Advice from a Mom

So I've posted a little on this topic recently, but it has just really been on my mind a lot so I felt the need to elaborate......
This is for all my friends both single and married who do not have children YET.

 Three ideas on how to prepare yourself and help others.

1. Serve in your church nursery.

Whether this be a weekly thing or filling in as a sub, just do it.  This is important for a couple of reasons.

a. It gives you an opportunity to get to know the workers that will most likely be loving on your children one day. You want as many people in your church to know and love your children as possible. It will benefit them as they grow and will work as your allies.  

b. You have an opportunity to learn more about the stages of growth in children so you will know what to expect for your own. What is normal and what is not.

c. The church needs you to serve.  What's a better place than where your children will be growing and learning the love of Jesus.

d. You will learn to appreciate the workers and what they do week after week.

e. It helps ease your husband into caring for children=)

Ok enough on that one. How about the next idea.

2. Keep your friends kids!

a. This is what I posted on before but it's so very important. Especially to those like me with family too far away to help as often as you would like.  Your friends will LOVE you for this and let's face it....they will owe you one when your kids come around!

b. Date nights can be expensive without paying a babysitter. Have you seen movie prices lately?! Good Grief!  Imagine how much more you are spending this evening when you pay a sitter for a few hours for multiple children. Sheesh. 

c. The last reason this is a good idea is because it gives you practice (similar to the first idea). You get a chance to mess up on someone else's kids! ha!   Seriously. The more you are around them and caring for them, the more prepared you will feel when yours come around.  It drives me crazy to see a woman awkwardly holding a baby because she has never babysat or been around kids. This is not natural!

d. It helps ease your husband into caring for children and what it will really be like=)

3. Hang out with your friends who have kids.

I know some folks who completely avoid hanging out with their friends with kids because it's too painful or they can never get away. Don't do this!

a. Offer to take dinner (order a pizza) to your friends' house and spend the evening there with the children; hanging out, playing and observing.  Spending time around others in different environments gives you a chance to learn how you do or do not want to discipline your children; how you do or do not want to speak to your children; how you do or do not want to handle this situation or that. Do you get my point?

b. This time also allows you to be a part of conversations regarding general childcare, what to do when they are sick, how to handle situations like bedtime routines, potty training dos and donts, etc. You will wish you had all this when you have yours. It's like reading a book but getting to see it first hand. Ask questions on how they handle certain situations. When you are in the trenches, you will have a repertoire to pull from!

c. Your husband will see what an evening will look like=)

I'm sure once I post this I will think of a million more tidbits but for now this is enough!