Responsible parenthood is planning one’s family according to one’s material and spiritual needs. And, notes a pamphlet produced by the Philippines Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, Inc.(POGS), responsible parenthood begins even before a couple gets married: “The engaged couple must plan ahead, not just their wedding, but above all, their family life.”
In planning one’s family, a couple should consider the following:
- the number of children they can properly take care of, clothe, feed and send to school.
- proper child spacing to help promote the health of the mother and child.
- their own health.
- their income, whether it is enough to support and raise a family.
- their other needs and dreams.
POGS recommends a small family both for the benefit of the couple and their children. A small family gives a couple enought time for each other and for each child. And it enables them to budget their earnings to meet the needs of everyone in the family.
Posted in Discipline, Family Bonding, Family Life, Family Life and motherhood, Guidance, Ideal Family, Love, Mother and Child Relationship, Nurture, Parent responsibility, Parenting
Tagged benefits for the couple, family, family needs, family planning, number of children, Parenthood, planning, responsible, responsible parenthood
The work of the parent is seldom done as it should be. Parents, teach the young tendrils to entwine with God for support. It is not enough that you say, Do this, or, Do that. Prepare the way for your child to obey your commands cheerfully. Teach them to ask the Lord to help them in the little things of life, to be wide awake to see the small duties which need to be done, to be helpful in the home.
I have a friend that I admire their family so much. I thought she’s as pretentious as being polite to everybody, that she’s only doing so because she wants to gain more friends and more appreciation. But then, I am very big wrong, because one day she invited some of her friend including me for birthday celebration, when we got into their house, I notice her parents were very soft spoken, and also observed that every time they ask for something, there was always “please” at the end of each request. Their parent trained them to be that way since childhood until now that they are mature.
Posted in Discipline, Family Life, Family Life and motherhood, Guidance, Ideal Family, Love, Mother and Child Relationship, Nurture, Parent responsibility, Parenting, Respect
Tagged childhood, gaining more friends, little thing of life, obedience, polite, pretentious, strategies of parents, teaching, teaching strategies
Education begins with the infant in its mother’s arms. While the mother is molding and fashioning the character of her children, she is educating them. Parents send their children to school, and when they have done this, they think they have educated them. But education is a matter of greater breadth than many realize. It comprises the whole process by which the child is instructed from babyhood to childhood, from childhood to youth, and from youth to manhood. As soon as a child is capable of forming an idea, his education should begin. The work of education and training should commence with the babyhood of the child. For then the mind is the most impressible, and the lessons given are remembered.
It is a parent’s duty to speak right words. Day by day parents should learn in the school of Christ lessons from one that loves them. Before reason is fully developed, children may catch a right spirit from their parents.
In the family that we have though we are not perfect, as parent we will do our best to raise our child to be a better person. Though our little boy is still young, we started to teach him about God’s word. We bring him to church services. When we praise and worship God every morning and night, he is with us listening and since he is still in his age that he can’t stay in a long period of time, so we have to cuddle him until we’re done with our worship. We play religious songs to develop his mind even he can’t fully understand the word. While he is in my arms every time I am breastfeeding, I talk to him to be a good and boy obedient to his parents.
Posted in Baby Care, Discipline, Family Bonding, Family Life, Family Life and motherhood, Guidance, Ideal Family, Love, Mother and Child Relationship, Nurture, Parent responsibility, Parenting, Weekend Activity, development
Tagged babyhood, breastfeeding, character molding, child's capability, child's training, childhood, Christ's lesson, christian education, development, education, education for infant, importance of child training, lessons, manhood, parent's duty, right spirit, training, youth
The mother’s work often seems to her an unimportant service. It is a work that is rarely appreciated. Her days are occupied with little duties, all calling for patient effort, for self-control, for tact, wisdom, and sacrificing love. She cannot boast of what she has done as any great achievement. She has only kept things in the home running smoothly. Often weary and perplexed, she has tried to speak kindly to the children, to keep them busy and happy, and to guide their little feet in the right path. She feels that she has accomplished nothing. But it is not so. The true mother will perform her duties with dignity and cheerfulness, not considering it degrading to do with her own hands whatever it is necessary to do in a well-ordered household.
Sometimes the member of the family or people around misunderstood the work of the mother. Somebody would tell us, why don’t you go and find a better job, to have a career. They underestimate the fact that the work of the mother is more than any profession work.
Posted in Family Bonding, Family Life and motherhood, Guidance, Ideal Family, Monthly activity, Recreation
Tagged appointment with the doctor, child explosure, craving for pizza, expose to other places, Family Bonding, family time, food chain, food to eat, little boy in yellow cub, snack time with family, snacks
Mothers, let your hearts be open to receive the instruction of God, ever bearing in mind the fact that you must act your part in conforming to the will of God. You must place yourself in the light and seek from God wisdom, that you may know how to act, that you may acknowledge God as the chief worker, and realize that you are a laborer together with Him. Let your heart be drawn out in contemplation of heavenly things. Exercise your God-given talents in doing the duties which God has enjoined upon you as a mother, and work in partnership with divine agencies. Labor intelligently, and, “whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
The mother should surrender herself and her children to the care of the compassionate Redemeer. Earnestly, patiently, courageously, she should seek to improve her own abilities, that she may use aright the highest powers of the mind in the training of her children. She should make it her highest aim to give her child an education which will receive the approval of God. As she takes up her work understandingly, she will receive power to perform her part.
The mother should feel her need to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, that she may herself have a genuine experience in submission to the way and will of the Lord. Then, through the grace of Christ, she can be a wise, gentle, loving teacher of her children.
Posted in Baby Care, Child's Training, Discipline, Family Life and motherhood, Guidance, Hygiene, Ideal Family, Love, Mother and Child Relationship, Parent responsibility, Parenting, Respect, development
Tagged care, children care, duties, exercise the power, first teacher, Guidance, instruction, mother's abilities, mother's duties, Mother's influence, mother's understanding, mother's work, partnership
There are two ways to deal with children – ways that differ widely in principle and results. Faithfulness and love, united with wisdom and firmness, in accordance with the teaching of God’s word, will bring happiness in this life and in the next. Neglect of duty, injudicious indulgence, failure to restrain or correct the follies of youth, will result in unhappiness and final ruin to the children and disappointment and anguish to the parents.
Love has a twin sister, which is duty. Love and duty stand side by side. Love exercised while duty is neglected will make children headstrong, willful, perverse, selfish, and disobedient. If stern duty is left to stand alone without love to soften and win, it will have a similar result. Duty and Love must be blended in order that children may be properly disciplined.
Posted in Child's Training, Discipline, Family Life and motherhood, Guidance, Ideal Family, Love, Nurture, Parent responsibility, Parenting
Tagged child's discipline, Discipline, duty, love, love and firmness, neglect of duties, parent's duties, parents anguish, proper discipline
Rhythm is the regular, measured beat of sound. The child can learn rhythm from the sounds produced by stones or sticks or metals beat in regular intervals against anything that reverberates. The rhythm created can accompany songs or poems or dnaces.
In music, it is to rhythm before tone or tune that the child first responds. It is important to develop his sense of rhythm so that he will love and enjoy music.
To teach him that music can come from many sources, put together an improvised “rhythm band”, as follows:
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Turn an old kettle into a drum with a spoon for a drumstick.
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two large metal pot covers are cymbals when clapped together.
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flattern metal bottle caps into discs; nail them in pairs to a board and you have a tambourine.
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two bamboo slats can provide added rhythmic sounds.
Use the above “instrument” to accompany the child’s song. Let the child discover the various tones and beats produced. Let him move and dance to the rhythm.
Also, familiarize him with the sounds of nature (the blowing of the wind, the pitter-patter of the rain, the barking of dogs and other animal sounds). Then, point out the rhythm to these sounds.
Teach him to sound out rhythm with his voice or with the clapping of his hands. For example, let him repeat the “ik-pak, pik-pak” rhythm of the rain.
Get him to elicit rhythmic sounds from his bodily movements. Let him stamp his feet, slap his arms and thighs, etc.
Posted in Baby Care, Child's Interest, Child's Training, Discipline, Family Life, Guidance, Ideal Family, Mother and Child Relationship, Nurture, Parent responsibility, Parenting, development
Tagged child development, development, learning in music, music, playing instrument, rhythm
Read to your children, together or individually. They will love it, and you will be investing in their education for life.
Make a “date” with each child at least once a month. I had a friend who took each of his daughter on one date a month – anywhere they wanted to go. This made their relationship much stronger.
Support your children’s hobbies or sports by watching, cheering from the sidelines, volunteering, and where necessary, driving them to and from events.
Spend time with your kids on their homework. Even on a busy day, sitting with your child will encourage him or her, keep them focused, and remind you of when you were in school.
Make shared memories: holidays as a family, cooking and baking, gardening, house cleaning, doing a craft or just coloring.
Posted in Child's Interest, Child's Training, Discipline, Family Bonding, Family Life, Guidance, Ideal Family, Love, Nurture, Parent responsibility, Parenting, development
Tagged bonding, family time, hobbies, hobby, sharing memories, spend time for children, support the hobby
Children. They can either be legal or biological. Childhood offers a brief opportunity for parents and children to share intimate moments of love and respect. Time well spent with one’s child is an investment for the future.
So, What is a Child?
- Fruit of marriage. Married couples who love each other welcome the arrival of the fruit of their becoming one flesh.
- Miracle of conception. Not all wives are capable of conceiving . The Bible calls the sexual union of a couple as intimate knowing. Through this avenue, they can bear a child that will add joy to their relationship.
- Bonding factor in marital affair. A child can either enhance and deepen the marriage relationship or become a headache to his or her parents. He or she is an antidote against a couple’s selfishness and self-centeredness. He or she is the cement that glues marital bonding.
- Mentor in parenting. Couples can never learn the lessons of parenting without a child mentoring them.
Posted in Family Life, Guidance, Ideal Family, Love, Nurture, Parent responsibility, Parenting, Post Natal, Respect, pregnancy
Tagged biological child, Bonding factor in marital affair, child, couple's selfishness and self-centeredness, Fruit of marriage, future, intimate moments, investment, legal child, love and respect, meaning of the child, Mentor in parenting, Miracle of conception, parent's opportunity
