All the little things.

I talk very openly about parenting and life. I try to be be extremely raw and real for those who read so no one feels alone. To let those know who are also feeling this way, that their feelings are valid. I do understand that this to some; who may not have children, or have a completely different situation in life or parenting. May find this to be me “complaining” or “focusing on the negative” when in all reality that is not the case.

Today we are going to focus on the little things. The moments I would not trade for anything. The pieces of time that will forever hold a place in my soul. The ones that shaped me as a mother, wife, and person.

(Just to add a quick disclaimer: I will be referring to each of my children by their nicknames as always)

Way back.

Our very first photo when we reconnected after high school.

I’m talking way, way back when I was in high school. I had a crush on the man, I would one day marry. Our story is not linear, traditional, or a perfect love story by any means.

However there was a very crucial moment, that would pave the way for us to reconnect years later. In which would lead up to the day he would ask me to marry him.

Hubby was a “pretty boy” I’ll say in high school, I was an “alternative kid”. So our friend groups, interest and personal lives didn’t over lap. Just two teenagers passing in the hall. Until he got my BBM number from someone in school. (Anyone remember good old Black Berry messenger)

Well this led to us talking and me telling my friends about him. (who at the time were skeptical about it) But I wanted to prove them wrong so badly, so one day after school while walking home, sending each other flirty messages I just so happened to see him on the other side of the street. It was my chance, to show my friends that he did indeed like me back.

Across the street I ran, and stuttering through my words I said I had to tell him something. I froze, panicked, and decided to just go big. I kissed him, shockingly to myself and my friends across the street he kissed me back. I opened my eyes, said good bye and ran back across to my friends. That small little moment. We still talk about. It’s just one of the little things that happened so perfectly.

Seeing Soapy stare at Baby bubs.

The day I had Bubs, was chaotic. I hardly made it in the the hospital, from water breaking to Bubs in my arms it was a total of 45 minutes. I honestly don’t remember much from that day.

What I do remember what felt like only minutes after Bubs entered the world, Soapy was put in on the bed beside me. And she just stared at her baby brother, nothing to say, no movement or Curiosity, she just stared at him with love in her little eyes.

That was the moment, the moment I knew she would be the best big sister he could ever have. The most protective, and sweet.

I was right from the point forward her whole little toddlerhood revolved around her wanting to be with her brother.

The muffin talk.

Now if you know me personally than you may know what the “Muffin talk” is. When I was pregnant with Soapy, I went with my Dad to do some running around. I expected this ride to be quiet and relaxing (my Dad is not a talker) He instead took this opportunity to teach me about life… By using muffins as the example.

I won’t get fully into the discussion, but to sum it up. Basically all my mine and babies wants and needs has to be filled by “muffins”. (which looking back I’m almost positive he was using muffins as a replacement for money.) And I was going to be left with deciding which things would trump others, and how I would have to figure out how to divide up said muffins.

This might seem silly to you. Using muffins to give a life lesson, but this is how my Dad saw the best way to explain what he wanted me to know. I’ve never looked a muffin the same since.

This talk lives in my head though, and has taken on a whole new meaning. When my husband and I have to make a financial decision, I ask him. Is it worth the muffin? I’m not sure if my Dad knows how much that conversation has stuck with me, or if I actually took away the point he wanted me to learn. What I do know, is it has become a big part of me.

A simple smile.

“Smile because I love you”

My mom.

The words my mom would say to me with love in her voice. Still to this day when I feel like I’m failing as a mother, when I feel like nothing is going right. I will call her and she will say those words. Does it make everything magically better? No… But, it does remind me that when things really suck that I can still smile.

I find myself saying this to my husband, and my children. And even myself when I need to hear it. It might not be much a simple smile can change a whole mood.

My little ones don’t quite understand yet, but telling my older two “smile because I love you” always does the trick, once I get them to smile. I can normally get them talking about what’s really bothering them.

Teeny tiny moments.

My husband is not normally this dirty but, Soapy wanted to see her Dad before she fell asleep and he had come home at the perfect time.

If you’re a parent you know exactly what I mean when I say that. It’s the moments when your child first wakes up and says good morning in their little voice. The hug you get out of no where because they wanted to. The “I love you” for no reason.

All the tiny moments that happen throughout the day that we may not notice at the time, but hold on to so tightly when we think back on our day at the end of the night.

I think those may be may favourite things that shape me, make me a better mom, a better wife, and a better person. Those little moments of love, gratitude, and life.

Yes the big things in life matter, but it’s the little ones that make me who I am.

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A few things all parents need to hear.

Last week I talked to you about all the irritating, and unwanted comments and advice we as parents are given. Most of the the time when it wasn’t even asked for. So in the same theme or Unsolicited parenting advice. I thought we would talk about the best parenting advice we have been given. Once again I asked women from different areas and stages in life what their answer was.

“Kids will be the hardest on their moms, when things get rough, because they know , whatever happens, whatever they say, mom will always love them”

Stacey ❤️

Could you hit any closer to home?

Your children are going to get mad at you. They are going to lash out at you. But, at the end of each and everyday. You are still their safe place. They do these things because they know mom (and Dad) will never not be there.

From the moment they came into the world, we were all the knew. A comfort, a never leaving staple in life, and even if we as parents don’t always find this part of parenting fair. It is inevitable.

Children spell love T-I-M-E

Jessica❤️

This one really hits home. For a long time my husband and I (I wouldn’t say argued) but had very different opinions on this. Yes, telling you love your child, or one that is an important part of your life is a way to show them they are loved. Buying them gifts, and surprise toys is also a way. But at the the end of the day, none of that matters what matters is time spent.

The hours and moments, and everything in between. It could be the hours you spend working on a Lego set together, or a thirty second hug in the morning before they go to school. Children care about time. They feel loved when you show them them you can make time for them. That other things in life can stand still when they need you.

Love and time are not interchangeable they are tied together and one is not without the other.

It takes a village to raise a child. Don’t be afraid to reach out to that village for help. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Cassie ❤️

You’re village does not need to be big, heck it doesn’t nee to be more than one other person. But, what’s important here, is she is right you absolutely can’t pour from an empty cup. I said it in What the hell is even “self-care” ? And I will say it again just because you’re a mom/parent doesn’t mean you’re super human. You need to take care of yourself too.

There’s no shame in needing help the people in your life are there because they care. They are there because they want to help. Sometimes we need to lean on the people we know and trust. At the end of the day as parents we are so used to having everyone lean on us, we often forget we can lean back. We need to start reminding ourselves that, we go can lean when we need to.

What works for one, might not work for all.

Lynsey ❤️

If there’s a sentence that holds more truth than this I’ve yet to hear it.

This day and age has brought to us the wonderful world of social media. Now this has brought us many wonderful things, the ability to learn at new speeds, connect with those we couldn’t have other wise, and be able to share with others. (I mean if it were for social media your lovely self wouldn’t be reading this.)

That all to me said, this has also boughten a wave of people sharing what works for their families. I for one love this, I learn a new parenting skill or tip everyday because of this. However, when information gets shared and stated as “facts that will work for any child” I take issue.

Just like every adult person of different from one another, so is every pregnancy, new born, baby, toddler, child, and teen. Do I think trying new things is good? Absolutely! This is how we grow as people and parents how we learn what works and doesn’t. But, it needs to be known that just because Karen on Instagrams family does it this way, doesn’t mean you have to or that it will work for your family.

Find what works for you and your child. For your family, and home life. Just know that each and every person, household, and family dynamic will be different and that’s okay.

I can’t tell you.

Which piece of advice holds more value than the next. Or even which piece would work best in whatever part of parenting you are in right now. What I can say is that, giving time, showing you care, simply being there. Learning what works best, all of it is what will help you to continue to be the best parent you can be.

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Thoughts of a mother when the kids go to bed.

A bad day.

Pick up all the toys off the floor one more time for the day, you made it Momma you’re gonna be OK.

I know you’re stuck thinking about all the things you could have done better.

All the things you missed, or opportunities to teach them something or show them the value or just expand on life but it’s hard and that’s OK. Don’t let the Mom Guilt. Swallow you.

So, maybe you yelled a little too much today or maybe you got frustrated when any other day you wouldn’t of. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad mom, it just means you had a bad day.

We’re human, whether we want to admit it or not. Just because we’re a mom doesn’t mean we don’t have a fuse that can be blown, it doesn’t mean that you’re not gonna have a bad day yourself.

So today didn’t go as planned and maybe bedtime was rough. Maybe nothing went right, the dishes are still in the sink, and the toys are on the floor and just getting dressed felt like a fight.

But maybe we don’t have to look at it this way, maybe we don’t have to look at a bad day is a bad day. Maybe it’s time we change the narrative, and realize that a bad day can have good teaching moments. Can set foundations for healthy emotionally well-rounded children.

Instead of looking at it as we didn’t do the dishes or clean the kitchen after dinner. We’re showing our children that sometimes things are more important than making sure things are spic and span. Spending time with them comes before doing the dishes, comes before cleaning the kitchen.

That having emotion and feeling anger or frustration. That sometimes being overwhelmed is normal. No we don’t have to yell at our children. God I wish I didn’t sometimes, but they’re learning that emotion is normal. If we show healthy ways to deal with having a bad day, then it won’t impact your child badly, it shows them how to deal with these bigger feelings.

Take that opportunity don’t look at it as completely negative, because at the end of the day every single thing we do impacts our kids. Whether we want it to or not, and that’s scary. However, it is the reality of being a parent.

A good day.

Bedtime already I can’t believe it, smooth sailing and happy faces they make you wish the time stood still.

To just have five more extra minutes, to hold them a little longer to hear them giggle a little louder.

The days that reassure you, you are a good mom and you’re doing something right. That all the bad days are worth it because it’s the days like this, that show you how amazing and wonderful motherhood is.

The days that make you excited to wake up tomorrow to be able to do it all again. Not to say that you’re not happy with your children on the bad days, but when the good days are good in motherhood. Man are they ever good.

So you go to bed yourself you don’t worry about how you did today because you know you did OK.

Now hold onto that.

Whether you’re consumed by mom guilt, or you feel like mom of the year come bedtime. You’re still an amazing mom, and you’re always going to worry how we are doing because we care. We feel joy and pride in our children, and some times question our parenting because we love them.

The bad days don’t have to feel so bad, and the good days should absolutely be celebrated. Bad day or good day ultimately it’s our decision to decide. If we’re going to take the bad day and use it as an opportunity to teach our children important life skills, or if we’re going to let it eat us alive.

So rest easy mama you still taught them the things, you were still there. And if you ask me you just being there, you just being their mom. Taking care of them that makes this a good day.

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Unsolicited parenting advice.

At the rate it’s given these days I’m sure we could all right our own books.

We have all been there, someone wants to give you “advice” or their opinions on how you and your partner “should be raising your child”. Insert massive eye roll here.

It sucks.

No of ands or butts, about it. Most of the time you try to be polite and say thank you, carry in with your day. But really, some of the things I’ve heard are just absurd. So I thought why not ask others what the worst, or most annoying parenting advice they ever got was.

I got quite a few similar ones, or ones that all fit into the same category so here are the 3 major categories of responses I got.

  • Installing fear is the only way to gain respect.
  • Baby’s are just “seeking” attention and you’re “spoiling” them by giving it to them.
  • You’ll just know, but here let me tell you the “right way” aka my way.
  • Let me diagnose your child.
  • Post-partum depression and all the stigma.

“Installing fear is the only way to gain respect”

This one. This one makes my blood boil. Children do not need to beads scared to respect you. They do not need to learn to fear their parents. So let’s get into it.

What happens when we teach children to fear their parents? Nothing good if you ask me. Studies have shown that when you teach your children to fear you, you can cause a lot of long-term damage. This also goes for Spanking, hitting, yelling to a certain extent, belittling, and locking them in their room as a form of punishment. (For a more in-depth read Click here for an article on the CNBC news site.)

This sort of reaction to “punishing” your child is simply causing harm. When your child feels like they’re a parent is going to lash out, and physically or emotionally harm them. For misbehaviour or an accident they forms a lack of miss trust. Which can create a cycle of your child lying to you in fear of punishment.

To simply put it, if you wouldn’t react this way to an adult. Don’t react this way to your child.

Though they may be small, and you can’t always communicate like we would like them too. You as the parent need to be able to calm and collectively talk to your child. To sort out the issues and get to the root of what is going on. I am not telling you to let your child get away with everything.

Sometime a time out, or appropriate punishment such as: not being able to play with side you that was involved in incident for a period Amount of time, having to apologize, timeouts, and or leave it losing a privilege depending on the child’s age. And simply talking to them.

Baby’s are just “seeking” attention and you’re “spoiling” them by giving it to them.

Yes. You read that correctly.

Now I’m not sure why or how this is a thing. Along with “your baby/toddler is “manipulating you” all of it is just bullshit. (in my opinion of course) How could a baby or toddler who Literally depends on you for every single one of their physical, emotional, and mental needs can manipulate or attention-seeking? They NEED you. If this is your mindset I don’t think parenting is for you. (Again in my opinion of course.)

Holding your child while they sleep is not spoiling them, comforting your child when they are sad (no matter the age) is not spoiling them. YOU ARE THEIR SAFE SPACE. You where they’re first home. You are the one they depend on. You are their entire world. You can not spoil them, for simply loving you.

Do not let anyone tell you any different. I said it before in Stop telling Moms how to feel. You have no right how to tell a mother how to parent or how to feel.

You’ll just know, but here let me tell you the “right way” aka my way.

“Don’t pick that baby up every time he cries’s… Here let me have him I’ll show you how to make him stop crying.”

Sound familiar? what about, “You should just know how to do this by now. No not like that. I did ______ with you.”

We have all been there. We’ve all politely just smiled grit our teeth and say “thanks”. Or say that’s nice but I do it this way. I can’t count how many times I’ve had to explain that we don’t do things that. All because some one who feels “they know best” has the answer I need.

Every single child is different, every single way to parent is different. What worked for you will not work for everyone. What you were told to do at one time. Is probably not the way any longer.

Let me diagnose your child.

There’s no easier way to piss a parent off than to try and tell them the diagnosis from a doctor for your child is wrong.

When I asked women in a few of the mommy groups I am part of on Facebook, and on my personal social media accounts things they’ve been told. I was shocked at how many women came forward and told me about people claiming their child’s diagnosis was wrong.

I am going to take a direct quote for the following one.

“You just need to pray harder for the seizures to go away.”

This one. I understand faith, though I may not openly practice any, or talk about a higher power I do or do not believe it. THIS IS NEVER OKAY. My heart hearts for this women. To have a child going through such a serious thing and for some one to tell you, you need to “pray harder” makes me sick to my stomach. This will be one of the only times I let anything political or of anything about faith be in my writings. But, if you ask god for an answer and the scuff at the advancements of medicine. You are spitting on his answer. You asked for an answer and if you believe in god then you believe he creates everything and everyone. Which means he would have created the person WHO MADE THE MEDICAL ADVANCES TO MAKE THE MEDICINE. You do not need to think this same way. But that is where I stand and where I will stand.

Far too many people replied about people being told their child’s autism diagnosis was. “Just ADHD, ADD, they’re just hyper, they’re just spoiled, are you sure something is wrong with them, they will grow out of it… And so many more.

Autism, is more often than not misdiagnosed as something else. Compared to being diagnosed when it is something else. the sooner we can accept this, the sooner we can move forward with people learning to not be so ignorant. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a child being autistic. And quite honestly it is quite harmful in the long run. The worst part is, the more you try to educate people on autism they seem to choose to unlearn anything they did know.

Post-partum depression and all the stigma.

“You don’t need medication it’s just a phase“ “cheer up, you have a beautiful baby, you should be happy.” “post-partum depression is real” “it’s just baby blues get over it”

Before I go any farther. There is absolutely no shame in having or struggling with post-partum depression. If you or someone you know is struggling please talk to a medical professional and seek the help you may need.

post-partum depression is so often looked at as something to be a shamed of, or to hide. When in all actually that is not the case in the slightest. Hiding it or trying to deal with it on your own, will only cause more harm. For more information on post-partum depression read Here.

In conclusion.

People want to shove their advice or opinions at you. Whether you choose to smile politely and ignore it, or take the advice. At the end of the day what you choose to do with your children is up to you. You know them best, and their health, the way you raise them, or the decision you make about their life are yours and your partners to make.

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Baby number 4 and how she changed our family.

Four kids is a lot of kids. There’s no other way to put it. Yes, the number might be small, but when we are talking about the number of humans to take care of. It’s a lot.

My home is not quiet.
Or ever as clean as I want it,
There are unfinished art projects and colouring pages that will go forgotten.
Messes in places that make no sense,
There’s never not an appointment or task on the to-do list.
Baby socks scattered around like hidden eggs on Easter,
My husband and I are clearly out numbered.

But I wouldn’t change any of it for the world. People stare and ask why when they find out we have four kids. I don’t have an answer this is just our life, and the way we choose to live it. If you ask me it’s exactly how we were supposed to do it.

*Now before I start. I feel I should point out between each of my children their is either under or just over two years age difference. Ages 6,5,2,10 months so my experience with 4 children is going to vastly different than someone’s else’s. Everyone one’s motherhood or parenting journey is going to be different no matter what, and in no way am I saying mine is more challenging either because they are small it is simply to help show my situation.*

My husband I talked about have baby number four, and then we talked about it some more. We talked to family and friends, and in the end decided we would wait till our youngest was about 2. However, the universe had different plans, we were about to find out in just a few days after deciding we would wait. That we were indeed pregnant.

While I was pregnant nothing really changed. Yes we had to rearrange the house, and upgrade our Honda Civic to a Mini Van. I would highly recommend even if you only have three kids the amount of room is fantastic. But it wouldn’t be until she arrived that things would really change.

She came as perfect as perfect could be.

We got home after a nights stay and waited for my parents to bring home the other 3 kids. I was so worried and excited for them to meet her. My older two already knew the drill when I came to babies, but our youngest not so much. She wasn’t even going to be 2 until the following month.

As you may have guessed they absolutely love their baby sister. They all got a turn to hold her and give her sweet little head kisses. Talk to her and just enjoy the moments as they happened. To say my heart has never been so full is an understatement.

It wasn’t until about a week after we brought her home, that my husband has to go back to work. Did things start to feel completely overwhelming. I was now alone most of the day and most of the night 4 days a week, juggling all four kids, and all the household needs. And on top of this, my father Inlaw got very sick. So when my husband wasn’t working he was needed at his parent’s house. (Now before you get the wrong idea. I have no ill feelings, no negative comments nor do I hold any anger towards my husband for hardly being home. The first month or some of her life. His father was sick, and I would have done the same if it was me.)

This photo is the day we told his parents we were pregnant with Baby number 4.

But that was the time I realized she came into the world when she did so that her GiGi would be able to have met all of his grandchildren.

However, the situation left me to figure things out and how to manage it all on my own. This is when our household and daily routine became non-negotiable. (For more on the importance of a routine check out Routine, schedule, repeat.)

Now I would love to sit here and tell you “it was so easy” but that would be a lie. In the beginning I struggled with Mom Guilt. And honestly sometimes I still do. My husband still works that same shift so it’s just me and the kids a lot. I often find myself juggling life and stretching myself thin. I mean there’s only one of me and four of them.

Some of the big changes.

Groceries are now something that has to be done with two carts, or at least one with a double seat. Going anywhere has to be planned to a “Tee” so that we can just simply get there on time.

Not to say we have to plan every single thing out, yes we can wake up in the morning and decide we are all going to go on a family walk. But when it comes to really going out or to someone’s house. It’s a full game plan, and a long process. You’d think Adding one person wouldn’t make this much a difference but it really does.

We’ve come to find that just keeping the diaper bag constantly stocked, for all four kids is what works best. This we just grab and go. We gave up the normal diaper bag and went for a back pack one. Game changer. It’s so much easier to carry and it holds so much more. (this Diaper bag backpack is the one we have )

Now as you could imagine things started to also take a lot longer. Things like bath time for example, with all 4 kids being small I still need to at least be there. My oldest (6) showers on her own and only needs me to come to wash her hair for her, (she’s very big on wanting privacy so I will respect her and that she no longer needs reminders. Because and I quote “I’m almost 7 mom I know what to do”) I’m always just in the next room but I must respect her want to do it on her own.

It is basically the same thing with my 5 year old. However, he’s 5 so when he shower I’m in my bedroom getting the youngest two dried off and dressed for bed. While giving him reminders on what’s next. And of course I’ll wash his hair for him too.

The younger two well they’re obviously to small for them to be left alone. So that is always where our nightly bath/shower routine starts. What went from 15 minutes with one child and about half an hour with 3, is now roughly an hour-long nightly escapade. It blows my mind how simply adding one more person could make it that much longer.

This also counts for bedtime, each child has their own bedtime, but they all have roughly the same routine because I mean I’m only human. I’ll never forget the day my brother called about 6:30 pm and when I said I’d call him back around 8, I have to start bedtime routines he was shocked. I get it sounds surprising but the bath, PJs, snack, story, and tucking everyone in. It takes up a lot of time especially when there’s four of them and one of me. ( I can’t lie by the time I’m done getting the last child to bed, I am also ready to go to bed)

One of the biggest changes however did not come to how our routine flows, or in the amount of food why buy when doing groceries. No, it came in redefining on how we spend one on one time with the older kids.

It’s not a simple oh come with me, we will sit and read a book, let’s play a game. Yes I do those things with my children, but to get that one on one time it’s important. So now we plan a special day or activity that’s just myself, or my husband and one of the older kids so they can still get their special time.

Life with four is what we needed.

Baby number 4 is still so small and will only just be a year old in April but it feels like she has been here forever. Yes we’ve had to learn new systems of getting things done.

Yes I feel out numbered even when my husband is home. At the end of the day though, 4 kids feel just perfect, it’s like our family was just meant to function this way. We just didn’t know it until she came.

Having a 4th baby changed our family, but it was for the better.

There’s one more person who smiles every day,
One more hand to hold,
One more giggle to be heard throughout the house,
One more beautiful soul,
Four may seem like a lot,
But really she is just a lot more to love.

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I don’t want a perfect marriage.

Growing up I watched all these different hallmark movies with my mom, saw the love my parents had, saw other adults married around and developed this “idea” of love.

As I became older I thought I knew what live was. I was so sure it was supposed to be one way, and one way only. That things happened exactly as I thought I was seeing them as a child. Now I know that’s not true at all.

The love you need, the love you want, and the love we think is the only way. It may not be the love you end up with. And when you find it, it you will be blown away by how different it is, than how you perceived it for so many years.

Growing up, I never saw my parents fight… or even be angry with each other for that matter. Not to say they never fought, or were angry with each other but if they were. They choose to not show it in front of my brothers and I. (Which I’m not saying is a bad or good thing) But, I grew up thinking that is what love would be.

The reality of it is, you will get angry with the person you love. You may fight from time to time, you may accidentally hurt their feeling or have yours hurt. Never on purpose, or with ill intention but because we are all human it will happen.

We are so often fed this false promises of love, of what caring is and does have to be. What it has to look like, the things and money equals higher levels of love. That blasting your partner all over the internet is the only way to prove yourself faithful.

It’s all just so ridiculous if you ask me.

I do not want everyone else’s perception of perfect. I do not want hundreds of dollars spent of things. Not to have my face and name all over my husbands social media. Yes those things are nice from time to time. But, they do not equal how much he loves me.

I want our perfect.

I want Sunday hikes, and Monday mornings filled with trying to decide who dropping the kids off at school.

I want him to keep asking me if I’ll work in the living room while he plays his video game with his buddies on Saturday night. Just because he wants to know I’m there.

I want to keep waking him up in the morning. Because it’s nicer to wake up to a kiss and a coffee rather than the sound of an alarm.

To make little jokes in passing, that no one but us would understand.. Words and sentences that bring only us to belly laugh.

I want stupid fights that last 10 minutes all to end in, both of us saying sorry and realizing it never mattered to begin with.

I want the good, the bad, the ugly. The joy on Christmas morning, the memories of the point in our life we struggled to make ends meet. All the moments in the future when we will be given good Fortune and all the obstacles we will have to over come.

All of these things that shape us, that make us grown on our own and drive us closer together. The ones that make us stronger as a couple.

No I don’t want a perfect marriage. I want the one I’ve got. It may not be the hallmark idea of marriage and sometimes we might not agree. Sometimes he might be the last person I want to talk to, be he will always be the last person I want to see before I go to bed.

I wouldn’t change it for the world. They’ll never make a movie or write a book out of our love story. But if you wrote it down, I’d read it forever.

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Streamlining day to day life.

As a mother of four, to say there’s a lot for me to do in a day is an understatement. From housework, caring for the children, and cooking all the meals. It can get a bit overwhelming and tedious.

So over time, I started to find a way to make things a bit easier for me. Now a lot of it is some work up front but it has a great payoff in the long run. Some of the things I will mention have been briefly mentioned before in my writing, however, I thought it would explain how each one comes into play.

Let’s start with the most daunting.

Housework.

When it come to cleaning the house I’m sure you have seen my chart I made that is in Routine, schedule, repeat. Going over the things that have to be done daily and ones that get done once a week.

Doing my house work this way makes it so nothing get left out on a weekly basis and so that I can stay on top of it. Some things need to be done daily no matter what. Like sweeping, dishes, laundry and picking up around the house. I mean after all 6 of us that live here.

That being said doing the dishes after each meal, can really cut down on the amount of time and dishes there are that need to be done. Now, this sounds simple enough but when put into practice it can make a huge difference. It also helps keep the kitchen much cleaner and again in return less of a job to deal with.

Things like sweeping I will also do twice a day once after taking the bigger two children to school. Then again at the end of the day. (Sometimes I also need to do this after meals)I know I shouldn’t be but, man am I shocked every time by the number of crumbs my kids make a meal times.

Laundry is another thing I had to learn how to make more efficient. We have multiple laundry baskets in my house. 1 for each child, and then a large one that all of our dirty clothing goes into. As soon as the laundry is clean and dry, I almost immediately put it on my bed. This way I can’t avoid folding it for days on end. I fold it, put each child’s clothing into their basket, and get the bigger kids to put away their clothing right then and there. And I will put mine,my husbands, and the small children’s clothing away then too.

Again I know sounds so simple, but I really had to break out of the habit of washing, drying, and then allowing it to sit for days and days. Leaving a massive pile to fold at one time.

Cooking.

How do I make cooking easier? If you follow my Instagram or personally know me you know I make a lot of things from scratch. Not for any particular reason, I just genuinely enjoy it. So cooking can take up a lot of time for me.

However, there are a couple things I do that can make the whole thing seem much less time consuming. Planning out meals for the week not only cuts down on trying to figure it out each morning when pulling out things for dinner that night. It also makes groceries much easier, when you know just what you need. Yes it takes some time the night before grocery day to sit down and plan but, it save so much more in the long run.

Cooking things ahead of time can also make things much easier come dinner, or even lunch. Most days I will cook the protein for our meal earlier in the day. This way when it comes time to cook dinner I just need to worry about carbs and veggies. I also like to make enough of a protein or two for a way have a quick and healthier option for lunches for a few days at a time.

Not that I probably don’t need to mention this, but your crock pot or slow cooker can also be heavily utilized for cutting down on time spent cooking. Nothing better than a good old “set it and forget it meal”. Especiallyin those super busy days throw it all in the crock pot and come hack a few hours later to a beautiful meal.

Making things easily accessible.

I can not stress this one enough. Things like bins, containers, and other little things to help keep things organized. Can save you so much time!

Taking my cupboard from this.
To this. Here’s the lonknfkr the brand I have, I have both the 24 piece set and 14 piece set for this cupard and two other in my kitchen.

This made a huge difference in how snack time and pack lunches go. Everything is right there and ready to go. Now, these pictures are from just before baby #4 came so we did have to change up some of the snack bins to accommodate baby cookies, food, etc, however. All of my cupboards and even my fridge are all organized in this same way.

Why? Because it looks pretty, and because it makes everything much more accessible and easier to see. It’s all right there, I know what we need I know what we have lots of. Where each thing is and where to find it, and the labels are a bonus so my husband can’t ask “well which one is it”.

I also utilized bins around my house for, crafts, supplies, toys, diapers, a lot of things. Again it makes things easy to find and accessible. I known repeated this a lot however, it is a very important part of making a day run on a more streamlined way.

Caring for the kids.

I really don’t have some magic way to streamline this, I mean honestly you can’t. But making changes in other areas of your life can make it so you have more time to spend with your children.

Just because you have to do all these things, doesn’t mean you have to spend all your time doing them. Make a few changes and just see what you can do with your day.

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Leprechaun treats and traps

My son keeps asking if we can catch a leprechaun this Saint Patrick’s day. Honestly I don’t have the heart to tell him they aren’t real. So I took a page out of Sometimes I lie to my kids. And told him we will try and catch him a leprechaun.

Will we catch one? No, obviously not, but he will have a whole lot of fun making a trap, and baking some treats to “lure” one In. After all, all this does is give us a reason to bake and make something together. So I’m not going to pass up on making those memories with him.

First we had to bake the treats.

They definitely aren’t professional, but they’re cute enough for us!

Cindy at Devilishly Sweet was sweet enough herself to give me a cooking and icing recipe for these delicious cookies.

Cookies

  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ‐——————
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
  • Set aside.

Step 2

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Or,
Roll out to about 1/4 inch and use cookie cutters.

Step 3

Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

keep eye on cookies while in oven, don’t let them get too dark.

Use parchment paper instead of greased sheets, cookies won’t run together.

Royal icing for sugar cookies.

  • 4 egg whites
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • Food coloring in desired colors, optional
  • If you need to thin it out, add a little more lemon juice.

These cookies and icing were so much fun to make and ice. My son was able to help with most all of it, and loved that he was able to do a lot of it. This is a recipe I recommend you give a try with your kiddios.

Now it’s time to make the trap.

First we decided we need to sit and talk about a plan. Bubs came up with a list of things he would need.

  • Cardboard box
  • Paper towel roll
  • Pompoms
  • lucky charms
  • The cookies we made
  • Scissors
  • Markers

Next he had to figure out how to use these things to catch the leprechaun. So he decorated the box, to make it look like somewhere the leprechaun would want to come. He made fake gold coins, and put out the lucky charms so make him want to come in the box.

I asked him what the cookies were for, and if we would use them in the trap. I can’t say I was shocked when he told me “they’re for me, building make me hungry.”

Next he had to set the paper towel roll holding up the box. So it would fall when the leprechaun bumps, it to catch him.

It’s not the prettiest but my boy worked hard and he’s so very proud of himself.

Now we are ready to roll.

Not to point out the obvious? But I can’t produce a leprechaun for my child. The next best thing? He gets to wake up to crumbs, a letter, and a little treat.

I love that he has such sense of wonder, so much creativity and wonder and I’m so lucky I get to help it blossom.

If you enjoy todays content I recommend checking out How to keep the kids busy this spring break. Or any other the other post on the Blog it’s full of all things mom.

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How to keep the kids busy this spring break

With spring break just days away, it’s time to call to action a plan to keep all the tiny people in my house busy, and entertained so I don’t lose my sanity. But what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t share that plan with you.

I won’t sit here and outline our entire itinerary, I will give you a few ideas broken down into categories. So, if you’re stuck with what to do with your kiddos you are in luck, you got some ideas to help you.

Crafts.

One of our favourites to make at home is caterpillars, butterflies and spiders. They’re pretty easy to make, and give a variety of options so that all of the kids can enjoy this craft. You can also take this opportunity to talks about the life cycle of a butterfly, starting from caterpillar, to cocoon, to butterfly.

All you need:

  • pipe cleaners
  • toilet paper roll
  • googly eyes
  • hot glue gun
  • Pompoms
  • Egg carton (for caterpillars)

Homemade puzzle

Taking a cardboard box out of the recycling bin, let your child draw a picture on the blank side, and cut it into puzzle pieces. This gives them to opportunity not only to be creative but feel pride in themselves when they have not only made their own puzzle but put it tighter too.

What you will need:

  • -carboard box
  • colouring tools
  • scissors

Borax crystals.

This one I think I find just as fascinating as the kids do!

Take 1 cup water add in the borax and stir. Together, separate into jars. Shape pipe cleaners into the desired shape, tie one side of the string to pipe cleaner shape, and other ends to the middle of the popsicle stick. Place popsicle stick across the top of the jar with pipe cleaner hanging in the water mixture. Leave for 12-24 hours, and the crystal will grow the longer they are left the larger they will grow.

What you will need:

  • -1 cup water
  • 4 tablespoons of borax
  • Jar
  • Pipe cleaner
  • popsicle stick
  • string

Outside activities

Take a walk, or a bike ride.

No walk is complete without a cake pop from StarBucks if you ask this girl.

Now I know, we already know this. Sometimes it’s always a good reminder, that we need to get outside and get moving. After an icy cold winter trapped in the house, a walk or a bike ride could do us all some good.

Rocks to paint.

We made these last year for my Mother in-laws garden. I think they’re just the cutest!

So this goes hand in hand with crafts and a walk! You and your child can go out and look for rocks to paint for the garden, or as a gift for someone else’s garden.

  • rocks
  • Acrylic paint.

Start a garden.

Now depending on where you live you may or may not be able to get this one started just yet. But, taking the kids out picking an area, and getting the ground ready can still be lots of fun. And maybe a way to grow something delicious over the spring/summer months.

Spring scavenger hunt.

Feel free to use this one or have some fun and create your own!

I’m really looking forward to doing this one with my kids, they’re always so excited to go exploring out in nature.

A little bit of this and that.

During the March break, we will also make some time to bake a sweet treat, have a play date or two with our friends. visit family, play some Just Dance, and maybe even build a pillow fort.

A week… or I guess 9 days if you count from the Friday to the Monday. Can either feel like a really long time when your home with the kids, or can fly by and be filled with fun.

It’s really just all what you make of it. We will be making the most out of the time we can, spending it together. Just like I said in Top 5 things to stop doing as a parent in 2022 it’s not what you do, it’s the time spent together. we will take the week off and learn a little, explore and just have some fun.

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Things I wish I knew, with the first pregnancy.

10 things I wish I knew the first time around.

Before I start. I just want to set a disclaimer I am not now, nor have I ever been any sort of medical professional. I have no medical training or education. I am simply sharing my own thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Looking back on my first pregnancy, even my second… possibly even my third. (sometimes I don’t just don’t learn till the fourth time around I guess.) There are so many things I wish I knew. So I thought I would take a moment to share them with you. Here are the top ten things I wish I knew, the first time I got pregnant.

Number 1. You don’t need many Ultrasounds.

You do not need 100 ultrasounds. Yes, they are great, and it’s amazing to see the baby. However, it can cause a lot more stress than it can help. We all stare at the screen, basically holding our breath, hoping and praying baby looks good, and everything else they’re looking at in there. Stop and enjoy the few that you get. Don’t stress, if they were worried they would send you for those extra ones.

Number 2. You can’t avoid stretch marks.

You cant avoid stretch marks, (unless you were genetically blessed) there’s very little information that is scientifically backed that can anything can make them not happen at all. You can do things that could, lessen their intensity or not make them so painful/itchy. But nothing can truly stop them altogether.

Number 3. Don’t scratch your stretch marks.

While we are already talking about stretch marks. DO NOT SCRATCH THEM. I know they are itchy, I know but don’t scratch them, doing this can make them worse. If you really have to itch, take a damp cloth, and rub it on them. Add a little pressure but not “rip your skin off” pressure.

Number 4. Stop wearing your pre-pregnancy clothing in the second trimester.

Put your pre-pregnancy clothing away. For the love of God, I know you don’t want to let it go, but once you start to show, you’re going to stretch it and you may not notice at first. But you’re going to be real upset once you are no longer pregnant and the belly on everything is stretched out.

Number 5. You don’t have to spend a fortune on maternity clothing either.

You don’t need necessarily need to spend hundreds of dollars on maternity clothing. Go check out your local thrift shop, check buy and sell websites. Accept the hand-me-downs. Maternity clothing can be so overpriced and you only wear it for a short time. (okay well, maybe the pants you’ll wear for a while after having the baby. I know I wore my maternity jeans for months after. They are so comfortable.)

Number 6. If it’s baby number 2 or more people don’t get as excited.

So this one is for subsequent pregnancies. People don’t care about as much about, your second, third, (from the personal experiences they’re shocked at the fourth) pregnancy. Not in a rude way, but you’ve been there you’ve done that. It yes exciting, but it’s not the first so it’s an old story you know what you’re doing now. They don’t “need” to loom and aw over you.

Number 7. It’s not like T.v.

Your water does not break as it does in the movies and T.V. It will not be this huge gush of water, soaking your clothing, shoes, and the floor. Yes, there can be a big gush, but it’s not as dramatic as movies and T.V would make you think.

Number 8. Your hormonal, not crazy.

You aren’t crazy, you’re hormonal. I promise there is a difference. Your body is changing everything right now and that’s including your hormones. You are going to laugh, cry and get mad all in the same hour timespan and it’s normal. You’ll get back to normal a couple of weeks after having the baby. For now, find something soothing like yoga, meditation, or a hot bath to help you keep yourself level. (If you are concerned about your emotional and mental well-being, please do seek the attention from a medical professional)

Number 9. Mommy brain is real.

Your memory does actually suck right now. “Mommy brain” is a real thing. It happens because during pregnancy your brain actually shrinks a little. And a little more than that if you are preeclamptic. Change in brain size durring and after pregnancy.

Number 10. It flys by.

This particular photo are all photos from my last and final pregnancy.

Even though nine months feels so far away. It’s really not a long time. It will fly by and before you know it your baby will be here. So take all the picture, write it all down. And enjoy every moment.

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