Summer Reading

BOOK 1:

I normally read only 2 books every summer which is really good for me! They are usually fictional reads, but this summer I decided to read Preparation for Parenting and Preparation for the Toddler Years 5-15 months. I did a whole lot of reading while I was pregnant to help prepare myself for parenthood, but I didn't read these two books! My cousin Jill, who I look up to in every way possible, suggested these books to me at the beginning of my pregnancy. I knew that I had to read them because her parenting was so successful and her two children are all around the best children that I have ever met!! I didn't read the first Prep for Parenting book until now...a little late huh... I already had several of these books so I just read them instead! It is always great to get more than one opinion/insight though.... I am glad that I read the first book..Even though most of this book is about establishing routine, which I have already done, it gave me great insight about things that I didn't learn from my other books. There routine is feeding time, wake time, and nap time....and according to them don't get the last two out of order! We already do this little routine and was happy in knowing that it has been so successful for others! I know about all the different sleep stages that we go through, however one interesting thing I learned from the first book was that after putting Liv down for her nap she moves from an active sleep state to relaxed sleep in 30-45 minutes. In the next 30-45 minutes she moves from relaxed sleep back to active sleep. At the end of this cycle she may begin to stir and cry...which most of the time parents interpret this to mean naptime is over. Going to pick up the baby, they assume the crankiness is her natural way of waking up. But that is not the case!  If the baby wakes up cranky or crying, she is most likely not getting enough sleep. Even though she may cry, she will more than likely go right back to sleep in 10 minutes for another 30-40 minutes! A happy baby is what you should hear when a good naptime is established! The easiest and best advice I have recieved is to love, rock, snuggle your baby, and then lay her down awake so she learns how to put herself back to sleep during her active sleep! It is so much easier on everyone!!!

BOOK 2:

Cody and I read the first book together, but I didn't wait for him to get home to read the second one! I was too anxious! It came in and I was finished reading it in an hour...so I just had to give him a summary! So the 2nd book was much more informational for me! It overall helped me with how to discipline Liv and taught me to really think about what I allow her to do! Like something as simple as letting her chew on the remote control..would I want her doing that at someone's house...NO....and I now understand why kids can sometimes throw a fit or become unruly in public..more than likely they have been allowed to do these certain things at home and then become frustrated and CONFUSED because they don't understand why they are being punished for this behavior and then the tantrum begins!!!. Makes perfect sense! I also loved the visual picture of parenting in a funnel or upside down triangle...Giving them very few freedoms early on and then rewarding them with freedoms as the years go on..Jill has a 13 year old and is now getting to finally see the benefit of parenting this way! She says it is so great...she sees how appreciative, respectful...etc Braden is in everyday life and doesn't expect the best of everything! I'm so glad I read these books! Here's to parenting!