Foster Feel

When I was 2 months pregnant I skidded on the snow and after that I was restricted to go out in snow!!! Well nothing serious happened but still I and my husband were alone in new country, new weather with my first pregnancy and so my husband became bit possessive about my health. Well that wasn’t the end….I was a person or better to say I am a person who can’t do anything normally. I want fun always and everywhere. If I can’t find it I will invent it with some childish behavior and because of that my husband kept bugging me throughout my pregnancy  “don’t run don’t jump don’t do this and don’t do that” well I consider it as a love only but yes truth is many things you have to either stop or slow down in pregnancy and one of them is Travelling.

I understand restrictions are not right but I feel this is just like when we get new car we become little possessive about the scratch and we prefer to slow down the speed. Big journey big moment and little sacrifice. Well actually the word sacrifice is not right as you can do it just with little extra care.

I would like to put other restrictions behind as I am here to talk about travelling in pregnancy.

First thing first everyone is different as well as every pregnancy is different so I would like to say you can travel or not; how much travelling is safe for you is fully depends on individuals. If your body permits; your doctor approves you can travel as much as you want and if not sorry to say but you have to find option for travelling.

In first trimester chances of miscarriages are high and so doctors recommend to limit your travelling. Just to limit not to restrict. You may need to drop your bike or you may need to stop rash driving or you may need to cancel your plan to visit hills and mountains but you can still go with slow steady driving; you can roam in or near by city which has good road and you can also travel by flight(except special case).

Second trimester is as normal as you are. You can go wherever you want until you get tired.

Third trimester comes with restrictions again but still if you want to travel you can check out with your doctor and plan accordingly. Many flights have restriction of 28 weeks to 32 weeks but the thing is they can’t judge you with your bump so better to carry your doctors letter if you don’t want hassle. Travelling by air is safe but still small flights or helicopters are not recommended. You can travel by car, bus or train if your body permits. If you are still not happy with these limitations I would like to say you are lucky that you don’t have to take bed rest, many would be mother has to. So enjoy the way it comes, listen to your body and listen to your doctors, don’t try to do something just because your friend or your mother could do that. Never skip your checkups in this trimester as it is essential for your due date as well as growth of your baby matters a lot in this trimester.

Well this is what we discussed about freedom, freedom of choice. You are free to desire if your body permits. But what if you have to travel in emergency?

Here we are sharing some tips to make your trip comfortable during pregnancy :

1. Don’t forget to concern your doctor first. Get checkup before you start travelling.
2. Get the idea of place you are willing to visit and read about that. Talk to your doctor regarding that and don’t skip vaccination or medication if doc recommends for example if you are going to visit Malaria zone better to get vaccination or medication to protect yourself.
3. Don’t forget to take your prenatal pills with you as you may not find the same brand in different city or country.
4. Try to keep your luggage light. Limit with comforts and need. Pack as much as you can carry.
5. Don’t hesitate to tick HELP if you are travelling by flight. Its okay if you won’t use it but plan it for precaution.
6. don’t forget to pack your favorite snacks for you and keep it handy. Don’t try to control your hunger during travelling feed your body as it asks for.
7. Stay hydrated. Keep at least one water bottle with you.
8. Don’t forget to stretch your body during travelling. Take frequent break to free your legs.
9. If you find anything painful try to change your position as soon as possible.
10. It’s okay to skip your diet chart but not all the times.
11. Don’t forget to check twice (allowed or not) before you get into any physical activity.
12. The most important is wear your comfort. Wear according to weather. Wear maternity clothes they are not only comfortable and Stylish but also protect your bump.

 Have A Happy Travelling

I remember my mother telling me many times “when you were a kid I had to clean your school bag almost every week or else it used to be very heavy because of stones you liked to collect!!!”

I use to laugh on that every time. But now the thing is different.

That’s  my 5 years old daughter who likes to collect the things and I need to clean her room every week to get rid of those things and that too when she is away or else everything seems so precious, very much important and I can’t remove any of that from her treasure chest!!!

Foster Feel

If your kids too are collecting Coles, I am glad to say congratulations as they are in right path to learn and explore the things. If you are thinking to stop them then please don’t as I can give you reasons why not to.

1. Whatever they collect is treasure for them. This is the way they learn to value the things. So let them collect and let them explore.
2. If you will notice them playing with their treasure chest, you will see how they differentiate the things and arrange those in different ways. This is the way they learn to categorize the things based on colors size shapes or priorities.
3. They will open their treasure chest at least once in a day that shows their concern and care. This will encourage them to take care of their things and make them responsible.
4. Every day revise and recall of the same thing makes their memory sharp as well as upgrade their knowledge about those stuff.
5. If you think your kid is shy and can’t communicate with other kids easily then good to know that talking about treasure makes communication easy as they get some common topic to talk about.
6. At this age they collect random things but by the age they will learn the difference and value of the things. They will get their command on their choice and selection which will lead them to a new hobby for the future.

Well this doesn’t mean we should keep all those crap of course. We don’t want to hurt their feelings or to keep them away from this beautiful treasure but at the same time we have to keep their room tidy (just a little tidy) and for that we can use the same old technique, clean up when they are away.

Clean up in absence of kid gives us benefits like 1. We can discard the things we want. 2. It won’t make them sad 3. We don’t want to take away the pleasure of finding treasure 4. We need not to explain them why.

Last one is pretty tricky as Explaining why is a big deal at this age. They understand little more and yet not whole. We can find age appropriate explanation sometimes but not always.

I love to share my daughter likes to collect dry leaves, flowers, feathers, wrappers,magnets or screws and a lot more. If you too feel the same we would love to hear what your kid likes to collect?

It was thanks giving time. I with my 6 years old daughter Mia went to gift shop. There was a card section so I just thought to go through that. My daughter Mia also started checking cards with me and here is the conversation happened between us.

Mia: Mom is this birthday card?

Mom: Yes honey

Mia: Mom this one?

Mom: Its anniversary card sweetie

Mia: and this one?

Mom: Thank you card dear

Mia: Thank you card??? What is thank you card?

Mom: We can give thank you card to the person who helped us instead of simply saying thank you.

Mia: Giving card is better than just saying thank you?

Mom: Yes it has more impact. That means you really mean it.

Mia (in pause for a while) : Don’t we have welcome card?

Mom: you mean invitation card right?

Mia: No mom, you’re welcome one. If we have card to say sorry, to say thank you then why don’t we have card to say “you’re welcome”!!!

Mom: well that’s good idea. Why don’t you make your own?

I explained her and she seemed to be satisfied but I was truly surprised by the unexpected question.

Awe such a sweet thinking. Kids’ carefree minds are always beyond our limit. Thank you very much for sharing your cute experience with us.

We are inviting cute conversation from all the parents. You can write your experience to fosterfeel@gmail.com with the *name, age and photo of your kid and we will publish it on forstefeel.com/cute_conversation/ on every Tuesday.

*If you don’t want to reveal the identity of you and your kid, we will be happy to accept the experience with age of your kid.

Foster Feel

If I will say sharing is always difficult for kids, I am sure most of the parents will agree with me especially those whose kids are around 3.

Well no matter whether they want to play with that toy or not they won’t be ready to share it with anyone. No matter how many times you explain them; no matter how many times you punish (Time Out) them but when it comes to sharing they become stubborn!!! Sometimes parents wonder “why nothing is working?”

I know you are looking for the reason; you are looking for the solution but first thing I would like to mention is “This is the age, Accept it.”

Well this doesn’t mean you should leave them the way they are.  Otherwise they will never learn it. But before teaching anything to your kid you need to understand your kids’ view.

Why Kids don’t like to share:

Normally kids don’t know the concept of mine and yours till the age of 2 and that’s why kids younger than 2 can share the things easily unless they really want it. Kids learn the concept of mine by the age of 3. When they understand the concept of mine they try to protect that; they try to take care of that which is actually good thing. This is the way they learn how to take care of their things and surrounding people (family members).

But the thing is they know the concept of mine and yours, they know the concept of taking care of their own things and family members but they don’t know the concept of protecting and so they become possessive. I mean to say they know they should protect their things but they don’t know how. They feel if I will share, it will go away, it will break or it will be finished.

So basically at this age don’t teach them to share instead show them the ways to protect their things.

If you don’t believe just give them any of your things and ask them to take care of it just for couple of minutes and ask your friend or family member to touch the same thing and see the result. 90% kids of this age won’t allow anyone to touch the thing, not even their family members.

So now I guess you got the point. Don’t teach them to share teach them to protect.

How to motivate your kids to share:

Share to show: Show them how you enjoy sharing. Show them how do you take care of someone else thing and show them how do you get your things back from your friends once they are done.

For example I would like to tell my daughter “See today I got this new book from my friend. It’s really interesting. Once we will be done we need to return it so we must take care of it.”

Or if someone will return the thing I will say “wow she is so good see she cleaned grinder before returning it.”

Practical demonstration will always encourage kids to copy as we all know kids are just cute copycats. So drop the talk and show them the concept of sharing by intentionally sharing the things in front of them.

Play “Can we share”: I must say this is the best game on sharing. Point out the things which we can share in funny way. It’s a game called can we share? For example, parent will ask “can we share lunchbox?” and kids need to answer yes/no depends on their thinking.

If they are wrong, talk about the incident when you or your friend shared that thing. The best thing about this game is “you can include anything and everything like your bathroom, mat, food, water, clothes kitchen, accessories and all.” Don’t forget to include those things which we cannot share like water bottle and handkerchief.

Start with Exchange: Initially even if you explain, even if you demonstrate, they might not be ready to leave their things. This is really common as they know nothing happened to your things but they are still confused about the surety. Just the way we can’t leave our kids with anyone they can’t leave their things.

Exchanging the toys with friends can comfort them little more as they don’t just need to give but have something to get also.  Exchange toy is bit easier than give and go.

Books are Best: Read story books on sharing and sharing concept. Tell the story on things like sea saw, slide, sand play or even dining table which has no fun if you are alone.

Talk and explain when they are in good mood. Bedtimes are best.

Assure the security: It is perfectly okay if they don’t want to share something or with some friends. Support their decision and assure the security of their favorite things.

If you feel your kid is not ready to share her favorite doll with anyone that’s perfectly fine if she is ready to share rest of the things.

Few friends are really naughty and your kids know that they will break or spoil the things so it’s okay if they say no to them. Try to explain but don’t force.

Stop sharing if they don’t: Once you know your kids understand the concept of sharing or they want someone else thing but not ready to give their things try “No sharing with them”.

For example my daughter was fond of my hair; she always liked to take my hair for couple of minutes before going to bed. So I explained her “would you like if mama will not share her hair with you?”  If not then start sharing or else I too will not share my hair with you. Stick to the decision and don’t hesitate to implement it.

Don’t even think that they learned how to share means they will share always and with everyone. Sharing is depends on your kids’ mood and with whom s/he wants to share. Kids choose their sharing partner just like we choose people to trust. They share easily with friends and hesitate with new kids. Give them time and make the sharing easy.

Reader’s Photo

I too have something to share about my daughter Reha who is about to complete 2 years now. I am not sure whether it can qualify as a cute conversation or not but I just can’t resist myself from sharing it.

Once, I and my husband were sharing good talk time.

I was so much in talking that I couldn’t realize, when I sat on our spring bed little harder and it gave me a small bounce.

Reha (18 months old at that time) was playing nearby observed that and started saying “No No” with her pointer finger exactly the way it is in ‘No more monkeys jumping on bed’ rhyme.

When we saw her expression and cute gesture, I and my husband both couldn’t control our laughter.

Agree kids learn a lot form rhymes. Well as the name suggest Cute Conversation if this can’t be a part of cute conversation then nothing else can be. This is the cutest gesture I have ever come across. Thank you very much Aditi for sharing your enchanting experience with us.

We are inviting cute conversation from all the parents. You can write your experience to fosterfeel@gmail.com with the *name, age and photo of your kid and we will publish it on forstefeel.com/cute_conversation/ on every Tuesday.

*If you don’t want to reveal the identity of you and your kid, we will be happy to accept the experience with age of your kid.