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I chattered with my new neighbor on walking trail behind our building and when it came to sharing phone numbers I suddenly forgot the few digits!!! I tried really hard to recall but no use. I had to apologize with “I am so sorry but these days I am bit forgetful…I will give you tomorrow. I live in 201 please feel free to visit.”

When she saw sadness in my words because of inability to recall my phone number she humbly said “That’s okay I understand this is common in pregnancy. I too have two kids and experienced the same.  Don’t worry you will get your memory back.”

I was fully confused as I never heard about pregnancy and memory loss neither my gynecologist ever mentioned it. So I decided to search and read all the books and articles on pregnancy and memory loss. I was surprised to know the truth and I decided to discuss the same with my doc on my next visit. When I described her my memory issue she too simply smile and said “That’s normal!!!”

When my doc saw my fully confused face with “That’s normal” she started explaining the thing. Few days back I met a lady suffering the same and I came out with this article to help Would Be Mummy to understand “That’s normal”.

What is memory loss?

Inability to remember or recall important things which once was really easy to remember. This includes trouble in remembering phone no, house no or even vehicle no. You might misplace the keys or miss important meeting schedule. You might feel you can’t fully focus on the things and lack of concentration.

Image Source Google

Why Memory loss?

There is no full proof result came out of the research as this is temporary and don’t seem to appear in everyone. Few pregnant ladies feel perfectly normal while few experience the so called Pregnancy Brain (memory loss). Yes doctors call it Pregnancy Brain as brain in pregnant lady works (bit) differently than the normal one.

The research says:

1. That might be due to incomplete sleep and/or tiredness as we found Pregnancy brain mostly in first or third trimester.
2. Due to hormonal changes Pregnancy brain works differently and that cause temporary memory loss.
3. Your brain is working more on emotional side which will really make you stronger not only physically to deliver the baby but of course to make a strong bond with your newborn.
4. Your brain is getting ready to accept the new changes of upcoming exciting life in expense of your memory.

What to Do?

Well first thing to do is calm down. Its temporary and you will get your memory back one day so accept it. I know it’s frustrating especially when you were very good in that or never missed any appointments but try to accept the change and smile.

Be ready with options like note down the emergency meetings. Set the alarm day before important meetings, use post for important phone no. and notes and stick it on the place which is common to visit in your daily routine. Keep extra keys in your neighbor’s or friend’s house. Stick to the same place to arrange the things rather to change the places frequently that will help you to recall.

Serve nutritious food to your brain to encourage it to work perfectly. Add extra omega 3 which will help you to work with your memory loss as well develop your kid’s brain.

Even after all these if you feel lack of concentration or memory loss, just take it easy. Don’t get upset with your stupidity and try to make fun on that. Remember this is not you this is just pregnancy hormones with one more excitement.

Last but not least try meditation to ease your mind.

Note: No one can say exactly when will you experience the memory loss or when will you get it back but yes this is temporary and will give you back your normal life eventually for sure.

My daughter Hritika who is 2 and half years old loves to play with her toy kitchen.

One day our neighbor came to visit us.

As I welcomed her inside Hritika came to her and asked “want coffee? Tea?”

She smiled at her and replied “yes, I would love to have coffee.”

Hritika went inside her room and showed up after 5 minutes with cups of pretend coffee and cookies.”

She offered with cute voice “coffee ready. Want cookies? Its yummy”

She didn’t leave us until we pretended to have her pretend coffee and cookies.

It looks simple when I am writing here but when I really experienced this I and my neighbor both fascinated by her cute voice and gesture.

Who says it looks simple? I am also flattered by this cute gesture and yes I too would like to have pretend coffee and cookies offered by her!!! Thank you very much for sharing your flattering 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.

When I thought to write on kids’ behavior due to inadequate sleeping schedule I really thought to complete it in just one post but when I started writing I felt there are many important things to share and came out with 3 different posts.

1. Facing troubles to handle your kids
2. 3S to stop bed time battles
3. 5 tips to stop morning menace

First two we already discussed so here I am starting with the third one.

You may think how these three are related and so here is the answer – when kids don’t get enough sleep they become hyper and cranky. They won’t listen to you as they are tired and cranky. They won’t be ready to take rest or sleep as they are hyper now. Result difficulty in handling them. So the key line is if you want see best of your kid, you have to provide them proper sleep to start a new fresh day.

If you think you are providing better sleep schedule and still your kid is not co-operating especially in the morning then here is the reason. We believe kids are most active in our house but if you will notice they will be lazier in the morning. When we wake up we feel fresh and ready to welcome the new day, new challenges and new life. And to accept those challenges we start working from the very first moment to get ready for the day. But for kids it’s opposite. They get slower in the morning as they try to settle down in new day. And as a parent we feel why this kid is behaving like this? Why s/he is not cooperating for anything? Why s/he is not getting ready for the school? Well that’s not their fault. It’s just like they need little time to adjust with the new day, new challenges and new possibilities.

Image source Google

And that’s why here is the guide line to stop morning menace:

1. Start with night: Morning will be always slow for kids especially for the age group 3 to 7. And if they couldn’t finish their sleep, it will be even slower. So if you want to start a new fresh day, offer them proper sleep schedule with your love and see how magically your morning will be fresh with the fresh kid.
2. Set the alarm: Set the alarm clock not only for you but for your kids too. It’s better to get one kids’ alarm clock or cuckoo clock for your kid. Make sure it rings once you wake them up to give them idea of time actually better to say idea of upcoming event.
3. Finish your chores first: It won’t be a good choice to wake up your kid and start working and so I suggest you to wake up at least 15 minutes before your kid so you can finish your major work before your kids get up. For example if you need to prepare breakfast or lunch finish half of that before you go to kids’ room. As I always say don’t forget to take help from family.
4. Good morning should be good: Don’t just scream from the kitchen “hey its school time wake up!!!” That’s not what your kid deserves. Go to kids’ room, take your kid’s head in your lap, give kiss and say good morning. You can play or sing good morning rhymes if you want. It will be more fun. Start your kids’ day by offering healthy smile.
5. Have fun race to speed up the task: Even after a healthy start the main thing is “how to make them ready quickly”. Trust me they won’t take much time to get ready if you will give them a booster of your love and fun. Have a race to get ready or for breakfast. For example I like to put everything that require to get ready on bed and I will say “baby you get ready and I will pack your school bag. Let’s see who will win?” Don’t forget to reward the winner. If you need any help to speed up the task read my article on “want to say Hurry Up… Please wait”.

Note : Its always better to start kids’ day before an hour of their school time even though they take only 15 minutes to get ready. Morning play and fun is enough to sooth their mind for entire day.

We wish these 5 steps will help you to know your kids better and to have a great start of the day for you and your kid.

Foster Feel

Yesterday I had an amazing conversation with my 5 years old daughter Swara. Even though I already posted one cute conversation with her I can’t resist myself to add one.

As usual we all were having dinner together.

She liked the curry I served in dinner and so she complemented with the words “yummy mama it is really delicious”

After couple of minutes she asked “mama will you please tell me the recipe of this curry?”

I nodded and told her recipe for the same.

She thought for a while and raised few questions regarding recipe.

So finally I asked her “why you are so much interested in recipe?”

And she replied with cute smile “so I can cook it for you when you don’t feel well!!!”

Absolutely astonished by her words….

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.

FosterFeel

After dinner, while I was still working with cleaning kitchen my little girl went to get ready for bed. She brushed her teeth, dressed her up in pajama, read a story for herself with her favorite doll, gave me good night kiss and went back to her room with night lamp. Sweet dream!!!

You might feel oh yes this is what I want from my kid too. But trust me it is nothing more than a sweet dream. Your kid will surely do this by the age of 10 but before that adore your kid the way s/he is. S/he is not big enough to think this way and even if s/he will do I am sure not a single parent will enjoy it.  “It is good to take a day off from office but not to leave a job permanently” same way “It is fun to see kids helping with small chores but not taking all the good care of them by themselves.”

So dream apart this is not going to happen and so as a parent it is your duty to put your kid on bed before they get tired. We know how tough it is and thus here we are providing you little help.

Every kid wants to play whole day and night and thus they won’t be ready to give up their play to sleep. But yes with proper routine and love you can help them to understand that this is sleeping time and there will be tomorrow to play.

#1 Slow Down: The first thing you need to tell your kid is “This is sleeping time now.” And that shouldn’t be end up with the sound “its sleeping time baby.” you must show it before the time and that too not by your words but by your action.

I am talking about the environment which you should create to feel like sleeping time. We grownup can understand that by the moon light but for kids it is not enough. You need to provide extra signals to bed time.

Like slow down. Slow down the surrounding noise. Switch off the TV or any loud music. Talk softly and slowly, Dim all the lights and take a short break to play family game which can give them rest. Avoid the activities which includes physical exercise instead choose some family game depends on the age of your kid. This will help their body to understand that it is tired now and so they will calm down.

#2 Soothing is important:  Now you know they are calm, their body is relaxed, next step to ease up their mind. And for that bedtime bath is good option. Bath will help to soothe their body and mind. Help them to dress up their pajamas (I always feel night clothes should be wear only in night times so it leaves right impact on body and mind they meant to be).

Next is cuddle time. Show your love and read a story. Remember it will be helpful if you can maintain the room temperature around 68 to 72 degrees, cold helps to sleep. When you are done with the story, give them a good night kiss, start the soft music and leave them in their room with their favorite blanket or soft toy. They will surely fall asleep in few minutes.

Trust me this won’t take long but surely help your kid to feel secure and safe.

#3 Say yes to 7: Sounds crazy? Yeah when I heard this for the first time I too felt how crazy is this!!! I wondered who sleeps at 7pm. But when I tried to implement it, it really worked and still working perfectly. Thanks to ECFE (an institute which guides parents to raise their kids).

We always heard “Early to bed and early to rise makes you healthy wealthy and wise” but always ignore to implement. Kids need at least 11 to 12hrs continuous sleep and if they won’t sleep at 7pm or latest by 8pm there is no way they can complete their 12hrs sleep before 7am in the morning. Result lazy morning late for kindergarten late for everything and you will be in rush for your office and total mess of morning rather to have a comfy fresh start of the day.

There are other reasons to put your kids on bed at 7 like 1. It will give you Me Time when you are really tired of your entire day. 2. You can spend time with your kid when they are really fresh and in their full charm. 3. Tired parents and tired kids can spend only quantity time not quality time.

As I always say “Be Consistent” in whatever you choose for your kid. Routine helps them to understand the things and leads toward a confident life.

Well last but not least start these  S an hour before bedtime. Means if you want your kid to sleep by 7pm, start it at 6pm and so on. I am sure you too will agree to share an hour of love and comfort with your kid to reduce Bedtime Battles.

I would like to share an incident which is kind of funny as well as warned me about kids thoughtful mind.

One day while having family dinner I and my husband get into some argument and as a result I said please now no more talk. I don’t want to talk to you.

Unfortunately my son Arvin (5 years old) was listening all the conversation. Even though we were completely normal after that it left some impact on him.

Next morning my husband gave me normal routine call from office and as usual we talked for a while.

When I hang up the phone, Arvin who was drinking milk asked “mom yesterday you told daddy that you are not going to talk to him then why did you talk to him?”

I Replied (shocked) “Well I guess I forgot about that.”

He simply said “okay mom now next time when daddy will call don’t talk I will remind you!!!”

And I started wondering “such an innocent kid” as he didn’t know anything and wanted his father to apologize!!!

Even though it was just a simple silly fight about some random topic, we had to take lots of effort to explain him that fight was over and it wasn’t important.

Really kids teach us many things by their cute behavior. Thank you very much for sharing your sweet 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.

Few days back my daughter Sanaya who is 6 years old came back from school in sad mood. When I asked her the reason she showed me her hand and said “see I got crying face today (A crying smiley).”

I said “It’s okay little girl. That means you must have done something wrong in school.”

Sanaya replied “no she gave me crying face means she doesn’t love me anymore.”

So I changed the topic and said “you know crying face means your teacher is sad today. She told you that that means she loves you like mummy. ”

And I added “You know actually teachers love kids more than anyone.”

She asked “more than mummy also?”

I nodded.

She looked at me with curious mind so I elaborated “see mummy has only 2 children to love so she loves you very much. But teacher has many children to look after and still she takes care of all of them and loves them equally. So that means teacher loves you more than mummy also.”

She cheered” oh that’s why teacher gave me sad face just like you tell me some times that you are sad.”

I smiled.

After an hour when Sanaya was leaving for her dance class she gave me good bye kiss and said “mummy you know mummy loves me more than teacher.” And left.

This left me in happy thoughts of course.

Wow what a great explanation. You truly deserve the cute reward your daughter offered for. Thank you very much for sharing your blissful 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.