Take The Stress Out of Parenting With These Top Tips

Let’s face it. Parenting isn’t easy. In fact, it’s probably never been harder. The days of relaxing at home with your child while he quietly plays with his toys are over. These days, both parents need to work, and that work commitment often takes us away from our kids for most of their waking hours. This creates a sense of guilt as well as a lot of stress about how they are being cared for in our absence.

There are also more demands on our kids these days. More technologies than ever before are available to them. I can’t think of a time when so many toys needed batteries! But this just adds to the skillsets our poor children need to develop. Learning to read and write with a pencil is no longer enough. They need to use a keyboard and solve problems on digital devices too. And as time goes on, we become increasingly worried about the effects of social media on our kids too.

All these devices also distract us. It’s hard to disconnect when we finally do come home from work. We’re available twenty-four hours a day and that can often cut into our family time. This can be one of the biggest causes of stress. It’s really important that you switch them off when you’re with your kids. You need to engage them rather than have your eyes on your phone. Time with our families is short, so we need to make sure it’s quality time that we’re enjoying.

stress free parenting

Image credit

When you’re at the office, you can often lose focus on your job by worrying about your kids. Installing a nanny cam could allow you to check in as often as you need to. It would certainly alleviate the stress of not knowing if your kids are OK while you’re trying to work. You can check NannyCamsReviews.com to find the best one for your home. Simply log in and check as often as you need to. Some will even allow you to talk to your little ones. They can be quite handy for checking up on your pets too!

The lack of sleep we all suffer from is one of the biggest causes of stress. It’s never easy to get enough sleep, especially with a young baby in the house. However, if you take it in turns with your partner to get up to your child, you can be assured of a restful night when you need it most. A live-in nanny could also provide the overnight help you need. When we’re over-tired, we’re grumpy, forgetful, and unfocused. This is detrimental in the workplace as well as at home. Pretty soon, we’re stressed, and the stress can stop us sleeping well.

Removing as much stress from your life as you can is essential to ensure we stay healthy. Without our health, we can’t be there for our kids. Take time for you each day. Being a parent is tough, so be kind to yourself. Take a break, take a nap, or take a day off once in a while to recharge. Love your kids.

How to be a Go-Getting Mom to a kid on the Go

Raising a child is no picnic. Even the basics of keeping them fed, safe and warm can seem like a troublesome task at times. But the part that a lot of us worry about is whether we’re raising our child to be the best person they can be. Raising an active, motivated person that can accomplish things isn’t a walk in the park. It needs you to be as active and forward thinking as you would like them to be. If you want your child to be a go-getter, you better be prepared to work towards it. We’re going to give you a few tips on just how to do that.

Busy kids on the go
Pixabay photos.

Pixabay Photo

Starting with emotional security

In order to communicate properly with a child, you need to establish a base of emotional security with them as early as possible. How children think of the world is directly linked to the kind of treatment they get from us. A child who gets reassurance, attention and enthusiasm will look to the world for the same. A child who lacks it has more chance of being withdrawn and seeing the world as something to be wary of. Be responsive to your children and treat their mistakes as learning opportunities. Not behaviour that needs correction.

Give them a space to be active

Physical activity is incredibly important to developing an active, motivated person in children. That’s why kids need the right space to be active. If you have a garden, make it child friendly as soon as possible by doing things like eliminating pests. If you don’t have a garden or a big enough garden, take them to the park instead. Start playing actively with your child as early as you can. This will make physical activity part of their life that’s a lot more easily maintained

Get involved in sports

Sports teach children all sorts of things besides how to be active and why exercise matters. It also carries valuable lessons of responsibility and teamwork. More than that, you can establish a great connection with your child by getting involved in their sporting life. It can mean supporting them in their pursuits. Or it can mean helping organise local 3v3 soccer tournaments. Being an integral part of their sporting life gives you a shared passion that you can easily bond over. Just try not to get too demanding of your child so the sport is no longer fun.

Go karting

Go karting is one of the best activities that you can do with your child to get them thinking competently and foster their skills. Teaching them how to drive a go kart is a shared experience that both of you will have a lot of fun and benefit from. It’s also a good idea to give them that sense of competition early. You don’t want to raise them to think themselves above anyone else. You do, however, want to teach them about striving for success. All wrapped up in a fun day out, go karting is one of the best solutions to do just that.

Fostering creativity

Creativity is a fantastic trait for any child to learn. When we think of creativity, we often think of the arts and expressing one’s self. But thinking creatively is just as big a part of it. In fact, thinking creatively can be immensely helpful in later life. Give children plenty of structured play time to help them develop creativity. But also give them unstructured play time, free of restraints and let them explore their own. Creativity isn’t something that we’re all born with innately. It’s something that develops.

Expanding their mind

If you start early, it’s not too difficult to make a fun day out of an educational visit. Sure, we know the clichés of children being utterly bored and lifeless on museum trips. But if you go with them early and answer their questions enthusiastically, it can be a lot more of a fun experience. Children are naturally curious, so don’t think that they won’t get anything out of it. Let them experience the exciting side of history. Show them what other cultures are like. Explore nature with them and watch them develop an interest that even grows beyond yours.

Motivation

Besides creativity and a thirst for learning, motivation is a key trait for being successful in life. This links into the earlier point about how you teach your kids. Instead of nagging your kids to do things, motivate them, instead. This doesn’t necessarily have to involve some kind of leverage, either. When you want them to fix a mistake they’ve made, describe the situation instead of placing blame. When you want to praise them, tell them exactly what you’re praising instead of being generic. Motivation requires an understanding of goals and how they’re achieved. Teach that as soon as you can.

Finding their passions

As a parent who wants to teach their child passion and interest, it can often feel like you’re being dictatorial. That you’re pushing the interests you want instead of what they want. Take the time to let your child find their own interests. Sometimes they may have no idea so showing them some examples can be fine. Find what excites them and what makes them aspire. Then support them and be with them as they delve into it. But don’t be angry if they find it doesn’t stick. Be loose with your expectations and constant with your support.

Give them their own space

A child’s bedroom is where a lot of their contemplation and self-exploration happens. Without them noticing it, they are doing a lot of their developing right in there. So make sure they have a bedroom that lets explore themselves. Sometimes, it can be a bedroom that they love, that ignites their creativity. Sometimes it can be a bedroom that lets them explore it. For the latter, using chalkboard paint can give them all the space they need to foster their own ideas. It also stops them from using your wallpaper, which is nice.

Making them a leader

It’s not mean to admit that you want your child to excel. Or that you want them to want to excel. Sure, there’s overdoing it and forcing them to become hyper-competitive. But there’s another path to show them to follow, too. Leadership is an important and rare skill and it is one you can teach your child. A lot of proper teaching methods as raised above will have them use your example in their own leadership roles. Make sure you instil them with confidence to persevere. As well as the communicate, too. We’ll cover that, next.

Talking with your child

A lot of parents don’t spend enough of their time communicating to their children. Or if they try, they find they don’t know how to get through to them and give up or get angry. But remember that perseverance is important, so set the example. Put the emphasis on listening to your children. Get on their level physically to show that you are open to communicate. Repeat what you’ve heard and ask specific questions so they follow the logical communication chain. A lot of children don’t immediately understand how conversations work, so keep it simple.

Engage them in the world

We’ve covered a lot of great qualities to raise in a child that you want to succeed. But one that will help them in this as well as others is by engaging them in the world. This means empathising with and helping people. Teaching children to give time to volunteering and charity early can help them broaden their views of people. It’s also helpful for them to know that there are people less fortunate than them. This should help them become less selfish people in later life and should hopefully reflect in choices they make down the line.

Creating competence

Self-confidence is a great thing to have. It’s the final piece of the puzzle when it comes to being a go-getter. But self-confidence is even better boosted by a feeling of competence. Giving your child tasks to accomplish is the key to this. A lot of parents do anything to help their children. But in doing so, sometimes they take all the need for competence from their lives. Support and instruct your children to think creatively about tasks you give them. They might want the easy way out in the middle of it, but be supportive and they’ll start to develop the confidence that comes with ability.

Having a child geared for a great start in life is all about what they believe they can do. It’s in their confidence and competence. It boils down to how creatively they can think and how they can persevere. Giving your child situations to adapt to and guiding them gives them that creativity and your guidance helps them to guide others. We worry about what sort of person our child will be all the time. So long as you take the time to be the best kind of person, you can be sure they’ll follow in your footsteps.

Keeping Kids Happy at Home

Keeping kids happy at home Photo from Flikr

Keeping kids happy and comfortable in their own space is so important to all parents. But how can you do this in the home? Check out these simple ideas to help.

Give Them Outdoor Space

Kids thrive in the sunshine and fresh air; it is so important your kids have somewhere to play that isn’t indoors. If you have a garden or yard; great. Get them out into it whenever it isn’t raining! Garden games don’t have to be extravagant and expensive; a football will keep most little ones entertained for some time. If you don’t have any outdoor space, take them to the local park instead. Or, walk them to school in the mornings rather than drive them.

Make Their Bedrooms Happy Places

As adults, we love our bedrooms. They are the places we can shut the door, take a deep breath and be in our own space. Give this sense of calm and privileged to your kids too. Give them free reign to decorate how they wish; a bedroom should reflect a person’s personality. They will end and start every day in this room, so it needs to be somewhere they are happy in. Plus, if they have a room of their own, they’ll have a place to hang out if and when you make decor changes and improvements.

Keep The Temperature In Check

Houses that are too hot or too cold can spell disaster for families. This is especially true if there are kids in the house. The key here is maintenance. Make sure you are looking after your boiler, radiators and any other heat-giving sources properly. Caring for the units and devices properly will give them longevity. This goes for your air conditioning units too. If your unit does break or malfunction, make arranging AC Repair a priority. It is cost-effective to get a reputable company to do the job, and can be done in less than a couple of hours in most homes. This means you and your kids can live and sleep comfortably, no matter the season.

Consider Their Requests For A Pet

Pretty much every child goes through a phase of asking for a pet. If you’re lucky, it will just be a goldfish! But it’s more likely to be a cat or a dog. Before you dismiss the request off-hand, give it some thought. If you have the space, and can afford to, it might be a great option. Having a pet teaches children lessons in responsibility, and caring for others. If you’re getting a dog, it can help get them out of the house and into the fresh air, ask they’ll need to take them for a walk every day. Plus, pets act as great companions. This is true for all kids but might make an even bigger impact if you have an only child. While you will need to pay for its food and vet bills in the future, they don’t have to cost anything upfront. Go to an animal sanctuary or the local pound and rescue one. This is free, plus you’ll be doing a good deed.

Top Ways to Know if You’re Ready to Have a Baby

mother kissing baby

Image Source

Top Ways to Know if You’re Ready to Have a Baby

Attributed Post

Most women will get broody at one time or another. If you see friends or family members with a baby, you can start to think about how you would like your own. They are great, and the unconditional love you feel can’t be explained. But it’s not easy to have a child with strains put on your life. Here are the top ways to know if you are ready to have a baby.

You are financially ready

Babies cost you and your partner money. Buying all the stuff they need can reach thousands. Your baby will need a crib, a pushchair and nappies to name just a few essentials. We have a handy checklist for new parents so that they know everything they need to buy in advance. And when they are born, the money going out will continue for the next 18 years! If you struggle to make ends meet, there is no point of having a baby yet.

You are in a committed relationship

If you aren’t in a committed relationship, it’s not the right time to have a baby. Arguments between you and your partner will not be any good for a newborn baby to hear, so there is no point having one. Some people have a baby because they feel it will help make their relationship better, but a child is not an experiment. As this article explains, you both need to be committed to wanting a child. Otherwise, your partner might leave when you need him most. He might resent the child and then your relationship will fall apart. Make sure you sit down and talk about it openly before starting to try.

You have a house

Ideally, you will own property when you have your first child. But if this is not possible, you need to, at least, have a rented property that will have space for another person. A baby takes up space, and if you are currently at home with your parents, there is no point trying for a baby yet.

You are prepared to put your career on hold

Your career will have to go on hold if you decide to have a baby. You will be taking time off your job so you will need to be prepared to do this. If you are ready to have a baby, your partner should be in a job which pays the bills. As this blog says, you should be willing to take some time off work. If you aren’t prepared to do this, then you are not ready for a child.

You have completed your goals

If you have a certain amount of goals you want to achieve but haven’t, then, it’s not the right time to have a baby. If you are still at university or if one of you are planning to go back into education, you won’t be able to do this if you have a child. The same is true with travelling; get this out of your system first as it will be impossible when you have the responsibilities of a child.

Every couple is different, and there is no right age to have a child. If you are ready, make sure you talk to your partner and think it through properly.

Get Your Pretty On Q&A

I had the pleasure of collaborating with Get Your Pretty On. A site that it geared toward helping women feel confident when they leave the house. To feel good about themselves. Moms, you and I both know just how difficult it can be to get ready in the morning. A little about this site, they have been featured in RedBook, Ladies home journal, popsugar, and daily buzz style.

In this Q&A I will ask some questions on the programs available. You will also find all appropriate links to the site for additional information.

SuccessfulMommyAdvice:

What is Get Your Pretty on?

Get Your Pretty On:

Get Your Pretty On is a resource for women who are ready to rediscover confidence through easy style and beauty. I started it as my own accountability partner after getting stuck in a “yoga pants mom rut” a few years ago.

SMA:

How does your website help encourage moms, especially stay at home moms?

GYPO:

I provide on-trend casual outfit ideas that work for the everyday life of a stay at home mom without breaking the bank. It’s just as easy to put on a cute outfit as it is to throw on sweat pants. You just have to have the right pieces in your closet and know how to put them together. That’s exactly what I provide. When we feel good about how we look, that spills over into every area of our lives and makes us not only better for ourselves, but our families too.

SMA:

What is the cost for your services, is it affordable and reasonable?

GYPO:

The GYPO Style Challenge, my signature seasonal style program is available for $49 which is a fraction of what it would cost to work one on one with a personal stylist. Each season I provide members with a seasonal trend shopping list and mis and match outfit ideas made up from pieces on that list.

SMA:

What is one thing you would improve on your site?

GYPO:

Running a site like this requires constant upgrades. We rely heavily on our members’ feedback to make improvements and are always striving to make the experience better.

SMA:

Is Get Your Pretty On easily accessible? For example through mobile apps?

GYPO:

We have a membership portal that’s easily accessible upon sign up. The PDF shopping list and daily outfits are able to be downloaded to iBooks for viewing on the go. We’re also working on an app that will allow members to access key pieces of the challenge.

SMA:

What recommendations do you have for moms? How can your site motivate them to feel their best?

GYPO:

My best advice is to make a daily schedule and stick to it. Try to carve out 30 minutes in the morning before anyone else is awake to plan out your day. Start off by taking a shower, getting dressed and giving a little attention to your hair and makeup. It really makes a world of difference in your motivation and how you feel about yourself and sets the tone for the rest of your day!

Be sure to check out this free 14 piece casual wardrobe shopping list on my site. Here’s the link: http://stylechallenges.com/free-capsule-wardrobe/

There is also a 2016 Spring Challenge open on March 24th you can check that out by clicking here

Double Stroller Trouble

Becoming a mom for the third time was so overwhelming for me. Especially because it was a back to back pregnancy and I wasn’t expecting it at all. I already had a little baby who was only one year old, I was nervous and afraid. So I started looking into a very important thing: A DOUBLE STROLLER.

What do I buy?

What kind?

Is it compact and affordable?

Al these lingering questions ran through my mind as I read and researched online for the perfect stroller for my needs.

One of the things I knew for sure is that I am constantly on the go and needed to make sure that I had a reliable stroller for transporting the kiddos.

At the time I had a small Ford focus Sudan and I wasn’t even sure if a double stroller would even fit in the trunk of my care. Naturally they are a little bigger than a single one. They take more space and they can be bulky. Here are some double stroller trouble tips for moms with multiple kids.

Here are the two strollers I tried over a years’ time.

www.graco.com

Graco duo glider LX

And

Combi Cosmo twin stroller (Discontinued model)

www.babiesrus.com

So how did I determine which one worked for me? Here are a few tips on how to decide on finding the perfect stroller.

Research and check reviews.

Are you looking for style, comfort, or just something to meet your basic needs? Well these are all very important concerns when shopping for a stroller. One of the things that is very important is safety. You want to ensure your littles are nice and snug in their strollers. When buying a stroller, always be sure to read reviews and talk to other parents for ideas on what to buy.

Comfort and storage

For me one of the most important things to look for was comfort and space. I wanted to make sure that at the time the stroller would fit into my trunk. I also wanted something that my babies would feel comfortable in, we are avid Disneyland goers and I wanted them to have the ability to lie down if they wanted to.

The Pros and Cons:

The combi twin stroller reclined all the way back and it was awesome for this. Storage is very small here. I love this stroller and it’s actually the one I use on a daily basis. This stroller is perfect for us, unfortunately they discontinued this model. But you’re in luck there are other styles available on their website, you can check them out here.

Since I wasn’t going to let this break me, I purchased something called the “mommy Hook” which is awesome! It holds all my bags on a little hook. You can check out the link here.

The graco glider was great with storage and cup holders. But not so great with reclining seats and comfort. Eventually the glider gave up in the storage department, it started to tear the at the bottom (hence the importance of reading the reviews?)

Whatever it is you’re looking for, I hope you find help in some of these tips. Personally I always love to take advice from other moms when shopping baby products. There are so many brands out there so it can be hard to choose sometimes. Be sure to share your stroller story below! Thanks for stopping by and continue to strive for mommy success!

Reina

Me, Plus Three, and ADHD

photo retrieved from Pinterest.com

As a parent, naturally you never want to hear something is wrong with your child. The first thing that comes to my mind is, “how do I fix it”?

How can I be a better parent, and did I cause this? It’s something that plays over and over again in my mind.

From Preschool to kindergarten, things took a turn for the worst. His Teachers noticed some things about Isaac that concerned them and me. So I decided to bring it to his pediatrician’s attention. He, also just as concerned as I was.

The initial diagnosis was just the ADHD, but as time progressed things worsened for him at school.

Part of me always knew something was a little off with him. Both socially and behaviorally. It was hard for me to admit it or seek help, because I was waiting for him to “outgrow” it like most people suggested would happen. He always had a lot of energy and we always thought, “He’s just a boy”.

So I had him retested and then he was officially dual diagnosed with ADHD and high functioning autism.

And now it’s me, Plus three, and ADHD (with some high functioning autism).

Initially I felt a little sad. I started thinking about how this would affect him in the future. But then I started to become more knowledgeable on the subject of Autism and realized he would be just fine. Then my attitude changed. I didn’t want my feelings to cripple him from doing things, I want him to know at least from me that he is amazing and special no matter what. This is something that sets him apart from everyone else, and that God made him so unique and we’re ready to take it on. One of my promises to him is to support him through everything and encourage him to be and do his best. I believe in him.

I am not posting this for sympathy. I want to raise awareness on the issue of ADHD because many people have misconceptions of what it is. Having a child with ADHD can be challenging at times. But it’s manageable, it takes a lot of support and communication with your spouse, doctors, and teachers. I have seen first hand that it is REAL it’s not made up or a discipline problem. I want to share with other moms that there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope and help available for your every need.

Here’s what we’re working on now and some tips to help your child at home. It’s challenging at times and takes a lot of consistency.

Find out how he learns:

This is one of the most important ones to understand. Homework can be a battle with ADHD, the lack of attention to detail and focus can be tough for your child to sit still for a long period of time. My son, works well when he is motivated to do so. If he feels like there is a reward at the end of his homework, he does well. I have to use charts, stickers, and anything else that interests him. This is a great way to encourage them to do their work. Because he is unable to work independently, I have to make sure I sit with him to do his work. I make time to do this when my youngest is napping.

Set a schedule:

There is a routine for everything we do, from the time we wake up till he comes home from school. Some days are busier than others due to different therapies he has. But overall the scheduling works. I use a calendar (Yes I am old fashioned) and I have events and important dates listed there, I do also input them in my phone as reminders. It’s helpful for my husband and I to stay on the same page with his busy schedule at work.

Make a reward system:

rewards system to track daily behavior

Everything has to be acknowledged with my son. From washing his hands to putting his clothes away. I have to recognize when he is doing good behavior and the behavior eventually sticks. School is a little more complicated but I’ll get on that on another post. Everything is going to start at home. You can control his environment better when he is home. School and home are separate entities in my opinion.

Ask for help and understand resources available to you:

Isaac currently attends speech therapy, occupational therapy, and soon to be started Applied Behavioral therapy. Our weeks are busy, but every therapy is good and provides something different for him. Once you speak with the school regarding the issues, you can potentially have additional services provided by the school district. I am currently in the IEP (Individual educational plan) process so there will be another post on that to follow. I just want you to know that help is out there, you just have to push a little harder for it sometimes.

Parent support:

Attending a parent support group is so crucial for you and your child’s success. I cannot even stress this enough! Asking for help is hard to do sometimes, but we need it. We need to remember that we as parents are still human and make mistakes like anyone else. The additional support helps to talk about the situation out loud with someone who is non biased, to get advice and ask questions. It’s amazing and I think everyone should think about joining. Technology is so awesome that now you can find groups of support online.

I understand that every child is different so what works for my child may not work for yours. I’d love to hear from you if you try something different. I am always looking for new ways to learn and grow. As I feel this is all a learning process, and every day my son teaches me something new.

Maybe some of you are asking, “why isn’t she just medicating, it will make life easier” That will be on another post. It’s a long story as to why my husband and I declined meds.

Stay tuned because I know that there is more to this journey. I want to share it with you all, and help anyone who needs it to the best of my ability and I’m also willing to take help or advice, as all of this is so new to me.

Raising my three kids is no walk in the park, but I know every day is a blessing and gift from above. Thanks for sharing this with me, and also be sure to continue to share my posts and site with other moms.

Blessings,

Reina

Top Tips for a Fantastic Baby Shower

Photo courtesy of Flikr

Top Tips for a Fantastic Baby Shower

Contributor:

A Baby Shower is a fabulous way of getting your friends together to celebrate the imminent arrival. The time around the birth of a baby is hectic for any parent and the early weeks with a newborn are often spent in something akin to hibernation. Welcoming a new life into the world is always an occasion to be celebrated. What is more joyous than the birth of a baby? It’s a life changing experience that calls for lots of preparation.

So, relish the opportunity to spend time some quality time with her before she finally pops that longed for baby out!

Gifts for Baby

Think about what mom-to-be might find useful. Diapers, cloth or disposable are traditional baby shower gifts. They also have the useful benefit of saving your pregnant friend money once the baby arrives. Wipes are an essential piece of kit no new mom is ever without, so bulk buys of these are a lifesaver, too.

If you’re not so keen to buy for baby already, then why not treat Mom instead? After all, it’s a great excuse to partake in some retail therapy once the little one makes it’s debut into the big wide world.

Gifts for Mommy

It’s time to spoil the Mom to be. Think toiletries, moisturizers, or some items for her labor bag. Lip salve is always a good one! For after the birth, vouchers are a brilliant idea. She may fancy a boost and get her hair done, get a gift card from her favourite hairdresser. Clothes store vouches are good too. She may have changed shape and find not so much of her wardrobe fits any more. Treats like spa days are a fantastic way of getting some me-time for new moms.

What Happens at a Baby Shower?

There are lots of party games to have fun with at a baby shower. You can have dollar bets on the weight of the baby, and the winner takes all. Or give Mommy half! If your friend hasn’t told anyone what the baby is to be called yet, you can play a game trying to guess the potential baby names. Games involving tasting baby food to guess what it’s meant to be are often found at showers, too. I guess that one would depend on how squeamish you are!

What About Daddy in All This?

Daddies are often forgotten in all of this girly baby shower business: but we should spare a thought for them too. A particularly thoughtful gift idea is vouchers for a restaurant, or even for their favourite take-out. Neither of them has to cook, and they get to time together. This gift goes particularly well with a bottle of wine! Even better, why not give them the valuable gift of time without the baby! Offer your babysitting service by issuing “vouchers” to be cashed on a (mutually convenient) evening?

Have you organized a baby shower? What did you do? Have you any tips or tricks to share? Drop by and leave them in the comments below!

Don’t Deprive Yourself of Sleep

Image downloaded from
https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2015/04/27/18/41/tiger-742426_960_720.jpg

As a parent you get used to making a few sacrifices. It comes with the job. You don’t even mind being the cook, cleaner, taxi, tear wiper, hugger and even the disciplinarian. These might eat into your down time, but a mom can pretty much deal with anything except a lack of sleep. That’s where we draw the line or at least we should do. If you have ever had that exhausted drained and empty feeling then the chances are you are staying up too late. Or you could be getting up too early and just simply not getting enough sleep. Here are some ways to play catch up.

Keep children out of your bed.

This one can be a real pain once you start to weaken. It might seem like a good idea to let a little one slip into your bed on a bad night. But you have to insist that they go back to sleeping in their own space. Otherwise you’ll face a long list of nights as little ones trot into your room habitually. It’s an easy habit to slip into but a hard one to break. There’s nothing for it but to take them back and make them stay there.

Image retrieved from
https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2016/02/13/15/47/cat-1198051_960_720.jpg

Grab a cat nap.

It’s a power nap for the guys and executives but research tells us that 20 -30 minutes cat napping is actually good for you. Cat naps boost your brain power, increase your memory and surprise surprise, improve your mood. They also lower your blood pressure and reduce levels of stress hormones in the body. Do you have a little one who is still benefiting from a daytime sleep? Well why not join them for a bit, rather than trying to set the world to rights while they’re sleeping.

You’ll benefit from a few essential accessories. An eye mask could help shut out the light and what cat nap would be complete without vellux blankets to keep you snug and cosy? Try not to go beyond the thirty minute mark otherwise you’ll run the risk of just waking up all drowsy. Seriously though, even five or ten minutes can be really refreshing.

Make yourself more comfortable in bed

A surprising number of people are not getting a good quality of sleep. They may have aches and pains or are too hot or just struggle to get to sleep in the first place. If this is you, then it could be that mattress and your bed are in need of replacement. The same applies to your pillow. If matress and pillow are not supporting your spine you could be in for an uncomfortable night tossing and turning. Other reasons for passing a bad night include being too hot or cold, or being disturbed by light or noise. Eating too late and drinking alcohol won’t help you sleep too well either! Opt for a soothing chamomile tea instead.

Catch up with some sleep and you might start to feel human again. You might even find yourself a more tolerant capable and rejuvenated Mom. That has to be good for everyone in the family, especially you.

Tips for Managing House Cleaning

Housekeeping is a nasty, burdensome and thankless job. Soon after you put your home in order, dust and dirt begin to accumulate over and over.

Needless to say, this can be pretty stressful. With your busy life, you probably don’t have time to clean your home every single minute. Which is why you need to manage your time when doing the chores. Here is a quick guide to help you improve your cleaning schedule.

Make a list. The first thing you ought to do is identify all the cleaning tasks you handle weekly. You also need to estimate how much time it takes to accomplish everything and how often it should be done. The key to managing your time when housekeeping is scheduling. Once you figure out all the chores, write “daily”, “weekly” or “monthly”, “every other day”, “every three days”, etc. next to each one, depending on how often it needs to be done. Make your list comprehensive and easy to grasp. Fill in your engagements on a calendar and determine on which days of the month you will be available to commit to housekeeping. Make sure to fill in the most essential tasks first. This would include vacuuming and sweeping the floors. Group similar or related chores to minimize the time you spend on one area.

Some tasks, such as washing the dishes, making the beds and clearing the table, don’t need to be marked down on the calendar because they have to be done constantly. Consider creating a separate chore list for them. Place it on the refrigerator or your magnet board in the kitchen so it’s easy to see.

Assign tasks to other family members. Are you a family that shares housework? Good for you. The more members pitch in with house-cleaning, the more quickly you can get the job done. When building a cleaning schedule, don’t forget to indicate all the responsibilities that your loved ones will be tackling. Place a checklist or a chart of chores in a visible spot to remind them they have work to do, too. Adjust your schedule. If your cleaning schedule begins to feel a little overwhelming and burdensome, it means you have to do minor changes. The point of building a schedule is to make your daily cleaning routine more manageable and less time-consuming. The moment it starts to interfere in your life, you have to read just it.

Dedicate half an hour to decluttering before nap time. Wash dirty dishes, sweep the kitchen floor, put toys away, put clean clothes where they belong, etc. Managing today’s chores will help you to start a new day, fresh and tidy. If you have to deal with the messes from the day before, you will end up with more chores and less time to tackle everything. Place a basket in a visible spot and toss all items you find on the floor or in other inappropriate places.

Ask family members to put those away. Rather than sitting on the floor in all unimaginable places around the house, these items will be kept in place and out of sight until their owner puts them away. This will also minimize time de-cluttering. If you have kids, don’t bother to clean your home in the morning. Instead wait until the sun goes down. Doing the chores in the morning is practically pointless because your kids will declutter again and again, so you will have to give the house another clean in the evening. The only exception is washing the dishes. Don’t ever skip them over.

Here are some tips for managing house cleaning.

The article is contributed by CityCleaners W4

Please join me in welcoming guest blogger Patricia Cornwell all the way from London, England. Patricia is a passionate writer and cat owner based in London. She is interested in home improvement, design.

« Previous Page

Find out how he learns:

Set a schedule:

Make a reward system:

Parent support:

Reina