Parenting Pep Talk #27 – Raw Childhood

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 Jade who blogs at Raw Childhood and describes herself as follows:

 

“I am a babywearing, co-sleeping, breastfeeding and future home-schooling mummy to two beautiful boys, Leo and Mylo. I am a university student and early years blogger who is always looking for a new challenge! I am a loving, emotional and headstrong person and I always put my all into everything that I do.”

 

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

There are 5 of us in our home. There’s myself, Kevin, our two boys Leo and Mylo and my fur baby Bailey. I am a university student studying Early Years and have worked with children for the past 10 years. There is just under 2 years age gap between Leo and Mylo which has been tough but super rewarding! Leo is a keen learner with a vibrant personality and Mylo is a rough and tumble kind of boy with a passion for food; they both have hearts of gold. Mylo suffers with reflux and food allergies which has been exhausting to get to the bottom of but with the right medication and food eliminations we are now on track and have a very happy little boy!

2) How would you describe your parenting style?

I focus on attachment and proven developmental theories. I spend time with my children and messy/creative play is my passion! I use plenty of encouragement to promote independence and self-esteem and most importantly of all I allow my children to play and investigate. Play is integral to learning and development, (not just for children but also for adults! That’s right, you should play too!) so we play until we can play no more!

 

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

My favourite thing about being a parent has to be watching my children grow (however sad it seems as times). Every day they learn new things and knowing that it is me that has taught them these things gives me so much pride! I love that they are growing up into lovely young boys but it does make me realise how fast the time goes.

 

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

There is one piece of advice that everyone hears when they are pregnant or have a newborn: “accept the help when/if you need it”. I didn’t let anyone take over with my first born, he was my world and I ran myself ragged catering to his every need on my own (even daddy didn’t get much of a look in). While I was pregnant with my second I started letting Leo stay with his nanny and grandad one afternoon a week and he can’t wait to go back each week – relationships during early childhood are so important and I am glad that he has such a great bond with other family members.

 

Now I have had my second, I really do understand this advice and it works and it helps to keep your sanity! My second born was left with his daddy with some expressed milk from 2 weeks old, but it really is different second time round – I needed to share my time between two children and my first needed some 1:1 time with me therefore I left Mylo for an hour to start with and gradually increased it. I even let daddy take over with some night feeds and got some much needed sleep (I did have to express but I was able to just sit in bed and do it and go straight back to sleep, it was heaven).

 

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

Don’t listen to other people’s opinions. If you think/feel that you are doing the right thing then you follow that instinct! It’s not called a mother’s intuition for nothing!

 

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

This question is really hard but my favourite parenting moments HAVE to be when I gave birth to my beautiful boys. Those are two separate days that I will never ever forget. I was in awe and fueled on adrenaline; nothing can beat them first moments as a parent. Not so much a specific moment but more like a continuation, a close second is the way my boys are the best of friends; the look on their faces when they see each other is just priceless and melts my heart each time!

 

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

There is no such thing as a perfect parent, so just be a real one!

Link to my messy play blog: http://www.rawchildhood.co.uk/#!Messy-Play-Creative-Day/f85sl/579a8a060cf276b3ba06a9bc

Link to my attachment parenting blog: http://www.rawchildhood.co.uk/#!You-can-never-spoil-your-children-with-love/f85sl/576bcc480cf2816ad1713aca

 

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

 

You can connect with Jade on the following social networks:

 

Twitter
Facebook
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.