youth | Staying Sane While Raising Your Teens

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10 Resources to Guide You Through Every Stage of Your Child’s Life

Gwen Payne, guest blogger

Parenting takes you on a long and winding journey, and some days will leave you with more questions than answers. By working with a parenting guru like C. Lynn Williams, you can get personalized advice on developing a healthy parenting style. Plus, these resources cover numerous parenting topics that are relevant to every stage of your child’s life, from babyproofing your property to keeping your family physically active.

Avoiding a Surprise Pregnancy

Preventing a surprise pregnancy requires proactive measures and informed decisions. Here are essential strategies to help you effectively avoid unexpected pregnancies and maintain control over your reproductive health.

Utilize reliable birth control methods, such as condoms, hormonal pills, patches, or intrauterine devices (IUDs), to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
Have open and honest discussions with your partner about family planning and contraception choices to ensure you are both on the same page.
Stay informed about reproductive health and the effectiveness of different birth control methods, and consult with a healthcare professional to find the most suitable option.
Be aware of emergency contraception options, such as the morning-after pill, to use in case of contraceptive failure or unprotected intercourse.
Consider using a combination of birth control methods, such as condoms along with another contraceptive, to further reduce the risk of unexpected pregnancies.

Adjusting to Life With a Newborn

Each day with a newborn will bring something new and unexpected – but these tips will help you deal with all of these changes.

With time, you’ll be able to establish a routine that suits you and your baby.
By turning to your support system for help, you can create time for self-care.
Before your baby arrives, block off time to baby-proof your home and choose safe items for your household.

Helping Your Toddler Navigate the World

Your toddler is learning to process big emotions and discover who they are. You can better support them by referencing these resources.

Your child is old enough to start practicing basic manners for social situations.
Encourage your child when it comes to making friends!
Work with your child on mastering simple life skills, like cleaning up, getting dressed, and doing household chores.

Guiding Your Child in Elementary School

Once your child has entered elementary school, it’s your job to help them become who they truly are.

If your child is struggling with their grades, you can assist them in improving their academic performance.
Help your child pick one or two extracurricular activities they might like.
Consider relocating to a walkable neighborhood to promote lifelong fitness.
Connecting with a parenting coach can help you find work-life balance.

If you’re a new parent, you know that you’re starting an unpredictable new chapter of your life. But by turning to trusted sources for advice, you can feel confident in your parenting decisions. With these tips, you’ll be prepared to choose safe products for your family, make sure that your kids get plenty of exercise, and more!

Are you looking for parenting guidance? Turn to C. Lynn Williams! Schedule a free virtual chat through our website today to talk about all things parenting.

C. Lynn Williams, #MsParentguru

Parent Coach, Author & Speaker

July 26, 2023 at 12:44 pm Leave a comment

How to Best Support Your (Child) Athlete Before They Are Sexually Abused

I have a young great-niece named Alyssa who is amazing. She taught herself how to do backflips watching YouTube videos. She was such a natural athlete, that she’s starting on one of the leading gymnastics teams in Illinois.

But That’s not why I’m telling you about Alyssa. As I listen to the most recent stories about adult gymnasts who were sexually abused and violated as children by Larry Nassar, I think about our sons and daughters who are young athletes. I hope sexual abuse will never happen to them.

According to childwelfare.gov, your daughter has a 1 in 4 chance and your son has a 1 in 6 chance of being molested. That’s pretty scary!

If a coach or doctor touched your child inappropriately would she or he be able to tell you what was happening? Don’t worry about the authorities, believing that a violation had taken place. How would you handle the situation?

According to Everyday Feminism, many kids are afraid to tell their parents that they’ve been sexually abused, because they are afraid that they will be in trouble. Let’s be proactive instead.

Here are 5 ways to talk to your kids about sexuality and abuse:

1. Have calm, casual conversations about appropriate & inappropriate touch – often.

2. Begin talking to them as young as 2 years old. Make the conversations age appropriate.

3. Teach them the actual names of their private parts.

4. Share the only instances when their private parts can be seen and touched.

5. Let them know what appropriate and inappropriate touching is.

It’s important that your child know they have the right to control their bodies. Help them feel comfortable to talk about their body to you (as their parent) and to tell you immediately if someone touches them inappropriately. Most important – please believe them if they tell you someone has touched them (inappropriately), no matter who it is.

I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment in the Reply section below.

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