As a mother of six children, many times I have found myself comparing one child to another. Even though I know physical, emotional, and intellectual development will progress at a rate that is unique to each child and each will have their own strengths and weaknesses, when you are in the middle of a two-year-old tantrum over a seemingly trivial problem, it is hard not to think: ‘Your sister never did this.’
Winter is a quiet time for reflection; it allows us to see the things that need to be fixed.a No, I am not referring to that cabinet door in the kitchen or the leaky faucet in the bathroom. According to a recent survey, the average family spends only 34 minutes together on weekdays. If you are surprised to find your own family fits into this statistic, there is no need to panic. Like fresh fallen snow, winter gives us a chance at new beginnings. Take advantage of winter’s slower pace to reconnect with each other. If inspiration is needed, read on for 12 ideas:
When Holly Stewart visited Victoria, BC with her parents, husband, and young son Henry, she’d planned museum trips, sightseeing, and restaurant meals. Not on the agenda? Embarrassing public meltdowns. But during a visit to the Royal British Columbia Museum, that’s just what happened. At a hands-on gold panning demonstration on the museum’s third floor, four-year-old Henry found and promptly lost a small piece of gold, and then lost his cool.
I am glad my step-dad never tried to be a father to me, so we didn’t have to get into any power struggles. He became an adult friend and mentor. He was generous with his time. He listened a lot, and gave love freely,” shares Dave from the group. In this group, divorced or separating parents learn communication and parenting strategies.
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