Being the mum of a toddler in lockdown is not easy. I know from experience that it can be a challenge to say the least. So if you know a toddler mama, here are some things you can do to support her during this strange time.
Image courtesy of Pixabay
Send her inspiration: One of the hardest parts of being a toddler mum is finding things to keep young children entertained. So if you see anything on Facebook, a blog or on a parenting website that could help your mother friend or relative to keep their little one occupied- send it over so they always have a few activities tucked up their sleeve for rainy days.
Call her: One of the best things you can do is give this mama a call. As much as she loves her little one/s, she will value some adult conversation after a day of being with her son/daughter. And if you are comfortable with Facetime, try to make it as much like a meet up in person as you can.
Send her treats: Depending on your budget- you might like to send her a little lifeline through the letterbox to brighten her day. A book or a streaming voucher that she can read/watch once her toddler goes to sleep might be her preferred way to unwind after a day in toddlerland and will be a welcome surprise. Flowers and chocolates work well too!
Make plans: While you can’t meet up at present, one thing you can do is make plans. Perhaps not a specific date as we don’t know how long this will all go on for, but make a list of things you want to do together. And get specific. The research into such activities can be a welcome distraction, plus the more detailed you get, the better you can budget. For instance, you might like to go for a girly weekend away to a spa. So choose your spa, work out the mileage and petrol needs, how much it will cost for extra treatments you might want etc. Then when you get the green light, you will have everything at your fingertips to make the booking- you will just need to settle on a date.
Make her feel like she’s not alone: If you are in the same boat, share pictures of your own parenting fails and if not- there are thousands on social media that are bound to make her laugh and feel like she’s not alone in all of this. We all make mistakes as parents but it's easy to forget this in the confines of your own home. The book Man vs Toddler by Matt Coyne has been a lifeline for me during lockdown and will cheer her up even on the darkest of days.
Potty training advice and help: If she is in the midst of pottery training her toddler, any help or advice you can give from afar will be welcome. If something has worked for your little one, share it with her or if there are any bloggers or authors you found beneficial or have been recommended by others, point her in the direction of them.
Babysit if you can: This all depends on the rules of your local lockdown, but if you can help out with childcare because you have formed a supportive bubble, offer to take their toddler for a few hours while they get some work done, some jobs around the house or just to have a well needed break.
Parenting expert, Lucy Shrimpton, The Sleep Nanny(R) (www.sleepnanny.co.uk) says: “Give them a night off by getting them a gift of a food voucher for something like Cook. Or send them a care package full of their favourite things that you know they love. It’ll come as a wonderful surprise.”
“Try to talk to them in private, away from their toddler and partner so they can really open up. If there is a specific issue they might be have problems with, like feeding or sleep do some research for them and make suggestions. And if it’s really bad you could look into getting a professional sleep nanny or feedings expert to help them.”
“While you can’t babysit this month, once you’re allowed, offer your services so they can take some quality time with their partner. Having a night off from parenting will make a whole world of difference and they will really appreciate it - and might repay the favour one day!”
To all the mums of toddlers out there- I saute you!
MORE: Seven nice things you can do for the new parents in your life
Today is National Do Something Nice Day, a day to extend a bit of kindness to those you know and those you don’t. We wanted to focus specifically on new parents today, as the first few weeks and months of being a parent are hard work. A little goes a long way when you have a newborn, here are just a few things you can do to make things easier for them…to read more click HERE
