A friend was over today to help clean my house. She is a single mom with a little two year old. My youngest is 23 and that is very different energy than the two year old. It is always a great time when the little one comes over. She is bright, cheerful, cute, and well behaved (for a two year old). She has to be watched – loves to push buttons on the tv. For the most part no is respected.
I LOVE spending time with this little one. She is so much fun. Her giggle is infectious. Her smile mischievious.
I’m not grandma but I get to practice on this one and spend time with an amazing little girl. When she goes home I usually have worn her out and she has usually worn me out. It is one of my best times in the week when I get to see her.
This is why it baffles me how people can hit, beat, talk down to, belittle, rape, and do horrible things to children. They are open, loving, honest creatures who only want to learn, grow and love.
I know that single parents have a difficult time with few or no breaks and get really stressed out. So here is the thing – if you know someone like that – offer to take their kid(s). Spend a day on the floor putting together puzzles and repeating yourself a thousand times by telling the little ones colors, numbers, shapes, letters, names of things. Read a book with feeling – none of this just turning the pages. Act out the book, make voices for the characters, yell at the exciting parts, whisper at the quiet parts. Race cars across the floor. Dance with stuffed animals… play with these kids like you were a kid. It is GREAT for you and them. It lightens your mood and stress level and shows the kids that there are positive people out there who are willing to be involved and interested in their lives.
"I know that single parents have a difficult time with few or no breaks and get really stressed out. So here is the thing – if you know someone like that – offer to take their kid(s)."
You have no idea what someone doing this would have saved me years ago…you are SO right!
I've said it before and I'll say it again; you will make an awesome grandma – real or substitute!
I think grandparenting will be so much better than parenting. I can have my rules still but I don't have to implement them 24/7 because the kidlets aren't here that much…
I was not a single parent but if it weren't for my sisters periodically taking my kids, I think I would have been a horrible parent. Everyone needs a break. It takes a village…. it isn't just an old saying – it is a truth.