Always room for improvement...

[emd]

I was thinking this morning about how there's always room for improvement in meeting my natural parenting goals, even though I'm generally pretty happy with how I'm travelling. That's why I keep reading here, because someone might have tips or tricks I hadn't thought of or didn't realise I could use.

At the moment, I'm particularly interested in:
* toilet training toddlers
* healthier food (hang on, that's one of the reasons I came here in the first place! and I still want to improve! )
* keeping kids busy without TV
* building self-confidence in my pre-schooler

How about you?

[Dorasmum]

The best substitute I found to tv that DD is happy with is a small cd player, she has lots of story cd's, and music cd's. Dh copies them first and gives her the copy because she is hard on them. But it means she spends time listening quietly or dancing around to playschool songs. And she colours in or reads at the same time too. It was a lifesaver for me when DD2 was little and I needed to keep her occupied while I dealt with the bub. I did wonder at first if a cd player so young was wise but I think it's fine now. I removed the antenna so she can't get the radio.

Em

[Marmee]

Love the CD idea - and CD books are worth their weight in gold too

As to what I am working on at the moment :

* learning how to work with our 7 year old DS who all of a sudden wants to do things that I would prefer him not to (get a playstation, play computer games, visit the man across the road cause he lets kids play his computer / watch TV.....) I despise saying "no" to him......but then should I roll with him and watch as he sits at the computer for 3 hours non-stop (seriously, that's what he did and we had to call him to dinner) or visit the neighbour and play his computer all morning.......ARGH!

[hanabi]

My current mothering interests are:

*striking that elusive balance between giving them their own independence and obsessing about their safety and security
*ensuring the middle children aren't overlooked
*encouraging them to appreciate life outside of media and technology
*weaning!!

I'm also exploring 'the next stage' now that my family is complete and the mothering task is less intense than it used to be. It has been many years since I've had interests and goals outside of parenting. It's new territory for me!

[Marmee]

Originally Posted by hanabi

*striking that elusive balance between giving them their own independence and obsessing about their safety and security

Man! How come you can say things so much more succinctly than I can?? I'm gunna email you for your ideas before posting from now on

I am going to add to yours for me :

"...about their safety and security aswell as their health" (ie: food consumed, time spent in front of computer etc)

[Marguerite]

A big part of why I am back here is that I only see likeminded Mothers about once a month or so now that my mates have moved away. I miss seeing gentle parenting in action more often than our brief catch ups, so come here to feel it, if that makes any sense.

Current focuses-
Homeschooling
Being as green as I can in a very ungreen place
Gentle discpline (always!)
Health

[hanabi]

I don't think I'll ever stop obsessing about their diet and health. That's probably an ongoing battle I'm not even going to acknowledge here!