Name: Serenity
Sacramento,CA
Number of kids: 1 and one on the way
Ages of kids: 2.5
Problem: I am a full time student and the mother of a two year old and have another one due next fall. I am currently doing a research paper on family management challenges for families with young children and I am looking for any ideas or suggestions other people might have. We have already listed time, money, energy,finding quality daycare, how and when to start children in extra-curricular activities, How and when to start children with computer literacy, and other management issues. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Solution submitted by Mabear from Phoenix, AZ: I found it quite interesting that you have covered such areas as when to begin children in activities and even covered time management. I'll tell you in a minute why those two areas interested me. I would like to point out one area which has ended up being the top most important one for me to work on concerning management. It is seeing in my children's eyes when there is something he or she is struggling to deal with and knowing HOW to help. Often times this means dealing with one in order to gently get them out of the way so I can see (by feeling) how to shore up and support the other one. The older my children get, the more I realize that their ability to not be knocked end over end by life's speed bumps depends on me and my husband being there for them today. I've found that often what I see in their eyes and their walk on a rough day is actually a speed bump but they aren't experienced at negotiating them yet. So WE need to carefully encourage them over and then look back and point out how it really wasn't the mountain they were sure it was. I guess you could call it building confidence. I'm beginning to feel like this is the surest path to rock steady, dependable adults which I want my children to grow to be. I don't want them to ever fear their ability to handle anything.
I was tickled by how you commented that time management and activity ages were covered. In our house, time is so fluid we have actually lost YEARS without knowing anything about it and as far as ages to begin activity? Are you considering personality types in this? Best of luck to you on your report/study and congratulations!:-)
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