Tag: parenting

Positive affirmations have become more popular throughout the past few years, and for a good reason. Whether you’re trying to ward off stress, be more productive or simply feel a bit happier throughout your daily life, talking kindly to yourself can help you harness a brand new attitude. Positive affirmations have been proven to reduce stress and genuinely change peoples’ outlook on life, and you can apply positive affirmations to anything. You can even use them to become a better parent.

From self-assurance in your skills to reminding yourself of the beauty all around you, positive parenting affirmations can truly improve your life and experience as a parent. While you very well might know a few of these things already, a positive reminder can actually do much more than you might expect. By speaking positive things to yourself as you go about your parenting life, you can become more mindful of them and use them to your advantage as you guide your kids to learn, grow and experience a more positive world.

1. I Have Everything I Need to Be a Good Parent Within Me

Sometimes, it can be easy to get down on yourself and feel like you’re not qualified to parent the way your kids deserve. Arbitrary things can seem important and you can sometimes lose sight of what matters — no matter how centered you are. By reminding yourself that the love, care and compassion you offer your kids is all you need to be the parent they deserve, you can accomplish your goals with confidence and a bit more ease.

2. Today Is Going to Be a Good Day

This affirmation can apply to a variety of situations, from recovery to the occasional stressful week to the days that look sunny and bright ahead. You and your kids alike can take this affirmation to heart and even make a routine out of saying it to one another. By saying that each day is going to be a good day, you can encourage yourself to look on the bright side. 

3. My Children Don’t Expect Perfection

It can be easy to get caught up in wanting things to be perfect — so much so that you can forget what matters to your kids and truly makes them happy. Perfection often does a great job of impressing other parents or satisfying your own high standards, but it’s important not to get too caught up in the impossible. Nobody is perfect, and your kids won’t ever expect you to be. Loving them is absolutely enough.

4. I Am Enough

Speaking of being enough, reminding yourself that you are enough can be powerful on its own. This can work on a multitude of levels — you are enough as a parent, as a person, as a partner and as every other role you play in your life. You are deserving and worthy of love, and letting yourself hear that each day can make your down days a bit better and your good days even more amazing.

5. My Kids Can Teach Me Things, Too

Guiding your kids through life can feel like a big responsibility at times, especially when they get in those phases where their favorite thing to do is ask questions. Not having all the answers all the time can feel scary and overwhelming, but nobody said that you need to be a guru of life who knows everything. In fact, your kids can teach you all kinds of things about life, from living in the moment to selfless acts of love. Reminding yourself that you don’t always have to be the teacher can open you up to all kinds of lessons and tune you in to the wise things that often come straight from the mouths of babes.

6. I Am Creating an Environment of Love

Reminding yourself that you are creating an environment of love for your children can work on so many levels. On the days where your temper feels a bit short, it can be a great way to center yourself and remind you of your intentions for your family. On the other hand, it can also be a great reminder that your love is what works to create all the good times and happy memories your children experience.

7. I Deserve Self Care

Parenting is a selfless job, but caring for yourself can’t be overlooked all the time. Whether you’re stressed and in need of some alone time or you have a regular self care routine but still feel internalized guilt over prioritizing your needs, it’s important to remind yourself that you need to take some time for you. As a parent, you are the foundation — or half of the foundation — of your household. When you care for yourself, it keeps everything together. Even if your self care

is just a few moments of mindfulness or a walk in the park, remembering that you deserve it can make a huge difference.

Positive Affirmations Have Power

When you remember positive affirmations and keep them in your life, they will begin to shape the way you think. No matter which affirmation holds the most power for you, leaning into that positivity can create real change in your life. Do you have a favorite positive affirmation?

As breastfeeding moms, you have a lot on your plate. Every parent is different, which means your breastfeeding experience will differ from the other moms around you. While some moms have an easy time breastfeeding and never experience any issues with their milk supply or comfort, other moms will find themselves unable to breastfeed for one reason or another. Some moms fall somewhere in between. It’s important to realize that no matter who you are or what you’re experiencing, your feelings are valid and solutions are out there to help you.

Whether you decide to go for formula every once in a while or seek out solutions to the issues, it shows that you care deeply about the health of your child and your own body. Just remember that you’re not alone in any of these issues, no matter what you’re facing.

1. Soreness

For plenty of moms, breastfeeding can cause soreness both in the nipples and in the breasts themselves. The good news is that this discomfort often subsides. As your body adjusts to the routine of breastfeeding and your baby learns to latch, the soreness in your breasts and nipples will likely subside after the first week of breastfeeding. If the discomfort persists over time, you may be dealing with engorged breasts or an improper latch.

2. Ineffective Latch

There are a few reasons why your baby may not be latching easily. If your baby is just fidgety and can’t seem to latch based on temperament, skin to skin contact and nursing at particularly calm times might help them get the hang of it. Sometimes it just takes a week or so for them to latch. However, there could be more physical problems at play. If your child has a lip-tie or tongue-tie, some moderate medical intervention could be the key in helping with latch. If that happens to be the issue, tongue-tie and lip-tie surgery could be an effective route for solving the latch issue — that way, your baby will feel more comfortable and get the nutrients they need easily.

3. Work Obligations

Unfortunately, not every mom can stay home all day to breastfeed. Perhaps financial obligations require that you return to work shortly after giving birth, or you happen to be a busy working mom who loves your job and you want to show your little ones that you truly can do it all. Either way, offices and workplaces aren’t usually the best places for babies to hang out — but this doesn’t mean you can’t nurse. You can pump milk throughout the day to bottle feed when you’re apart and nurse once you’re reunited to get that skin to skin connection.

4. Anxiety

New mom anxiety can impact your routine in all different ways, and breastfeeding might be one of them. Postpartum anxiety can often manifest as feelings of dread, excessive worry, racing thoughts and trouble concentrating. Although anxiety and stress can impact your milk supply on a physical level, the trouble can be mental, too. Worrying about your milk supply and other nursing details can often be its own problem by stressing you out and throwing you off your game. Speaking to a mental health professional or even your OB/GYN about your postpartum feelings might yield some positive solutions.

5. Low Milk Supply Breastfeeding Moms

While sometimes low milk supply can be caused by definitive sources like stress or diet, plenty of moms tend to have a naturally low milk supply. Sometimes, low milk supply can be a bit of a mystery. Luckily, no matter the source of the issue, there are plenty of solutions that can help you boost your flow. From lactation teas to herbal supplements, you can increase your milk supply naturally, often in a matter of just a few days. Fenugreek in particular is a great herb that many mothers turn to for lactation support.

6. Fussiness or Biting

Sometimes, babies don’t want to sit still, even when they’re hungry. While some babies need to nurse in more calm, quiet environments, others simply need a bit of time to get used to the flow and sensation. Be patient and attentive as your baby is nursing. Sometimes, they’ll calm down after a few minutes. If your baby is a biter — even just with their gums — pulling them in a bit closer or putting your finger in the corner of their mouth can relax them a bit and keep them from clamping down.

7. Cracked Nipples

Sometimes, it’s not soreness of the tissue, but of the skin itself that causes discomfort. This is fairly common for many new moms. If you’re experiencing raw, cracked nipples as a result of nursing, try out a warm compress, saltwater rinse or lanolin ointment to soothe the skin and give you a bit of relief.

Nursing Your Way

Although you may run into some issues when nursing, you’ll find the methods and solutions that are right for you. Whether that means pumping from your desk, downing some fenugreek tea or taking extra care of your mental health, your baby will get the care and nutrition they need while you care for your own health, too. Every journey is unique, and you’ll surely find your flow.

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