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Positive Parenting: managing transitions
January 2016
This month's newsletter is all about transitions. From the very first step on our parenting journey (Becoming a Mother), through adapting ourselves to our real children we are given (My Problem Child), to the onset of the tween and teen years (Beginner's Guide to Parenting Teenagers) and the arrival of empty nest inklings (The Teens in their Bedrooms Years), being a parent is a journey with many different stages. For some, this will include Becoming a Single Parent while for others, the emphasis will be on Helping Children Cope with Change. Parenting is a matter of habit: making and sustaining change isn't always easy but it is possible (Why Raising Children is Easier than Giving up Biscuits).
If you enjoy reading our blog posts, please vote for Thinking Parenting in the UK Blog Awards 2016 - it would be amazing to win! Wishing you a very Happy New Year from The Positive Parenting Project!
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Becoming a mother
For me, becoming a mother was like being hit by a bus. I knew there was a baby coming but I was not expecting the complete shift in my identity that I actually experienced. Other new mums would talk about practical stuff - breastfeeding, sleeping, exhaustion - but nobody else ever said "I have absolutely no idea who I am any more and that scares me witless because who I am is important to me, it's what keeps me going." Read more
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My problem child
As parents, we tend to expect that we will (or should) feel the same about all our children. But, just like with every other individual in our lives, in reality we have a different relationship with each of our children. And sometimes we can find it harder to get on with one child than another. Of course, with that comes a huge helping of guilt… Read more
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Becoming a single parent: the change curve
Many parents experience the shift into becoming a single parent as a sequence of stages: denial, false hope, despondency and acceptance. It is a uniquely personal journey that is never easy but understanding where you are on that change curve can really help. Read more
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Why change is difficult
Each time we step into a situation we bring with us an internalised history of all our previous experiences, feelings and behaviours in similar situations. We never really approach anything afresh. And when that situation involves another person it’s a double whammy because they bring with them all their memories of previous interactions too. Which can be a real obstacle to keeping those New Year's Resolutions. Read more
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The kids are growing up - time to get a life!
As teens start to spend more and more time separate from the family, parents can experience both a surge of new freedom and a sense of loss. A lot of attention is paid to the process by which parents bond with their babies, but not so much on how we are supposed to unbond at the other end of childhood. Read more
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Parenting self-help workbooks
Triple P parenting self-help workbooks are an ideal solution for parents who want to learn more about positive parenting but who can't attend a parenting course. The books cover all the same material as the acclaimed 8-week Triple P parenting courses but with the added convenience of being able to read one on the train or dip in and out as time permits. Find out more
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UK Blog Awards
The 'Thinking Parenting' blog has been nominated in the UK Blog Awards 2016. If you enjoy reading these posts then please take a moment to vote - it's doesn't take long but will be hugely appreciated. Thank you!
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Catch up on previous editions of The Positive Parenting Project newsletter:
- Parenting without shouting (December 2015): encouraging co-operation, communicating with teenagers and what to do when parents disagree
- Balancing work and family (November 2015): practical parenting solutions to improve your work-life balance and make the most of time with your children
- Supporting learning and development (October 2015) - ideas to boost reading skills, handling homework and tips to get them talking
- Sleep issues (August 2015) - developing healthy sleep habits in preschoolers and teenagers and parents too!
- Children's brains (July 2015) - what every parent needs to know about children's brains to decode their behaviour and support learning
- Reducing Conflict (June 2015) - strategies for managing fighting and aggression and sibling conflict, plus anger management for adults and teens
- Essential Reading (May 2015) - tips for engaging kids in reading, plus reviews of parenting books and signposting for children with communication difficulties
- The Food Issue (Apr 2015) - dealing with picky eaters, healthy eating for positive mental attitude and helping children develop a positive body image
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