Change Their Diapers Dads!

I know this is a disgusting topic. Trust me I have (very recently) had to change some really explosive diapers. With Sarah, it was so bad, I had her in the kitchen sink spraying her down with the dish sprayer. It is a smelly situation but it does a couple of things. By changing your diapers, your spouse will appreciate the fact that you are not leaving it up to her to change the diapers. It will also help you bond with your little bundle of joy (even if it doesn’t smell like joy) I have two children so far and I have never been grossed out to the point I wouldn’t change them (although there were times I needed to call reinforcements in, Thank you Shannon) This is not just an effective parenting tip, it is a tip from the heart. Bond with your kids by changing them. Dads do not get the bonding of breastfeeding so we need to find other ways to bond. Don’t blow off this important phase in raising your kids!

Laughter Kills All ILL's

Laughter can cure everything. I love sitting back and listening to my girls giggle. It is so infectious. The other day I found out that I did not get a job I really wanted. I was in a really bad mood. I could feel myself getting angry and I did not like it. The first thing that started lifting my spirits was I asked Sarah to smile and she gave me the biggest, cheesiest smile she has ever given. The next was I was in the other room doing some dishes and I heard the girls trying to make each other laugh. They were giggling and laughing. It completely changed my entire mood. I was happy and I went in and started tickling them so they would laugh more. If you are in a bad mood, try laughing. It will change your entire outlook!

Praise your Children!

Praising children for a job well done can be foreign to some of us. When our children do something good, we first assume they did what they were supposed to and shouldn’t need praising. Now think about you in your own job. When you do something good at work, your boss or supervisor will hopefully say “Hey you did a great job on that” or “thank you for your hard work.” If you do not hear this after doing something, you might feel let down or under-appreciated. Now picture your son or daughter doing something to get your attention and you do not acknowledge them. This tells them that nothing will impress you so why bother trying to do well for you. If I am guilty of anything, it is over praising my girls because I want them to always know I am so proud of them and everything they do.