How To Handle Your Child Alone

Today’s hectic life often leads us the outside of home and it is now common to have your husband travel or be away from home for his job or business. My husband stays away from home twenty days a month and it becomes very difficult to manage everything with a super active toddler in tow. The task of managing home, job and a toddler can be a daunting task, both physically and mentally. And as your toddler is growing, his mental health needs attention too. Here are some tips on how I keep my baby healthy and fit while handling everything by myself.

Set a routine

Set a routine and act accordingly. Do everything according to the time table set by you. It will save your time and help you in organizing your work. Let your child manage a small portion of their work himself. It will help him be organised and save your time too. I ask my son to rearrange his shoes whenever he comes from an outing. It has taught him to take care of his things when we go out and spares me the task of searching for them.

Keep calm and engage your child in activities

Try to be calm in every situation. It is difficult (very!) to maintain a calm demeanour when you cannot even go to the washroom without the child but it is really necessary not to yell at him every time. Instead, engage him in activities. Give him mind games as well as physical activities where he can be engrossed. Try to reason with your child about why it is necessary to follow rules and maintain discipline. As they follow rules, children become organised and you will be spared from fetching every other thing for them.

Food habits

One of the toughest challenges whenever you are alone is to feed your child. To spare yourself from running behind your child with a spoon and bowl, maintain a very strict routine. From the start when you start feeding them solids, make sure that he eats on proper time and in proper place. If you feed him as you like, the child becomes cranky and he would lose interest in food. It is essential that your child remains healthy and fit. A proper mealtime would ensure that your child is healthy and you don’t have to worry about a trip to your paediatrician every time he sneezes!

Understand your child’s feelings

Children are always pampered and when you suddenly become strict, they are hurt. Things can go horribly wrong sometimes and in such moments, it is up to you how you handle their delicate minds. Talk to them, listen to them, and understand them. Once you become the person with whom they can share their fears, feelings and doubts, it becomes easier for you to know your child.

Be a friend

The mother-child relationship is very strong but delicate too. As Kahlil Gibran said, “They come through you, not from you”, children have their own distinct personalities. Respect it. Do not compel them to do everything as you like. They are not privy to rules. So let them be themselves. Be their friend, play with them, do some mischief but keep a tab. Don’t control everything but stay in control. It will help your child to trust your decision and boost your relationship too.

Puspanjalee is a blogger and book editor who juggles continously between her job and her two year old human offspring. Whenever she gets time, she loves to talk about babies & parenting, time management for working moms, photography and books. She muses regularly on www.mywritingmyworld.com