Mother’s Day Tips for Raising Children
Monday, April 28th, 2014
When Mother’s Day approaches each spring, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have a large and loving family. Without a doubt, raising children has been the most rewarding journey I have undertaken in my life. It is an amazing experience! As the proud mother of four grown children with eight grandchildren, I’ve learned much of what I know through on-the-job training.
In a recent conversation with a close friend, we shared thoughts on the challenges of raising children in today’s world. Of course, there is no foolproof recipe for childrearing. Every family dynamic is unique and every child has their own set of needs. Still, several things stand out for me as essential ingredients for raising happy and healthy children.
Group Activities
Kids crave the company of other kids, but they need the guidance and supervision of adults. While reluctant to admit it, most of them also crave structure. I believe in keeping children occupied in group activities with their peers in a place where you can still keep a watchful eye on them. It doesn’t matter whether it is team sports, or school plays or the ski club. Help your child find an activity to love that sparks their passion and nurtures their body, mind and soul. It will keep them from spending too much time in front of the television or on the internet and provide valuable life lessons in the importance of friendship, commitment and fair play.
Reading, Reading and More Reading
As far as I’m concerned, you can never read to your children enough. During my own childhood, I was enamored of horse stories and read everything I could get my hands on that featured horses. Bedtime stories and reading were nightly rituals in our home when my children were young. My personal favorite was and still is Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. My kids and I spent hours together giggling about Charlie and the Oompa-Loompa characters that help Willy Wonka bake the chocolate. Today, my eldest daughter is a published author and she continues the tradition of bedtime reading with her son.
My kids have gifted me with a million memories of shared moments that I will treasure all my life. They are all grown now and, I am proud to say, living on their own. Seeing your children grow and venture out into the world is the reward for a job well done. So let’s raise a glass to all the moms all over the world who love their children unconditionally and work so hard to make sure they have the tools they need to live happy and productive lives.
Do you need to move to celebrate the changes that are happening in your life? Let me serve you in helping you make the move to the place or home that reflects where you are in life’s journey! I will listen to your needs and use my knowledge and expertise to make this a smooth transition to the right place for you to call home in Calgary. Contact me at 403-708-5873, ajames16@gmail.com, or www.allisonjames.com and let’s get on with your journey!
About Allison James
Allison James has been a realtor® since 1999 with Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. in the changing Calgary real estate market. A Century 21 Centurion Award 2007 recipient and a member of CREA and AREA, she specializes in residential real estate and has her designations as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and a Certified Condominium Specialist. These designations testify that she has the expertise and resources to help her clients make a smooth transition to the next step in their life journey. She enjoys helping her clients as they move through many of the same stages of life that she, too, has experienced. The fact that the majority of her business comes from past clients and/or referrals from satisfied clients speaks volumes about her dedication to the high quality of service that she offers her clients to meet their Calgary and surrounding area real estate needs. She is a mother of four who are all on their own now, and a grandmother of eight. Besides helping people buy or sell real estate, she loves spending time with her family, being active outdoors, traveling and meeting new people, photography, playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, listening to music, learning new things, and nurturing her spiritual growth.
