Parenting

We all know at least one. You know, the parent with the exceptionally gifted child. Everything said child does is amazing, indicates unparalleled genius and leaves us occasionally wondering if our own parenting is up to scratch or if maybe our children are even a little behind below average developmentally. If you’re lucky, that is. Most of us know about ten… thousand. Everyone’s child is a genius, these days. Such is the reality of everyday motherhood. It’s a little bit boring, and a whole lot crazy-difficult, so the bragging naturally ensues.

Always wanted to try acupuncture but never been sure if you’ll like it? You’re not alone; lots of people who fear needles think that acupuncture seems like a good thing but they’re rather nervous to try it themselves. My partner is one of those people and several years ago, he bit the bullet and decided to give acupuncture a try – he was pleasantly surprised! The needles were far less intimidating than he’d anticipated and he found the experience not only painless but incredibly relaxing. Within a few treatments, he was a convert and when he moved offices, rather than give up on his weekly lunchtime treatment, he sought out a new acupuncturist nearby.

Almost all of our lives will be touched by self-harm – or self-injury as it is sometimes known. Either we’ll have a friend or family member who struggles with self-harm, or we will have experienced it ourselves. Or perhaps we simply remember someone at school whose scars broke our heart. Self-harm has often been rather derisively painted by the media as teenage angst and it is still a very taboo subject in our society. That’s why events such as Self Injury Awareness Day (SIAD), taking place on 1st March, are so important.

Despite the cultural stereotype, guilt actually does serve a purpose. It lets us know when we’ve made a mistake; it encourages us to better ourselves, to try harder and to attempt to make amends with a person or situation. It keeps us working on our relationships and is a normal, healthy emotion that we must accept and process in the most positive way we can – whether it’s a simple apology or completely re-evaluating certain beliefs and behaviours. But what happens when we can’t let go of the guilt, or there’s nobody left to make amends with?

Do you have a passion or interest you feel could be turned into a business? We’ve noticed that lots of Green Parent readers tend to be creative folk, passionate about causes close to their hearts and determined to find ways to raise their kids alongside their dreams. Stay at home mums – and dads – are seeking ways to bring in extra income whilst juggling looking after their kids. These small green businesses are not only challenging homogenised corporate giants, but they are teaching our children skills of self-sufficiency and empowerment.

Have you looked around you much recently? I mean really looked around? Everywhere I turn, there are people with faces buried in mobile phones, tablet computers and various other internet ready devices. None of that would be so bad, if they weren’t already in the company of other people. Sometimes they’re all blissfully unaware of each other as they tappy-tap-tap away on their phones, other times the other party/parties are trying to engage them and I don’t know which is sadder.

In an age of sites such as Facebook and Instagram, Twitter and blogging, our children are growing up in a world of exposure, where it is normal for people you have never met to know intimate details about your life. It’s difficult for us adults to fully imagine what it must be like to grow up in this environment. We can remember a time before social media, before the Internet and mobile phones, even before computers were commonplace. Our children don’t have that luxury.

Essential oils have been around for millennia. Humankind’s affinity with the natural world means that these oils – distilled from plants – can have a powerful effect on our wellbeing; physical, emotional and spiritual. But it can be daunting when faced with a shelf-full of essential oils at the health food store to know which are best for your family, especially as some aren’t safe for children. Building up a collection can take place over time, as you get to know which ones work for each family member.

Massage makes a lovely bedtime ritual throughout childhood and into teenage-hood. Most of us massage our children when they are babies, in awe of their soft baby skin. Baby massage classes abound, and though these can be a great way to meet people and learn new techniques, they are not necessary to enjoying this bond with your new-born. Babies and their mothers and fathers all have a unique way of communicating, both through touch and verbally.

Being 4 is hard, apparently. You can’t always go to bed whenever you fancy; you can’t get dressed after you leave the house and it’s raining when you want to walk to the shop with no shoes on. The world is deeply unkind to 4-year-olds and not at all understanding of their plight. Why shouldn’t I be able to kick you in the face? It’s my foot, isn’t it?