When I first became a mom, some days felt like a breeze while others were just plain hard. I was a graceful mother at times and a mess at others. To help me balance the good and bad days, I started reading quotes about becoming a mother for the first time. I’ve compiled my favorite of these mom quotes below. I hope they inspire and help you, too!

Also, check How To Make Your Baby’s First Dental Visit Full Of Fun.

Quote #1

I absolutely love this quote! A mother’s love is forever, regardless of the kiddo’s age, and they live in your heart no matter where they are.

Quote #2

This quote by Suzanne Finnamore so perfectly describes what becoming a mother for the first time really feels like. From the feeling of your baby growing inside of you to the moment your child is born, it really is nothing short of magic (and magical).

Quote #3

And, somehow, falling in love more deeply than ever before.

Quote #4

It’s no secret that having a baby is hard work! Motherhood has taught me so much about life, my partner, and myself and the need for patience is definitely in my top 10 most important lessons. Remember to be patient with your baby, your partner, your loved ones, and yourself. Patience pays off!

Quote #5

It’s true. It’s deciding to love someone so much that you experience every one of their good and bad days as if they were your own. It really is like having your heart go walking around outside your body.

Quote #6

A good reminder for the days where you’re feeling overwhelmed by motherhood– it is definitely hard work!

Quote #7 This Is Probably My Favorite

This quote reminds me that it all balances out toward something wonderful. The long nights with no sleep and the applesauce splattered pants are worth it for the happy home, incredible love, and excitement for the future that having a baby brought me.

Quote #8

Nothing really prepared me for what it would be like to look in my baby’s eyes and see my own eyes looking back at me. There is so much of me in my childhood. He has my smile, my nose, the tiny birthmark behind my left knee. It is absolutely extraordinary.

Quote #9

Becoming a mother for the first time filled my heart with a new, powerful, incredible love.

Quote #10

Tell me about it! The changes to my body during pregnancy were hard, especially when I got too big to comfortably tie my shoes or get out of bed. But it is so so worth it!

Quote #11 Also A Favorite Of Mine

This quote makes me laugh every time! It’s a good reminder that we all think we have the only perfect child out there (and that we’re definitely wrong!).

Quote #12

I remember that feeling well — the whole world revolved around my crush. I felt every good thing and the bad thing they did so intensely. Take that feeling and let it take over your entire body forever — and that is a perfect description of motherhood!

Quote #13

That’s right, ladies! We are strong and powerful. We have the strength to grow, birth, and raise an entirely new person.

Quote #14

This quote by Amy Tan just makes me feel so powerful and proud.

Quote #15

We’ve definitely all felt like we don’t know the language, both during and after pregnancy. The good thing is that after your baby spends a few months in your arms, you’re practically an expert in their language!

Quote #16

Being pregnant for the first time was such an incredible experience for me. Just knowing that every day brought new growth or a new development– fingernails, a nervous system, tiny toes. I felt like I finally understood life.

Quote #17

I love this quote by George Bernard Shaw. A child breathes life back into the fire and makes life that much more exciting. Especially with babies, we may find ourselves experiencing life in a whole new way.

Quote #18 I Know I’ve Said This Before

There are so many scary unknowns throughout pregnancy and motherhood. The best thing you can do is be optimistic and do the best possible job for your child.

Quote #19

Being a mom is a round-the-clock job. It’s hard work, sometimes painful work, with no days off, no sick days, and no vacation days. Being a mom is a big responsibility and also a superpower. We devote our lives to our children, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Quote #20

It’s like uncovering a superpower you never realized you had.

Quote #21

A mother’s love is truly incredible.

Quote #22

I wrestled with this question a lot before deciding to become a mother for the first time. What if I do something wrong and mess everything up? What if I just don’t know what I’m doing? What if I fail? There’s a lot of pressure to be the perfect mother.

The truth is, there is no such thing. I’m going to do something wrong sometimes and there are many moments where I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. But I keep trying and I keep learning. What if I fly?

Quote #23

I grew so much during my pregnancy and I don’t just mean physically! Take the time to truly enjoy this joyful occassion, and to listen to your body and yourself.

Quote #24

I love this quote because it reminds me that I did something bold and brave, that my body and spirit are capable of great things. Excellent inspiration for both good days and bad!

Quote #25

Despite the poopy diapers and sleepless nights, being a mother is so much fun!

Quote #26 This One Here Really Makes Me Feel Like A Mom

I loved nothing more than feeling my baby kick or move around. It was like a tiny high-five of encouragement. Like my baby saying “way to go, mom!”

Quote #27

You’re creating life! Does it get any sweeter?

Quote #28

This is a great reminder of what we’re all working towards as mothers– raising good, kind humans who will go out into the world and spread the greatness. It’s a big and important job.

Quote #29

During childbirth, despite all the doctors, nurses, and loved ones in the room, it really is all about you, your body, and your child. It’s an incredible experience.

Quote #30

This quote speaks to me loud and clear! Regardless of what happens next, life has forever changed.

Quote #31

When you first give birth, emotions are riding high. Your body just did something powerful and, let’s face it, painful. But seeing that baby for the first time is nothing short of incredible.

Quote #32

Of course, I had to include Oprah! But seriously, being a mother is being a teacher. And it’s not just about teaching your child to dress themselves or count to ten. It’s about teaching them about right and wrong, good and bad. Teaching them to be good, stand up for others, and being kind to all living things.

Quote #33

While it was once all about me, that all changed when I became a mom. And I couldn’t be happier.

Quote #34

In fact, a mother labors for the rest of her life for her child. It’s not an easy task, but it’s an important one.

Quote #35 Yes This Is True

Every day, I see more of my mom in me. And every day, I see more of myself in my child. Never underestimate how powerful your influence is to your child!

Quote #36

Nothing else in my life has even come to close!

Quote #37

This quote by Ani DiFranco is a great reminder of how tremendously powerful you are during childbirth. You find the strength you didn’t know you had.

Quote #38

And the most rewarding thing.

Quote #39

This quote easily encompasses motherhood. I may always be tired, but I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.

Quote #40

A good reminder to be kind to yourself. You won’t be the perfect mother– you simply can’t be. But you can still be a good one!

Quote #41

Talk about confronting your fears. Birth turned every “I can’t” into an “I can and will”.

Quote #42 Always Trust Your Instinct

All the blogs, parenting books, and advice in the world can’t prepare you for every parenting situation that’s going to come your way. Sometimes it’s about trusting your instincts.

Quote #43

Good advice and a good laugh– that’s all I ever want in a mom quote! You can have the most concrete birth plan out there but childbirth is mysterious and wonderful and just doesn’t always stick to the plan.

Quote #44

Say goodbye to sleep, especially with a newborn in the house! Some advice for new moms: sleep when the baby sleeps. I know it’s cliche, but trust me on this one!

Quote #45

Life forever changes when you first become a mom. That child has your heart and you have theirs for the rest of your lives.

Quote #46

It is definitely number one above all else, especially when I see my child learn something new or do something kind. My heart swells with pride in ways I hadn’t experienced before becoming a mom.

Quote #47

There are VERY hard days in motherhood. Sleepless nights, colds and stomach bugs, diaper accidents. But when they’re asleep so peacefully in their cribs or in your arms, all of the hard things just melt away.

Quote #48

Amen!

Quote #49

It is a strength that is unlike any other.

Quote #50

Becoming a mother is an incredible gift and is filled with new and exciting possibilities.

Quote #51

Pregnancy is hard. Your body goes through so many changes, some pleasant, some not. And it results in something you’ve been anxiously awaiting for nine months– the birth of your baby.

Everyone tells you that time goes by so fast when your baby is born, and it’s true. Take the time to enjoy and cherish pregnancy. It is truly a miracle.

Quote #52 Thank You Benjamin Franklin

You are at your most beautiful when you’re pregnant, even when you don’t feel like it. Enjoy the pregnancy glow– it’s real!

Quote #53

Hey, you’re carrying a life. What better excuse to eat whenever you want!

Quote #54

This quote makes me feel powerful, centered, and so in tune with myself. It’s a great reminder that we are powerful on our own, and especially powerful when we work together and support each other as women and as moms.

Quote #55

I know I’ve said it before but it’s worth repeating: motherhood is hard. Take every challenge as an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to do better next time. Forgive yourself and move forward. Allow yourself to become the best mother you can be.

Quote #56

Becoming a mother for the first time comes with many sacrifices, from our bodies to our careers. Choosing to concentrate not on ourselves but on making sure our babies grow healthy, stay safe, and are happy is worth the sacrifice.

Quote #57

You just gave birth to a baby! Your body brought life into this world! That is something worth celebrating.

Quote #58

Wear them like a badge of honor! Being pregnant is a festive ocassion and one that we are lucky to get to experience.

Quote #59

“Rewarding” doesn’t quite begin to cover it, but it’s as close as we can get. Carrying a baby is an indescribable feeling and it culminates in a sweet, wiggly, and adorable new little life!

Quote #60

I saved my favorite quote for last. There is one person in this world that will always love you unconditionally: your child.

Thank you for taking the time to read our favorite inspirational quotes. We are a locally owned children’s dentist in St. Johns, FL. Who provide many dental services for children.

The post 60 Inspirational Quotes For New Moms first appeared on St. Johns Pediatric Dentistry.

We also just published a new post about Inspirational Quotes About Becoming A Mother For The First Time you may want to check out.

The Parents Guide to Jacksonville/St. Augustine Area

Gear up with your best running shoes, yoga pants, hiking shorts or whatever suits your fancy as we bring you the hottest attractions for partners and parent-child tandems in Jacksonville, FL.

1. Family-Friendly Beaches

Atlantic Beach

Do you love being near or under water? If so, Jacksonville Florida is a water wonderland you don’t want to miss. Atlantic Ocean, St. John’s River, Intracoastal Waterway, lakes, and marshes are just some of the majestic sites to conquer in this area.

Take your partner, kids, or friends at a day of paddle-boarding, fishing, kayaking, canoeing or playing sports such as football, softball, T-ball, or basketball – the fun opportunities are endless. You can also go nature viewing or enjoy a picnic with the family at the beach picnic pavilions.

Price: Free

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park

This 150-mile public attraction boasts a feature-rich city park that lets you in a freshwater lake for fishing, access to the beach, biking routes, hiking trails, paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, and picnic area. The beach is nice and sandy, and proudly holds The Poles – a premier surfing location in Northeast Florida.

Apart from the beach and fun water activities, the park also houses the Dolphin Plaza, an ideal venue for various events. For summer, you can let your kids cool off at the Kids Splash Park. Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is open 7 days a week from 6am – 8pm Mondays through Fridays and 7am – 8pm on weekends.

Price: $

2. Fun Outdoor Activities

Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail

Located at the western part of downtown Jacksonville, Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail combines wildlife and rural setting to bring you a 15-mile of biking, hiking or walking adventure. The area encompasses a dense tree canopy, which provides natural habitat to animals including stilts, hawks, wood storks and a whole lot of other wildlife creatures.

Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail’s scenic and well-maintained path is ideal for bikers, hikers, or walkers that want to witness and mingle with wildlife as they go. Amenities include 5 bike racks, 31 benches, 8 picnic tables, 2 restrooms, and multiple paved, unpaved, and equestrian trails.

Price: Free

Riverwalk

Addressed as one of the most popular and well-used outdoor spots in Downtown Jacksonville, Riverwalk offers a great venue for residents and tourists to witness the beauty of the skyline and the river. The view is even more enchanting during the day, when buildings are glossy and shimmering water accentuates speed boats and sailboats. You and your walking buddies will seriously enjoy this 1.2 mile area, filled with thrilling shops, restaurants, marina, and museum.

Price: Free

Tree Hill Nature Center

Situated in Lone Star Road, Tree Hill Nature Center provides an ideal place for families to bond and take advantage of community environmental programs. Delight your kids and yourself to a 50-acre trail hike while reveling in the beauty of native animals, hummingbirds, butterflies, and verdant gardens. The center is open from Monday to Saturday 8 am to 4:30 pm. Once a member, you’ll get not only 1 year of free admission to the park, but also free access to Butterfly Festival, 5% discount on all programs and parties, 10% discount of park shop purchases, and exclusive education in the center’s Outdoor Laboratory.

Price: $$

North Florida Fishing Charters

If you’re an enthusiast or simply want to try out fishing for the first time, North Florida Fishing Charters is the perfect destination. Treat yourself at a day along the scenic waterways of Northeast Florida, where 3 of the most popular game fishes roam. These include flounder, redfish, and spotted seatrout. Guided by Captain Ron Schurr, your adventure will take place starting along the bays, tidal creeks, and spartina islands of the region.

Price: $$

Bent Creek Golf Course

Also known as the official Golf Club of Jacksonville, FL, Bent Creek Golf Course has and continues to endow fun and thrilling experience to the golfers of Northeast Florida. The property is currently supervised by Bill Casper Golf. They host affordable golf programs, including discounted rounds and infinite use of their well-lit practice facility.

Price: $$$$$

3. Indoor Thrills

K1 Speed

Kids and adults alike will surely enjoy the competitive fun as they race with go-karts along the Grand-Prix style tracks of K1 Speed. Compete with your team or other groups as you’re scored by a state-of-the-art timing system and live lap timers and secured by high-tech safety reflective barriers.

Price: $$

Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena

Concerts, basketball games, and circus performances, it’s easy to find an event according to your liking through Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Find your spot in this 15,000-seater multipurpose stadium by purchasing tickets at Ticketmaster.com, Downtown, or Walmart.

Price: $$$

Castillo de San Marcos

Situated in Matanzas Bay, St. Augustine, Florida, Castillo de San Marcos is hailed as the oldest masonry fort in the US. Originally built as military outpost by Spain, this place is now a designated by the US National Park as a National Monument attraction. Take your kids in a 20-acre land of adventure exploring casements and weapon exhibitions or watching actors’ play wearing period costumes.

Price: $

The Lightner Museum

Considered as one of the top attractions in St. Agustine, Florida, the museum is enclosed in a beautiful structure formerly known as Alcazar Hotel. Here, you’ll find stunning pieces of artwork and highly-valued antiques, which beautifully the history of the museum and Alcazar Hotel. In the first floor, a historic Victorian Village is located, along with a Science and Industry Room, and a music room with all sorts of instruments. By going up, you’ll see piles of amazing glass artwork such as Tiffany stained glass. Go up one level (third floor) to see their collection of paintings, sculptures, and furniture.

Price: Free – $

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

Found in the center of Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra Hall makes an ideal place for families or couples craving for live performances done in a 450-seater multi-purpose theater. The Ponte Vedra management is working to add 400 more seats to the venue so it can facilitate all sorts of events with ease. For event organizers, the concert hall is accepting reservations for multiple purposes including weddings, recitals, performances, visual arts presentations and other rental options.

Price: $$

4. Educational Facilities

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

This 93-acre walking safari is currently the highest-paid attraction in Northeast Florida. Picture you and your kids enjoying interaction with over 2,000 wildlife and 1,000 plant species. Or chilling while sipping your favorite cocktail at the African Savana. Or having a unique dining experience at South American Village and roaming through Land of the Tiger. Exciting, right? The zoo also lets you delve into Play Park and Splash Ground, Butterfly Hollow, and Stingray Bay or simply engage into a fun talk with the zookeepers. With Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, you and your kids are in for a fun-packed day ahead. Zoo is open every day starting 9am to 5pm.

Price: $$$

Museum of Science and History

For kids, the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) makes learning more stimulating by recreating science and history artifacts. By becoming a member, you’ll receive bunches of great privileges such as free exclusive access to museum, planetarium shows, member-only exhibit previews, and so much more. There are currently five MOSH membership levels namely Atom, Molecule, Compound, Compound+, and Alloy.

Price: $$$

Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

A well-maintained facility with neat animals and hands-on tourist guides, Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary lets you get up close and personal to creatures of the wild. Interact with lions, Siberian tigers, black leopards, bobcats, coatimundis, and foxes, among others in this wildlife sanctuary. 45-minute tours start at 6 pm, with intervals of 15 minutes per batch. To catch feeding time, it’s best to arrive at 7 pm in the sanctuary. Admission for kids is free.

Price: $$

The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens

Along Riverside Avenue is the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, which aspires to engage people through education, gardens, and art. The museum started in late 1961 with only sixty pieces of artifacts collection. Today, they encompass over six thousand of amazing artwork, showcasing art industry’s 8,000 years in history.  Admission is free for kids, while adults pay membership fees to get exclusive access to museum programs and facilities.

Price: $$$

Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve

This place allows you to enjoy the relaxing ambiance of waters as you go along its 46,000-acre area. As soon as you visit this national park, you want to be prepared to witness the beauty of thousands of acre woods, salt marsh, and water. You’ll also get to see Fort Caroline, St. John and Nassau Rivers, and Kingsley Plantation. The staff are friendly and accommodating, guiding your way through the museum, shop, and restrooms. Whether you want to walk, bike, or sail, the preserve offers limitless possibilities.

Price: Free

Museum of Southern History

Just along Herschel St. is Museum of Southern History, a facility that focuses of educating the youth through historical educational programs. Afterwards, children are given the chance to touch and fire old muskets in the courtyard of the museum. Not only for youths, adults are also encouraged to experience history, especially if they’re from organizations like retirement groups, church groups, and others. The museum also gives out educational materials that adults can use when they get back to their communities. To grab the exciting benefits of exhibits, educational programs, unlimited museum and library access, and other museum amenities, you’ll have to pay for annual membership.

Price: $$

Jacksonville Historical Center

If you’re into naval history and looking for fantastic place to learn it from, the Jacksonville Historical Center is your ultimate destination. Whether pictures, artifacts, or valuable information, the center (also known as Jacksonville Historical Society or JHS) has them all covered. However, it’s not just for navy enthusiasts, families will also have a great time discovering Jacksonville Maritime Heritage. Be a member of JHS and be part of a group of history buffs, be informed ahead of upcoming exhibits and events, get free access to Archival Repository, and loads more.

Price: $$$

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

In this kid-friendly alligator farm, science comes alive. The park currently provides various educational programs for the kids. For teachers, it’s a perfect opportunity to give students a real-world interaction with animals and nature. Even parents are given with educational resources, too!

Price: $$-$$$

5. Parks, Sightseeing & Attractions

Little Talbot Island State Park

People who’d like to get away from the crowd or simply want to sight-see once in a while has the perfect attraction with Little Talbot Island State Park. It’s currently one of the few untouched barrier islands of Northeast Florida. Treat your family or friends – indulge in natural beauty of the waters, desert-like dunes, undeveloped salt marshes, and maritime forests in this park for very minimal fees. Walk the shore, explore nature, or go camping, this island is highly ideal for individuals craving for things to do in Jacksonville, FL.

Price: $$

Friendship Fountain

Located at Friendship Park or otherwise known as St. John’s River Park, Friendship Fountain was once hailed as the largest and tallest fountain in the world, squirting 17,000 gallons of water per minute at height of 120 feet. At night, the spot is accentuated by lovely lights, which interchange into colorful hues to entertain and enchant viewers. Nearby the fountain is a bridge, river, and architecture, which are also majestic by themselves. We strongly recommend visiting this place, especially if you have kids.

The park accepts guests from 8 am up to 12 midnight.

Price: Free

Fort Caroline National Memorial

Are you looking to enjoy the wonders of nature? Or you want to get to know history a little bit more? Whether you’re here for education, leisure, or business purposes, Fort Caroline National Memorial Park is a great place to spend the day. Apart from relaxing natural wonders, the park offers curriculum materials and field trips to students of Florida. For teachers, they provide workshops as part of their Professional Development Program. Children and youth can experience being a junior ranger or simply have an awesome day of park fun. They also have bookstores inside, where purchases help support the preserve.

Price: Free

Adventure Landing

Fun and budget-friendly, this is how we dub the Adventure Landing Shipwreck Island Waterpark. This fun-filled placed offers a lot of features for the whole family, including arcade, miniature golf, Area 51 laser tag, Teddy Bear factory, Sweet Adventures Candy Shop, and the list goes on. For groups and companies, they offers hugely discounted prices, depending on the number of guests. Themed birthday party packages are also up for grabs.

Price: $$

St. Augustine Aquarium

Built just beside Courtyard Marriott, St. Augustine Aquarium is the coolest new attraction in Florida.  Embark on an exciting snorkeling adventure or interact with beautiful marine creatures like sharks, stingrays, or fishes. The aquarium park also offers annual passes, VIP experiences, and behind the scene tours.

Price: $-$$

6. Local Food Farms

Freshfields Farm

To keep everything simple – this is the main principle of Freshfields Farm. Presently, it is known by Florida shoppers as the ultimate destination for getting freshest produce and meats. These products are derived directly from local growers, farmers, and packing plantations. Freshfields swear that their goods are of finest quality, great freshness, and affordable price.

Price: $$

Jacksonville Farmers Market

To provide a unique shopping experience to customers of all ages – Jacksonville Farmers Market swears to maintain this promise. Visit the marketplace and treat yourself to an open air, festive ambiance while strolling the bays of each section. They also let you get a closer contact with famers as they proudly show off their manually picked produce and other selection of food items. Aside from fresh items, you’ll also find imported specialties and ethnic products in this market.

Price: Free

7. Kid Friendly Restaurants

Candy Apple Café and Cocktails

Sharing the same building with Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop, Candy Apple is a sweet café embellished with vibrant colors and festive decorations all over the place. The menu is packed with French-inspired dishes, along with kids’ menu that’s dedicated to make your little one’s mouth water. Crossing the street will take you to Hemming Park, a breezy spot with great play area for kids.

Price: $ – $$

M Shack

Perhaps, nothing is more kid-friendly than a classic piece of hamburger. And, M Shack delightfully serves children and adults alike in multiple locations in Jacksonville, including Atlantic Beach, St. Johns Town Center, and Riverside. The great thing about this burger joint is that they serve organic angus beef burgers, with patties ground fresh daily. Kids will also delight in their handspun milkshakes, which has thrilling variants such as Oreo Cheesecake and Bananas Foster.

Price: $

Maple Street Biscuit Company

Maple Street is Jacksonville’s most favorite breakfast stop for a good reason. Their menu is packed with kid-friendly goodies, including freshly-baked biscuits, fried chicken breast, collard greens, sausage gravy, and other delightful goodies for your little ones. To top it all off, the staff are super friendly. Instead of getting your name when ordering, they would ask, “What’s your favorite cartoon as a kid?”.

Price: $

8. Romantic Destinations 

One Ocean Resort & Spa

Get away from stress of bustling city life – take your partner for a day at One Ocean Resort & Spa. For couples looking for a luxurious treat, the resort encompasses multiple relaxation and luxury amenities to alleviate fatigue. You and your partner can stay, dine, or grab special services at the spa.

Price: $$$$$

Alhambra Theatre & Dining

If a show and dinner tickles your fancy, the Alhambra Dinner Theater is surely a place you would enjoy visiting. It is one of the oldest dinner theaters in Florida, and is currently offering a 3-course gourmet menu that alters with every set of shows. Some of the specialties to check out in this dining spot are prime rib and crab leg buffet.

Price: $$

Kayak Amelia

This destination is a perfect match for adventurous couples looking for romantic things to do in Jacksonville FL.  Aside from kayaking, you can also do stand-up paddle boarding, hike, surf, and go on guided tours. Discover Kayak Amelia’s tours on unspoiled creeks and marshes to enjoy a day of adventure you surely won’t forget.

Price: $$$$

San Marco Theatre

Want to break away from overcrowded cinemas? The answer is San Marco Theatre. Here, you can finally relax and stay intimate with your special one while enjoying the amazing architecture, show, and your choice of food and refreshments.

Price: $

Florida Theatre

Originally a prestigious movie palace, the Florida Theatre is one of the oldest historic theaters in Jacksonville, FL. Every year, it introduces over 200 cultural and entertainment events. Best of all, it is surrounded by great dining spots and famous watering holes. Surely, it’d be a date you and your beau won’t forget!

Price: $$

9. Top Golf Courses

Bent Creek Golf Course

Experience golf the way it should be. Go over Bent Creek Golf Course and have your shot at challenging rounds of gold, offered at different levels. At the moment, the club is offering affordable programs such as unlimited use of well-lit golf facility and discounted golf sessions.

Price: $$$

Blue Cypress Golf Club

Great fun never stops at Blue Cypress Golf Club, a friendly golf atmosphere located in University Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL. The great thing about this facility is that they allow you to focus on enjoyment and leave unnecessary distractions behind. Among the many activities they offer include senior leagues, 9-hole tournaments, Wednesday games, Thursday steak nights, Friday games, and random Saturday matches.

Price: $-$$

NAS Jacksonville Golf Course

Get ready for an awesome golf fun with NAS Golf Course and Shop. They offer championship golf matches with 27 holes that wind through beautiful tree-lined grounds. A well-lighted practice facility is available for use, complete with professional staff to assist you as you sway away that golf club.

URL: https://www.navymwrjacksonville.com/

Price: $$

The post 39 Must-Do Family Fun Activities in Jacksonville, FL first appeared on St. Johns Pediatric Dentistry.

If you teach your children solid values and give them unconditional love, they will probably turn out to be functioning, self-fulfilled adults with good styles of their own. But how you get them there? There are four classic parenting “styles”.

Here are four types of parenting styles.

These are based on a report by Diana Baumrind in the 1960s, and are still used by psychologists today. They are derived from the principle that all parenting involves two-dimensional styles:

In this guide, you will learn about the four classic parenting styles, their characteristics, and their reported strengths and their weaknesses.

You will also read parenting tips that apply to whatever style of parent you are, as well as advice on how to choose the right parenting style for you, your child and your family.   Spoiler alert: there is no one right answer for everybody and often parents choose a blend.

Contents:

Authoritarian Parenting Styles to Keep Things Under Control

The stereotypical image of a father is of an authoritarian one.  Think Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins. Or Baron von Trapp in Sound of Music.

An authoritarian parenting style is high on demandingness and low on responsiveness. It is characterized by:

Authoritarian parents have been labeled “cruel” and “heartless”.  They practice “tough love”. They follow the mantra that children should be seen and not heard. The parent is the boss, the parent is in charge.  The child’s job is to obey, to learn to follow rules.

At some point, children become adults.  Then all of a sudden, they have to learn how to discipline themselves and exercise self-control.  This can be challenging if all they’ve ever been taught is how to obey rules.

If a child’s only experience with rules is how to obey them or disobey them, as adults they will lack the ability to read nuances and deal with ambiguity. Children in this situation might lack initiative and self-esteem as adults, too.

Resources on authoritarian parenting:

Authoritative Parenting styles for a Highly Engaged Relationship

Psychologists say that this is the most effective parenting style. Authoritative parenting combines a strong hand  from the parent, providing direction and expectations, with empowerment of the child, making them responsible for their actions.

This is the style most frequently used by modern, middle-class Americans.

An authoritative parenting style is high on both demandingness and responsiveness. In other words, it is highly engaged parenting. Typical traits of authoritative parenting include:

The goal is to make them independent and self-reliant.  So the parents act as coaches, prodding them to make decisions and take responsibility within the limits they have set. Instead of punishment, authoritative parents rely on discipline.

Whereas authoritarian parent styles tend to order their children around and permissive parents tend to avoid conflict, authoritative parents try to engage their children in discussion. They can help foster a strong sense of identity and self-confidence dealing with new situations.

Even more than others, ADHD children need that involved and cooperative approach to help them learn the self-discipline that won’t come naturally. An Authoritative parenting style is by far the best for ADHD children.

Andrea Wada Davies, who herself was an ADHD child, reports on her one-week experiment with authoritative parenting styles:

But using a more strategic and structured style of parenting, and maybe more importantly, being consistent and strict about it, showed me how much more both my partner and I can help our kids achieve their personal goals and become independent, responsible people.

Resources on authoritative parenting:

A Permissive Parenting Style for Being Friends

A permissive parenting style is the easy-going approach, raising free-range children who do what they want how they want.  It’s when you show your children lots of love, and little discipline.  Low levels of discipline might simply be because there are few rules. Or it might be an avoidance of enforcing even those rules that  do exist.

Permissive parenting style is more high on responsiveness and low on demandingness.  Permissive parents tend to:

Permissive parenting is when the parent prefers to be a child’s friend than the child’s boss. This type of parenting style is more important than being respected by the child, is being liked.  As a result, discipline and disapproval are avoided.

This means that children are allowed to get away with bad behaviour.  Parents reason that what the child is doing isn’t all that bad, so it doesn’t need to be punished.  They also reason that a child is only a child once, and are loathe to take away play time and special activities with their parenting style.

The problem is that if children are not taught about limits and self-control on small things when they are young, it is much harder to learn them later on when the stakes are higher. Not having grown up with rules to follow, they will find it hard as adults to accept limitations on their activities and their desires. This is the effect of this type of parenting style.

Children need guidance to help them develop judgment and values. Parents need to be involved enough to give them guidance, and guidance is not always in the form of praise.

 Resources on permissive parenting:

Uninvolved Parenting Styles

Uninvolved parenting is based on the idea of “live and let live”, that children will find their own way with little guidance; nature will take its course.

Uninvolved parenting style is low on both demandingness and responsiveness. It often means:

Resources on uninvolved parenting style:

Understanding Basic Child Psychology

To be a better parent, you probably don’t have to know the details of child psychology. The ultimate goal of parenting may be more than having a “happy” child.  Raising children to become happy and productive adults who will be good members of society is the best parenting style.

That’s a tall order.

To be a better parent, it helps to understand the basics of child psychology,

There are some ingredients that children need if they are to grow up to be healthy, self-fulfilled adults.

They need self esteem.  That means they need both positive and negative feedback on what they do, and positive feedback on who they are. They need encouragement.  They need to feel supported, which means that empathy is the most important thing to give them.  They need to be pushed sometimes.

Children need to learn to make decisions, because life is ambiguous and is full of choices to make.  They need to have rules, and they need to be able to break them.  But they also need to learn that there are consequences for breaking rules, because that’s how we make decisions.

Children need communication , because that’s how they learn from their parents.

Most of all, children need a good example.  They will model their own behaviour after their parents’.

They will mirror how their parents react to adversity or loss.

They will make decisions in a similar manner to how it appears their parents decide things.

They will love how their parents love and fight how their parents fight.

Resources on basic child psychology:

Power Tips for Better Parenting

With so many parenting styles, are there some strategies that transcend them? Are there some strategies or tips that are just plain good, regardless of the parenting style you adopt.

The answer is “Yes”.

First, show empathy.  By empathy, we mean understanding how the child feels.  If you take the time to listen and to let them know that you understand how they are feeling, your next actions will come across more successfully.

Show empathy:

Second, give your child responsibility.  That might mean chores, or it might mean something else. Give them something they are in charge of actually doing.  As they get older give them opportunities to make decisions and, yes, to fail. Be there to catch them when they fail, but help them make decisions that will prevent failure the next time.

Third, set boundaries. Real life is full of boundaries. Children have to learn to deal with boundaries and develop self-discipline.

Fourth, don’t stress out over parenting. There are no right or wrong answers, and all you can do is the best you can each day. Your parents weren’t perfect, so they didn’t raise the perfect parent, either. It’s OK.

Fifth. Do things for them.  Make sure they know that you are doing those things for them. Don’t be afraid to take things away from them as a consequence of their actions, though. Make sure that the consequence is as related as possible to the misbehavior.

Resources offering tips for a better parenting style:

Which Parenting Style is Right for You?

These four parenting styles have been presented as four distinct styles.  In truth, most parents might lean toward one style, but have aspects of another. Furthermore, in a two-parent family, it is common to have two different parenting styles.

If you are lucky enough to have a grandparent or an aunt or uncle help with the child rearing, your child might be exposed to multiple styles.  That might be to a child’s benefit, as they learn how to navigate different styles of authority, different levels of decision making and different levels of support.

In other words, it need not be one parenting style or the other.

Even if you are a single parent in a new town (completely on your own), you can pick what aspects of each style to use, or in what situations one style or another is more effective. For instance, you might adopt a more authoritative style when disciplining your child in public to avoid lengthy delays when there is no time.  But you might take  more permissive approach for after-homework time.

You might also choose to change styles as they grow up, starting either very permissive or authoritarian when they are young, then slowly adding more limits or engaging in more discussion.

Parenting Styles

Nevertheless, are worth thinking about in the style that works best for you and your child.

It is also worth exploring what is best for your couple.  Above all, even with radically different styles, it is important for each parent to back up the other one. And if at all possible, don’t place the burden on one parent to always be the “bad cop”, even if it falls more naturally to one than to the other.

While we can identify the ideal style overall, you need to do what works best for your family.

Resources to help choose a parenting style:

What parenting style do you identify with the most?

Let us know in the comments or contact us!

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