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Homeschooling Hell – 5 Ways Parents Can Take The Stress Out Of Homeschooling Kids

December 10, 2020 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Some parents choose to educate their kids at home, but if you’ve been forced into homeschooling because of the pandemic, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and over-stressed. These feelings are completely normal, and it helps to know you’re not alone. Many parents have found themselves in the same situation in these chaotic times.

Whether you homeschool by choice or not, stress can still play a big role. Schooling your children at home can be unpredictable at times, but if you develop a routine and don’t put too much stress on yourself or your children, homeschooling can be fruitful and enjoyable for everyone. Here are a few ways you can take the stress out of educating your kids.

Get Support

If you feel like you weren’t cut out for teaching things like math, science, and English, that’s perfectly normal. Parents don’t need to know everything! When you come up against subject matter you don’t feel confident helping your child with, set them up with online tutoring from another parent, a teacher, or a professional tutor. If you have expertise in a certain field, you could offer to tutor another parent’s child in exchange for them helping your child with the subjects you’re not confident with.

Remember Why You’re Homeschooling Your Kids

Homeschooling children can be tough, so on the days that seem particularly rough, remind yourself why you’re doing it. Instead of thinking of it as a chore that has to be done, consider the fact that you’re safely continuing your child’s education during a global health crisis. It’s okay to struggle so long as you are keeping your family safe and healthy.

Adjust Your Expectations Daily

Don’t expect too much from yourself or your children because it only makes things more stressful when no-one lives up to those expectations. Some days will be less productive than others, and that’s alright. Approach each day with a fresh mindset and be flexible in your expectations as homeschooling can be tricky and unpredictable a lot of the time.

Get into a Routine

If you’re like most parents, you’re probably working your full-time job in addition to homeschooling your kids. And of course, there’s also the housework to think about. It’s a good idea to get everyone into a routine so each member of the household is on the same page at the same time.

Use a calendar to plan out events and appointments and to assign chores to each individual. Put it in an oft-visited spot in the house where everyone can see it and add to it as necessary. When each family member knows what the others are doing and when they are doing it, it makes for a much less stressful existence during a very unpredictable time.

Take Time to Unwind

At the end of the day, when work, school, and housework are done, make sure to take time for yourself. Read a book, take a bath, go for a walk, engage in some mood-boosting hobbies – whatever it takes to calm your mind and rejuvenate your soul. If you have a partner, this time can be spent talking about each other’s day and any thoughts on the homeschooling front. Conversations like this can really help you get rid of stress so you can do it all over again tomorrow.

Homeschooling is hard work. There never seems to be enough time in a day to get everything done, and the pressure of all that responsibility can be overwhelming. Though it will always be a challenge, the tips above should at least take the stress out of homeschooling your kids.

Photo: Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels

The Basics Of Braces – 5 Tips For Parents Who Suspect Their Child May Need Braces

September 30, 2020 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Photo from Luis Quintero via Pexels

Train tracks, metal mouth, brace face – it seems like there are endless nicknames for kids who get braces. Orthodontists estimate about 45% of children need braces to fix functional problems. So, there is a reasonably high chance that your child may fall into that group. If you suspect that your child needs orthodontic work, we have some tips to figure out the best way forward.

Take Out Dental Cover

Braces can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on your child’s treatment. It’s enough to put a significant dent in anyone’s bank account, which is why it’s worth hunting down some affordable dental cover. Your small weekly payment will ensure that you’re covered for major and minor dental expenses.

Look at the inclusions within different packages to see what you and your family might need. You also need to compare the various waiting periods. If your child doesn’t need work done immediately, you may be able to access a more affordable plan. Conversely, if the treatment is urgent, it may be worth paying a slightly higher premium for a package that has no waiting period.

Explore the Options

There are multiple options when it comes to dental treatment. The standard solution to crooked teeth is to use braces with brackets, wires, and rubber bands. Nowadays, braces can be metal, clear plastic, or white ceramics, which are less noticeable than the traditional style. Another option is to go with clear removable braces. Also known as aligners, these plastic trays are changed every two weeks or so to gradually move the teeth into alignment.

Understand the Consequences

You should check with your dentist or orthodontist what the long term consequences are if you don’t take action. Will the issue impact your child’s ability to clean their teeth properly or chew their food? Or is it primarily an aesthetic consideration?

You also need to consider the impact the treatment will have on the child’s jaw, lips, and profile, as your teeth have a significant effect on your facial structure. If you are concerned about the advice the dentist has given you, it is worth doing more research and potentially getting a second opinion.

Talk Through It

It’s natural for your child to feel a bit apprehensive about getting braces. Teenagers can be incredibly self-conscious, so they might be worried about how they will look or whether they will end up with a lisp. They might also be concerned about the pain of having braces fitted and discomfort while wearing them.

Talk through their concerns and try to focus on the positive outcome. You can also reassure them that they can manage any minor discomfort they experience using Paracetamol or Ibuprofen and dental wax to stop the braces rubbing.

Audit the Pantry

Stock up on lots of soft foods as your child’s mouth will likely be sore when they first have their braces fitted and each time that they need to tighten them. Pasta, rice, and mashed potato are ideal.

To remove temptation, clear the pantry of hard foods like rock candy, nuts, and popcorn; chewy foods like gummy bears; and extra sticky foods like bubble gum or lollies. Sugary food and drinks like soda and cake are also best avoided unless they brush their teeth straight afterward.

Remember, the investment will be well worth it when your child is filled with confidence with a mouth full of strong and healthy teeth.

The Shame Game – 4 Ridiculous Things New Moms Are Shamed For (And Why It Should Stop)

August 24, 2020 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

The parenting community is divided on many issues, making it difficult for parents to know whether or not they are making good choices for their children. Here are four ridiculous things new moms are shamed for, and why it should stop:

Choosing To Breastfeed Or Formula Feed

Of all of the controversies that currently plague the world of new mamas, this is probably the hottest debate – breast vs. formula. So many people dogmatically insist that “breast is best” and the underlying tone implies that if you really love your baby, you will do whatever it takes to provide breast milk. Though breast might be the natural method, at the end of the day, what matters is ensuring a child is fed.

On the other side of the debate, moms who opt for infant formula often categorize breastfeeding moms as judgemental and self-righteous by default. This can lead to them judging moms who breastfeed in public or continue to breastfeed when their baby is a toddler. The truth is, none of the judgement on either side of the debate is helping anyone.

Choosing To Stay At Home Or Go Back To Work

Stay home, or return to work? There’s such a horribly skewed perception of both working moms and stay-at-home moms. Setting aside the practical aspect – many moms need to work in order to support the family – there’s also the question of choice. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and what fills one mom’s cup might empty another’s.

One mom might find the idea of working and raising children overwhelming. Another mom might need to maintain her identity outside of the dirty diapers and laundry. The best mom is the mom whose needs are met. No-one gets to decide for another what her needs might be.

How They Gave Birth

Does natural birth automatically better qualify a mom? One would think that in this day and age, we can see past something like the way in which a baby arrived in the world. C-section rates have risen across the globe, and while many of them are not necessary, the truth is that it’s no-one else’s business. While many people are happy to share interesting tales of their birth, it’s an incredibly intimate process that is deeply personal. The only appropriate response to hearing another’s birth story is compassion, you never know if a mother is deeply grieving over the fact that she didn’t get the birth she wanted.

Choosing A Vegan Lifestyle

Vegan moms have heard it all – “your breastmilk won’t have enough protein,” “you won’t be able to recover your strength after giving birth,” “you won’t have the energy to care for your child.” The truth is that any group of people that restricts certain foods will be populated by those who are doing it properly and those who aren’t.

Unfortunately, many vegans are nutrient-deficient simply because they don’t eat a balance of healthy foods. This can happen whether you are vegan or not. Moms should have the freedom to rebuild their strength and enter motherhood following the eating plan that makes them feel empowered and able to be the best mom possible, without judgment.

The natural conclusion that flows from these debates is that you should be the mom you want to be. Frustrating though it may be, you will face criticism regardless of what you do. Both sides to any argument have some valid points, but also some potentially negative outcomes. When you follow your heart, it’s easier to embrace the effects of your decisions.

Top 10 Tips For Introducing Solid Food to Your Baby

September 3, 2019 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Starting your baby on solid food is an exciting yet intimidating milestone. Baby food is mostly mashed up food, how difficult can it be? It is a bit more elaborate than that. You are essentially teaching your baby how to eat. That’s right, babies have to learn how to chew and swallow. And their body is becoming accustomed to digesting something other than breastmilk and formula.

Typically, 5 to 6 months is the ideal age to introduce solid food to a baby’s diet. This is when a baby can sit with support and has neck and head control. However, you shouldn’t rush feeding solids; duly consult your pediatrician to learn the right time to begin.

We have put together some helpful tips to help you embark on this tricky new phase.

Start slow

Eating food is an entirely new experience for your child. Taking that into account, try to space out introducing a new food by 2-3 days. Not only will this allow your baby to familiarise with different tastes and textures, but it’s also easier to detect any allergies or intolerances.

Usually, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea or rashes appear within a few hours of eating. In such cases, consult a physician immediately.

Take your time

Even adults need time to get accustomed to a new cuisine. Similarly, your baby will start enjoying solids only after a few tries. It takes 10 or more tries before your baby will accept a new food.

So don’t throw in the towel if your baby initially rejects the food. Keep trying with gaps in between or mix it with something your baby already enjoys.

Don’t shy away from the variety

The assortment of baby food available will truly astonish you. You can start with simple foods such as apple sauce, rice cereal, mashed bananas and pureed squash and then move on to complex items.

Alternating between different foods will keep your baby interested, and something will certainly strike his/her fancy! You can get everything from apple cereal to pureed meat on BritSuperstore.

Seasoning is fine

Of course, at first, you should start with completely bland food. But eventually, there is no harm in introducing some seasoning into the mix. A bit of salt, cinnamon or cumin is perfectly fine.

Meat is fine too

Baby food isn’t just limited to fruits and vegetables. You can add pureed beef or chicken to your baby’s diet. Eating meat ensures proper intake of iron and zinc, which are important nutrients for growth and development.

Veggies before fruit

Though there is no solid evidence that a baby would prefer fruits over vegetables, it’s better to stay on the safer side. It’s recommended to start vegetables before fruits as the baby isn’t used to the sweetness of fruits.

Avoid sugar and other additives

Carefully read the label and reviews before purchasing any baby food. Stay clear of added sugars and preservatives. Thickening agents such as flour and starch are a big no-no. They are difficult to digest and lack nutrients. Also, avoid highly salted food.

Get organic food

Organic food is highly nutritious and safe. Look for organic baby food with no added preservatives or sugars. If you are unable to find affordable, organic baby food, you can always get organic ingredients and make it at home.

Focus on solids

When you are introducing new foods, keep it limited to solids. Avoid overly sugary juices that promise nutrients and vitamins. These just add unnecessary sugars and preservatives to a baby’s diet.

Use a spoon

Though food pouches are quite convenient for feeding, they don’t actually teach your baby how to eat. Whether you are feeding from a jar or a pouch, use a spoon.

In conclusion, learning how to eat and enjoy food takes time, so be patient. If you are confused about anything, it’s always advisable to reach out to a doctor.

Say Cheese – 4 Secrets to Getting Back Your Confident Smile

May 15, 2019 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

It’s true that money can’t buy happiness, but as the saying goes, I’d rather cry in a Lamborghini than on a bike. Likewise, looking good doesn’t automatically make you a strong confident person, but it certainly helps. Read on to discover five ways to bring back that fearless spirit you had as a child.

Say cheese.

The easiest way to get your smile back is to fake it. Pretending you’re happy tricks your brain into releasing dopamine and other positivity chemicals so you can literally fake it ‘til you make it. If you’re worried about your chompers, invest in some teeth whitening or get them straightened. If you’re happy with your smile how it is, then more power to you but if you need a little extra help, don’t let guilt or fear hold you back from what’s essentially a fairly cheap and relatively noninvasive way of boosting your self-esteem.

Flash some cash.

Remember how money can’t buy happiness? Don’t go out and throw money at unnecessary items that are way out of your budget, but if you’ve got the cash to spare and you’ve really been wanting that new outfit or to get your hair or nails done, then go for it. This comes back to that wonderful little neurochemical dopamine, which, surprise, is also released when you shop or pamper yourself. Just make sure to set a limit and stick to it or your pleasurable treat could turn into a spiral of debt.

Don’t diet.

We were once told a diet has its name because it makes you want to die and while that may be a bit of an exaggeration, dieting certainly isn’t fun or even healthy in most cases. Ensure that you’re getting your servings of fruit, vegetables and required vitamins then allow yourself freedom with the rest of what you eat during the day. Don’t binge because this will just make you feel worse both physically and mentally, but if you maintain balance in what nourishment you give your body, your confidence will receive an automatic boost since you’ll feel better emotionally when your body is well taken care of.

If you don’t love it, lose it.

Likewise, although you’ll probably groan at this one, you should work out. If you don’t already, start, and if you do, lift your game. Sure everyone tells you to exercise, and with good reason (our good old buddy dopamine) but what they don’t tell you when it comes to staying motivated, is that if you don’t enjoy the way you work out, you’re not going to stick to your plan. This is true no matter how many happy chemicals get released so make sure you find a way to exercise that you’re actually keen to do. If the gym isn’t really your thing, join a dance studio or make a point of taking the dog for a run each morning. Remember, it doesn’t matter how you do it, just as long as you do.

Confidence isn’t some magical unachievable ideal, but it is something you need to work towards having and keeping. If you look good and feel good physically, then you’re going to feel good mentally and emotionally. This boosts your confidence, which eventually leads to a self-perpetuating cycle of kicking goals and staying positive. Remember that no one feels 100% all the time. Do what’s best for you and the rest will fall into place.