Raising a child is a rewarding experience, and most parents would agree that the joy that comes with the role of a parent is pretty much priceless. With so many different parenting styles and methods, it’s easy to get nervous about selecting the right approach to child-rearing. Add to this the fact that parenting trends constantly change, and you’ll start to feel clueless and indecisive.
Before you get all nervous Nellie and start browsing the web with hundreds of questions on your mind, it pays to take a look at some of the current trends when it comes to child upbringing. Here are the top four trends you need to follow.
Self-care is a priority
Once you become a parent, your whole life changes, and raising your child the right way becomes the most important task you need to complete. That being said, this newfound role can easily take over your life and seep into every segment of your day-to-day schedule if you allow for it, which can become very overwhelming after some time.
As the concept of self-care continues to gain in popularity, many moms are now incorporating ‘me time’ into their everyday routines as a way of maintaining their mom’s sanity – regardless of how packed they may be. Of course, this will mean different things to different moms. Be it chit-chatting over a cup of coffee with a friend, hitting the gym, attending a yoga class, or being pampered at the spa for a day – try to do more of what makes you feel good.
Get support from other moms
As exciting as motherhood is, stepping into the role of a mom can be overwhelming, especially for first-time moms and millennial moms who rely on the Internet for advice. Fortunately, new technology has made it easier for new moms to meet other moms in the area and get the support they need – even if it’s virtual.
Nowadays, you can find lots of great new mom apps you can use to connect with like-minded mamas around you. Practical and easy to use, these apps let you reach out to women who are going through the same things and learn some clever parenting tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of motherhood.
Ditch the guilt
If you’re like most moms, you don’t really have trouble splurging on cute baby clothes or decor for your little one’s nursery, but when it comes to shopping for yourself, you may find yourself having second thoughts. What many moms do is assume they need to suppress their wants and needs, thus putting themselves on the back burner. And if they buy something for themselves, they end up feeling guilty afterward.
While blowing a couple of hundred on a pair of designer heels may not be the best decision budget-wise when you’re a mom, spending some money on yourself every once in a while is sure to lift your spirits. After all, there’s a reason why they call it ‘retail therapy!
Rethink that gender reveal party
As gender roles and stereotypes continue to change, more and more parents are foregoing the traditional gender reveal parties. Let’s face it – throwing an all-pink or all-blue party just to announce the gender of your baby seems a bit over-the-top, especially considering how your pregnancy should be about focusing on your health and well-being as a mom-to-be.
Deemed frivolous by many, the once-popular parties are also witnessing a decline among parents because they’re imposing gender stereotypes on children before they’re even born. As a result, more parents are reconsidering this traditional approach to parenting and instead of assigning gender at birth, they’re letting their little ones decide about it later on.
Stepping into a new chapter of your life, especially motherhood, is by no means an easy task, especially when you are feeling confused and don’t know which way is the right way to go. Of course, the parenting style you decide to use depends on you, but it’s useful to know the ways others are rolling with the parental punches. Give these trends a shot and see if they’ll work out for you as well!
