A Brigham Young University Student Journal
Are you in the process of planning your child’s nursery? Maybe you are just trying to figure out the final details? Or maybe you don’t know what to do with the awkward closet or some bookcases you love? Either way, here are some helpful organizing …
Becoming an adult (at least in age) will quickly teach you one thing, if nothing else: living can be expensive. What seemed like a huge investment of cash as a kid is suddenly just a fraction of your rent and other bills. It’s a difficult …
As a parent to be, I tend to think about parenting advice and mentally collect my favorites for my future parenting needs. One of my recent favorites is a picture my husband told me about.
This picture was very inspirational to my husband and me. We then had a long discussion on what type of parents we want to be. So, my advice is to think about and discuss parenting techniques and ideas and decide which ones you will keep and which others you will forget.
Want some more advice to think about? Here is some of my favorite parenting advice from an online article I found:
Tantrums often happen because the thrower is Hungry, Agitated, Lonely, or Tired.
“It’s a child’s job to learn to eat what the parents eat,” says Ellyn Satter, a registered dietitian and the author of Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family. Instead of the all-or-nothing scenario, offer a variety of foods at mealtime: the main course, plus rice or pasta, a fruit or vegetable, and milk. This way, your child can eat just the pasta and the peas and get protein from the milk. “What a child eats over the course of a day or a week is more important than a balanced meal at one sitting,” says Stephen Daniels, the chairman of the department of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, in Aurora.
This forces kids to focus. Got a whole pack to corral? Whisper, “If you want to hear what we’re doing next, hop on one foot.” Goofy jumping is bound to be contagious.
In other words, take care of yourself or you can’t be a fully engaged parent. Parents who deprive themselves of rest, food, and fun for the sake of their kids do no one a favor. “People feel guilty when they work a lot, so they want to give all their free time to their kids,” says Fred Stocker, a child psychiatrist at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, in Kentucky. “But you risk getting squeezed dry and emotionally exhausted.” A spa weekend may not be realistic, but it’s OK to take 15 minutes for a bath after you walk in the door. (A tall request for a kid, yes, but a happier Uno player goes a long way.) Running ragged between activities? Ask your child to prioritize, says Taylor. She may be dying for you to chaperone a field trip but ambivalent about your missing a swim meet—the ideal amount of time for a pedicure.
There is so much parenting advice available to people. I have learned that parenting decisions are truly a personal decision. What works for one person might not work for another. However, gathering advice and then contemplating it and possibly implementing it will help make parenting a little easier. At least, that is what I am hoping for since I don’t have legitimate parenting experience quite yet. Good luck and have fun with your parenting adventures!
—Lexi Foster, Assistant Managing Editor, Stance
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Now that the Thanksgiving feast is over and the snow has started to come, it’s time to bring out the Christmas décor! There are lights to hang, the tree to decorate, and goodies to bake. But this …
What do street tacos, Chinese take-out, and contaminated food have in common? All three are capable of causing food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you suspect that the food poisoning is a result of seafood or mushrooms, call …
As students, it is easy to feel inadequate in our studies, social circles, and everyday endeavors here at BYU. No matter how hard we try, sometimes our imperfections are all too clear before us. A few weeks ago, my friend told me about an experience she had that helped her overcome such discouraging thoughts.
While at a women’s conference, my friend was told to pick up a leaf and rate it from one to ten on how perfect it was. She noticed the tattered ends, broken veins, and flimsy stem and rated it as a five. Others around her at the meeting also gave their leaves ratings, resulting in a variety of rankings, some high and others low. Then the person conducting the meeting asked them to rate the leaf on how well it was fulfilling its purpose. After some confusion, the woman teaching the lesson went on to explain what she meant. She spoke of lush green leaves in the summer, absorbing sunlight for the tree. She talked of rich reds and oranges in dying fall leaves and the beauty they bring to the season. She even talked about piles of dead leaves fallen on the ground that gleeful little children throw in the air. In each scenario, the leaf is fulfilling a purpose, just as the leaf in my friend’s hands was fulfilling its purpose in teaching an object lesson.
We may be tattered at the edges, a little aged and worn, and by no means perfect by a worldly standard. However, wherever we are and in whatever condition we may be, we can fulfill our purpose perfectly.
—Jessica Olsen, Editor, Stance
IT’S WINTER!!! Isn’t it wonderful?! Here are five reasons why a winter wedding is a wonderful idea: Rustic Pinecone Boutonnieres Stand Out Winter weddings are unique. Flowers and colorful leaves tend to steal the spotlight, but what could be more magical than …
There’s a sad fact of life that everyone has to learn eventually: doing awesome things can cost a lot of money. The good news is that kids usually don’t care how much it costs to do something fun. For example, most children can be just …
Pregnant women struggle to get enough sleep, especially when they are in the third trimester. Most articles say sleep is illusive because pregnant women’s bellies are so big that a comfortable sleeping position is difficult to find. I didn’t think this applied to me because I was getting great sleep at night. But then week 27 hit and suddenly I was tired all the time and couldn’t sleep well anymore.
After I woke up several mornings feeling more like a zombie than a human being, my husband and I decided it was time to invest in a pregnancy pillow. However, I needed to do my homework. I needed to find out what pillows were offered and what type would fit me best. I found an article here that helped me decide which pillows to choose.
After researching different options—wedge pregnancy pillows, c-shaped pregnancy pillows, u-shaped pregnancy pillows, and full body pillows—I finally decided on two types. I chose a round wedge pregnancy pillow for something small and useful in every day life and in travel and a u-shaped pregnancy pillow for ultimate comfort, support, and luxury.
Pregnancy pillows can be expensive, but they are worth the investment! Since getting the pillow, especially the u-shaped one, I have been sleeping better than I was before I was pregnant. My husband also sleeps better because I no longer toss and turn throughout the night. If you can only invest in one pillow, I recommend going all out and getting the u-shaped pillow. You will get the most benefits from it and it will last you for many years, even through future pregnancies.
Enjoy your future nights of restful sleep!
—Lexi Foster, Managing Assistant Editor, Stance
Gratitude For My Grandmother With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s a great time to reflect on everything we have to be grateful for. This season, my thoughts have especially turned to my grandmother. She is an amazing woman who has taught me a lot …