Lifestyle Archives - Page 2 of 5

5 Reasons Why It’s Important to Save While Raising a Kid

June 14, 2024

by Mary Dickson with No Comment Lifestyle Motherhood/Parenting

Raising children is an enriching journey, but it also comes with its fair share of financial challenges. From diapers to college tuition, the expenses can add up quickly.

This is why it’s crucial to prioritize saving money even as you go through the joys and responsibilities of parenthood. Here are five key reasons why saving while raising a kid is important.

1. Preparation for Unexpected Expenses

Life is full of surprises, and not all of them are pleasant. Whether it’s a medical emergency, a sudden job loss, or an unexpected home repair, having a financial cushion can make a world of difference. By consistently saving, you build an emergency fund that provides peace of mind and stability.

This safety net ensures that you can handle unforeseen expenses without compromising your family’s financial security or going into debt.

Also, read about:

5 Best Ways To Manage Finances As A Wife.

2. Educational Opportunities

One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is a quality education. However, educational costs can be steep, ranging from early childhood programs to higher education. By saving early and consistently, you can better manage these costs and provide your child with the opportunities they need to succeed.

Whether it’s saving for private school tuition, extracurricular activities, or college funds, having savings earmarked for education can significantly ease the financial burden.

3. Modeling Financial Responsibility

Children learn a great deal from observing their parents’ behaviors and habits, including how they handle money. By prioritizing savings, you set a positive example of financial responsibility for your kids. They will learn the importance of budgeting, planning, and the value of money.

This financial literacy is an invaluable life skill that will serve them well into adulthood, helping them make informed and responsible financial decisions.

4. Long-Term Security

Thinking long-term is crucial when raising a family. As parents, it’s important to consider not just the immediate needs but also the future. Saving money ensures that you can provide for your child’s needs as they grow and change. It also helps you plan for significant life events such as buying a home, planning vacations, or even saving for retirement.

Long-term financial planning and saving provide a sense of security and freedom, allowing you to enjoy life’s milestones without financial stress.

5. Reducing Financial Stress

Money issues are a leading cause of stress for many families. Financial strain can impact your health, relationships, and overall well-being. By saving money and building a financial cushion, you reduce this stress significantly.

Having savings allows you to manage daily expenses more comfortably and cope with financial challenges more effectively. This leads to a more harmonious household and better mental health for everyone involved.

Conclusion

Saving money while raising a kid is not just about securing a comfortable future; it’s about creating a stable and stress-free present. By prioritizing savings, you prepare for unexpected expenses, invest in your child’s education, model financial responsibility, ensure long-term security, and reduce financial stress.

These efforts not only benefit your financial health but also contribute to a happier, more secure family life. Start saving today, and give your family the gift of financial stability and peace of mind.

Mary Dickson

Mary Dickson is a versatile professional with over a decade of experience driving innovation at the
intersection of technology, marketing, and female empowerment.
With a background in marketing she worked with Nalo Solutions Limited for 13 years leading the HR
department for 8 years and moving on to lead the marketing team for 5 years.

5 Reasons You Should Put Your Partner First Before Your Kids: A Guide for Moms

June 10, 2024

by Mary Dickson with No Comment Lifestyle Motherhood/

Parenthood is a beautiful and challenging journey. One that often shifts the dynamics of a romantic relationship. As moms, our instinct is to prioritize our kid’s needs above everything else.

However, maintaining a strong, loving partnership is crucial not just for you, but for your entire family’s well-being. Here are five reasons why putting your partner first can be beneficial for everyone involved.

1. Foundation of a Happy Family

A strong, loving relationship between partners sets the foundation for a happy and stable family. When kids see their parents in a healthy and supportive relationship, it provides them with a sense of security and models positive relationship dynamics.

Prioritizing your partner helps to create a nurturing environment where love and respect are at the forefront, which in turn fosters a harmonious household.

Also, read about:

How to create a family tradition on a special occasion

2. Better Parenting Team

When you and your partner are united and prioritize each other, you become a more effective parenting team. Communication, cooperation, and mutual support are enhanced, allowing you to tackle parenting challenges together.

This unified approach ensures that decisions regarding your kids are made jointly, providing a consistent and balanced upbringing. Kids benefit from seeing their parents as a connected unit, which helps them feel more secure and understood.

3. Maintaining Individual Identity

It’s easy to lose sight of your identity when you become a parent. By prioritizing your partner and your relationship, you maintain a sense of individuality and remind yourselves that you are not just parents but also partners and individuals with your own needs and desires.

This balance is essential for personal happiness and can prevent feelings of resentment or burnout, making you a more fulfilled and effective parent.

4. Setting a Positive Example

Kids learn about relationships from observing their parents. By demonstrating a strong partnership, you are setting a positive example for your kids about what a healthy, loving relationship looks like. They learn about communication, compromise, love, and respect by watching how you and your partner interact.

This invaluable life lesson will guide them in their future relationships, equipping them with the tools to build healthy connections.

5. Long-Term Healthy Relationship

The intensity of parenting can sometimes push the romantic relationship to the back burner. However, investing time and energy in your relationship with your partner ensures its longevity. A strong, healthy partnership is built on ongoing effort, care, and attention.

By putting your partner first, you are nurturing the relationship, keeping the romance alive, and ensuring that you remain connected even after the children grow up and become more independent.

Conclusion

Putting your partner first before your kids might seem unreasonable, but it’s a strategy that benefits the entire family. A strong partnership creates a stable and loving environment for your kids, models healthy relationship behavior, and ensures that both you and your partner remain fulfilled and connected.

By investing in your relationship, you are ultimately investing in the happiness and well-being of your family as a whole.

Mary Dickson

5 Best Ways To Manage Finances As A Wife.

May 27, 2024

by Mary Dickson with No Comment Lifestyle Motherhood/

Are you struggling with financial management as a wife and do not know how to go about it? In this article, I want to help you learn how to manage your finances as a wife.

Finance management, also known as financial management, involves the strategic planning, organizing, directing, and controlling of financial activities in an organization or individual’s life.

Ways to manage finance

1. Budgeting

As a wife, planning future income and expenditure to ensure resources is an effective thing to do. It helps you know ahead of time what to get and how to get them. It is also a coefficient for using money unnecessarily.

2. Bulk purchase

When you buy in bulk, you save a lot of money and avoid having to buy in smaller quantities. It helps you with future expenses because buying in bits is expensive, and each time you do so, the prices of the items rise the next time you visit the market. So make sure you always buy in bulk and stock them. It saves money, and expenses.

3. Accounts and record keeping

After every expense, make sure you always jot down the amount of money you spend. Preparing financial statements and reports provides insight into your financial health and helps on how to spend.

This also helps you track your financial performance and support decision-making

Also, read about:

15 Home And Smart Skills You Can Start Teaching Your Kids.

4. Investment

You can also invest your resources in various investment opportunities to grow your wealth as a wife. This will help you in the future to be able to be an independent wife. Investing your money is also a way to manage your finances.

It keeps you focused and gets you going. This will also help you during your financial crisis.

5. Financial planning

You need to set your financial goals and develop strategies to achieve them. These goals can be both short-term and long-term. Doing this helps you know what to attend to first on your list. It also helps you avoid incurring unnecessary expenses.

Financial planning as a way to manage finances is essential and one of the first things to consider before making any financial decision.

Effective finance management is important for a wife’s sustainability and growth as it helps make informed decisions, optimize resource use, and achieve strategic goals.

Mary Dickson

5 Best Work-From-Home For Moms

May 24, 2024

by Mary Dickson with No Comment Lifestyle Motherhood/Motherhood/Parenting

It is a good thing to work from home sometimes as a mom. This is solely because you get to take care of your family and spend some quality time with your kids. Working from home as a mom is also good for you to keep an eye on your kids for safety and a good upbringing.

Finding the best work-from-home jobs involves considering flexibility, work-life balance, and the ability to generate a reliable income, especially for moms managing family responsibilities. This also requires personal interests or skills to be able to work from home.

Here are some of the best work-from-home jobs suitable for moms:

Social Media Manager

A social media manager is responsible for creating content and interacting with the followers of a particular social media platform for a business. They are also responsible for tracking the growth of social media and keeping analytics.

Also read about:

5 Best Ways To Manage Finances As A Wife.

Qualifications

To be a social media manager, you need to have an online certification, communication skills, problem-solving skills, creativity, and an understanding of analytics. You also need to be good customer service, time management, and Adaptability. You need to have Problem-Solving Skills, SEO Knowledge, Graphic Design Skills, and video editing, and be detail-oriented.

Aside from these qualifications, there should be additional qualifications that you need to acquire to help you improve your chances of landing a job. Such as networking, having your personal social media page, staying updated by reading blogs, following more influencers, and participating in webinars to keep your knowledge current.

2. Blogging/ vlogging

A blogger or vlogger is a person who creates and shares video content, typically in the form of a personal video blog (vlog), on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or their websites. Blogging/ vlogging is now a lucrative work that you can try as part of your work from home.

can start by doing lives, sharing your interests, hobbies, or expertise, and often engaging with your audience through comments and social media interactions. This helps you grow your audiences and helps you make more money when you’re dedicated to it.

Qualifications

To be a blogger/ vlogger, you need to have some qualities to be able to stay relevant to your audience. Qualities like having some writing and strong communication skills, you need to be a good storyteller to be able to get your audience to stay on your channel.

you need to be familiar with web development like WordPress, blogger, or Medium. You also need to know your niche and do more research. Make sure you have a deeper understanding of SEO to optimize content for search engines to increase visibility.

Know how to promote your content, and engage with your audience with consistency and time management. Learn also about networking, data analytics, adaptability, and monetization strategies. You also to have knowledge of video and photo editing using apps like Canva, Editor, Capcut, etc.

3. Graphic designer

Another work to consider is to be a graphic designer. A graphic designer creates visual content to communicate messages through digital and print media. This profession requires a blend of creative and technical skills, along with certain personal attributes to excel.

Qualifications

This type of work requires attention and focus to be able to come out with wonderful designs. To be a graphic designer, you need to be very creative and also have a little information about IT. You need to have good time management skills, have a deeper understanding of branding.

Be able to create balanced and harmonious designs using principles of layout and composition. Have effective communication to understand client needs, present ideas, and collaborate with other team members.

You also have to have the ability to solve design challenges and create effective visual solutions and you are willing to learn and adapt to new design trends, tools, and techniques. Keeping skills up-to-date through courses, workshops, and staying informed about design trends and software updates.

4. Online teaching

An online teacher is someone who teaches people or students through the internet. Online teaching offers flexibility and the ability to reach a wide range of students and people who are interested in whatever you teaching.

You can do your teaching through Facebook Lives, Instagram Lives, and TikTok Live. You can also record yourself and post it on YouTube or hold an online webinar. This requires a lot of time and energy and also requires you to be more knowledgeable in what you intend to teach.

It will fetch you lots of money as people join you because they might be interested in what you’re teaching. It could be about food, science, maths, nature, DIY, etc.

Qualifications

Firstly, you need to be familiar with various online teaching platforms like Zoom, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Moodle, or Blackboard. You have to also know the strategies for keeping students engaged in a virtual environment, including interactive activities and multimedia resources.

Understanding and addressing the diverse needs and learning paces of students is also very important. I already mentioned that you need to have deep knowledge of the subject you are teaching and stay current with developments in the field.

You need to have Interactive skills to be able to be proficient in facilitating discussions, group work, and other interactive learning methods online. Regularly collect and act on feedback from students to improve your teaching methods, and have strong written and verbal communication skills to convey information and instructions.

5. Online Coaching or Consulting

A person who coaches or consults online is someone who helps people to build a brand and helps them to develop a better version of themselves. They Offer expertise in a specific field, such as career coaching, health and wellness, or business consulting.

Qualifications

As an online coach, you need to have some qualities that will help you up your game. Problem-solving skills are the ability to help clients identify challenges and develop effective strategies to overcome them. You have to be inspirational to inspire and motivate your clients, fostering a positive and empowering them.

Have a genuine passion for helping others achieve their goals and a strong drive to see clients succeed also maintain a well-structured approach to your coaching practice, including time management. You must have high ethical standards and maintain confidentiality and trustworthiness in all client interactions.

The ability to fully concentrate, understand, and respond thoughtfully to clients, ensuring they feel heard and valued. As an online coach or consultant, you need to encourage clients to stay committed to their goals and hold them accountable for their progress.

Make sure you have clear and concise verbal and written communication skills for ideas and feedback effectively.

Mary Dickson

10 Smart daily activities for single moms

May 10, 2024

by Mary Dickson with No Comment Lifestyle Motherhood/Motherhood/Parenting

Being a mother is a blessing, and it is even more so if you are a single mother. Motherhood requires a lot of effort, and I must admit, it can be exhausting at times.

How about taking you through smart daily activities as a single mom to help you out of boredom and stress? Daily activities are the small things you do as a mother to help you focus on your kids while also strengthening you against mental health issues.

Here are 10 daily activities that can help you release stress and boredom. Practice them consistently and daily. These habits can provide you with a sense of fulfillment and motivation and allow you to change your life and achieve your goals over time. Yes, I know this is going to be a relief for you.

Smart Daily Activities For Single Moms

1. Spend quality time with your kids

A single mom should not be a boring mother, but rather their kid’s best friend. Spending some quality time with your kids means a lot to them. They need both a mother and a friend, so spend 30 minutes to an hour with them each day to learn about what is going on in their lives.

2. Read some books

It is obvious that most moms do not have time to even glance at a book or do research. Often, they do not deem it necessary to do so because they think they need that time for reading to work on something else. It is very important to read some books to gain wider knowledge. It also helps you to relax and relieve stress after tedious work is done. It refreshes your mind and helps you calm your brain through all the shouts, work, and stress.

3. Take a walk

Dealing with shouts and noise at home can be very disturbing. Go out and take a walk for some fresh air, check out beautiful things, and smile about everything. Take a moment to refresh your memory from all the lovely moments you have with your kids.

4. Do some journaling

Jotting things down for reminders and reflections is very helpful. As a single mother, you are likely to become forgetful at times, so get yourself a diary/journal and write everything down. Write down how your day went with the kids, plan your week, schedule a meeting, and plan the food you are going to eat on a specific day. This helps you be on your toes for your next move.

Also, read about:

Six Weekend Family-Planned Activities.

5. Pray for strength

Being a single mother can be burdensome at times, and you might want to give up. You might also unleash your anger, frustration, and pain on your kids. Always remember to pray to God for strength to be a good mom and have patience for your kids. It is important to pray that you have the heart to love your kids as the days go by. Pray, too, that you will be a good mentor and mother to your kids.

6. Go on a vacation

Give yourself a good treat sometimes, as a single mom, you’re a mom, not a “slave.” Have some quality time to yourself. Go to the spa, to the beach, to the poolside, or even have a three-day vacation at a Syrene place. It could be RBnB. Treat yourself well and enjoy motherhood as having fun.

7. Do an exercise

You need the strength to take care of your kids; that’s why you need to exercise at least twice a week. Exercise helps to strengthen your muscles while also relaxing your body. Go to YouTube and watch an exercise video to learn the type of exercise to do for 20–30 minutes.

8. Take some lessons

You need to develop yourself as a single mother. You need to know more and have more knowledge. Take a lesson on YouTube or register for a session that will help with the impartation of knowledge. Improve yourself and elevate your standards.

9. Eat healthy

Make sure you have a proper diet plan for yourself and your kids. A healthy diet is a healthy life, make sure you take in adequate water and eat more fruits and vegetables. Know when to eat what and when not to. Prepare a menu plan for your daily meals and make sure you follow it sequentially because your kids need a healthy mom to look after them.

10. Take a break

After a long and hectic day, take a break and give yourself some rest. Have enough rest before engaging in any other activity. Don’t overburden yourself. While resting, make sure you do away with any electronic activity that will distract you from a peaceful rest. You need to relax and meditate on all the activities that you do. Rest! Your body requires it to function properly; there should be no disruption from your children.

Mary Dickson

How to create a family tradition on a special occasion

May 6, 2024

by Mary Dickson with No Comment Lifestyle Motherhood/Motherhood/Parenting

Family traditions are activities done to add more fun and excitement to the family. It is planned to add more value and essence, which makes the family bond and have more love for each other. it is very important to create a family tradition on special occasions.

Creating family traditions gives kids and adults a sense of belonging in the family and allows them to connect with their cultural and religious roots in a special way.

There are so many ways to create a family tradition which includes hugs, activities, games, and many other fun activities. These activities should not be difficult to adjust to or stressful when practicing, rather, they should be enjoyable and can be adapted to by individuals in the family.

It could be done occasionally like monthly, weekly, yearly, daily, or even on a special occasion for family gatherings.

Here are some family traditions that you can plan on special occasions:

1. Having mid-week prayer sessions

It is important that, as a family, you pray for protection and guidance throughout the week. Coming together to pray as a family gives you a sense of security between you and your creator. It also provides you with the assurance that, in everything or any situation, you have a family that can help you with prayers. Study the word of God to build up your spiritual being and strengthen your faith.

2. Always eat together as a family

Eating together as a family strengthens the bond in a family, especially with the kids. A family that eats together, grows together, and also creates room for learning table etiquette for the kids.

3. Hold family meetings

Once every month, you can hold a family meeting to talk about the activities that took place in the previous month and also plan the activities you want to happen in the month. Here, individuals will get the chance to express how they feel and what they went through and seek help. It also makes it easier to discuss how one’s mental health is affected. Holding family meetings resolves many issues and promotes family growth.

Also, read about:

10 Smart daily activities for single moms

4. Going for bowling

It is important to have fun as a family, and going bowling should be one of the things you consider a part of the family tradition. Go out and have fun, make sure you spend quality time with your family.

5. Clean-up exercise

It is good to clean the house regularly, it helps keep a healthy home and clean environment. Having “cleaning up exercise” as part of family traditions helps raise responsible kids. Cleaning the house, especially their rooms, kitchen, washrooms sitting rooms, etc. makes the kids learn about the importance of being clean at all times. They grow with this mentality and it becomes a tradition in their homes when they become adults. They also pass it on to their offspring.

6. Telling a story every night

Storytelling in a way creates a wider imagination for people both young and old alike. Storytelling also helps one to be creative in words and actions. Have the family gather every night and tell stories, funny, sad, scary, history, etc. It builds one’s confidence and ability to be outspoken in every area.

7. Give alms often

Teach your kids about giving all and helping the poor. This is one of the most important traditions that should be held in the family. Once in a while, visit the less privileged and extend a helping hand. Teaching your kids to be helpful to others and never withhold what they have if someone ( the poor, needy, old, young, etc.) needs is a good thing to know. They grow up to be cheerful givers and help society to grow in love and harmony.

8. Go to church services and gatherings together

Create a tradition of going to services together as a family. Going to services together strengthens the family bond and builds strong love between you. Service teaches about the importance of family and a family that goes to services together learns a lot about family.

9. Show affection to each other

Hugs, special handshakes, and kisses should be part of family activities. It shows love among each other and makes one feel loved and appreciated. It gives an assurance of security and a sense of belonging. This also creates strong family ties.

10. Having outdoor activities

Don’t stay indoors all the time, make sure you go out to play with the family. Playing outdoor games refreshes the body and provides fresh air. It also becomes a tradition for your kids and makes them happy. Having outdoor games as part of family traditions creates a particular bond between the kids and the parents.

Mary Dickson

Six Weekend Family-Planned Activities.

May 3, 2024

by Mary Dickson with No Comment Lifestyle

It’s been a long and hectic week, and the family hasn’t had enough time to have happy moments together. And you’re thinking of planning activities for the weekend? Then this article is good for you.

Family activities for the weekend are perfect for bringing the entire family together to share wonderful, happy moments.

Having a weekend of planned family activities will equip the children to know the importance of family time and family connections.

Having family time with your children is good, especially on weekends. This makes them very active and reduces boredom and stress.

There are so many family activities that could be planned for the week, but today, I want to take you through 6 of them in this article.

1. Host a family game night:

Gather the family and have them divided into two or more groups (that’s if you’re more than four in a family) and have a game night. Play games together at night, either in the sitting room or on the porch. Games like Hedbanz, Jenga, chopped, jeopardy, Family Feud, monopoly, Three Truths and One Lies, indoor balling, twister scavenger hunt, Truth or dare etc.

These games bring happy moments and help the family bond. It also broadens the minds of each member of the family.

2. Visit the museum:

This weekend activity helps the family have more knowledge about history and learn more about the past. Visiting the museum provides one with a wide range of ideas.

It enlightens children and makes them want to learn and understand more. Take pictures at the museum for memory’s sake.

3. Host a movie night:

Working from here and there has been somewhat monotonous this week. This prevents the family from having a beautiful and successful family time. So planning or hosting a movie night on a weekend wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Grab some popcorn and a cold beverage as you watch the latest family movie. Discuss what happens in the movie along the line, laugh, giggle, and enjoy the movie. This is a powerful tool to help you, as a parent, know what kind of movies your kids watch.

4. Go for family picnics:

Spending enough time with your family is extremely beneficial, especially when it is done outside the home. Plan a picnic on weekends and have the family come.

It could be a rainbow picnic, in which each family member is allowed to bring something of a specific color. It creates bonds and strong family ties. Remember the saying that goes, “A family that eats together grows together?”

You can play chase, learn how to fly a kite, ride on a bike, and skip during the picnic.

Yes, these activities teach children the value of family bonds and how to adapt to them as they grow older.

5. Have a mini-family get-together:

Invite family members to your place and have a mini-party only for the families. Cousins, grandparents, uncles, aunties, in-laws, etc.

It generates great family ties and makes everyone happy. You get to see each family member at least once or twice a month. This also gives you the chance to see long-time relatives whom you have known for a very long time.

Children also get to know some relatives they haven’t met in the family and bond with them.

Family is everything, and having all of your family members come together for such an occasion is something to remember.

6. Practice Yoga:

Both meditation and exercise are beneficial to the body. Yoga serves as a good exercise for meditation. Practicing yoga helps you and your family release some stress.

It helps you relax your muscles after a long week of busy schedules and movements. Practicing Yoga with the family is an interesting thing for everyone in the family. This is because it helps everyone maintain a clear and attentive mind after exercising. It strengthens you and makes you more focused.

It may also help you deal with mental health issues as you focus on whatever you’re doing. Yoga sometimes brings inner peace. Practicing yoga together as part of the weekend’s planned activities helps you know the strengths and weaknesses of everyone in the family.

These are the 6-weekend family-planned activities that can be done to strengthen the bond in the family. Make them your routine and practice them every weekend or at least twice every week or month. It will surely yield and become a habit.

Mary Dickson

How To Keep Your Kids Entertained While You’re Working At Home.

April 29, 2024

by Mary Dickson with No Comment Lifestyle Motherhood/Motherhood/Parenting

Working at home as a mom and surrounded by your kids could be very disturbing and overwhelming, especially when you do not have anyone to help you cater to them. Imagine having a meeting, and suddenly, your kid comes to call you with a shout because they need your attention.

Yeah, I know that feeling, and you wouldn’t want to imagine it, I guess? Imagine getting all your papers scattered while working and having a toddler in your arms at the same time. You end up not getting any of the work done because of the disturbance.

In this article, I have some interesting things to help you keep your kids entertained while working at home. These things are surely going to make your work at home peaceful and successful now, without your kids disturbing you.

Let’s delve into them:

1. Allow them to watch their favorite programs

Giving your kids access to watch their favorite programs will go a long way toward helping you do your work as a mom with ease and comfort. Allow them to watch rhymes on YouTube, cartoons on Netflix, play games on your phone or tablet, etc. Make sure whatever they watch can keep them glued and entertained so long as you finish your work.

2. Serve them with their favorite snacks

Serving your kids with their favorite snacks is also a kind of entertainment to them. They get overjoyed and help you, as a mom, to work efficiently at home. Giving your kids enough of their favorite snacks while working at home puts them in a position of calmness.

3. Give them work as you also work

Whenever you’re working at home, just make sure you also give your kids something to be busy with: You can provide them with an assignment, a book to read, a book to color, fix Legos, do a puzzle, or make them watch a lesson on YouTube (DYI, math, English, STEM). It serves as a source of entertainment to them, and they turn to it to learn a whole lot of stuff.

4. Invite their friends or cousins to keep them company

Kids like to play a lot and always want someone around them to play along with them whenever they’re lonely and sad. Inviting their friends or cousins to keep them company is the best idea. This will keep them entertained and help you work efficiently at home.

5. Let them go outside to play

Allow your kids to go outside and play with their playing objects ( bicycles, toys, football, basketball, etc.), but make sure you have your eyes fixed on them every minute. They become happy and do not disturb you a lot. They allow you to work and complete every task ahead of you without intruding.

6. Create a challenge for them to complete

Assign a challenge for your kids to complete with awards attached to it. Give them objects to make drawings of, and give them a reading challenge with a handful of books. They will make sure they are glued to the drawing or reading of the books without disturbing you. Kids find reading and drawing very interesting, and they will end up creating a wonderful sketch that serves as a source of entertainment for them. And because each wants to win, they get focused.

7. Make a video call to talk to family members

Call their grandparents, uncles, aunties, cousins, and siblings who are not living together with them on a video call. They get so excited and very entertained to talk to them on a video call for such a very long time. The kids talk to them and wouldn’t want to end the call for any reason. This helps you, as a mom, work effectively.

8. Care for their family pet

Give them the chance to care for the pets at home. Let the kids feed the dogs, and also have them spend time with their pets. Caring for the pets keeps them busy and entertained. It is great for them to practice a little responsibility with their pet. Have them walk the dog, clean the cage, feed the bird, or bathe the rabbit.

Summary

Practicing these ideas will keep your kids entertained, and this will also help you, as a mom, to have time and focus on all the work you do at home. Keeping your kids entertained while working at home is very important if you want to have.

Why It Is Important To Start A Mom Journaling

April 26, 2024

by Mary Dickson with No Comment Lifestyle Motherhood/

As a mom who wants to be very efficient in whatever you do, journaling is your go-to option. In this article, I want to explain why it is important to start journaling as a mom.

One may ask, what is journaling?

Journaling is the act of jotting down important information to help you in the future and also tracking the activities previously done by an individual. The act of keeping records of a step-by-step process of an activity along the line.

It is gradually done to cultivate and increase sustainability and efficiency in our daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly activities and plans.

It is very important to keep track of or keep records of whatever we do in our daily lives. I had the chance to practice journaling, and I must say, it has been a constructive and delightful journey.

Let me quickly take you through my journey and how helpful journaling was to me and I believe it will also be helpful to you as well. I have eight of them written in this article.

1. It is goal-oriented

It is believed that to get something done right and accurately, you need to set a goal for yourself. This goal cannot be achieved without jotting it down and knowing how to go about it.

First and foremost, you need to have the goal in mind and how you want it to be achieved. Writing down the goal makes it easier for you to achieve it. Journaling down the steps to follow makes it so precise.

2. It helps you correct your mistakes.

Correcting and completing your mistakes from your previous work is very fulfilling. As a mom, you might have a lot of tasks to complete, and you might not be able to complete them. So, going back to your journal makes you aware of the adjustments you need to make.

It helps you complete the task you weren’t able to complete like cooking, shopping list, chores etc. It also helps you correct any mistakes made in the previous days, weeks, months, or years.

3. It is very fulfilling

Journaling helps you be on the move. It directs you to know what to do at a particular time. It also helps you pour your heart out into your journal. Sometimes, being a mom can be very stressful and hectic and the only way to pour out your heart is to do that in your journal.

You might not want to discuss your problems with anyone, and doing that in your journal can be very helpful and fulfilling.

4. It helps you keep records of old times

Journaling helps you keep records of past events in your life, the lives of your kids, and your spouse. It helps you keep important records of happy moments in your life and also helps you keep important dates of anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, etc.

It is important to avoid being forgetful of certain events in your life as a mom; keeping records of these things becomes a priority for you. If you’re the type that becomes forgetful easily after getting things done, then you need to make journaling a habit. It really goes a long way.

5. Journaling helps you know your potential

Most of the time, as a busy mom, you want to attend to everything to make life simple and easy for your family. You end up attending to everything, making sure it gets done by all means. Take a chill pill, darling; you cannot do everything at a goal all by yourself.

Journaling helps you know what you’re good at doing very easily and quickly without getting caught up with time. It helps to know what type of goal to set. It also shows you how to prioritize any schedules you make.

6. It serves as an expression of gratitude

journaling helps you write down what you are grateful for as a mom. It makes you appreciate life and all the opportunities that come to you as a mom. It also helps you to become positive, happier, and more optimistic about life.

It is good to feel grateful and appreciate life in some way. Having the opportunity to care for a family is a blessing that we need to thank and appreciate God for.

7. It helps to minimize mental health

There are many benefits to journaling, one of which is to control and manage through any problems, fears, concerns, or panic you have. It reduces depression and anxiety. Journaling helps you manage and solve any problem you’re going through.

writing down all the problems you’re going through mentally will help you find a solution one way or another. This is basically because you will know what your strengths and weaknesses are, thereby channeling your energy to them.

8. It is a stress reliever

That moment when you can write down how your day went and what you achieved within the day is such a stress reliever. Writing down what went on with your family and kids during the day helps.

Writing down your thoughts, worries, fears, and anything else that may be causing you to overthink helps you find ways to deal with them or solve them. This can give you a new idea on how to tackle them, making them less stressful than you once thought.

In summary

Dear moms, journaling is very important in your home and if you haven’t started yet, then I guess you need to start now. Get yourself a journal and start writing now, Write anything and everything that comes to mind. It is a delightful thing to do that

Mary Dickson

13 Unique Ways To Show Your Kids You Love Them

April 22, 2024

by Mary Dickson with No Comment Lifestyle Motherhood/Motherhood/Parenting

Carrying another human in your body is such an overwhelming thing to experience as a mom. It is also such an amazing moment for every mom. Before birth, you already make plans for them to show your kids you love them.

Every mom’s dream is to have their babies in her arms to show them how much she loves and cares for them. The moment a mom delivers, that’s when her love for the baby begins.

The joy, excitement, and happiness shown on their faces are priceless and refreshing.

Every mom dreams of watching a baby grow from the time they start sitting, crawling, and mentioning their parents’ names.

As the kids grow, you need to show them you love and care for them all the time. You need to let them know you’re their support system and number one friend.

There are so many ways to show your kids that you love, care for, and support them in every journey of their lives.

As a mom, your kids need to be aware of your love for them in order not to feel lonely, abandoned, and isolated.

Let’s kickstart and learn how to show your kids you love them:

1. Spend more quality time with them

Every mom needs to spend more time with their kids to show them they love them. The more time you spend with your kids, the stronger the bonds between you. Spending more time with your kids doesn’t matter if it’s not quality. Read books, watch TV, play games, and take a walk in the park or the beach.

Quality time with your kids is very important to them. It makes them vulnerable to you and makes them happy kids. They feel very welcome and want to express themselves when they’re with you.

2. Hug them more

Hugging and kissing your kids often assures them of your support and love for them. It makes them feel solace in you and also provides comfort for them. To show your kids you love them, make sure hugging them more often becomes a tradition.

Sometimes, all your kids want is a shoulder to cry on and arms to keep them warm. And hugging them is so welcoming to them. When they cry, hug them; when they’re happy, hug them; and when they feel scared, hug them.

It is advisable that you always have open arms for your kids. It helps them know that you love them and will always be there for them when they need you.

3. Have fun together

Go on vacations together, play games, learn new skills, bake, celebrate, and enjoy every beautiful moment together.

It creates room for growth and happiness in their hearts and lives. It shows you love them and want them around you every moment of your life.

4. Listen to your kids

Having a listening ear for your kids and paying attention to every conversation coming from them also shows your love for them.

They end up giving you every detailed information. It boosts their confidence and helps them trust in you with every single thing in their lives.

A mom who pays less attention or gives no listening ear to her kids loses her kids to bad advice from people. It also makes the kid feel less love from her.

5. Include your kids in any family decision

In any family decision, make sure your kids participate and give suggestions. This strengthens the bond between the family.

It helps the kids find their importance in the family. They become more excited and feel love when, of course, they see their suggestions taken into consideration and acted upon.

This makes them feel more responsible because they feel valued in the family.

6. Buy them gifts

Show your kids some love by buying gifts for them more often. It shouldn’t be just once in the blue moon. Buy them gifts when they portray good behavior, pass their text or exams, during their birthdays, or just random gifts.

Buying them gifts doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. It could be anything that will help them feel appreciated, loved, and cherished. Children are moved by the little things you do for them as a mom, and it goes a long way toward adding value to their lives.

7. Support them in every endeavor.

Every kid needs the support of their parents. Giving some support to your kids in everything they do shows that you love them. Show your support in all aspects of their lives, but make sure you lead them in the right direction.

Support your kids in their academics, dreams, aspirations, and careers. A mom who supports her kids is a supermom to them, and they will forever remain grateful.

Sometimes, kids do not make good decisions as they turn youth and make certain decisions that ruin their lives forever. Moms should make sure they support them by talking to them and educating them about the complications attached to it. This also shows that you love and care for your kid.

8. Don’t equate material things to Love

It is a good thing to shower your kids with material and valuable things but showing them that they deserve love is equally important.

Children need the kind of love that provides a shoulder to cry on. They need a peaceful home and atmosphere to think and grow well. Children are very observant and providing only material things to them doesn’t make them feel loved.

A busy mom who always comes home late and finds their kids asleep but always buys gifts to show how much they love their kids doesn’t mean anything to the kids. All they need is attention, care, love, and support from you as a mom.

Show your kids you love them by being there when they need you.

Read also about

Building a lasting Mother-Child Relationship

9. Create a special routine together

Love goes beyond gift. It requires attention, communication, and spending time together. Creating a special routine together with your kids is a special thing to do.

Make it a habit to share happy moments. Create a routine that becomes a tradition in the family. Such as going to the spa every Saturday, baking cakes on holidays, going to church every Sunday, bedtime stories every day before bed, and praying together as a family.

With time, the kids become used to it and practice it every day, especially on the days that you wouldn’t be available to do it together with them.

10. Show equal love to your kids

Every child is unique in their own way, and showing love to each of your kids with the same kind of love is important. Developing much love for one particular kid and showering them with gifts, attention, and care breeds hate and jealousy among them. It creates room for depression and a loss of self-confidence in your kid.

Make sure equal love is shown to all your kids. The same amount of care, attention, and love for each make one big and happy family.

11. Appreciate every little gesture they show

Appreciating every little gesture your kids make shows your love for them. It helps them make it easier to put smiles on your face. It boosts their confidence level, and they put in much effort to make you proud.

Allowing your kids to gift you with the little present they have for you and thanking them makes them happy. Congratulating them when they progress in their academics makes them want to learn more to do more or better in their next grades.

Children would always make their parents proud by receiving gifts, applause, hugs, or showers of compliments. Doing all these things will help raise fulfilled and brilliant kids in the future. They don’t become afraid of failure because they know that even when they fail, they have a mom who will encourage them with words of motivation.

12. Prepare their favorite meal

Every kid believes their mom is the best cook in the world. Kids love eating their mom’s meals. This is because they see the love and genuineness their mom uses in preparing their meal.

Occasionally, try showing your kids by preparing their favorite meals. It makes them happy and enjoy every bit of it. Their love for you grows deeper and deeper because they know that the love you have for them is eternal, and that’s why you took your time and energy just to make them happy by preparing their favorite meal.

13. Advice and direct them to the right path

Advising your kids when they go wrong or misbehave shows your love for them. Correct your kids each time they go wayward. Do that out of love and kindness.

Advise them to do the right thing at the right time. If need be, you can as well give them a small punishment to correct them so they don’t repeat the same mistake. Every child needs to be correct when they go wrong.

Know that overprotecting and overpampering a child doesn’t mean you love them too much. Yes, you do love them, but not advising or punishing them when they grow up wrong doesn’t mean you love them.

Any mom who advises, punishes, and corrects their kids ends up being proud because their love for their kids after they advise them grows strong, especially when they come out to be responsible adults.

In Conclusion

I would like to say that every little thing you do to show your kids you love them really matters, and it is important to keep showing them the love that they deserve. Love knows no boundaries, and showing love to your kids can go a long way as they grow up.

Mary Dickson