Parenting Questions and Answers

Last night, my youngest son, Jag, and I went to my mother’s place to grab some dinner. We usually do this every Tuesday nights because my mom loves to cook something special after her bingo night. This was like the 3rd time that I brought Jag along so he was not that much acquainted with my mom.

When my mom tried to kiss him, he shrieked and said, "No grandma. I don’t like you." I had to grab him to the living room to talk to him. I know my mom would understand but I also believe that he scarred her feelings. I talked to my son and told him that it was not the right way to talk to granny like that. She is my mom and I don’t want him to be rude to her. I asked him to hug her and apologize. I made him understand that he should show respect to granny not only because she is old but because we both love her.

It seems like it was just yesterday when I had my first born child. I watched him grow up and it basically scared the living hell out of me. Why? Because I know that sooner, he will have to move on with his life and he would not need me anymore.

During his elementary years he was one of the top students. He was intelligent alright. Just like his father. I had the chance to stand up side by side with him while he was receiving his medal. During his high school years, he developed his love for Basketball. He was the top point guard of the district. He was really good. And now, he is on his way to college. He wants to take up a computer course just like I did. He was on his way to the big crowd and it scares me.

But then, I realized that we did a good job in raising him. He has all the skills to get out and make it to the top. I still feel scared but I am proud of my kid.

I remember the time when I was a young boy who dug potatoes. My meals will never be the same without them and I love every bite, especially the deep fried ones. I found a recipe that is pretty much similar to what my mom used to do and I am actually doing the same recipe for my kids.

They love potatoes as well and its a good thing they do because I still love those potatoes. I get to share a lot of time with them eating the food that we enjoy the most.

Potatoes bring energy and is good for the body so keep your child recharged with potatoes. Here is the link to the recipe that I am talking about. http://www.parenting.com/article/Child/Recipes–Nutrition-For-Children/Perfect-Potatoes

There was a time when my kid wanted to sleep over our neighbor’s house since he considers this girl as one of his best buddies. He is 6 years old and the girl is almost 5 years of age. I do not see any problem with this and our neighbor does not see any as well.

I can’t help but think, what if my son grows older and enters puberty? What could happen? Well, for now, they are just kids and I believe that everything is under control. All they have in mind is simply play. They are not curious about their bodies yet so there is nothing to worry about.

Most parents have this problems regarding opposite sex sleepovers. The only tip that I could give is to think that your kid is still innocent. And he must enjoy that innocence. And also, if you feel restless, try talking to the parents regarding the sleepover.

My son and I are a great athletic pair. We always play basketball together and run around the village as well. I was surprised though when he asked me about his abs. He said he thinks he is getting fat.

Although I am particularly sure that he is rather getting a little weight, I still think that puberty stage is still kicking in. He did put on an extra weight but it has not slowed him down. He still has the best cross over move I’ve seen.

The thing is, I don’t want him to lose confidence and to be focused on his weight. I want him to focus on his weight, I want him to take care of his health. So, we took jogging to a higher level. We jog around the community everyday. But I told him that we are doing this not because he gained extra pounds but because it is good for his health. Hopefully, this tactic will work. He’s still young and I don’t want him to turn into someone who is paranoid with his weight rather than thinking about his health.

Teeth grinding or better known as bruxism is a very common among children below 5 years old. Nobody knows yet what causes it but the possible causes are stress, malocclusion (when the top and bottom teeth do not fit each other), temporomandibular joint and simply just a bad habit. He may have gotten this also when he was using a pacifier and he got used to the movement of the jaw which turned into teeth grinding.

Bruxism does not usually damage the children’s teeth and most kids stop this on their own. You may seek the help of a dentist too. If he suggests to use a mouthguard then be prepared to purchase one. Since bruxism is a sign of stress, look for the early signs and eliminate it. Be on the lookout of your son’s behavior. Then eliminate the stress.

When I was in pre-school, I always wet my pants. My friends would make fun of me and at the end of the day, I will eventually get scolded. Why? Because I stained my precious uniform once again. And now, my kid is having the same problem.

One thing that I learned that I would like to pass on to him is the fact that as a youngster, he will eventually miss the early warning signals of the bladder and before he knows it, fluid already went out. Before, I was too shy to ask my teachers if I can go to the bathroom. That is the problem. So, I told my son that there is nothing to be afraid of. He must ask his teacher for assistance or to ask him or her if he can go out and urinate. There is no harm in asking.

I am actually expecting a change in the next few weeks. Hopefully, what I taught him will work.

Children begin to test their authority at the age of two according to professionals and one way they exercise this is by talking back to adults. By saying "No!", a child is saying that he is tired of taking orders and that she wants more independence.

As a parent, this is quite a tricky situation because you do not want to give your kid the wrong notion. To handle this situation, tell him in a serious tone that you do not want him talking that way to you or suggest ways on how he should talk properly if he disagrees to something. This way, he will know when he is being rude.

To prevent this, try communicating to him always. Always encourage him to express his disagreement in a polite manner.

You will notice that your kid likes to smile and coo at other babies. And then you would start asking yourself - Why do they show much interest in other babies other than teenagers or toys?" Truth is, nobody will know the real reason unless baby babble has been deciphered. There are theories however that may answer the question.

Babies are at the same low eye level and therefore, they notice each other first. It is in their social development abilities that they would want to reach out and touch other babies.

They would eventually notice the other cute baby in the next stroller so let them coo and play along. Who knows? You may find yourself a new friend as well.

It was often said that the first three years of life are the very crucial ones for babies’ brain development. This brings pressure to the parents to constantly teach their babies. However, experts say that kids are like sponges. They are curious without the prompting of the adults. They can sill be stimulated and can absorb knowledge even if adults are not teaching them.

Parents do not need to entertain their kids 24/7 during this time. They can stack toys and let them push and pull toys around the house. Let them imitate household tasks. This will give adults more time to cook, clean and do other chores while their child is playing and at the same time learning.