I have always felt that I could be a better parent. Parenting really is a learning process, and I have never claimed to know everything. This is pretty obvious in the up and down nature of some of our days here in the Aventajado household.
Some days, are really really great days. I feel like I have done all I can for my children, I have fed them well, I nurtured their emotional well being, I did their homework with them and I am sure that they went to bed with their tummies full and their hearts happy.
Then there are other days…I feel like everyone is fighting, no one is happy (including me) and I’m yelling far too much. These are the days that I know it’s time to take a break, step back, and look at the big picture. These are the days I depend on Nino just a little bit more to help me pick up the slack.
Sometimes on those really tough days…all we need is a little hint or a trick on how to make life a little easier. This could be a quick one skillet dinner, a new way to do something on the computer that will help the kids with their homework, or figuring out how to keep a toddler entertained with productive games or toys so I can get dinner on the table.
When my friends who are parents share their secrets, I do my best to listen. If my friends who are parents, are also teachers…I tend to listen even more…
I have always said that my teaching degree armed me for parenthood in more ways than one. And I have many of my friends who are still in the classroom that I keep up with on a regular basis. I value their opinions and have even gone to some of my friends who are teachers looking for advice which I will apply in my parenting skills.
This is why when my friend Betty mentioned that she was helping facilitate a workshop for parents on some of Maria Montessori’s methods that you can use at home with your school age children, I immediately asked her to reserve a slot for me.
The workshop is on February 14th. That’s Valentine’s Day. Isn’t that a lovely gift for you to give yourself AND your children? Please do let me know if I will see you there? Be sure to say hi!
Diane Angping-Chin is the facilitator and blogs at www.whenhippostalk.com. She is a teacher with a Masters in Early Childhood Education and is a mom of two lovely boys. She will be visiting the Philippines for a short time. In this time she has scheduled a series of talks to not only help parents with homeschooling, but to help parents in parenting as well!
SIMPLY REGISTER for the workshop by texting your name and cellphone to Beth 0927-563-0275.