Photo courtesy of www.missyb-andfamily.com

  Let’s face it…When we became moms, we made a decision to give up sleep.  Of course that is not what we thought we signed up for.  If you are a mom with a child under the age of five, I would say you are sleep deprived Mommy.   I have been that way for the past three and a half years, and now with the addition of my 11 month old infant I’m not tired.  I’m exhausted.  My daughter was sleeping through the night from the ages of two months till around 6 months.  She began waking up every two or three hours to “eat”.  I put this in quotation marks because she was actually hungry (in my opinion), Breastfed babies tend to wake up or eat more if you are feeding them on demand.  They use this as a level of comfort to help soothe them back to sleep.  At this point, I was getting about three hours of consistent sleep at night.  I needed a break! I couldn’t cope with waking up every hour on the hour, so what did I do? I reached out to other mamas to see what they did or do in this situation.  So Now I am going to share this with you.  Thanks to all of my friends and family on Facebook who guided me through this process, I appreciate every one of you. 

1. Make sure your baby is nice and full. One of my friends recommended this to me and I agree with this.  My daughter is now learning to “self feed” and is always interested in feeding herself during the day.  Try to give your baby a fruit (Gerber) before bed.  I have tried this over a few nights in a row and it seems to work.  She really enjoys apples or pears before bed.

2. Try not to breastfeed/bottle feed at night. This one is really hard for me, because with my daughter I did not put her on a scheduled feeding.  I decided to feed her on demand and as necessary.  With my son (first born) I would keep better track by writing down feeding times so that I could be scheduled with him. With my second child not so much, I found myself too busy and would just feed her when she was hungry or I was full. Which was often in the beginning.  I think she became accustomed to eating on demand and so it’s been difficult weaning her at night, but I’ll keep trying.

3. You’re baby is reaching or meeting new milestones and is excited and eager to play (even at 3AM).  This in fact is true. My daughter just started crawling on all fours! She is on the move and super active and busy during the day. When she wakes up at night she seems tired, but is still very ready to play and talk.  I think that it’s important to establish a schedule with your babies so they can understand the difference between day and night.  I don’t think my daughter quite understands that.

4. Shorten their naps during the day.  This is another good one.  For an 11 month old baby on average they are supposed to take two 2 and half hour naps and sleep about 11-12 hours at night.  Not happening in our house.  There is no way she is sleeping 11 or 12 hours at night, she stopped doing that at six months.  She does nap during the day and it is for about 2 and half hours.  My cousin referred a great site for me to review on baby sleep patterns.  It also talks about what your baby should be eating to ensure they are full before bed. Here is the link for more. https://www.babysleepsite.com/schedules/11-month-old-schedule/. 

4. Make sure they are changed and fed really good, then let them cry it out.  I really LOL’d to this one.  I agree with the process of “self soothing” Except  not at 3 AM.  I also have a toddler in the house who will wake up.  At this hour I need them both to be peacefully sleeping. 

            These were all really great ideas and I have been implementing them in my process to better sleeping habits for both me and my baby.  It’s been an amazing journey being the mother of two precious children.  Every child is different and we learn from them as we go.  Sleep is very important for both mommy and baby.  Without sleep we can become crazy people! I remember people telling me to enjoy my sleep before my kids came along and boy were they right! I am now learning to get both kids to nap at the same time.  Even though I should nap with them, I’d rather be blogging, doing laundry, or washing dishes (yeah right).  I guess I will remain sleep deprived until they turn 18! HA!

            Thanks again for stopping by, I look forward to your feedback and comments.  Make sure to share with other mommies out there, so that together we can continue to strive for mommy success.

My 3 year old son and 11 month old daughter Playing together. It’s not always a competition. They have fun too 🙂

     Having one child is tough, but having two comes with a whole different set of challenges.  My kids are two and a half years apart, and even though they are younger I’ve noticed some sibling rivalry occur and sometimes it can be overwhelming.  As the first born, my son was so used to being the “baby” of the family, and it was always just me and him during the day.  With the arrival of his younger sister things have changed and he has found himself fighting for my attention.  I think that it’s amazing how much love your kids have for you when they are little, they crave the attention from you and always want to be with you.  I try to make time for them both individually as much as possible, but I have noticed that he gets impatient.  He loves her and I do not doubt that at all, he is affectionate with her and always eager to help. However, crying, tantrums, and even set-backs have occurred over the last 11 months. 

            So What should you do when this happens? Well what I have learned is that you must, absolutely must make time for both of them.  I know it sounds so hard to do, especially when you have one child under the age of one.  The good thing is, there is hope yet.   I decided to conduct a little research on the matter and decide what works best to get them to play nice.  According to FisherPrice.com I found that dads have a very important role when it comes to this issue.  Have dad play and grab the attention of the older child, so they don’t feel left out.  It also says to read to the oldest child and explain to them what’s happening in the family, sometimes kids have a hard time expressing themselves and books can help ease this process. 

            Even though my son is a little “rough around the edges” with his little sister I see that he protects her and loves having her around.  It’s just taking a little longer than expected to get used to.  It’s almost been a year to date since I brought her home from the hospital, and although things haven’t been super easy along the way I am fortunate enough to say: “they are both alive at the end of the day” LOL. We can do as much research as we want, but we have to put things to practice and live it before we can move forward.  I have found that making time for them together and individually is important.  Try and take the older one for a walk, just you two and you will see changes in the behavior.  These things take time and every child adapts at a different rate. 

            Thanks for stopping by mommies, remember to share my blog with other mommies out there and connect with me to receive my newsletter and other free gifts along the way.  Together we can strive for mommy success, one woman and mommy at a time! 🙂

http://www.fisher-price.com.cn/en_US/playtime/parenting/articlesandadvice/articledetail.html?article=tcm:169-19456-16&parentCategory=FAMILY+MATTERS&subCategory=Preparing+Siblings+for+a+New+Baby

My dad and I at my graduation from college in 2012

My husband and I on our wedding day. April 2011

          In honor of Father’s day on Sunday, I wanted to take a moment and discuss why this day is so important and dear to me.  My dad was a young dad, at 16 years old he was just a kid doing the best he could for his daughter.  Being raised by father was truly a blessing for me.  He taught me many things, from sports, music, philosophy, and the occasional joke; but he also taught me how to be strong, faithful, determined, and confident.  He was not like other parents, but he was just right for me.  I didn’t always like his rules, and felt at times he was “too hard” today I know why he was and appreciate him for it.  Of course like any parent/child relationship we have had our ups and downs and been through things together you couldn’t even imagine.  My dad always made up for the fact that my biological mother was not in the picture.  Although it wasn’t always easy, sometimes he didn’t have the answers when it came to girly stuff but he always encouraged and supported me throughout my life.  Words cannot express the love I have for my father.  As a little girl I remember it used to bother me that Father’s Day was in the summer when I was out of school.  I always wanted to make cute little crafts in class for him.  I think today, he still has some of the things I would make for him. He’s an amazing person with many traits that I admire and I am honored to call him my “DAD”.

            Since my dad has always been the number one man in my life, I knew that I one day wanted to marry someone who made me feel the way my dad did growing up.  Like I could do anything, and that my goals were never out of reach.  God listened and answered my prayers when he placed my husband in my life.  He’s been a great companion, partner, and an amazing father to our two children.  He has taught me so many things in our years together and has accomplished everything that he set out to do.  His love for me and our family is unconditional and he has provided us with a happy life.  I couldn’t ask for someone better to raise my family with.  He’s been a blessing full of ambition with a positive attitude and outlook on life.  I love him more than anything in this world and my life is definitely complete with him in it.  He has made me so proud of all he does and I know that he will continue to go strong. 

            Father’s Day for me isn’t just a day to be “thankful” for that special man in your life.  It’s also a time of reflection and appreciation for all they do.  I am the woman I am today because I have been surrounded by such strong men.  Not only are they dedicated to their families, but they are providers and always there for their kids. I appreciate all the Father’s out there who do whatever it takes for their children.  Anyone can make a baby, but it takes a real man to be a Father.  Happy Father’s Day to all of you dads, daddies, papas, and grandpas.  Thank you all for your hard work, This is your day.  Enjoy it with all the ones you love.

Here is all the things I mentioned in my list. This is currently what is inside of my daughters bag. The small pink bag is the first aide kit I mentioned, it’s pretty compact and fits perfectly. 🙂

          Hello Successful Mommies!! Since summer is approaching quickly, I want to take a moment and talk about the Diaper bag (Drum roll please)! Some will say, packing a diaper bag is not rocket science, but if you’re a mom you will totally disagree. It’s time consuming and almost every time you forget something you need for your little one.  So I decided to create a list based on items I use daily with my infant.  If some of you are like me and have more than one child, it’s best to always pack for both.  By the time I walk out of the house with both kids, the diaper bag(s), my purse, and the stroller, I’m sweating and exhausted.  I think that every mom should know what to pack and how to pack it so that it is compact enough to fit in your bag and your car/trunk.  This is a great list for first time mamas.  I also recommend packing the diaper bag the night before you travel and keep it close to the door.  This way it’s ready when you are and it’s close by in case of an emergency.  I try to fill it up after I return from my outing, but if not once  a week should suffice, depending on how often I go out.  Here 21 diaper bag essentials to help you pack for your little ones.

1.     Diapers.  Make sure you have enough for where ever your going.  I always like to pack a few extra, just in case.  The best way to determine how many diapers to pack is by your child’s eating habits and how often you change them.  I usually change my child every time they wake up from nap and after they eat/drink.  On average 15-20 diapers for newborns/infants, 5-10 for toddlers (ages 1-2), and for ages 3 and up 2 pull ups just in case of accidents. 

2.     Diaper mat. You never know where you have to change your little ones so it’s best to have something to protect them.  My diaper bag included a mat, however there are disposable ones that you can purchase as well. 

3.     Plastic bags.  Sometimes I forget to pack these myself and I have so many of them! It’s great to have plastic bags in your diaper bag for dirty diapers.  Depending on where you are they may not have any, so it’s best to bring your own.  If you have a diaper genie you can always use the bags that come with that as well.  I normally just pack regular plastics bags from the grocery store.

4.     Wipes.  I like to buy the wipes that come in the to go package.  Huggies or Pampers make this, it’s so easy and fits right into your diaper bag.  This way you don’t have to refill anything and when you run out you can just throw it away and replace it.

5.     Desitin or diaper rash ointment.  I like A&D or desitin, however for my daughter I prefer A&D it seems to work better and prevents chafing when she crawls around.  Even if your kids don’t have rashes, just pack it in case in my opinion it’s always better to be prepared. 

6.     Change of clothes.  I always like to have a change of clothes for my baby.  When they are newborns sometimes you have to change them often, however you may have to do this even as infant and toddlers.  I like to pack something light, so maybe a onesie and pants, a pajama, socks, and of course a jacket. You never know if it’s going to rain or get cold. 

7.     Lotion and powder.  Just like us babies need to feel refreshed, I like to pack a travel sized lotion and powder to freshen them up.  This is great for long trips as well. 

8.     Sun block.  I live in Southern California, so the weather can get pretty warm.  It’s always good to keep sun block to protect your babies from the hot sun.  I like to use water babies SPF 50, and it’s a travel size so it doesn’t take up too much room.

9.     Thermometer. You always want to keep one in your diaper bag even if your child has not had fever.  With tethers you just never know what’s going to happen so it’s best to keep one on hand.

10.  Mucus suction.  Whether they are babies or kids, they hate getting their noses cleaned.  For some reason if they are extra hard to reach, it’s best to have the suction with you at all times.  I also like to have a gentle saline or boogie wipes just in case to help moisten the area so it doesn’t get chapped or dry.

11.  Tylenol and orajel/teething tablets. If your child is teething you want to make sure to keep this inside the diaper bag at all times.  My daughter never liked the teething meds however I always kept them on hand just in case things got out of control.  You never know. the area. 

12.  First aid kit.  I actually bought a newborn kit and it came with bandages, nail clipper, syringes, alcohol wipes, and a comb.  This came in a small bag and it fits great in your diaper bag.  These are so great to have just in case you stay overnight or have an emergency.

13.  Hand sanitizer.  Sometimes we are not able to get to a sink to wash our hands, so the next best thing is hand sanitizer.  I actually keep the one you can hook onto the straps of your purse, these are perfect to have and only cost a buck!

14.  Insurance information.  This should probably be at the top of the list, however I know that most people carry this in their wallets.  I like to make copies of the cards and have them inside the diaper bag just in case.  My bag is pretty cool and comes with a plastic pouch for documents.  If for whatever reasons you switch wallets or purses and forget them, you always have an extra with you. 

15.  Bottled water.  I like to keep one in the diaper bag whether it’s for me or the kids.  Sometimes if I go to the park, or even to visit someone you never know if they are going to need water while you’re driving.

16.  Food/Solids for baby/snacks.  I like to buy the Gerber foods that come 2 in a pack, I believe they are 2.5 ounces.  These are perfect for the diaper bags.  You can pack 2 foods at a time and they are super lightweight.  I like to do one of each, so one veggie one fruit but you can pack whatever your baby likes.  My daughter and my son love the Gerber puffs and cookies.  I like to keep these on hand at all times, especially when I am driving and they are crying.  You can also use cheerios, fruit snacks, granola bars, or fresh fruit.  It’s always good to have accessible food with young children. 

17.  Toys.  For newborns this may not be necessary but once your baby hits the three month mark, make sure to keep rattles, noise makers, and tethers in your diaper bag.  My daughter loves her doll so now I just pack that doll, and a rattle for her entertainment. 

18.  Bottles or Sippy cup.  Diaper bags are great because they come with cup holders on each side.  On one side I have a bottled water on the other I have the Sippy cup.  Make sure to pack extra bottles if your pumping or formula feeding.

19.  Nursing wrap/shields.  Even though I don’t always use shields for protection, I like to have them just in case I need them.  They are great tools for latching and biting.  A wrap is great for covering up if you don’t feel comfortable nursing in public

20.  Bibs.  My daughter makes such a mess when she eats! I am always cleaning her up and sometimes her clothes get stained.  Always pack a bib (or 2) just in case you have an extra messy eater like I do.

21.  Blanket/receiving blanket.  I like to have at least one receiving blanket in the diaper bag, and I keep one or two blankets in my car just in case.  Blankets are bulky and take up room and the bag can get heavy.

      Well Mommies that’s the breakdown of “The list” I hope these tips are helpful for you mamas.  I know that when I was a new mom, I didn’t know what to pack and would always forget something.  These items are just the basic essentials for your baby.  You can always add or remove items depending on their age.  I usually pack a small backpack for my son who is three, in there I usually carry a pull-up, extra clothes, and a toy.  What’s great about this is he will carry it himself and I don’t have to worry! 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by! Remember to share my blog with other mommies so that together we can continue to strive for mommy success! 🙂

Photo courtesy of Startupmom.wordpress.com

           Congratulations if you have chosen to breastfeed your baby! It’s a demanding job and we are blessed to have such a precious gift and bond with our babies.  I breastfed my first son for almost 14 months, he never took a bottle or pumped milk, I was his cow (HA).  My daughter who is now ten months and whom which I am still breastfeeding, is the same.  She started drinking from a cup at seven months and had solids at around six months.  Every baby is different, and therefore so is your nutrition.  You have to make sure that you are you taking care of yourself even better than when you were pregnant.  Here are a few snack and meal ideas for a healthy milk supply.  Sometimes we get overwhelmed with nursing  our little ones that we forget that we have to take care of ourselves.  We are producing milk 24 hours a day, our bodies are not going to slow down so our eating habits are very important. Check out these great nutrition tips for the breastfeeding mama.

1. Do not skip meals.  Even if you’re not hungry always eat something.  Make sure to have a breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  This is so important because skipping meals can decrease your supply.  For breakfast oatmeal and whole grains are great, so oatmeal and a piece of toast or bagel along with fresh fruit.  I like fresh fruit in my oatmeal and cereals.  By the way in case you didn’t know, oatmeal does help increase your milk supply.  So eating oatmeal every day won’t hurt you or baby.  It’s actually great for them and you.

2. Keep hydrated.  Make sure to always drink lots of water.  Once and a while I crave a soda or something I think that is ok every now and again but always have water before and after.  I have noticed in my supply that when I drink too much juice or coffee my daughter gets cranky.  This could mean that there’s too much sugar in my milk, always, always drink water. 

3.  Snack in between meals.  This kind of reminds me of when I was pregnant, right after my daughter eats, I’m hungry! I always want to snack on something and I tend to eat smaller portions, which is good.  Some great snacks that I eat, are yogurt (I have recently taken a liking to Dannon Greek yogurt), crackers with cheese, celery with peanut butter, and finally a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  These are great healthy snack alternatives when breastfeeding.  Of course everything in my opinion is ok in moderation.  I think once and a while you can have the things you love (junk food). 

4.  Ask a doctor. If you’re unsure of certain foods make sure to check with you doctor on what’s ok and what’s not.  For example, with my first baby chocolate was a no go. I couldn’t eat it because every time I did, it would give him diarrhea.  Of course, every baby is different.  With my second baby in the first months of nursing I would drink diluted prune juice and this would make her go as well.  So just remember everything you put in goes to your baby.  If you see a different reaction after you ate something from your baby always consult with their pediatrician. 

5.  Take vitamins.  I still take my prenatal vitamins daily.  This contains iron and helps you with your calcium levels as well.  Some doctors will tell you to take other vitamins if you are anemic or diabetic, but in most cases the prenatals work great.  You can also purchase these over the counter at any pharmacy. I have been using Spring Valley prenatal since I was pregnant with my first baby.  These ones are great and are very inexpensive, make sure to check with your doctor he may have a specific brand for you to use. 

6.  Mothers Milk Tea.  This is a great tea to drink to boost your supply if your low.  I don’t drink the four cups a day, however I do have a cup every night and every morning.  This has definitely helped me with my supply and it also has vitamins that help you with your own vitals. 

            These are just a few tips that I use today and in the past.  You learn to figure out what works best for you and you run with it.  What works for me, may not work for you. Our bodies are designed so differently.  I hope that this post was helpful for those who need it. 

            Signing off for now, make sure to pass my blog to other mommies out there.  This information will help new or repeat moms in the long run.  It’s our job as moms to help and encourage one another, it’s not a competition.  Together let’s keep striving for mommy success! <3

Photo Courtesy of Manglesmischief.com

         We are mothers, rare human beings who care for others first and ourselves last.  It’s just the way we are wired, we can’t help that we don’t have time for ourselves.  How many of you feel this way on a daily basis? I know that I will be the first one to say…ME!! This is the toughest job I’ve ever had in my entire life.  We are completely responsible for these little precious beings.  While it is an amazing job filled with blessings and much more, we still are human and ultimately women.  We know what it’s like to not have time to take a shower, do makeup, or have fancy nails and pedicures.  Sometimes those things are last on our lists.  Sounds unfair huh? We need time for ourselves, without it the entire family suffers.  Crazy mom equals crazy kids! 🙂 Most if not all of you who are moms understand this concept clearly.  

            Being Alone and having time without your kids is crucial to maintain your sanity.  It doesn’t matter your profession getting away from the daily grind of things is important and very necessary.   Since I am a full time stay-at-home-mom, I often get tired of the daily routine.  I feel like I am doing the same things every day, it’s irritating and overwhelming.  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and receiving the same results, well that is sometimes how I feel when I do not take a break! Sometimes I am so exhausted I wipe the same counter over again, even though I did it twice. LOL! I am serious, and I’m sure some of you have done this too.  When you have smaller children breaks are difficult, believe me I am going through this now.  One of the great things is my husband is super supportive of this, always encouraging me to go shopping alone and do things I enjoy without my babies.  Having that support system truly helps and allows you to feel good about leaving and enjoying yourself, even if only for an hour or so. 

            My advice is take breaks as often as you can.  If you stay home, it’s best to keep your kids on a schedule so you can break when they nap.  You can do something for you in that hour that they are napping, you can even nap with them 😉 I just think that sometimes it’s easy to forget ourselves because we become so consumed with daily life, we love being moms but forget to be women.  Being a mom should not change that, we are entitled to a little fun once and a while.  I love to go have coffee at Starbucks or Panera bread alone.  It’s a great time for me to get away and relax with my favorite cup of Joe, catch up on some reading and enjoy. 

            Don’t be afraid to do this.  With my first child, I never wanted to leave his side although I was exhausted and overwhelmed I wanted to spend every second of every hour with him.  It was so bad that he was never used to me leaving him and it took him time to warm up to others.  It was hard to leave him with babysitters, he would cry and in most cases the sitters were family members! I know right? I was totally into my little man that I didn’t do anything for me.  Things changed with my second child.  Now I know what to expect and how to deal with things.  I leave them both behind with my husband with no guilt. 

            I would recommend to do something like this at least once a week if you can.  Try to make a designated day just for you.  Go run errands, shop, get your hair done, nails, or toes, but do it for you and I promise you will come back one happy WOMAN! 🙂 I have learned that being a mom and wife takes a tremendous amount of work and balance.  You have to know how to have and make time for everyone.  There’s a saying, “A happy mom makes a happy home” and I completely agree with this.  When we are happy, everyone is happy.  So in order to maintain that happiness do something nice for yourself every now and then, guilt free.  It’s time to embrace our womanhood without always being reminded we’re moms.  I believe we can be both and be fabulous while doing it 🙂

            Signing off for now mommies, I hope that you enjoyed this post and that it can help some of you out there with this dilemma.  Thanks for stopping by and remember to pass along this information to other moms out there.  Together we can keep striving for mommy and woman success! 🙂

Photo courtesy of kidsactivities.net

          Summer is right around the corner, and sometimes it’s really hard to find activities to keep your busy toddler entertained.  In the summer the weather can get really HOT, depending on where you live.  Which means that sometimes we are stuck indoors until the weather cools off in the late afternoon/early evening.  I have found a few things you can do to keep your toddler busy when they have to be inside.  I have found that when toddlers are inside for long periods of time, they get bored and become rambunctious.  So Here are some things I have done in the past for my three year old. 

Inside activities:

1. Water fun: Kids love water, especially my kid :).  So I fill up totes with water (You can add things to the water, like food coloring or bubbles to enhance the fun).  You can put plastic animals in the water, usually you can find these at the 99 cent store or dollar tree.  If there’s food coloring in the water, then it makes it harder for them to search for the animals.  Give your child cups so they can practice pouring the water from tote to cup.  This also helps them build their fine motor skills.  Make sure to place old towels or newspaper on the floor to avoid mess and stains.

2.  Create a mural:  Kids love to paint and create.  You can get large craft paper and tape it up to one specific wall in your house or child’s room.  They can draw, color and paint all over the paper.  Since this paper is big, they can take breaks in between and keep returning to it throughout the day.  This is also a great activity to teach your child the importance of Art and explain what a mural is.  I actually got this idea from Nick Jr’s Olivia 🙂

3.  Make moon sand: I actually found this idea on Pinterest, and have not tried it yet so I’m looking forward to this activity.  So the instructions are to use five cups of flour and mix in one cup of baby oil, once mixed this turns into soft sand.  You can have your child use measuring cups and spoons to play in the sand.  As always, I recommend laying down some newspaper or towels to prevent mess 🙂

4.  Music time: My son is so musically inclined, he loves to sing and drum.  So it’s a great idea to put on some music (kid friendly, of course) and have them rock out.  You can also have them make their own instruments.  Here are some instruments you can make from things around the house! Drum: Use an empty coffee tin, you can cover this with craft paper or construction paper (in my opinion craft paper is a heavy duty and holds better).  Place the paper over the top of the can with a rubber band and have your child drum away, my son refers to them as the bongo drums 🙂 Maracas: Use paper towel or toilet paper rolls, fill them with noodles (macaroni is the best!), and cover each end with construction paper and rubber bands.  Just a few instruments that are simple to create some music fun.

5.  Necklace fun: You can have your child make a necklace also using things you have around the house.  For example, take some yarn (it’s thicker, but you can use any type of string material) and string on penne pasta.  First you can paint the penne, and have your child string them on.  These are great gifts for grandparents :). 

Outdoor activities:

1. Pool fun: If you live in a small place or do not have your own pool, that doesn’t mean your kids have to miss out.  You can buy a plastic pool (I actually seen one at Wal-Mart and it came with a little slide, it was about $24).  You can do this when it’s a little cooler outside so that your kids don’t burn, as always don’t forget the sun block! 🙂

2. Friday Fun Day: I like to have a day of the week where I do something out of the ordinary with my kids.  You can do Chuck E. Cheese, Museums, Water Parks, Zoo, or anything else that tickles your fancy.  Of course I think that weather has a lot to do with these activities, so plan accordingly.

3.  Daily activities:  Check with your local city and find out what they have going on around you.  Sometimes the cities put on street fairs, farmers markets, or other events that you can do with your kids.  My city has parent and me classes, indoor gymboree and many more.  Some of these activities are free or may have a cost but are very inexpensive and the classes last about five weeks. 

4. Picnics at the park: Pack some sandwiches and head over to your favorite park! I like to try different parks every week, it gives the kids a different scenery. 

5.  Outside games:  Games are always fun things to do with your kids, in the summer you can include water games such as a water balloon toss or squirt gun tag. 

6.  Nature walk: If you neighborhood has a local trail or hiking path take your little ones on an adventure.  Show them the different trees and have them name colors and ask them what they see.  This is a great way to teach the game “I spy…with my little eye”. 

            So there you have it, just a few ideas to get you started on your summer adventure with your kiddos.  I get ideas from different sites and then I add my own little twist to them.  Parenting.com is a great site for fun activities, fun.familyeducation.com is great for craft ideas, Disney.go.com is another great site for kids of all ages.  Keep me posted on some of the things you and your child do this summer, I look forward to seeing all the fun you have! 🙂

            Thanks for stopping by and remember to share this great information with other mommies out there.  Keep striving for mommy success…Until next time! 🙂

Photo courtesy of dellchallenge.org

          I recently had some issues with preschools for my three year old son.  I was discriminated against for being a full time stay at home mom.  While many people may think I sit around all day, my day is filled with a schedule to keep my kids on track.  Although this issue truly affected me, I decided to do something about it rather than crying over spilled milk.  I spoke to some other parents and did my research and found that instead of paying my son to learn the basic fundamentals at a preschool I can purchase the supplies for half the price.  So far, this has been beneficial for my entire family.  My son has made some many vast improvements in his speech, development, and overall motor skills.  I did not purchase a curriculum from a school quite yet, however I did create my own curriculum based on his specific needs right now.  Most of my learning supplies I purchased at Target and at teacher’s supply stores.  I created a schedule that will help enhance what I am teaching and keep him on target to prepare him for Kindergarten in just a few short years.  Here are a few things I use on a daily basis and what my schedule consists of. 

1.  Big workbook Preschool (Ages 3-5 edition):  This is an amazing book! It has different activities to help with your child’s development and introduction to numbers, letters, colors, and shapes.  I bought this at Target for $9.99, you can work directly in the book or tear the pages out.  There a CD located in the back of the book and you can download other activities to do with your preschooler/toddler.  

2. ABC-123 Preschool phonics and numbers (fourth Edition/a Beka Book):  This book was actually referred to me by the preschool administrator at my church.  She gave me the website and I purchased it there for $13.99.  This was a little more expensive than others I have seen, but this book is a little more extensive with mazes and puzzles.  I try to introduce these activities slowly.  Teaching your child is like climbing steps, you have to master one subject at a time before moving forward in my opinion.  You don’t want to confuse them or push them away from the excitement of learning.  

3.  Flash cards: I use different types of flash cards and I use them to test my son’s knowledge on the things we have practiced.  I buy the ones that are good for preschoolers so look for things that have ages 3-5. 

4.  Crafts: As many of you who have been reading my blog thus far, know that I am a big supporter of crafts for toddlers.  This helps them develop and also teaches them to follow directions.  Every child is different, so you have to do craft time according to their age and development.  My son loses interest very easy, so I try to include crafts where we use paint, or glue this seems to keep him interested longer. 

5.  Create a bulletin board: This is an area where you can display all your child’s hard work.  I kind of created a learning center/classroom for my son to read, color, and paint.  I also place all my supplies in Tupperware drawers, this is full of crayons, paper, and other supplies that I need daily.  It’s nice for your child to see his work and for your visitors to see it as well :).  You don’t need a lot of space to create this area and the supplies are very inexpensive.  Most things I purchase at the dollar tree or Micheal’s.  

6.  Story time:  Reading to your child is very important in my opinion.  This time is not limited to bed time, it can be during the day as well.  When I read a story I try to include a coloring sheet that correlates with what we learned in the book.  Remember your child’s attention span, if it’s short read shorter books.  Talk about what’s going on in the book with interactive sounds and have your child point to objects.  You want to make sure they understand the story, that is why these coloring sheets are helpful. 

7.  Create a schedule: Scheduling is so important.  As moms we are consumed with housework chores, dinner, and everything in between.  If we prepare ourselves for our day the night before the schedule is more successful.  I wake up about an hour before my kids are up, I get dressed, have coffee, and prepare a simple breakfast.  If I am doing a specific lesson or craft that day, I plan and prepare my materials the night before.  This can be time consuming but it is easier to do this while the kids are napping or asleep.  Sticking the schedule can be challenging, however it is totally beneficial if you do.  It allows you and your kids to be organized with your time and take advantage of your day. 

8.  Have weekly field trips or outings:  I do Friday outings with my kids.  This is a time to take the kids somewhere out of the ordinary (somewhere other than the park).  I use the internet to my advantage and look up places and things to do with young kids in my area.  Some of these places are very inexpensive, however prices do vary.  If it is hot outside or raining, you can do indoor activities such as; water or sand activities, along with movie time ( you can pop some microwave popcorn and order pizza), you can also do a mural (place craft paper around your house and have your child go crazy with the finger paint (make sure to use washable products and lay down a towel or newspaper to prevent a mess). 

9. Use a reward system:  I believe in this system wholeheartedly.  This helps encourage and motivate your child.  When they color something, count to ten, and know their flashcards; reward them with a sticker or whatever you like.  Stickers are a great tool to have.  You can make a simple chart and display it somewhere they can see it and remember their good work.  You can also do this for chores (see blog post on chores), behavior, and potty training.  It’s been great for us, although my son still has moments his behavior is definitely better when I am working with him and encouraging him to do his best. 

            These are just a few things you can do to successfully teach your child at home.  If preschool is not an option for you financially or not, you have options and multiple ways to help your child.  Do not be discouraged.  I did not do this overnight, it has taken a lot of determination and dedication to get to this point and it is not easy.  It comes with a lot of sacrifice and patience along the way, but you can do it! We are always doing our best for our kids.  If you stay at home like I do, then you will see how beneficial it is to have a schedule and keep your kids busy throughout the day.   

          Mother’s day is Sunday May, 12th, in my opinion it’s one of the most important holidays to celebrate.  Mother’s oftentimes are under appreciated for all their hard work and dedication to their families.  Raising children is tough, it’s a thankless job and totally selfless.  We tend to forget about our need and place everyone else’s before our own.  This day is an opportunity to thank your mom (Old or new) for all she does for you.  So why is Mother’s day so important? We sacrifice so much as Mother’s, we give up on different things for the well being of our children.  For some of us that means going to work or leaving the workplace depending on the situation.  We are Mother’s. It’s easy to say, put yourself first and I have said it before as well, but it’s hard to do.  Having children is a blessing, they are amazing little people that I imagine turn into ugly teens, and later wonderful human beings.  This is all a part of the process that mothers’ endure.  So if you are looking for some ideas to surprise your mom, wife, grandmother, aunt, or whoever else on this special day here are some inexpensive and priceless ideas to surprise that special mother in your life.

1.  Cook for her.  Make a special meal for your mom or wife (If you have young kids help prepare this). 

2. Clean the house or do a load of laundry. Sometimes for mother’s the little things go a long way.  They do so much and the family often takes this for granted.  Give her a day off.

3. Make her something rather than buying it. Last week I went to visit my family in Iowa for a week.  For Mother’s day, my siblings and father made my stepmother a special dinner and some priceless gifts that she can cherish.  Handmade gifts are the best, this can include photo albums, frames or homemade cards.  Have your toddler or preschooler help with this. 

4.  Teach your little ones the importance of Mother’s day.  If you have little ones like mine who do not quite understand what this means, make sure to teach them.  My son is three, you can buy books about Mother’s day from Target and read them to him or her on the weeks before.  You can also create a craft with them so they understand.

            I wish all you a Happy Mother’s day out and that it is filled with happiness and you are surrounded by the people you love most. I hope these ideas help you or your spouse/children make your day fantastic like you! Enjoy your day and remember to keep striving for mommy success! God Bless you!