Happy Kids Happy Life

Image from @common_wild on Instagram

This past week I had the opportunity to spend some real quality time with my niece and nephews. I was in full auntie mode. I have to say caring for three children under the age of 10 was rewarding and challenging at the same time. Between structuring time, ensuring happiness, and keeping them engaged I had my hands full.

Since I do not have kids yet, I looked at this week as a mini boot camp for me to see what it’s like to live a day in the life of being someone’s mother. The first thing I learned was the level of selflessness I had achieved. Being selfless is necessary when you are responsible for another person’s life and well-being. Trust there were moments when I felt tired, but because my two year old nephew needed me I had to be awake to care for him. The second was my awareness of the level of patience I had. In living with small children this was one area I was grateful I had mastered. They are learning and being patient with their process aids in overall growth.

My goal was to exhibit the same type of emotional support, love and encouragement I never received as a kid. In doing so I saw the effects immediately. Positive reinforcement and a calm voice were better received than me speaking in a demanding tone or yelling. It was challenging for me to still maintain a parental role but to play the fun auntie as well. I encouraged them to ask questions and I ask them tons of questions about their dislikes and likes.

When things did not go as expected I explained to them how to improve for next time. We even came to a reasonable compromise for bedtime and wake up time for school. Honestly, without much directives they were extremely independent in following the daily schedule we had discussed at our family meeting. My niece who is eight and my nephew who is ten seemed to enjoy participating in decision making for the day.

Between doing homework, after school snacks, and preparing for school at night I began to think about the type of self-care parents need. Self-care has become an important topic in my life. I had to find small opportunities to recharge my energy and renew my mind. It really makes all the difference in how I can continue to function and provide a high level of care for them.

I am grateful for this experience and proud I had the chance to bond with the children this week. I feel like the universe presented this opportunity to me for a reason. I have extreme respect to the mommy’s and daddies out here living this life 24/7 365 days a year. It is a reminder for me to check on my friends who are raising children and to be a better support system to them if needed.