Posts Tagged ‘Children’
Pregnancy Tips – How Much You Should Tell Your Children About Your Pregnancy
Once a woman has made the discovery about her conception, she will definitely wish to learn more about this momentous event in her life. And plenty of sources are available these days to answer all her questions. The trend has changed and today even the male partner would wish to know more about this biological event. Well, he can get his hands on different sources of information too. What is quite difficult to obtain is a source of information about pregnancy catering to children only.
With what is being exhibited on the media and what they see in the environment around them, modern children are as curious about pregnancy as adults. They are eager to absorb knowledge and exhibit a willingness to learn, so much so that adults find it difficult to understand how much they should reveal and how much they should conceal. What they do not realize is that children of different ages and coming from different backgrounds assimilate information in varied ways. While some of them are content with a limited amount of information about pregnancy, there are others who demand to know more and may even seek out knowledge all by themselves.
A child who has observed many pregnant women will naturally be full of questions, believing that it is a very normal situation to be in. It is left to the parents to decide how much knowledge has to be imparted at that time; too much information is really not necessary—just answers to the questions asked should suffice. Additionally, the child should be reassured that if he/she wants to seek more information about pregnancy in the future, he/she is free to do so.
Children actually search for information about pregnancy in all innocence. Their queries are definitely not in the same vein as those of adults! If the parents have not understood what the child is trying to find out, it would be wise to clarify the question first before actually proceeding with the answer. The general conclusion is that the child is putting forth inquiries of an awkward nature! For instance, a very commonly posed question is, “Where do babies come from?” Usually adults hum and haw over questions of this nature, finding it embarrassing to answer them! Who knows, after a careful probe, it may be discovered that the child was only asking for the name of the hospital where the baby was born, or whether the newborn knows his/her doctor!
In households with multiple children, information about pregnancy has to be distributed equally to the younger, as well as to the older children. When all are brought together, the presence of the older siblings prevents the youngsters from indulging in too much of investigation! At the same time, the older siblings get a feel of how much/how little knowledge has to be actually imparted to their younger brothers and sisters.
Sometimes, a curious child poses a question directly to the mother-to-be. Now she may not necessarily be the child’s own mother. She could be a teacher, the mother of a friend, a neighbor, a relative, or just any other woman whom the child knows intimately. The question should be answered according to the child’s age.
Opinions vary from woman to woman. Some impart as limited information about pregnancy as possible, believing it to be the best thing to do. Others feel that the child should know everything. To avoid conflicts, the concerned adults should discuss among themselves and come to a consensus even before the child becomes aware of the pregnancy.
Single Teenage Parenting – Tackling of Children Emotions as Single Parent
Each child is unique and responds in a different manner in different situations. Single parenting deeply effects their emotions, so it is the duty of all parents to act in a way, which is better for the future of our kids. The idea is to act and not to react. So lets find out how the life of our off springs is affected by our actions.
Being a parent we should be well conversant with the stress triggers of our offsprings as they vary with age and personality. Every child responds to a situation in its own way. One kid may take a situation very seriously whereas the other may not react at all. Similarly toddlers, adolescents and younger kids face stress triggers differently. Single parents can only help themselves and their children if they know their way well.
Teenagers have complex requirements, which are not easy to meet as a sole parent. Being the only parent you lack the support of your partner. In absence of mothers all girls find their dads inexperienced to deal with their day-to-day problems. Single dads are often blamed for being insensitive, by teenage girls particularly on dating issues. Being a single father you have to make them understand that when you ask to invite her boyfriend home before going out together, itis obviously not an intrusion in her life. Rather it is to know whether it is safe for her going out with that particular person or not. This happens because that dad knows about teenage boys as he was a boy himself once and all dads whether single or not must look after the safety of their daughters. Every now and then curfew becomes an issue but they are to be explained that these check and balances depend upon how dependable she is.
Similarly the relation between teenage sons and their single mums is not without problems. This relation and emotions are at full swing in this relationship. As the boys grow up they usually become taller than their mothers because of the testosterone surge at this age. At the age of 16 boys may be up to 6 ft tall whereas most moms are not. As this happens the boys try to take charge within the house defying their mothers as parent. At this point the mothers need to be determined to keep their dominant rule and exercise their authority. If you are firm you can dictateand command the boys to follow rules. They need to remain in their rooms if they cannot control themselves till the time they are normal again. Similarly it is not advisable and safe for your teenager to drive in an angry mood, this may prove harmful.
When you deal with your child’s emotions as the only parent it may be very tiring but to keep you household peaceful and smooth running you have to explain to your children that it is YOU who is in charge and emotions are part of everyday life but that they have to keep them under control.