Smart Solutions for Busy Moms!
“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” – Margaret Atwood… Ah, spring. Seriously, one of my favorite times of year. I live in central Washington, where we have four VERY distinct seasons – so spring brings a wonderful break from the snowy cold of winter. And, it means it’s time to get the garden going again! Abby adores helping grandma and I plant flowers and dig in the dirt… I actually just bought her a little Garden Playhouse
Did you know that 500,000 times each year, a child gets into medicine that they shouldn’t, or gets the wrong dose to their medicine? How scary is that, right? We all know that there are some basic precautions to take, like keeping medicines up high, or in a locked cabinet. But there are SO many scenarios you might not expect, and so much information that can really help. I know from experience that even as an uber careful mom who worries over everything, things can still go wrong. I’ll share my story with you of when Abby got into the wrong meds, and then give you some awesome tips and tools to help keep your family safe.
Do you ever catch yourself saying things that totally make you feel old? Things like – “When I was a kid, we had an Atari and that was it!” – in response to the kids asking for the latest gaming console. Or, “A cell phone at 7? Did you know that when I was in high school we didn’t even have cell phones? We had pagers??” What’s a pager, Auntie Meagan? “Well, you’d use a payphone to page someone and enter the number where you were at and…” – Um, what’s a pay phone Auntie Meagan? Yep, times they are a’ changin’. {Sigh.} Now, even toddlers know how to use things like apps and tablets. So, how does an old-school mom adjust, and make sure that the tech her kids use are age appropriate and safe?
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Are you ready for a major emergency?... Everyone by now has heard about the crazy-chaos in the New York area after major-storm Sandy last month. As a West Coaster, up here in Washington State, I didn’t even know until recently that there are a lot of people on the East Coast who have to do major prep for even regular storms during the winter. Here, we don’t have generators, we don’t stockpile food or supplies {unless we’re big-time couponers}, and we don’t have to worry about power outages for more than a very rare hour or two. But now that I have friends on the East Coast, the whole idea of preparing a little more thoroughly for emergencies has stuck with me. And, as a busy mom – preparing for disaster is kind of my middle name, right?
“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.” – Franklin P. Jones… I have a story to share. It goes a little something like this – Once upon a time, there was a young woman, who lived alone. Just her, and a stray cat that decided to move in with her. She wore trendy clothes and accessories, she was 10 {ok, maybe 20…} pounds thinner, she wore heels and makeup, and had time to not just sort-of brush her hair, but also curl it – on a daily basis. Her home was amazingly organized {she’d been accused of being slightly OCD, but she liked to simply call it being thorough.} And it was always clean – no stray Legos land-mines on the floor at night, no sticky fingerprints covering the surfaces of every wall and piece of furniture and window and appliance, and no extra socks in the toilet. Yes, life was good….
“Having a two-year-old is like having a blender without a lid.” – Jerry Seinfeld… Have you ever struggled with bathing a baby? I remember the first time I had to give Abby a bath – she was so tiny, so fragile, and I was so nervous. I got the brand new little baby bathtub out, filled it with water, decided it was too hot so I added cold water, then decided it was too cold – so I dumped it out and started again, lol. I had thought that bathing a newborn was nerve-wracking, but little did I know – a toddler is a WAY bigger challenge! So, here are my tips on how to bath a toddler in 3 simple steps….
“Having a child is surely the most beautifully irrational act that two people in love can commit.” – Bill Cosby… Getting ready for a new baby can be expensive – and overwhelming! I remember the first time I walked into the baby section to shop for my new baby-to-be… I had NO idea where to even start. How many tiny socks and onesies did I really need? How do I choose which type of bottle from the 30 options available? And which one of those “must-have” products did I truly need? If you’re not careful, you can quickly get caught up in the frenzy of excitement when shopping for a new baby – and find yourself surrounded by piles of things you never used, didn’t need, and now need to get rid of, around the time your bundle of joy turns 6 months old.
To help make your life a little easier, I’m going to share some of the tips and tricks that I’ve learned during the past two years of motherhood – which products you really need, and what you can skip. Great alternatives to some traditional items, that will work from infant to toddlerhood. Ideas on what to do with baby gear that you no longer need – how to reuse it, recycle it, or sell it to help build a budget for the things you need later on.
When I was getting ready for Abby to arrive, my life had suddenly changed drastically – in the space of 3 months, I’d gone from living on my own with a cat, to having my boyfriend and a dog move in, my mother come to live with me in my spare bedroom, and my brother and two nephews remodel my basement to move into too! Whew, right? {Read the whole story here – Why Bloggers Have Messy Homes.} All of that change meant that Abby wasn’t going to have room for a nursery – she’d be sharing a room with Daddy and I. I had to redo a hall cupboard and create a new closet space for her. Our room was small, so there was only room for a changing table and small shelf – no changing table. But this all turned out to be a blessing in disguise, since it made me really evaluate each new purchase, since space was limited. And I learned how lucky I was to not have purchased so much stuff when I saw friends later on donating bags of unused gear and clothing that they never even needed.
So – stay tuned! I’ll be posting at least once a day for the next few weeks, with the best products to take you from baby to toddler, so you invest in the pieces that will last you the longest. I’ll share some great tips that I’ve learned, brands to watch for, trends in kids style and decor, and those ideas on reusing baby pieces into later childhood years too.
If you have any great tips to share, leave me some comments – What would you say the Top 3 Must Have’s are for new moms, that you still use into the toddler years? What do you wish you’d skipped? Share your advice below!
"The phrase "working mother" is redundant." I'm Meagan - a Momma, a Blogger, a Freelance Writer, and a total Social Media Junkie. I love sparkles and … [Read More...]
