MOM SERIES - Accepting Your Child's Different Needs

Some children you just need to snuggle more. Some need more hand holding, some need more physical affection.  Some will be just fine being sleep trained, being taught the routine, and some will have anxiety over being forced into a routine.  Of course structure is important, but sometimes creativity is required. 

In deciding what approach to take in parenting each individual child, remember that... they are INDIVIDUALS.  If you don’t call attention to the differences, but instead try to parent each child to their own needs, they will not notice as much that another child may be parented differently.  It will be ever so slight, and the only REAL thing a child notices is when their needs are unmet.  

So when you have that one child that breaks the mold, the one you have to lay with until they fall asleep, take those quiet moments as a gift from God. He put that child in your life, in that moment, for a reason. Take the moments to snuggle, meditate, pray, or just sleep!  

If your child is reaching to you for more love and attention, remind yourself, that eventually you will lay with that child for the last time.  And if you are alive for 40 years of that child’s lifetime, is laying with them nearly every night for 2 or 3 years REALLY the end of the world?

Mark's 10 Minute AMRAP - As Many Reps As Possible

AMRAP - As Many Reps As Possible Courtesy of Mark at http://blackjackwannabe.tumblr.com/ The point of this workout is to complete as many rounds as possible within the time limit. In this case, each round will consist of 4 exercises, and they should be completed as many times as possible within 10 minutes. TIME: 10 minutes Exercises: Pushups x5 Mountain Climbers x5/leg Knee Hugger Sit-ups x5 Squat Jumps  x5 Start the timer, and complete the exercises. Once you complete all 4 exercises, that is 1 round. Repeat the exercises (in the same order) to complete additional rounds. The point is to complete as many rounds as possible within the time limit - in this case, 10 minutes.  NOTES:  Take breathers, but not breaks. A breather is a short pause to catch your breathe before hitting it again. A break is a long pause in which you stop to take drinks, relax a bit, walk around, etc, etc,. Again, the point is to give it your ALL for 10 minutes, so no breaks.  If you can’t complete an exercise as demonstrated, try a modified version of it. EXAMPLE: “Cheater” pushups (I hate this term BTW) instead of regular pushups, Beginner mountain climbers, Situps as opposed to knee huggers, and squats as opposed to squat jumps.  No Matter your level, AMRAP’s can still wear you out because you’re giving it all your effort in such a short amount of time. So good luck, and have fun with it!