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Let's be honest! When it comes to parenting, men expect
their wives or partners to do the lion's share.
There are signs that we're moving toward a more enlightened age in which ALL parents play their part.
But in the meantime, let's concentrate on some help for
tired moms.
Apparently the number one question mothers ask their doctors
is, "How can I get more energy?"
Fatigue is a serious problem when it robs us of our
happiness, our sense of balance, and even our effective
parenting skills.
So what's the answer?
Ironically, the best way to overcome the energy crisis is to
first of all spend just a little bit more time and
energy. But hang in there! It will pay great dividends in a
short time.
The first area to tackle is managing the household.
Too many mothers do too much work.
And that's not fair!
Divide up the chores so that everyone pulls their weight.
Even young kids can be involved.
I know of one family who have a game of 'Lorries' (or
'Trucks') when the rooms need tidied. Mum is the boss. She
lines the kids up and 'loads' them with toys, books,
magazines, the ironing - whatever needs to be tidied - and
the kids are then 'dispatched' to make their deliveries.
Yes, a bit of training may be required - especially on how
to carry and put away newly ironed clothes! - but with
practice and perseverance kids can learn.
A chart can record contributions, with the promise of a
reward at the end of the week. A trip to the cinema, the
swimming pool or ice-skating, a special treat at dinner -
it doesn't matter, so long as you honour the commitments
made!
With the household chores now being managed effectively, the
next step is to build in some QRT - Quality Recovery Time.
Insist on it. Demand it! Yell from the rooftops if
/> necessary, but make sure you get your entitled share of
time-out.
And it must suit YOU. What's good for one person won't
necessarily suit another. To my wife, for example, the T in
RT stands for Retail Therapy. Shopping malls are
just not my scene, so to me it stands for Torture!
Individual time-out, then, means doing whatever is important
to you. Many women like to have a 'general pampering'
session, ranging from a bath with scented candles and soft
music to working out at the gym.
So where does the time for these individual sessions come
from?
This is when you call on partners, extended family or
friends. Sharing the kids' supervision with trusted friends
is a great idea. You take their kids with yours on an
outing one time, and they take yours the next. This frees
up time for individual relaxation, or gives you and your
spouse or partner a chance to relax away from it all.
So - get organised. Run your household with a clearly
defined routine.
Have family outings and/or activities where you all relax
and enjoy each other as a family unit.
Call on family or friends to share the load, and enjoy some
well-deserved time-out with your spouse or partner, AND
build in some personal QRT when you do what suits you and
ONLY you.
If your lifestyle follows this pattern, your energy levels
will take care of themselves.
Happy parenting!
Why do some parents and children succeed, while others fail? Frank McGinty is an internationally published author and teacher. If you want to develop your parenting skills and encourage your kids to be all they can be, visit his web pages, http://www.frank-mcginty.com/peace-formula.html AND http://www.frank-mcginty.com/for-parents.html
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