It’s easy to allow ourselves to not appreciate our time with our children because being a parent isn’t always fun. Being a parent is the single hardest job, in my opinion, that any human will ever do. We don’t always appreciate our job as a mom or a dad because we’re not always good at it. Most of us will always be novices, learning along the way and making a bunch of mistakes. But, we get up the next day and we try a little harder.
EXPLORE WAYS TO APPRECIATE YOUR CHILD
One way I try to appreciate my daughter is by keeping her imagination working. I try very hard to build new memories for her and to introduce new experiences. Because, this is the time when a toddler’s brain is developing. The more experiences they have, the better. So, the hubby and I love discovering new parks because, well, it’s kinda boring going to the same jungle gym and swing set day after day. Don’t get me wrong; our daughter loves routine as most kids do. But, it’s fun for both mama and toddler to discover new places to play.
The hubby comes home one day all excited, “I found the coolest park,” he gushes. “It’s the Rocket Ship Park and it over looks the city and the ocean!” And guess what, Ariabella thinks it’s pretty cool, too!
BE A KID WITH YOUR KID
Yes, sometimes when you have a kid, you find yourself becoming one yourself. To me, this is the best part of being a parent, exploring all the ways to become a big goofball kid. I know, before being a mom I took life way too seriously and now, well, I try not to. Hey, life is far too short to take everything so seriously. We all need to lighten up!
Exploring new places to play helps achieve that excitement that can help bond you and your child. Ariabella gets super excited and likes to say says, “Oh wow!” It’s totally adorable and I love to find ways to make life exciting for her. It’s amazing watching little humans uncover life for the first time. Everything is fantastic and fun. The sky is a brighter shade of blue and the grass is greener, the view is spectacular.
Somewhere along the way, we lose ourselves in all the big things we strive towards. We forget to appreciate all the little things that matter so much more, like stopping to appreciate nature. Appreciation seems to diminish with age because we take for granted what we have until we no longer have it. How often do we despise one another until something happens and that person is no longer in our life?
DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE TO APPRECIATE YOUR LITTLE ONE
Being a parent isn’t easy, at all. Some of us stay-at-home moms have it even tougher. But, before you start to complain about your life or your annoying child. Maybe he or she is driving you crazy. Think about all the people out there that can’t have kids and would want nothing more than to be a mom or a dad? I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. We shouldn’t wait until it is too late to have fun with our children.
Before we know it, they’ll be adults and have their own lives. They’ll not want to hang out with us old people and will find excuses as to why they can’t call or come around.
Life always gets in the way, but we control our lives, not the other way around. I say, let a kid be a kid and appreciate them. Don’t take their youth for granted because we’ll never get this time back. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to appreciate yourself, too.
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