It is indeed a worthy cause to set aside a day to celebrate kids, remembering a time when we were innocent, curious, most vulnerable and without any of the responsibility that comes with being an adult.
The earliest record of children's day celebration is traced to the USA where a certain pastor, Charles Leonard, celebrated kids which later came to be known as the children's day celebration. The idea was adopted by nations and it became widely accepted.
Children are celebrated all over the world on different days in different countries. In Nigeria, May 27th was marked for the Children's Day celebration in 1964. The day is usually packed full of activities for kids even though it is not a public holiday. Children engage in several activities including picnics, excursions, talk shows, games, dance competitions, debates, beauty pageants, talent shows, fashion parades, prayers, solemn assemblies, and the like.
This special day also brings to the fore of the government, public and private organisations, and the media the issues affecting the well-being of children to proffer solutions that work.
As a mom, it's a day to take stock of how my journey as a nom is going and what I can do to be a
better mom. I have learned that it helps to remind myself every morning before my feet hit the floor that I will spend the greater part of my day with my children and I should remember to treat them accordingly. I have a reminder and a planner for the day stuck to the bedside cabinet so that I readjust my expectations and aim to be a
calm mom through the chaos that may erupt as the day unfolds.
For mothers, Children's Day is every day. We celebrate their milestones from when they are born. We celebrate their big wins and little wins through their years in school and as they grow into adults. We celebrate their character development, friendships, gifts and talents and also when they feel down and out.
We remind them of who they are and who they can be, this is the best part of being a mom. That you can look at a mess and call it something beautiful and it comes to be because they believe in you. A mother's influence is so profound, it exceeds any day that could be set aside to celebrate kids.
How mothers can celebrate their kids every day
1. Allow your kids to enjoy their childhood. Don't force them to grow up too soon by expecting too much from them. I understand the pressure that comes with getting through to your kids at a certain age and wondering if they will ever get it. You will be pleasantly surprised someday that your work is bearing fruit. Don't give up on them, stay consistent.
2. Be their haven. From the time your babies recognise your face and voice, they cry when they need you. When they become toddlers and run to you to fix everything for them, you have been marked as their go-to person. The one they have confidence in and trust to be there for them always. This will not change any time soon even when they become teenagers and act like they don't care. Let them know that you will always be there for them any time they need you. There is a certain security that this assurance gives a child.
3. Show them rather than tell them. It's a no-brainer that children do what you do so you cannot act in one way and ask them to do something else. They are not wired that way. From the time they can walk and tag along everywhere you go, they will mimic what you do. Seize the opportunity to teach them by example.
4. Love your kids. I'm a firm believer in the idea that the best place for every child is with its parents except in circumstances where the parents are deceased, sick or incapable of raising them. Only a mom can love her kids the way no one else can, pump them up when they are deflated and see the best in them when no one else does.
5. Be kind. Even when you discipline your kids, don't let it come across to them as a punitive measure but rather correct them with love when they go wrong. Nurture positive qualities in them too.
6. Talk and listen. Children are eager to be engaged in conversations even when they do not understand what you are saying. Always keep communication lines open so that your kids can also talk to you and when they do, listen and watch them closely. You will hear more than what they are trying to get across to you.
7. Accept your kids. Playing comparison is a dangerous game. You will strip your child of their self-confidence, cause them to second-guess themselves and feel like they are not good enough. Love and accept them the way they are.
8. Allow them to play. Children learn by playing and if you restrain them from playing you will be inhibiting their emotional, educational and social growth and development. You wouldn't want that or would you?
9. Give them healthy and delicious food. Healthy does not always have to be tasteless. Prepare meals that taste good and will aid their growth too. Involve them in the process and you could be on to developing a family tradition.
10. Trust your kids. What you are teaching them is taking root that is why you need to be intentional and consistent. Trust that your kids will make good decisions and support them and even when they do not make the right choices, support them, they are still kids.
11. Encourage your kids. You are in the best position to know when your kids need encouragement. Encourage them to be the best they can be and don't give up on them.
Being a mom can be a daunting task especially if you are just starting out. Believe in yourself, you can do this. Talk to other mothers, and seek help and support when you need it. You can also access free online parenting resources here.
In what other ways do you think moms can celebrate their kids every day?
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