoenix in February. It’s never too late to mend a broken relationship or build a whole new one!
Q: Next place on your travel bucket list?
A: 🍂🍁Fall has always been my favorite season and one of the most beautiful things about growing up in Pennsylvania was watching the leaves change. It’s captivating to see the vibrancy of the colors splayed across the Appalachian Mountains. The next place on my travel bucket list is going to New Hampshire where I hear the fall foliage is even more spectacular! New Hampshire has a fall foliage tracker that can help with planning trips to the Northeast: https://www.visitnh.gov/seasonal-trips/fall/foliage-tracker
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