If you’re over 60 and a mother

It must be so hard now with social media and the internet.

Talk, read, listen, play.

I'm going to repeat pp:
Read to them every night. Actively talk and listen to them every day. A bit of mess doesn't matter.
You'll make mistakes, don't be too hard on yourself.
Pick your battles.

Tell them you love them.

Put some priority to your relationship with your partner, one day your children will leave and you don’t want to feel that the only thing you have in common with them is your children.
Don't fret over little things, your children won’t remember if the house was tidy but they will remember you read to and played with them.
Be generous with your love, tell your children how much you love them and how proud you are of them.
Never, never use your children to hurt others but always move from what is in their best interests.
You are not their friend, remember that.
Treasure every moment, they grow up so fast.

Talk to your children. It's how they learn to talk.

If you take them out for a meal- interact with them. Talk to them - play games, entertain them with colouring books and little toys.

If they are in the buggy- talk to them- point out stuff in the environment. Ducks, dogs , birds, trees etc.

Read to them from very young -point out pictures in the books- ask them to find things in the pictures. Take them to the library.

In conclusion- DO NOT USE A SCREEN AS A BABY SITTER , TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN AND GET OFF YOUR BLOODY PHONE!!!!

I would say play with your children, talk to them and spend as much quality time with them as you can. In years to come they will remember the good fun times you had but I guarantee they will not remember wether the house was a bit dusty or untidy.
Talking to my now adult children it’s not the expensive days out they remember but making dens under the table and picnics in the woods.

Make things fun. Laugh and play. Talk to them with respect. Pick your battles.

Don't think you need everything top of the range- second hand can be great -

Don't panic if your kids tend to go through foody fads

Comparison is the thief of joy- don't feel your children have to be doing this or that at identical stages to others.

Most of all dont make your partner (if you have one) and children your whole life- although appreciate it feels that way for a very long while. Your wants, needs, friends and careers matter too-

I’m 64 and my DC are late 20s

Put the phone away and talk to your baby

When they’re 2 and a bit you can toilet train them

Colouring in is great fun

Remember that whatever you are finding challenging about your child, it is just a phase and they will grow out of it, so try to chill!
When you are concerned you might not be producing enough milk and are thinking about topping your baby up with formula, top yourself up instead with a plate of sandwiches!
Don't feel you have to entertain your child all the time, boredom is good!
They can sit in a buggy without a device to entertain them. They need to watch the world go by, it helps them understand how our society works!

2 things -
'Compare and despair '
and
'Pick your battles '.

not everything needs to look and be perfect all the time- house, kids, what you’re wearing, eating, activities - it’s real life not instagram
if it’s a choice between playing or tidying make it playing every time
save looking at your phone for when the kids are asleep

Keep your foot in the workplace and get your career back on track when you can. Even if your husband/partner says all the right things, becoming long-term financially reliant on them chips away at your self-esteem and your status in the eyes of your family.

If I had to offer one piece of advice it would be: listen and really hear what they've got to say.

Depends on ages, but generally:

Put the phones/tablets away. Talk to and play with the DC instead. Or make them use their imagination and learn to entertain themselves and find things to do/games to play.

Don't be too hard on yourself. Parenting is hard sometimes so just do your best. And don't compare your DC's progress with what other parents say their DC could do at the same age. They're all different.

Don't google everything! I had my children in the late eighties and I'm so grateful that it wasn't around then. I'm a real worrier and having a great health visitor, a lovely group of fellow mums around me and my mum was what I needed to ask advice and share concerns.
Also recognise that children haven't got to be busy all the time. Downtime is just as important.
Finally be kind to yourself and not beat yourself up every time something doesn't go to plan. It's life!

I'm 54 and I'd say look after yourself and your own needs too. Listen to your kids, support them, let them be who they are, of course of course of course. But my children are 18 and 21 and I wish I had more to show for life than a very ordinary job and two kids who are always out.