Parenting Pep Talk #21 – Powerporter

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 Powerporter.  Over to you, Emma!

 

 

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

There are four of us that make up our little tribe (six if you include our pussy cats Caleb and Jessie) me Emma I’m 29, my hubby Gary, 32 our daughter Cordelia, 3 and our recent addition Davie, 14 weeks. My husband and I married after a whirlwind romance lasting only 7 months in a small ceremony followed by a gig to watch Kings of Leon! We don’t tend to do things the normal way as a family with both Cordelia and Davie arriving at 35 weeks! They were obviously so excited to meet their wacky parents!

Emma from Powerporter shares her positive parenting moments and encouraging advice for the #ParentingPepTalk

2) How would you describe your parenting style?

I used to think I was quite a relaxed parent but I do think I can be quite strict at times. When it comes to my little girl she is in a routine of bath, book and bed. We tend to stick to this whenever we can even if we are away on holiday or staying over at other houses. There is the odd occasion we stray away from that principal but not often. If she misbehaves we try and stay strong as a parenting duo and stand by our word, if we said she loses something then we see it through as much as we can. I also find you have to pick up on my little girl being tired she would go all day long but she plays up more when she needs her sleep I’ve been known recently to have her in bed at 5.30 just because she misses her naps nowadays! Gosh I sound awful but I can be really lax with her at times especially when it comes to presents. I can’t go shopping without picking her up a comic, a toy or an item of clothing! Even just a little bag of sweets for when I collect her from school. I know one of my friends does it too so I’m not alone on that front.

 

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

The love you feel. It is unparalleled to anything I’ve ever felt before. From the moment you first look into your child’s eyes you feel this weight in the pit of your stomach like your body is overflowing with love and joy all at the same time. You instantly want to protect this little being and that does not go away three years in and I’m still so in love and protective of my baby. If they are hurt or sad you just want to take the pain away from them. I particularly love when they are both fast asleep and you can just take a moment to soak up how beautiful they are, so peaceful in the land of slumber. My heart melts.

 

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

Stick to a routine. I find this a funny one because some of my fellow breastfeeding ladies would snigger at the idea of me trying to routine my three month old but I find it really has helped our lives. With my first I didn’t believe I could routine a breastfed baby and left it until she was a bit older but now we are getting the three-month-old into the same routine as our three-year-old it’s lovely; we actually are starting to get our evenings back to ourselves again.

 

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

I’m sure everyone will say this but it gets easier. Some parts of parenting can be so tough at the beginning whether it’s sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, being out of routine, the house being upside down all the while or all of the above it does improve. As you learn your new found skills in this job role you were never interviewed for but somehow got the vacancy you will master it. Just the same as with a new job it becomes easier the more you work at it and I’d say parenting is the same. Of course you always have new skills to master but that’s no different in the workplace. Oh lord who let HR in! I’ve been off too long!

 

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

I think it has to be how my little girl has taken the last three months in her stride. I was always quite nervous about her becoming a big sister but she has been fantastic. We have had slip ups don’t get me wrong we are by no means perfect but to think she has changed bedroom, moved to a new nursery and adapted to sharing her parents and grandparents all at the time at the tender age of two has been amazing. She started her new nursery a few weeks after her baby brother came out of hospital (another proud parenting moment no moaning about mum being in for a whole week) and she was one of the most confident children there! Long may it continue through her school years.

 

7) Anything else that you would like to share to encourage other parents?

The one thing I will say is trust your instinct! Mums always know when there is something not right. Never feel like you are being overly protective or worried about your child you know best. My daughter seemed to be struggling to hear me in recent months which everyone around me shrugged off as ‘toddler behaviour’ and it turns out after a referral for a hearing test she has severe hearing loss. Never ignore what you think is wrong.
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:

Twitter
Instagram

 

 

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.

 

Parenting Pep Talk - a series of posts sharing encouragment, advice and the positive moments of parenting

5 thoughts on “Parenting Pep Talk #21 – Powerporter

  1. I love this series – I found routine really helped for me but everyone is different but I would say fab advice nonetheless! Thanks for linking this up to #oolmumclub lovely xx

    1. Thanks Talya – it is interesting to read about how different things work for different people and I do love reading all the different posts shared as part of the series 🙂

  2. I love this series – great piece of advice about sticking to a routine but then everyone is different and it has to work for you thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely xx

  3. Love the advice about following your instinct. Sometimes I don’t do this enough! What a lovely interview series Louise x Sunita

    1. Following your instinct is good advice – I think many of us are guilty of not doing it enough at times though – I know I am! 🙂

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