Parenting Pep Talk #20 – Amy and Tots

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 Amy who blogs at Amy and Tots.  Over to you, Amy!

 

I am a lucky mama to 2 gorgeous babes, expecting #3 in August! We spend our time digging for worms in the garden and playing tea parties (because everyone loves a good cup of tea!) We live in the West Midlands with daddy Darren and our puppy Jack Russel, Oti. I started blogging to document my pregnancies but I’m trying to branch out further than that now and get more involved with the blogging community!

 

1) Tell us a little bit about you and your family

I met Darren, my partner, in 2012 and it was in 2013 when we first fell pregnant. Unfortunately we went through a miscarriage but it wasn’t long after that I fell pregnant with Keira. Keira was born December 2013. We fell pregnant with Joshua in 2014 and he was born July 2015. It was very scary knowing that we were to have 2 under the age of 2 but it was definitely easier than I expected. When Joshua was just a few months old we unexpectedly fell pregnant again. Baby #3 is due in August 2016 and we’ve found out she’s a little girl!

 

2) How would you describe your parenting style?

I definitely have a very relaxed way of parenting. I very much baby led everything. I don’t force routine upon them and I don’t practice any form of cry it out or sleep training. I have found by doing this that a baby will fall into their own routine in their own time, although some take longer than others. Keira is very independent so she loves to sleep in her own bed, but we co-sleep with Joshua as that’s what he prefers! I’m in no rush to expel Joshua’s bedtime bottles or banish him to his own bed, I’m waiting for him to tell me when he’s ready.

 

3) What’s your favourite thing about being a parent?

Everything! I love everything, from the tantrums to the giggles! Watching my children learn and grow is such a proud moment as a parent and knowing that I’m lucky enough to be able to stay at home with them means I won’t miss a thing (even if I do miss going to the toilet alone).

 

4) What piece of advice have you been given that you found especially helpful?

Over the years I’ve received numerous pieces of advice, some good and some bad, but I think the best thing I’ve been told (and I tell myself this every day especially through the hard days) is that it doesn’t last forever. Those sleepless nights won’t last forever, baby will eventually sleep through the night it just might take them a bit longer. Or the terrible two’s won’t last forever, that tantrum will probably last 5 or 10 minutes and they forget about it and they’re your best friend again!

 

5) What one piece of encouraging advice would you give to a new parent?

You will always feel like you’ve got the only baby in the world that doesn’t sleep through the night, isn’t talking, isn’t doing this or that etc. but that simply isn’t the case. It will always feel like there’s someone rubbing it in your face what they’re baby is doing when yours isn’t. But hang on, don’t fret! All babies do things in their own time, and there’s no rush for them to do it all now. You spend your time wishing for them to talk, but once they do you spend your time wishing they weren’t so talkative! So don’t worry, just enjoy your baby and don’t panic over what they should be doing, just enjoy what they are doing!

 

6) Can you share one of your favourite parenting moments?

This is another hard question, there have been so many! I think I would have to say it’s watching Keira and Joshua play together. Their love for each other grows every day and it’s such a proud moment to see them play happily together! I can only imagine their love and bond getting stronger when baby #3 arrives! They have such a bond together and I wouldn’t want that to change ever!

Thank you Amy for sharing your positive parenting moments and the advice you have found helpful.

 

You can connect with Amy on the following social networks:

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube

 

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.