Terri Ramsey Beavers Parenting is one of the most rewarding roles a person can have in their lifetime. However, it is not always a walk in the park. Any parent is sure to have a handful of horror stories involving stubborn, tantrum-throwing, and overly hyperactive kids. Instead of discouraging you, this reality should challenge you to be extra careful. Here are some common parenting nightmares and how you can avoid them.
Throwing a Tantrum While Traveling
Traveling and kids don’t always mix well together. Children usually have no patience for sitting still in an enclosed space for an extended period of time. Even the most fascinating destinations can cause children to transform into hissy and irritable monsters. This does not mean you should cancel any travel plans until your child turns eighteen. You can make trips comfortable and hassle-free for everyone involved by making adequate preparations in advance. Let your children pee before the scheduled departure, pack delicious snacks they can munch on during the trip, and assemble a fun activity kit they can play with while in the car or plane. The last one can include games like trivia games, guess the song, and Pictionary. Of course, you’ll also need to set aside an exciting prize for the most well-behaved and participative player.
Accidentally Ingesting Substances
It’s normal for children to reach a developmental stage where they start using their mouths to explore the world around them. As parents, you need to keep an eye on your children when they play because they will most certainly put anything, from crayons to rubber duckies, in their mouth every chance they get. The worst case scenario is if they ingest hazardous substances, like personal care products and medication. Make sure to lock up these items away as soon as you are done using them.
Another overlooked item is cigarettes. If you smoke at home, there’s a risk children might follow your example out of curiosity if they come across cigarette butts in the stash. The most ideal course of action would be to quit smoking entirely since it is bad for your health anyway. Taking a nicotine drug test could be an important first step in breaking the habit.
Hyperactivity During Bedtime
Children are little balls of energy, which is great unless it’s bedtime and they simply refuse to get tucked into bed. It can be a stressful experience to force a toddler to sleep when they are not sleepy yet. To prevent this from happening, create a comfortable routine that will make bedtime appealing to your little one. Some ideas include reading bedtime stories and having a relaxing bubble bath. Also, it’s important that you avoid stimulating activities an hour before the scheduled bedtime, like watching television, playing, and eating sweets, which are known to give a burst of energy.
Getting Locked in a Room
Children are naturally curious and adventurous, which can be both adorable and problematic. Inquisitive children could play with doorknobs and accidentally lock themselves in the bathroom or other rooms in the house. To prevent this from happening, keep lock picking tools on hand so you can easily get your children out without breaking down the door or causing any other substantial damage to your home. You can either buy a lockpick set with individual tools or invest in a lockpick gun. Either way, make sure to store these in a secure place, like a safe or locked drawer, so children cannot easily access it.
Your kids can easily turn life into an adventure. Although parenting mishaps can be frustrating, it’s important to remember that this stage in your child’s life is temporary, and it’s best that you just enjoy every messy minute of it while it lasts.