Toddlers

1. I recently found TSG and started listening to the podcast. I’ve enjoyed the suggestions for fun family activities. I’d love advice on how to have fun as a family when the oldest child is only almost three. I struggle feeling like as a wife and mom I can either enjoy visiting with my husband to the frustration of my daughter or have fun with my daughter to the exclusion of my husband. I find this especially true when we are stuck inside.

2. On a related note, how do you give your children plenty of attention without making them think they have to be the center of attention all the time? I think having siblings will help (we now have a 2-month-old), but my oldest was so used to having my attention all day. I often feel guilty when I’m not giving her my full attention (doing housework, etc.), yet I also feel guilty when I play with her a lot for fear I’m raising her to be self-centered. I’m tired of the guilt and would love to have a philosophy around this to guide my thinking. Part of my problem I think is that my own mother gives my daughter almost 100% of her attention when she is with my family, and I see that and simultaneously regret that I can’t live up to that yet think that it’s a little over-the-top and ultimately somewhat spoiling to spend hours letting the toddler pick all the activities. (My own mother did not do this for me as a child if memory serves.)

Thanks for your wisdom!