Friday, June 2, 2023

Are You Both Excited for Your Second Pregnancy?

 


Are You Both Excited about Your Second Pregnancy?

 

 

Congratulations!

 

If you're trying for a second child, you've clicked on the right blog post link. It demonstrates that you are already a messy mother, which is so lovely. It is not easy to think about the second pregnancy when you already have a toddler around.

 

The time when a mixed family's parenting style was entirely different is long gone. The modern parenting approach, however, is distinct from the conventional parenting approach. Parents are more focused on the academic, personal, and professional development of their children. They focus on their children's development and make them prepare for the situation appropriately.

 

Although it can be difficult to plan for a second child, the same amount of mental effort is required. If you and your husband decide to plan, it is a joint decision. Whether you want to plan it or not is something you and your husband must decide together. Before attempting a second pregnancy, you should think about a few factors.



 



1.   Discuss with your partner

2.   Reflect on your first pregnancy

3.   The age gap between the first and the second child (Sibling age gap)

4.   Evaluate your readiness

5.   Prioritize your health 

6.   Be Financially prepared

7.   The choice is yours

 

The most crucial of the aforementioned is "You need to be mentally prepared for this" more than anything else. Everything will fall into place if you decide to have another child, if you make that decision.  Undoubtedly, we have a lot of essential roles to play in our lives nowadays, but being a mother comes first.

 

 

11.  Discuss with your partner

 

Yes! Your husband is the first person you should talk to and learn about his expectations before you discuss them with anybody else. There should be understanding on both sides. You two need to sit aside some time to talk about your second pregnancy and how life will alter once more after it. Whether or not you want to plan for this child now. Is your husband prepared to take on this new role? Does he need more time to consider this?



2.            Reflect on your first pregnancy

 

As first-time expecting couple, we are always learning new things. We can all recall how things were and what to expect. You are fully aware of how your body responds to various situations. Everyone's pregnancy journey is diverse and includes a variety of unique experiences. Just give your first pregnancy some time to take effect. Additionally, you can respond to a few queries in your journal, such as "What went wrong with your first pregnancy?" 

What succeeded? What further preparations do you need to make at this time to ensure a healthy pregnancy? How did your relationship alter after having your first child, and how can you better sustain it with the second? How to handle a second pregnancy in addition.



3.           The age gap difference between the first and the second child (Sibling age gap)

 

According to the study, there should be an ideal spacing of 18 to 24 months between two siblings. However, it's generally good to have a gap of at least 3 years between the two children. Since the mother has already fully recovered by this point, the first child has also grown a bit independent and feels confident in his or her environment. The need for good health outweighs taking on unnecessary obligations.

 

4.           Evaluate your readiness

 

This is a further crucial factor to consider when determining whether you are prepared to plan a second pregnancy or not. The best course of action is to obtain the results of the blood tests and avoid nutritional and vitamin deficiencies. You may need to examine your own readiness—both physically and mentally—for this. even though your health comes first. If all goes according to plan, you should keep working on the second child.

 

5.           Prioritize your health 

 

Prioritize your health as we've covered in the above paragraphs. Well-being is riches. Start consuming a healthy, high-fiber diet that includes more vitamin C and plant-based foods. Drink 3 liters of water daily and engage in any physical exercise you enjoy, such as walking, running, dancing, Zumba, etc. You will benefit from maintaining your fitness both physically and emotionally. In my first book, The Essence ofMotherhood, I mentioned how to take care of your health in chapter no. 5.

 

6.  Be Financially prepared

 

Yes! This is yet another important issue to think about before planning your second pregnancy. You should discuss it with your spouse while sitting down at the table. Everything in today's world, including the cost of children's education, clothing, food, and other expenses, is so busy.

 

 

7.           The choice is “yours”

 

Once more, the newborn will demand a lot of your time, effort, and yes, attention. Are you prepared for another lovely stage of life since "all you will have to do is everything again"? Are you prepared for the subsequent few nights of insomnia?

You can always ask your parents and other people for assistance, but you can't rely on them to raise your children. So, whether or not to have a second child is entirely up to you.

 

By posing important questions, I'm not trying to scare you but rather get you ready for them. Please disregard advice from others that you should prepare for a second child if you have a girl or the opposite if you have a boy. This will also be covered in a subsequent blog post. Come on, set aside some time to relax and find a peaceful spot. Before you start making plans for the second pregnancy, list all the advantages and disadvantages. The biggest choice you and your husband will ever make is this.

 

 

Affirmations for planning for the Second pregnancy:

1.     I am ready and excited to embark on the journey of planning for my second pregnancy.

2.     I trust in the timing and natural process of conception for our family.

3.     My partner and I are I am grateful for the opportunity to create a sibling bond between my children, fostering love and connection within our family.

4.     I am patient and trust that everything is unfolding perfectly in divine timing.

5.     I am grateful for the opportunity to create a sibling bond between my children, fostering love and connection within our family.




I would love to hear your thoughts on the same in the comment section below. 

You can check out my AMAZON STOREFRONT link and Facebook and Instagram page. 

 What are your suggestions for planning for the second pregnancy?

Also, check out my last blog post :5 Ways a Husband  Can Support His Wife During Her Periods






Saturday, May 20, 2023

Mothers are not only mothers, but also our family's financial genius

 

Mothers are not only mothers, but also our Family's Financial Genius


A woman finds her best self after becoming a mother, and it is at this point that she also controls the finances of her home, her family's income, and other expenses. She effectively oversees her family's finances, provides for everyone's requirements, and always maintains a surplus.


Mothers are really responsible individuals. They undoubtedly have a significant impact on a child's upbringing. They are essential in shaping a child's mentality. The mother is responsible for a child's entire future.





For more details, you can visit the HSBC websiteAlso, readers are requested to fill in this form to help you understand better and have your queries answered by the brand.







Friday, May 19, 2023

5 Ways a Husband Can Support His Wife During Her Periods

 5 Ways a Husband  Can Support His Wife During Her Periods



 

“Our society already considers periods as a taboo, making every girl feel more irritated! Dear men, let’s not add to that irritation because certainly that’s going to backfire and you blaming it on us PMS-ing is not the way to calm us down.” - Reference from bollywoodshaddis.com.

 

 

The time has gone when women used to be shy talking about periods. Now, this has become a common topic. Even men are becoming more aware of it now and helping their girlfriends and wife during their periods. A Period is the part of the menstrual cycle when a woman bleeds from her vagina for a few days. And, they’re going through a lot of hormonal changes like stress, cramps, abdominal pain, mood swings, low energy, and whatnot?

 

You should know how to make her feel better and that will help you in improving your relationships. This way, you both will understand each other’s needs, too.

Here’re a few ways by which you can support her during her menstruation days.



1.    Extra Affection

 

As I have previously mentioned, a lot of hormonal changes are happening. She needs your extra affection and cares apart from her daily routine. You may need to identify what exactly she is looking for. When a woman is in pain, she won’t say it directly but wants you just to be with her. These comfort her somehow. She deserves to be pampered, especially during those days of every month.



2.             Spend Quality time with her

 

She doesn't need any expensive gifts or special treats, but she needs your time and attention. There is no special gift than giving your precious time to your spouse. You’re the only one with whom she can talk endlessly. She can argue, fight, cry, or do anything. You can give her a little massage on her feet, back, or head, depending on whatever she enjoyed the most.

For e.g. If you both are sitting in a room but busy on the phone all the time. It doesn’t mean that you both have spent quality time together.

Quality time includes comfort, communication, and giving attention to each other.




3.             Watch a movie/Read a book/Listen to some Music

 

This is another great relaxation technique to make her feel comfortable. Trying watching a movie, reading a book, or listening to some music of her choice. This will make her relaxed, both physically and mentally. Meanwhile, you can do cuddling, giving hugs, and giving a kiss on the cheek can make her day.



4.             Comfort her

 

There are infinite things your partner does for you every single day. Now, it’s your time to pamper her a little more. Don’t forget to offer her tea/coffee or a glass of water. She might love it or not, but she’ll appreciate the efforts you have put in. You can also provide her with medicines, a hot-water bag for the pain, or anything that she is craving, like sweets, chocolates, etc.



5.             Stay Primed

 

The period comes every month. You may need to prepare yourself a little in advance for this. Just provide the things she needs. Help her out in managing household chores, taking care of kids, and buying groceries. You can download a few love messages like “I Love you”, “I Understand” “All is well” or any memorable pics, to share with her to lighten up her mood. You may need to identify what your partner loves.

 

Try helping your partner as much as you can, especially during the first two days. She’ll love you even more. It’s just a matter of a few days, so this is the chance to give your best to your partner in need. Make her feel special, make her smile, and do a little dance together. She will remember your gestures and feel blessed to have you as her soulmate. Hope these tricks will work great for your relationship.

 

Remember, every person and every menstrual cycle is different, so it's essential to communicate openly with your wife about her specific needs and preferences during this time. By being understanding, supportive, and actively engaged, you can help create a nurturing environment that helps your wife feel cared for and loved during her periods.

 

For husbands, what do you do to make your partner feel special during her periods?

 

For women who are reading this blog, how do you want your partner to make you feel special? Please share in the comment box below.



How Parents Can Encourage Their Kids to Speak Up


How Parents Can Encourage Their Kids to Speak Up




From the moment kids start speaking, we also teach them how to be quiet. Kids are told to use quiet voices just about everywhere they go (stores, classes, and waiting rooms, to name a few). When children also learn how to express themselves with confidence and assert their needs and ideas, they experience increased self-esteem, positive peer relationships, and better school performance. The ability to speak up helps kids manage their emotions, and conflicts in a healthy way.

 

Why is it important for your child to speak?


You are out for a walk in a park. Your neighbor comes and asks the child, “Why did you miss the school today?  The child is a little hesitant to answer. Seeing this, without wasting a moment, you answer for him. Have you ever thought about what damage this cost? Whenever you speak up for him you make him meek and dependent.

Now I have a question for such parents – Why don’t you allow your child to speak for himself?

Q. Do you think you are doing any good for your child?

Q. Do you know by not allowing the child to use his voice you are hurting his self-esteem?

If you don’t step in, you give your child a chance to think about what to say and how to say it. If you answer for your child that is disrespecting your child and he will feel you don’t believe in him. A child has a right to express his thoughts and opinions. He is capable enough to answer such questions.

We all know today’s child is tomorrow’s leader. If you really want him to contribute to society when he grows up, allow him to learn how to properly communicate with other people.

Suppose someone asks him his name and the child doesn’t respond, a wise parent would say, “Come on dear, he is asking you a question. Please do reply.” A wise parent will never reply to the child because he understands that as parents it is our job to teach our children how to engage with others. By not giving them a chance to speak you are limiting your child’s mental growth and lowering his self-confidence.

Let your child answer and decide simple things for himself, like:

  • ·      Ordering food for himself at a restaurant
  • ·      In a hotel he wants to go to the washroom, let him ask the waiter and find one for himself
  • ·      He was not able to do the homework yesterday for some reason. He should have the courage to go and tell the teacher
  • ·      Saying “No” for certain things

You are not supposed to speak for your child all the time. Sometimes he might be too shy or nervous or if you want to protect your child, you may have to reply for your child. Fine but don’t allow this to happen frequently. Let them speak up. By communicating with others, they will be prepared for the times when you won’t be by their side.

Take out time each day to have thoughtful conversations with your child. It can be at the dinner table or when you are doing something in the kitchen – ask him his opinion. Show some curiosity about his thoughts and opinions, and encourage him by saying – “Really amazing or very interesting.” Or “I am highly impressed. Tell me something more about it.”

Always keep in mind that as a parent your job is to prepare your child to live without you in the future. Show your faith in his abilities and encourage him to come out of his comfort zone. Let him build his independence and be capable of living up to his full potential.

Let’s not shush them, let’s teach them to use their voice effectively.

 

Points to remember:

  • §  Understand the reason behind the shyness of your child
  • §  Developing the ability to speak up takes time and practice
  • §  Encourage the child to speak
  • §  Teach them the benefits of self-advocacy
  • §  Encourage your child to add to a conversation
  • §  Give them the right words and confidence to speak
this is the guest post by Seema Dhall , author of the book "Walking with your Child". Thanks for such a useful post for all the parents. Looking forward to reading more blog posts written by her.


Wednesday, February 15, 2023

WRONG BY SHILPA SURAJ




Book: WRONG

Publisher: Rupa Publications

Author: Shilpa Suraj

Genre: Fiction-Romance

Pages: 204


Rating: 4*/5

Reading Time for the blog: 3 minutes

Order your copy here:

Paperback 

BOOK REVIEW:

The three main protagonists are Arnav, Ananya, and Arvin, full of flaws and admirable traits.

Ananya and Arvin Saxena have been good friends for a long time, as their families knew each other. After a brief period of courtship, when Arvin proposed marriage, Ananya was elated. But on the night of her Sangeet ceremony, she confessed to Arvin that she loves someone she met recently and would like to call off the marriage. A mishap leaves Arvin broken physically and mentally. Ananya lives with the guilt that she is the reason for Arvin’s misery.


I’ve enjoyed reading romance books for a long time. I appreciated how the author created suspense. And how the two brothers kept quiet and shared the unspoken bond of love between them, dormant amongst ego trips and misunderstandings. There was a lot of pressure on Ananya, who had to choose between her responsibilities and love. But Ananya has played a powerful role here. Ananya is one of those leading ladies who is almost perfect except for one wrong step she took. Still, I honestly could not relate to most decisions she made throughout the story – her attempt to right everyone, even if that meant sorrow for herself.


On the surface, Wrong sounds like the story of a woman who loved one brother and ended up marrying the other. Only as the story progresses is the complex maze of emotions and relationships behind the characters revealed to the reader.

While the reader may expect a scandal, passionate romance, and an extramarital affair, the story instead surprised me with family drama and sibling love. The author handles dysfunctional and toxic family traits with an equal sensibility as she handles the unflinching bond between the Saxena brothers.


Loved the book. It is not a typical love story, nor is it a story of loving one brother and marrying the other, it is a story that has so many emotions that sometimes one emotion just overshadows the other. There is friendship, professionalism, sibling love, family politics, and much more.

The narrative style is different.


The story is intriguing and kept me hooked till the last. If you’re one who loves to read about unique characters, the roles, and of course, if you love reading about romance, then this is the perfect pick for you. The author Shilpa Suraj has done great work and is looking forward to reading more books from her in the future.


It's powered by Blogchatter book review program


Check out another book DEV’S LETTERS TO HIS TEACHERS - A kid with an attitude of gratitude DEV’S LETTERS TO HISTEACHERS - A kid with an attitude of gratitude


You can check out Amazon Storefront and Instagram and Facebook here.



 

Monday, January 16, 2023

NO SHADOW WITHOUT LIGHT BY LUKE GRACIAS




Book: NO SHADOW WITHOUT LIGHT

Publisher: The Write Place

Author: Luke Gracias

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 368

Rating: 4*/5

Reading Time for the blog: 3 minutes

Order your copy here:

Paperback 

BOOK REVIEW:

The book is a work of historical fiction. It is the second book in the series as much as I could relate to the storylines. Not being read the first one truly makes a void that the author has tried to fill by writing a short version of the first book in this one.

 

A treasure hunt for the twelve missing pages containing the devil’s prayer starts for the elimination of the population. Characters in the story are Jess, Luca, Siobhan, and the red monks. The story starts pretty slow, but when it picks up; the speed made it interesting for me. A lot of twist and turns awaits in the path for Siobhan and Lucas.

 

Siobhan and Jess, both sisters of the devil's offspring, try to get their hands on the missing treasure, but one is the guiding light fighting for humanity and one is giving her all for the destruction of humanity. The picture in between makes the reading refreshing and interesting.

Lucas, a police officer, finds his friend in a bizarre situation where his legs and hands are seized. something is written on his body with a language long forgotten. He tries to find answers to all these while crossing the path with Siobhan. What will happen now? Is love about to bloom in both of their destiny? Will they ever find the missing pages? Who will find it first less or Siobhan?

Too many questions with a lot of twists and turns to keep the readers engaged. Language is lucid and simple. Every detailed explanation of the historical relics blew my mind away.

A few of the quotes I liked are " social media has taught us that people will believe what they want to believe "

Meaning, social media is easy to access to viral anything in our brain, as always it has both positive and negative sides of society but mostly it's used for the negative sides, and blindly following social media most of the time leads to miscommunication and crimes.

Social media is like a virus nowadays. People find facts to justify their narrative, which might not even be true. The author has talked about a lot of things in the author's note, which most of the readers skip, but we should read this one. Topics like - carbon dioxide, fossils, social media, hope, Noah's ark, mother earth, population, and deforestation should talk about openly and positively, and we should take steps in the direction to make it better. Survival of the fetus is the best example which suits the story too. Forests are the lungs of the earth - deforestation because of urbanization is the worst as they are home to a lot of endangered species- species that are likely to become extinct soon either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction, Because of overpopulation other species in our planet is going in danger which should be an alert sign to all of us.

 

"Protect the planet you are born on "- I agree with this completely as mother earth gives us so many things to count - water shelter, food, fuel, etc. It's our job to protect these for our and our future generations. Because of deforestation, the level of oxygen is going low, co2 rises to make a hole in the ozone layer.

There are many endangered species like - the giant panda, Amur leopard, tiger, Geer lions, Javan rhinoceros, koala, etc. fossils - footprints/ imprints found of the animals before us in the ground's depth.

As the title suggests - there is no shadow without light, which I find quite fitting to the story as Siobhan is the light and her sister Jess is the darkness.

Kindly let me know what are you currently reading now?

Check out another book DEV’S LETTERS TO HIS TEACHERS - A kid with an attitude of gratitude DEV’S LETTERS TO HISTEACHERS - A kid with an attitude of gratitude

You can check out Amazon Storefront and Instagram and Facebook here.

Sunday, January 1, 2023

5 Tips for a Fresh Start in the New Year 2023

Image Courtsey: Pixabay.com

 


5 Tips for a Fresh Start in the New Year 2023

 

Undoubtedly, we all go through difficulties in life. But always remember that we have one life to live and we should try to live in the best way possible. Covid-19 times taught us a lot of things unexpectedly, which shows that life is unpredictable. We can only try our best way possible to live happily and healthily.

 

For me, the first half year was exciting as my book “The Essence of Motherhood” got published in January, received a sympathetic response, and got featured in online newspapers, etc. But the second half year went in more of self-realization and in trying to conceive a second child. So, I had a lot of visits to the doctor and tried to follow a fitness routine, etc. Meanwhile, I also realized that I am grateful for so many people in my life who supported me all the time. There’s always something around that we’re grateful but in the hustle and bustle of life, we rarely notice that.

 

Here’re a few tips I would like to share with you on “How can you start afresh the new year 2023” positively.

 

5 Tips for a Fresh Start in the New Year 2023




1.   Be Grateful

 

Gratefulness is something that should come from within. Believe me, we all have something to be grateful for. We just need to learn to appreciate our daily life. Everyone has a story and a past to talk about, but it depends ever on the day we react to it. So, let’s try ‘being grateful’ every day for everything by writing or reading gratitude affirmations.

For eg.

  •  I am grateful for my family, friends, and relatives.
  • I am grateful to God
  • I am grateful for this new day.
  • I am grateful for another chance to live my life.




2.    Practice Mindfulness

 

Mindfulness is paying attention to a particular thing with no judgment. It helps you to stay focused and concentrate only on the moment. Be mindful while you’re eating and pay full attention to the food, the texture, the taste, etc. Same as if you’re playing with the kid. Try giving full attention to the kid etc. same goes for the work. Don’t merge two things together.,




3.  Set S.M.A.R.T Goals

 

Having a goal plays a crucial role in personal and professional development. 

 

S: Specific

M: Measurable

A: Attainable

R: Realistic

T: Time-bound

 

It simply means whether your goal is personal or professional or both. We should set it with real deadlines, trackable, quite possible, and real. You can start by setting a small goal based on the day, quarterly, or yearly, etc. Let’s do this in the upcoming new year 2023.




4.   Plan and Schedule

 

As mentioned in the above points, you should have a goal. After that, planning is equally important in how you are going to lead it.

Without planning and proper scheduling, you won’t be able to achieve your target. Though you can try out some planners here and check what’s working the best for you. Remember, it’s about you and your life.




5. Move On…!

One thing we should learn from the clock is that “it keeps moving on”. Whether it’s the morning, the afternoon, the night, etc. it doesn’t stop for anyone. Then why do we?

Let’s take a pause for some time from everything and relax, but then let’s start afresh with new hopes, new plans, and fresh memories.

 

So, today is the first day of the year 2023. Allow yourself to welcome the new year with new hopes and new opportunities.

 

Here’re a few positive affirmations to welcome the new year.



1.    I am worthy of a successful year ahead.

2.    I am entering the near year with an open heart and an open mind.

3.    I am healthy and full of energy.

4.    I am making myself a priority this year.

5.    I promise to be healthier, happier, and wiser.

 

I would like to know what are your affirmations for the new year. In what ways are you trying to keep yourself positive? Kindly comment in the box below… This blog post is part of the Let's Say Hello 2023 Blogging Activity hosted by Swarnali Nath 


Check out my other blog