I just got back from a wonderful trip, visiting my married daughter in Ohio.  Her little girl, my first grandbaby, turned one and of course we had to celebrate!

Having both daughters live out of town has been very hard for me but the good part of it is that when I visit, I’m there 24/7.  So it was a great visit getting to take care of my precious grandbaby Sara while spending time with my daughter, Christi.

I have been writing and speaking to women for almost 20 years.  Now that I’m an empty nester, it’s good to be ‘back in the saddle’ by helping my daughter take care of a house and new baby.  It helps me relate to all you young moms.  And my hat is off to you!  Taking care of children is such hard work.  That’s one reason I am so committed to reaching out to moms in any way I can. 

My daughter is such excellent mother.  I marveled at her patience and ability in all areas of taking care of a 12 month old. Here are some tips I saw Christi and Mike use that might help you too: 

 Action Plan 

1. Keep your focus on the child not on the TV, computer or cell phone.  If they had a show they wanted to watch, they recorded it until they could watch it after the baby was asleep.  Christi has work to do on the computer but she balanced it without ignoring Sara when she was up.  And neither parent had their head buried in his or her cell phone.
2. Realize this is a small season in the grand scheme of your whole life.  No, you won’t get much sleep or be able to come and go whenever you want, but if you see it in the perspective of the larger picture, you will be able to enjoy your young children now.
3. Make healthy eating a priority.  My daughter is making this a focus of her life and I’m learning so much from her.  I know her family will benefit from this.
4. Always be talking with and teaching your young children.  They are like sponges and learn quickly. 
5. Christi has areas around the house with different toys and books so Sara has different areas to play.
6. Keep a schedule.  Doctors encourage this because it builds security in the child’s life.  But I also saw how easy it was for us to plan meals and outings knowing when the baby would be sleeping or up playing.
7. And most importantly, let going to a Bible-based church be an important priority for your family.

 Manna from Heaven

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”  Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 

 Healthy Fit-Fact

Individuals who watched more weekday television during their childhood and adolescence had lower levels of educational attainment and were less likely to have earned a university degree by the time they were 26 years old when compared to peers who watched less weekday television.  (From Pediatric Adolescent Medicine)