cwilliams20ahs

[cwilliams20ahs]

Parenting Reflection

What shocked me about being a parent is the concept of actually having to care for someone else is a lot of work. It is not like you can just send your young kid away and expect them to figure it out on their own. Being a good dedicated parent is a selfless act that I have come to respect. I did not realize how much work it was, but learning about how young children develop has really opened my eyes, and I feel like I understand them better. In the past two weeks I have understood how little kids are egocentric, which means they have a hard time understanding another person's point of view and I have also learned that they also lack the principle of conservation- the principle that quantity remains the same despite change of shape. I am going to utilize this new knowledge so I can better understand children and not get frustrated with them. Having this ‘flour baby’ was essentially like raising my own kid only because I needed to remember to feed it and sometimes I found times where I actually was holding it like a baby naturally. However, it was different because it couldn't make sounds or move around like a little kid. I think the biggest challenges of being a teen parent is having to deal with outside judgement of other people and having to balance school and raising a kid in a good environment. But overall, I had a great time, and can not wait to see what life brings!

[cwilliams20ahs]

Preschool Years (ages 3-4)

Layla is so energetic and such a social child! She can do so many new things that she couldn't do as a toddler. She can kick, throw, and catch a ball, she is super fast, and loves to ride her new Disney Princess tricycle. She can now say her name and age, answer and ask questions. Our relationship is great! However I have had to make some decisions regarding discipline. One time Layla threw a tantrum because she did not want to eat her veggies. She threw her plate off of her high chair and started kicking her feet. I was so shocked she rarely reacts this way. I took her out of her high chair and gave her a very stern, but loving talk. I told her that it is not okay to throw things and scream when you don't get your way. I also told her that veggies are yummy and good for her tummy. She calmed down and she helped me clean it up. I have learned to stay calm in those types of situations and I make sure to get to Layla’s eye level and listen carefully and reiterate my rules. I provide choices or else it is time out. So in this case me and Layla were able to come to the conclusion that she helps me make some vegetables and we eat them together. We had a great time cooking!

https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/discipline/tips/how-to-put-an-end-to-difficult-behavior/

[cwilliams20ahs]

Layla loves cheese sandwiches!!

[cwilliams20ahs]

Should I tell Layla she is adopted? Additional research...

Now that Layla is three, me and my husband are wondering if we should tell her she is adopted or not. So I consulted the adoption agency and they told me this: It is never too early to start using the word “adoption,” whether it is during a bottle feeding or at bath time. Layla will likely not grasp what I am saying at first, but this practice can help me gain more comfort with these words over time. Adoption is something that I should continually discuss, intermittently, throughout Layla’s life. Getting comfortable with the “talk” is one that will greatly benefit both me and Layla long-term. Early discussions can help build self-esteem and provide a sense of safety and security for Layla. Reading Layla books about adoption for children provides warm and loving ways to engage Layla. Reading with her is such an intimate and safe way to share information of her being adopted.

https://adoptionswithlove.org/adoptive-parents/when-to-tell-a-child-they-are-adopted

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-tell-your-child-she-is-adopted

[cwilliams20ahs]

Toddler Years (ages 1-2)

Layla has been walking now. It is amazing! Now that she is two she is starting to show more defiant behavior (doing what she has been told not to), she is starting to play and interact with other toddlers, She says sentences with 2 to 4 words, and is beginning to sort her basic shapes and colors. I had to child proof my home because Layla can now get into things that could be potentially dangerous, like tide pods near the washer machine. I have had to put them high on a shelf in a ziplock bag. I made this decision so my little toddler can stay safe. She rarely watches TV. I let her play with her toys and I love reading to her instead. Now that Layla is two, she can learn some skills from educational TV. So I only show her shows that teach kids literacy, math, science, problem-solving, and prosocial behavior. However, I make sure Layla does not watch too much TV. Watching TV steals time away from Layla’s exploring, interacting, playing with me and others, and actively learning by manipulating things around her. These are activities that help Layla develop the skills she needs to grow intellectually, socially and emotionally.

Pro: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Why-to-Avoid-TV-Before-Age-2.aspx

Con: https://www.raisesmartkid.com/pre-natal-to-1-year-old/2-articles/22-the-effects-of-tv

[cwilliams20ahs]

Breakfast time!! YUMMY

[cwilliams20ahs]

Swaddled for nap time :)

[cwilliams20ahs]

Layla is growing up so fast! It is so exciting to see her achieve all of her firsts! She can get too sitting position without assistance, crawl forward on her belly by pulling with her arms and pushing with her legs, she can get from sitting to crawling, and she can pull herself up to stand now! Some major parenting decisions I have had to make this first year is deciding what to feed baby Layla. I decided to feed her a lot of sliced fruit because I want her to grow really healthy and strong! She loves sliced strawberries with blue-berry muffins. If I was in charge of a parenting scenario with infants I would choose the subject of infant sleep positions

To reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths, including accidental suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), because sleeping babies can encounter a situation challenging their well-being, they may fail to wake up to remove themselves from danger. SDS can happen when an infant who sleeps on their stomach gets less oxygen or gets rid of carbon dioxide less because they are “rebreathing” the air from a small pocket of bedding pulled up around the nose. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep on their backs, positioned on a firm, empty surface. Although many people believe in getting their child a sleeping pillow, the FDA recommends that the surface babies sleep on should not contain soft objects, toys, pillows, or loose bedding.

What I feed baby Layla:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Sample-One-Day-Menu-for-a-One-Year-Old.aspx

Sleep Positions:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/Sleep-Position-Why-Back-is-Best.aspx

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/do-not-use-infant-sleep-positioners-due-risk-suffocation

[cwilliams20ahs]

[cwilliams20ahs]

BLOG POST #1 due Fri., 1/31

Pregnancy and Prenatal Development

Hello my name is Chontelle Williams and I had a sweet baby girl named Layla. This was the name given to her when I adopted her from the adoption agency. The beauty of that name represents the night, which fits her perfectly because she sleeps so soundly. Although I was not there during the pregnancy I know that during the second trimester, which is about 14 weeks to 27 weeks Layla reached many milestones. Such as her skin was covered in lanugo which is light fuzz that kept her warm. She developed senses so she started to smell, see and hear, and opened her eyes. Her heart no longer beated spontaneously, but her brain regulated her heartbeat. I hope the biological mother avoided teratogens which is a substance that interferes with the normal development of a fetus, such as alcohol or illegal drugs. I will be co-parenting with my husband. Many adoptive parents may have difficulty attaching to their adoptive child and some parents may question their parenting capabilities. However, I have a feeling that I will connect very well with Layla.

https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/impactparent.pdf#page=4&view=Impact%20of%20parenting