I agree with "everything in moderation" but what are a few things you know you are going to be completely adamant about when your little one comes. (I know things can change when baby is actually here)
1. DH and I hate to see children soothed with electronics (I understand they can be educational it's just preference) So when our little one turns 8 months old she will definitely not be the proud new owner of an Ipad.
Re: Momma Says NO!!
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I read this in an earlier thread about the child leashes. I am seriously even considering one of those for my older DD who has special needs and a runner(at least in crowded public places like amusement parks) I never thought I would say that, but her safety is more important to me than what other people think.
Obviously this isn't always the case, some people do choose their phone over everything, but just be careful. Needing or wanting a moment to yourself is perfectly normal and can cause a lot of guilt for some parents.
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@alyssavalentino - we were against tv before two-years. We did really great for the first 18 months with only watching tv if we were sick. However, I am sure the 2nd child will be more exposed to it since DD likes to watch a show after she wakes up in the morning and after nap!
@jennyleigh16 - I agree! A friend highly recommended the book, "Hands free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone..." I am on hold for it at the library.
I promise I'm not trying to be snarky, though it's been a tough few days here so it might be coming across that way. I am still part of BMB for all my boys and we constantly talk about the guilt we all feel/made to feel because sometimes we don't want to be in the moment or can't be. It's great to try to always be present with your kids mentally and physically. Just try not to beat yourself up if you can't. That's my main point.
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Also, no bigotry. I have family members who say some really off the wall, backwards bs, and I'm establishing very early on that speaking like that around my kiddo gets you uninvited for return visits. When she is old enough to communicate she will have the pleasure of watching me verbally eviscerate offenders in her presence before they are sent away, then she and I can sit down and have a conversation about how what the person said is hurtful and wrong.
Other than that, I'll do whatever it takes to survive. I'll pretty much try to do the same as what we did with DD that got good results, but I'm not tied to any one thing being the right thing.
But in general I agree with the "never say never" especially as I've never done this before and have a limited idea of what to expect.
I do give him the occasional cookie/ bite of cake once in a while though
Married: May 16th 2015
I am in total agreement with @Y0urm0m on this. You just have to be supportive of other moms and respect people's decisions to raise their kids the best way they see fit. But please step in if the kiddo is in harms way.
@Taymiller I definitely think all bets are off on airplanes lol!
My only fast rules with DS have been no soda and that I don't allow him to play with my phone. I don't follow the no technology rule, but I get frustrated when kids think they can grab mine or anyone else's cell phone and do what they want with it. My friend's two year old (whom I love) is the reason I have a passcode on my phone, and I don't want my kid thinking an expensive piece of technology is an appropriate toy.
Each family is so different, and each mother and child has their own strengths and weaknesses. Differences in parenting make an interesting world.
Married: May 16th 2015
Also: We didn't do movies on the plane because I think DD was too young to have it keep her attention, but at 10 months, she very quickly figured out that this was a situation that somehow gave her all the control. We did and allowed things we would never do to try to keep the peace for passengers around us.
Limiting screen time is great. Ive decided to put my money where my mouth is and limit my own. I don't think it's fair that I don't want my kid to have an iPad at a restaurant and I'm looking at my own. I've been trying to put it away and keep it there. Once you pay attention to how often you whip your phone out, you feel sick.
I want my daughter to have a healthier relationship with food than I do. I've taken feeling fat out of my vocabulary and have been focusing on bringing mostly healthy food in here but still treating myself. I'm also going to try my hardest to keep modeling how important exercise is by doing it once she is here.
I've also been working on a healthy homemade food repertoire because I want to stop ordering and eating out so much.
I know I'll never be perfect but i don't there is ever going to be a better motivation than my child to try my hardest to be what I want in the world.
Avoid soda. Avoid too much TV.
Oh, wait, never beer, never drunk driving, never running with scissors...
*eta
I have a drop and dash kid (the one that drops all of his weight to the ground to break your handhold and then pops up and dashes off). You very quickly learn the usefulness of the backpack leash as a training tool. It doesn't replace handholding, but you use it in conjunction with it, so that the drop and dasher can't get very far. Bonus of the backpack is he gets to carry around his own diapers/wipes/snacks.
This being kid #3, I'm definitely in the 'never say never' camp.