Bring it on!

All right, readers!  I'm ready for the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Haven't we all had a day when we've felt like this:

Well, if you need some advice on a situation involving your child (or children), send me an email! 

You can reach me at askhilaryblog@hotmail.com.  Please include as much information as you can so I have a thorough understanding of your issue.  Also, please let me know whether it's okay for me to use your name or whether you'd prefer to remain anonymous.

Remember, all of my advice comes from a place of L-O-V-E, not judgment.  It's a safe bet that I've been in your situation before, so bring on the questions! 

Tuesday's Tip of the Week - Let's jam!

What mom isn’t tired of the kiddie music that you end up playing over, and over, and over again? The wheels on the bus go round and round. Old McDonald had a noisy farm. The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout - story at 11. I get it already!

Well, guess what? You don’t have to make it all about your little ones when it comes to music. One of our family’s favorite things to do is turn up the radio…and dance! Yesterday, I was busting a move with three two-year-olds and a five-year-old. They were all jumping around and laughing their cute little booties off. You might even pick up some new moves from them. It’s also a great way to sneak in some exercise and burn off a little energy. Don’t be shy – your kids will love to see you acting silly and having fun. They won’t care about the music. From Elvis to Bon Jovi, Diana Ross to Beyonce, as long as the language is appropriate, turn up the music and have your own family dance party.

But wait! Don’t toss that kiddie music in the trash just yet. Save it for their bedroom. Use it when everyone is cleaning up or winding down for bedtime. If the music is soft, let them listen as they drift off to sleep. You can still fit in their music, and this way, you won’t find yourself discussing the wheels on the bus unless you’re driving down the highway.

My Purpose

So why did I start a blog?  Who in the world decided I should be the one to give parenting advice?

Well, let’s start at the beginning:

When Mike and I started dating in 2005, we had been coworkers and friends for a while.  I knew he had 2 children – Kathryn, age 4, and Rachael, 9 months.  After we had been dating for a few months, he decided it was time we attempted our first date as a foursome.  We trekked to a large McDonald’s near our apartment and I thought to myself, “I’ve got this in the bag – I’m great with kids.” 

And then panic set in.

As we chomped on our cheeseburgers, the realization hit that if I continued my relationship with Mike, I would be pushed into a parental role with these girls.  I was 21 at the time, and what the hell did I know about being a mom?  I was scared to death and overcome with a million questions and fears.

Time went on and I realized that I had fallen deeply in love with Mike... he was the one for me.  I decided that I could learn how to me a mom as I went along, and made sure to focus on giving the girls love and acceptance.  Looking back, I think that Kathryn and Rachael let me practice how to be a mother before I had children of my own.

Kennedy’s birth brought on a flood of emotions for me.  There was a profound, unexplainable happiness in my heart that I had never before experienced.  She taught me how to love unconditionally.  She helped heal the parts of me that were closed off because of past pain.  She was my sunshine and I knew I wanted to be the best parent I could for her.

When Kennedy was 7 months old, I opened my home childcare business.  Like so many other women, I did it so I could be home with her while still contributing to our family’s income; allowing her to interact with other children was an added bonus.

I quickly realized that my business was not about babysitting other people’s children – it was about forming a bond with my charges and their parents, and building a team focused on providing the best childhood possible.  I wanted to focus my time and help shape the children into good human beings.

Over the past 5 years, I have provided care to over 30 children from newborn to 5 years old.  My interactions with them have taught me so much.  The principles I truly believe about children are:

·         Every child is different.  One solution is not going to work for every child.

·         Children learn what they live, meaning they can only give what they get.

·         Every child has a good heart.

To come full circle, my reason for starting this blog is to answer any questions you have about your children and parenthood.  I have had so many people reach out to me, and I would like to create a community where you can ask questions and get feedback from me as well as other parents.  I am not an expert, but I do have a lot of everyday experience working with young children.

My goal is to develop this blog into an uplifting source of support for parents.  We have the toughest job in the world.  I am on this journey with you, and am still learning every day.