Parenting Pep Talk is a weekly series of guest posts all about encouraging other parents by sharing some of our happy moments, the advice that has worked for us and some positive words of encouragement.
Today’s post is from Emma who blogs at Our Fairytale Adventure.
1) Tell us a little bit about you and your family
So we are a family of four. There is Mr. C, myself and our two boys Oliver and Elijah. There are just under 18 months between the boys, which is incredibly hard work but so rewarding. We wanted a smaller age gap so that they can grow up together. The two of them are like chalk and cheese, Oliver is very much like my partner, very considered and chilled out, whereas Elijah is very much like me, a bit of a livewire and a little more high maintenance.
2) How would you describe your parenting style?
I personally don’t like putting a label on how I parent because I feel that all parenting labels actually do is segregate people, which isn’t needed. Every child is different and needs different things. My two boys are very different, so the way I parent them is different. I want to raise happy children, so the way I parent is always centred around that.
3) What’s your favourite thing about being a parent?
I can’t say I have one favourite thing about being a parent, but I love watching the boys grow into their own little personalities, it’s fascinating seeing them develop. I also love watching the boy’s sibling bond grow as they get older, they are just adorable together. Elijah is all smiles for his big brother and Oliver always gives Elijah a kiss and cuddle if he cries. It’s so cute.
4) What piece of advice have you been given that you found especially helpful?
To be honest, I’ve been given a lot of useless ‘advice’, but one thing that my grandmother said to me that has been incredibly helpful whenever I’ve doubted myself is “The fact that you are even questioning if you are a good mother, means you already are one.” It isn’t really advice, but it is something that has definitely helped me during difficult days.
5) What one piece of encouraging advice would you give to a new parent?
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
6) Anything else that you would like to share to encourage other parents?
I actually find the blogging community quite a resourceful place, so I’d recommend finding blogs that you resonate with.
The blog post that most people have found useful is probably my post about preparing an older child for a sibling.
Thank you Emma for sharing your positive parenting moments and the advice you have found helpful.
You can connect with Emma on the following social networks:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
If you’d like to share some of your positive parenting moments on the Parenting Pep Talk, then let me know in the comments below and I’ll email you with more details.
Very realistic post. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you – I love reading all the different perspectives on parenting too 🙂
Great idea to have a parenting pep talk series. I too got the same advice that if you are questioning if you are a good mother, then you already are one. It came from my mum and has really stuck. Fab post #ablogginggoodtime
Thank you. It is a good reminder isn’t it – we all have moments when we doubt ourselves.
Lovely post – Granny’s always know best!
I’d love to contribute to this sometime if you’d like to have me. Liz x
Thank you Liz – would be lovely to have you. Will pop you over an email with the details 🙂
Ah lovely to read this and I love the quote from your Grandmother – I’m going to remember that. I love your mentions of the blogging community too – I wish that I’d been a blogger when mine were small as I would have had so much online support – it’s amazing – you mummies with littlies are so lucky! Gorgeous photo! #triballove
Thank you. The blogging community is such an amazing source of support – I wish I’d discovered it earlier too! 🙂
Love the idea of this series – I blog at badmammy.com and would be interested in taking part! My email is badmammyblog@gmail.com.
Such a lovely post!
Thank you – would be lovely to have you take part. Will send you an email with the details 🙂
Lovely to read. I just love the quote from her grandmother, its so true. I agree the blogging community really helped me as a new parent x
Thanks Laura – the blogging community is such a supportive one, isn’t it? 🙂
I do think it is lovely getting to know other mums/bloggers as I think it really opens up our community. I totally agree that we as parents should put less pressure on ourselves but Im not sure we’ll ever learn lol!!
Thanks for linking up to #ablogginggoodtime Come back next week!! xx
#triballove
It’s hard not too sometimes, isn’t it? Thank you for hosting #ablogginggoodtime – so lovely to link up 🙂
Yup I always use a similar saying to your grandmother its a good one, as is don’t pressure yourself. Your boys look gorgeous and I wish I had braved the close sibling gap, my son is now 5 and desperate for a sibling! Lovely post #ablogginggoodtime
Don’t pressure yourself is really good advice as well – but like all good advice, it can be hard to follow it! 🙂
It’s always great to hear from fellow bloggers. Loving the photo of you and your boys. Think I could learn a few things from you. 🙂 #ablogginggoodtime
I love that photo too – thanks for commenting Helena 🙂