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You are here: Home / Archives for Red Stick Moms

I am hungry.

August 7, 2016 by Guest Contributor

I am hungry.

Not in a figurative sense. Not hungry for a new pair of shoes or hungry to achieve a new milestone in my career.

I am literally hungry. My stomach feels empty more than it feels full these days and my fridge and pantry are so bare it seems that they are taunting me each time I open them to inspect their contents. I save all non-meal food items for my kids because even though I am nursing a baby and need the nutrients, I can’t stand to hear the tiny voices of my children every time they go to the cupboard only to discover there’s nothing there to eat.

food-insecurity-Baton-Rouge

I hope that they don’t remember this. I pray that, instead, they remember the laughter we have shared as I try to distract them from their desire for food. I hope that they forget the tears that fill my eyes at the thought of their tummies growling, but remember the smile on my face as we have dance parties in the living room to Taylor Swift.

I don’t even know how we got here. It all happened so fast, when just months ago the thought of going without food seemed like something that could never happen to me. We work hard, we love Jesus and we serve Him to the best of our abilities. It’s crazy how one decision made even with the best of intentions can alter the course of your life in ways you never imagined. It’s eye-opening the compassion you can express for others when you are walking through a situation you could’ve never thought you’d find yourself in.

Lately, when we do get to buy groceries, it’s only the bare necessities. I hate that I fuss at the kids the minute they run to the pantry or to the fridge for a snack because they want to sample all the food they haven’t seen in days, but I know the sooner they eat it, the sooner it’s gone. And when it’s gone, I have to hear them cry about their hunger, and it kills me.

How do you explain rations to small children? How do you tell them “If you eat this now, you will be hungry later?” How do you live with yourself as a mother when you’re digging sugar soaked fruit out of a donated can from the food pantry to feed it to your children for lunch and they beg for more but it’s all you have?

I try to thank the Lord for His provision. I try to smile while I shop at the store while I furiously calculate every penny we are spending and simultaneously determine if we will be able to keep our water running once I buy these items. I try not to cry when a friend orders us a pizza for dinner because she knows otherwise we would not have anything to eat.

Hungry in Baton Rouge

I try not to hate politicians who say that people like me should be drug tested  when we are already living in overwhelming grief and humiliation. I try not to be offended by fellow church members and Christians who want to withhold government programs that we need just to survive. I try not to resent my husband- who works tirelessly and without complaint, often three jobs at once- for us being in this position.

I try to understand what it’s like for other moms who never get a reprieve from this reality. I try to imagine what it’s like for families who don’t have electricity or comfortable beds or adequate shelter. I try not to get angry at those who have excessive amounts of money but want to hold on to it for dear life, because they somehow deserve it more than I do. More than my kids do.

I try to keep it together and to put on a happy face for those around me, but most of all for my kids. The hunger pangs screaming from within my hollow stomach burn so strong that they turn me into a person I don’t like, a mother I don’t recognize. I try so hard to be what they need me to be, but…

I am hungry.


 The above is written anonymously by a fellow Baton Rouge mom, a mom living in our community, this mom could be anyone’s neighbor. Hunger is everywhere: It’s in every community, it can also be invisible. Some 47 million Americans live in poverty. All told, 17.5 million households and 16 million children—one out of every five—struggle with hunger. Visit the Baton Rouge Food Bank to learn how you can help those hungry in our community.

Filed Under: Food, Moms, Parenting, Social Good Tagged With: Baton Rouge Food Bank, Baton Rouge Gives Back, Baton Rouge Moms, Baton Rouge volunteer, Fight Hunger Spark Change, Red Stick Moms

Baby Safe Homes Louisiana – Giveaway

May 2, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Each year, children are injured by hazards in and around the home. Household injuries account for the most visits to the ER in children under the age of 3 , and nearly 70% of the children who die from unintentional injuries at home are 4 years old and under.

Thankfully, the risk of injury can be reduced or prevented by using child-safety devices like the popular wifi baby monitor that let monitor your baby all the time . Safety devices should be sturdy enough to hinder access and yet easy for you to use.

Most importantly, to be effective, they must be properly installed. This is where Baby Safe Homes Louisiana comes to the baby proofing rescue!  Baby Safe Homes Louisiana offers BABY/TODDLER proofing and they come to YOU!

Baby Safe Homes Louisiana Giveaway

What is Baby Safe Homes Louisiana?

Baby Safe Homes are a professional, same-day baby proofing service. It is their mission to provide families with peace of mind by creating an environment for their babies and toddlers to explore, learn and grow safely, visit website to get the most adorable baby toys there are.

From infant to toddler safety, Baby Safe Homes offers everything that you need to baby proof your home. Their trained baby safety consultants recommend specialized safety products; they will help design the solution that is right for you and your family to help keep your baby safe.

GIVEAWAY

Baby/Toddler proofing for YOUR HOME!! Win a baby safety gate (Value $100) OR select $100 in products from Baby Safe Homes Louisiana PLUS a FREE In-Home Inspection & Consultation ($95 Value) Total GIVEAWAY VALUE $195

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sources: Kidshealth.org

Filed Under: Ask the Expert, Baby, Giveaways & Freebies Tagged With: Baby Safe Homes, Baton Rouge baby, Baton Rouge Moms, Baton Rouge Parents, Louisiana, Red Stick Moms

Family Fit Day with Healthy BR

April 21, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Nurturing healthy, happy kids in the age of digital technology can be a bit of a struggle at times. Today’s kids would spend hours on end in front of screens if we let them. Thanks to Healthy BR,  we have been given a fun opportunity to get outdoors with the whole family and the community. On May 21st from 7:30am to 12:30pm Healthy BR will host their third annual Family Fit Day, a combination health fair and field day with something for every member of the family.

FREE open streets initiative centered around BREC City-Brooks Park to create temporary paved parks for running, walking, bicycling, dancing, playing, and socializing on May 21st from 7:30AM-12:30PM and You’re Invited!!

healthyBR_digitalad

During the event local organizations will offer fitness classes, speakers, healthy cooking demonstrations, kids activities, bike safety classes, runs, bike rides and much more, anyone who’s planning to attend should visit an online sport shop to get ready for it . Fitness classes and fitness events include a Varsity Sports run, Tai Chi, the Mayor’s Bike Ride, yoga, HIIT, karate, hip hop dancing, kid fit events, dance aerobics, circuit training, Zumba, cardio kickboxing, and a hula hoop contest. BREC will be bringing their ever-popular Hamster Balls to Family Fit Day this year for people to use in the City-Brooks Community Park, they will also have inflatables, tennis activities, foot golf, land boarding, kids’ relays and much more!

The goal of this initiative is to provide a fun, citywide event for all ages to encourage sustained physical activity, increase community engagement, and build support for active, healthy families in Baton Rouge.

 healthybr

Baton Rouge joins over 90 other cities hosting Open Streets initiatives in the United States and Canada. The streets are open to all abilities to encourage everyone in Baton Rouge who wants to improve their mental, physical, and emotional health to come out, bring their families, and even pets too, is important to promote health and supplements for people to want to stay healthy and lose weight like https://healthyusa.co/nutrisystem-lean-13-how-to-transform-your-body-in-30-days/ that also give you energy and strength.

We hope to see lots of Baton Rouge Moms and their families at Family Fit Day; you can RSVP on the Facebook event here!

HealthyBR

Learn more about HealthyBR and connect with them on their new website and on Facebook and Instagram.

GIVEAWAY:

Family Fit Day Gift Pack Giveaway

TWO winners will win a Family Fit Day Prize Pack – Tumbler, T-shirt and $20 Red Stick Farmers Market Gift Card Giveaway!

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Give back to the community you call home and volunteer: sign up here.

Filed Under: Baton Rouge Resources, Causes, Community Outreach, Family Friendly Baton Rouge, Health, Louisiana, Women Tagged With: Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Parents, Family Activities, Family Fit Day, Healthy BR, Red Stick Moms

Free LDWF Summer Conservation Camp

April 19, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

The end of the school year is quickly approaching and summer will be here before we know it. If you have yet to solidify a summer camp for your child this might be the perfect camp! It seems too good to be true… free outdoor fun! This camp is limited to 50 kids so be sure to apply soon!

LDWF will be hosting two Summer Day Camps in Baton Rouge at the Waddill Outdoor Education Center located at 4142 N. Flannery Rd. in Baton Rouge from June 6-10 and July 18-22 free of charge. 

  

Free LDWF Summer Conservation Camp

The camps will be held from June 6-10 and again from July 18-22 and are completely free of charge.

The June 6-10 “Conservationist Camp” will be for 25 kids 11 to 13 years old and will take place from 8 a.m. to noon every day.  The Conservationist Camp will teach kids the basics of the outdoor with hands on activities and safety instructions.  The kids that make it thru this 1/2 day camp will then be guaranteed to be selected for the “Sportsmen Camp” next year.

The July 18-22 “Sportsmen Camp” is for the 25 kids that completed last year’s “Conservation Camp” and will also take place from 8 a.m. to noon every day.  The Sportsmen Camp is a more advanced camp and will build upon the outdoor skills learned at the Conservation Camp the year before.

Snacks and drinks will be provided at each camp.  Parents must be able to drop their child off between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. and pick up their child between noon and 12:30 p.m. every day.

At the Conservation Camp the children will receive their own rod and reel combo donated by Cabela’s of Gonzales.  The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation will provide support for the camps.  Two children could also win a lifetime hunting and fishing license at the June camp provided by the CCA of Louisiana.

To register for the Conservation Camp, parents must fill out the online application by May 6.  Parents must fill out a separate application for each child they wish to register.  The online registration form is located at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/summerdaycamp.

LDWF will inform the parents whether or not their child was selected by May 13 for the Conservation Camp.  Attendance every day of the week is mandatory for both camps.

Visit the Deer Hunting Homepage to learn more about hunting, hunting accessories and more.

Filed Under: Baton Rouge Resources, Camp Tagged With: Baton Rouge Camp, Baton Rouge Moms, baton rouge summer camp, day camp, Red Stick Moms, summer camp

Three ways to Fight Hunger and Spark Change

April 14, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Disclosure: I am participating in a paid campaign on behalf of Walmart and The Motherhood to share information about the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign.

When most people think about hunger, they think of a starving child in a third-world country or the homeless in our communities. Sadly, hunger is all around us. Nearly one in five children in America lives in households that struggle to put food on the table. Louisiana has the fourth highest rate of children living in poverty in the country. You might never know this because child hunger in America is often invisible.

As a mother of 4 and the owner of a community that strives to serve mothers, this is heartbreaking and it’s not OK. Thankfully, we have an opportunity to make a difference right here in our community. This spring, Walmart’s “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign calls on customers and suppliers to join in the fight against hunger.

Baton Rouge Food Bank

Through the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign, Walmart is working with five suppliers — Campbell Soup Company, General Mills, Kellogg Company, the Kraft Heinz Company, and PepsiCo — to give millions of customers an opportunity to fight hunger in their local communities.

The goal is to help Feeding America secure 75 million meals on behalf of its member food banks. As the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization, the Feeding America network provides food to more than 46 million people in communities across America, including the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank! My sons and I took a trip to our local Walmart to help Feeding America by purchasing participating items as well as donating at the register for our local food bank. I was pleasantly surprised to find  many of our everyday items are included in the campaign. While our store did not have signage up, we did find the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.”  logo on the boxes. If your store does not have signage with information about participating products, you can find a full list of Walmart’s “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” products here.

Fight hunger. Spark Change.

 In 2015, The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank distributed more than 8.7 million meals to the hungry in its 11-parish service area, generated 4 meals for every $1 donated, provided food to more than 115 charitable agencies and had more than 2,500 volunteers donate time, the equivalent of more than 13 full-time employees.

How You Can Help Fight Hunger and Spark Change

“Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” will run in all U.S. Walmart stores through April 25, and offers three easy ways to participate:

  1. PURCHASING: Purchase participating products in Walmart stores to help provide meals for families who struggle with hunger in your local community. For every participating product purchased at Walmart between March 28th and April 25th, 2016, the manufacturer will donate $0.09 to Feeding America – enough to secure one meal on behalf of local food banks – up to each manufacturer’s maximum donation, which is provided on the participating packages. See package or Walmart.com/FightHunger for details.
  2. DONATING: Donate to a local Feeding America food bank at the register.
  3. ONLINE: Generate donations for Feeding America food banks through online acts of support!
    • Facebook: Use of the hashtag #FightHunger and likes, shares or clicks on Walmart’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. posts
    • Instagram: Use of the hashtag #FightHunger and likes or shares of Walmart’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. posts
    • Twitter: Use of the hashtag #FightHunger, retweets of the hashtag #FightHunger and favoriting or clicking on Walmart’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. posts
    • Snapchat: Use of Fight Hunger. Spark Change. filters accessible in select Walmart stores
    • Walmart.com/FightHunger: Visit the website and click the support button to activate a donation

For each online act of support, Walmart will donate enough to help Feeding America secure 10 meals (an equivalent of $0.90) on behalf of its member food banks, up to $1.5 million. To kick off the campaign, Walmart will make an initial donation of $1.5 million to Feeding America. Based on the public’s social engagement, we aim to reach a total donation of $3 million.

Please help us raise awareness of hunger in America and join us in-store and online now through April 25!

Filed Under: Baton Rouge Resources, Community Outreach, Education, Food, Social Good Tagged With: Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge families, Baton Rouge Food Drive, Baton Rouge Gives Back, Fight Hunger Spark Change, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Red Stick Moms, Walmart

Cirque du Soleil OVO – Family Four Pack Giveaway

March 28, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Cirque du Soleil returns to Baton Rouge next month with OVO, its newest touring show in arenas. The production will be presented at the Baton Rouge River Center April 14-17 for 6 performances only, as part of a global tour in arenas around North America.

Cirque du Soleil OVO Baton Rouge

Thrilling more than 4.5 million people worldwide since the show premiered in Montreal in 2009 as a Big Top show, OVO will embark on a new journey, performing the same captivating production, but now in arenas, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy a Cirque du Soleil show in their own town.

Cirque du Soleil OVO

OVO, meaning “egg” in Portuguese, is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement.

Cirque du Soleil OVO

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It is love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.

Described by many as the most family-friendly performance by Cirque, OVO will be a treat for the whole family. Your family will discover fascinating acrobatics and gymnastic accompanied by a plethora of bugs, including, ants, flies, caterpillars, spiders, ladybugs, and frogs.

Cirque du Soleil OVO

Cirque du Soleil OVO Tickets

Tickets starting at 35$ (subject to change). Child tickets starting at $25 and can be purchased at www.cirquedusoleil.com/ovo . 

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit https://www.cirquedusoleil.com.

GIVEAWAY

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Filed Under: Baton Rouge Resources, Entertainment, Events, Family Friendly Baton Rouge, Giveaways & Freebies Tagged With: Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Events, Baton Rouge Family, Cirque du Soleil, Red Stick Moms

The Playful Side of Healthy Habits – Ages & Stages

March 25, 2016 by Ashley Bugea

As Parents, we try to teach our children of all ages that it’s important to lead an active life. Here are a few ideas you can try with your children to get them moving!

The Playful Side of Healthy Habits

   Gymboree Play & Music

Infancy: 0-15 months

– Tummy Time: starting tummy time early will strengthen the muscles your child will use for – crawling, standing, & climbing. A good way to keep yourself update on health and fitness guides is by visiting Bargainsherpa which will give you needed information.
– Tracking: Use a toy that interests your child to get an even more excited response
– Add movements to nursery rhymes you are already singing
– With your child on his hands and knees, give their feet resistance so they rock back and forth When your child can support their weight, hold their fingers and walk with them.

Gymboree Play & Music

Toddlers: 12-36 months
– Encourage running & jumping
– Expose them to age-appropriate climbing structures
– Have a dance party & shake off your sillies!
– Increase the complexity of the nursery rhyme movements

Gymboree Play & Music

Preschoolers: 3-5 years
– Continue to encourage running, dancing, jumping, & climbing – Add skipping, galloping, & shuffling
– Practice hand-eye coordination with throwing and catching
– Kick a ball back and forth
– Encourage an active imagination

From reaching and grasping to rolling, climbing, jumping & kicking, Gymboree Play & Music provides age-appropriate classes for your newborn to 5-year-old. Our specially-designed wooden equipment and bright foam & air objects, as well as our variety of props and trained teachers, create an environment to stimulate your child’s physical, cognitive, & social development. With you by their side, the action, fun, and learning never ends!

Gymboree Play & Music

Gymboree Play & Music also offers Music and Arts classes. Gymboree’s Music classes, for children 6-months to 5-years old, offer an active approach to musical learning through games, singing, instrument play, & creating. Gymboree’s Arts classes, for children 18-months to 5-years old, offer an opportunity for your child’s creativity to blossom through painting, drawing, sculpting, story time, movement activities, & songs.

Filed Under: Baby, Education, Family Friendly Baton Rouge, Health, Moms Tagged With: child devolopment, child play, Gymboree, Gymboree Baton Rouge, Gymboree Play & Music, Red Stick Moms

The Truth in Step-Parenting

February 22, 2016 by Guest Contributor

Deciding to spend the rest of my life as my husband’s wife was not the easiest decision I’ve made. Being a wife was scary, being a step-mom was scarier. On top of the normal fears that come with marriage, I constantly questioned whether or not I could be a parent. I did what every new parent does, I jumped in with both feet. I researched till I was frozen in fear, then I went out and did it my own way. I busted my butt a lot and stood with pride other times. 

Step-parenting comes with a set of blessings and obstacles and unless I am overly positive it seems like I’m not allowed to speak about it, not publicly. There is a truth in step-parenting; it’s a tightrope you never quite learn to walk. It comes with unspoken rules and regulations. Those rules and regulations are constantly changing.

For one, you have to find a way to be a parent, without being a parent. My sole job as a step-parent is to be a bonus parent. When a kid has two parents they adore, what does bonus parent even mean? 

stepMom

Then I must remember that I wasn’t there for years before I met her dad. I will never forget the first time my step-daughter said, “You don’t get it, Dad does, he’s been there.” Shot. To. The. Heart. I realized at that moment, I am the one that walked in and changed the rules. I often don’t know whether to feel pride or guilt about this.

Not to mention, you will get used to the rules and then you will change them with a biological child of your own. It is something I can’t explain, but I struggle with daily hourly. Where’s the balance of the pride in the creation of a tiny human and the nurturing and empathy for the child who looks at you as a constant reminder that mommy and daddy are not married. 

Lets not forget, your step-child has been around longer than you have. There are families to build relationships with, lots of families.  When I chose to become a wife I also auditioned for the title step-mom, it went like this: Meet a boy. Fall in love with boy. Juggle balls. Spin plates. Illustrate homework skills and leftover dinner magic. Marry Boy. Honeymoon. Have another child. These auditions didn’t just happen for my husband, they happened for my step-daughter’s mom, her grandparents and a slew of others. It is an exhausting ride, but one that I am a better person for (and pretty thankful I got the starring role as step-mom).

I wouldn’t change any of this, but I should be able to talk about it. I see mom blogs, and we laugh, cry and celebrate motherhood, but very rarely do I see the step-parenting side discussed. Noticing this, I reached out to a few friends who are step-parents themselves. Do you know what the main complaint was?

It wasn’t that it was hard. It wasn’t a complaint about anyone else in the family. It wasn’t about the step-child. It was a simple complaint, “I feel like I am alone in all this, and I am not allowed to talk about it.” You see we can all complain and celebrate motherhood, it’s come to be an art form of mom-bloggers the world over. The existence of this in step-parenting is scarce. 

I want that to change. I got with a couple friends, we talked, we chatted. We decided, let’s do it, let’s create a venue for step-parents to unite. So we are starting small, with just a forum. Moving forward with demand to get-together and the elusive play dates with the kids, because let’s face it, being a step-kid is hard work. There needs to exist a place where we step-parents can figure things out together. We shouldn’t feel alone watching from the sidelines; let’s cheer and carry on like mad people from the side-lines. Enter Step-Parenting in the Red Stick. 

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Our hope is that we can start a safe place for growth as parents, as step-parents, as people. A forum where we can learn from each others trials an triumphs. A place we can laugh about the little things that make us, us. If  you are a step-parent in Baton Rouge or the surrounding area, we invite you to join the forum here.

 

Filed Under: Community Outreach, Moms, Parenting Tagged With: Baton Rouge Family, Baton Rouge Moms, Red Stick Moms, red stick step parents, stepmom, stepparents

Monster Jam® returns to Baton Rouge – Family Four Pack Giveaway

February 16, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

 

Disclosure: Baton Rouge Moms is a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for our time and efforts in attending shows and reporting our opinion, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers and events coming to Baton Rouge, Feld Entertainment has provided Baton Rouge Moms with complimentary tickets.

Monster Jam Baton RougeThe Monsters Return to Baton Rouge! Monster Jam® returns featuring an all new dirt track, Grave Digger and 7 other Monster Jam Monster Trucks!  Monster Jam® will be performing at the Baton Rouge River Center March 4th through the 6th!

Monster Jam® is fun for the whole family, and it’s so much more than just watching big trucks. These trucks actually face off in two different forms of competition — side-by-side racing and freestyle: Side-by-side racing – traditional bracket racing, where the first truck, with the least amount of penalties, crosses the finish line is declared the winner. Freestyle competition – allows drivers a limited amount of time on the open floor to show off their skills. In this category, the fans serve as the judges.

Monster Trucks Baton Rouge

A few Monster Jam® fun facts:

  • Typical Monster Jam trucks cost $600,000 yearly to build, staff, compete, transport and maintain on the Monster Jam tour.
  • Steel body full-size cars are the vehicles typically crushed during a Monster Jam event.
  • Cars, as well as vans, buses, motor homes, airplanes and ambulances, are attained from local junkyards and returned after each event.
  • Average number of cars crushed per year: 3,000.

 

Monster Jam® will be performing at the Baton Rouge River Center:

Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 5, at 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 6, at 3 p.m.

Party In The Pits:

  • March 5 from 4:30 – 6pm. March 6th from 12:30 – 2pm
  • Get driver autographs, pictures with the trucks and walk the official Monster Jam track
  • Pit Passes are $10 and are required with an event ticket to enter the Party In The Pits. Or, pick up your free pit pass at Your Local Southern Quality Ford Dealers.

Baton Rouge Monster Jam® Family Four Pack Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Tickets are available at the Baton Rouge River Center Box Office, Ticketmaster retail outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

Be sure to check out our Spring Guide!  Baton Rouge Easter Spring Festivals Events

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events, Family Friendly Baton Rouge, Giveaways & Freebies, Louisiana Tagged With: Baton Rouge Events, baton rouge family friendly events, Baton Rouge Moms, Baton Rouge Monster Trucks, Monster Jam, Monster Trucks, Red Stick Moms

Getting Things Done with a Toddler

October 18, 2015 by Lacey Rabalais

Seriously, if I only knew how productive I could have been before having a toddler.  I thought I was busy with a baby and I even thought I was busy before I had a child.  How naive I was, truly silly. 

We just moved, with a toddler. Two weeks after the move we tore down two walls, with a toddler.  I’m pretty sure we’re going crazy, with a toddler.

  Working with a Toddler

How to Get Things Done with a Toddler

There are a few things I’ve learned since our little man became more mobile, into everything, way too smart, and somehow insanely sneaky….

  • Be prepared
  • Use time wisely
  • Cut yourself some slack
  • When all else fails, go to the zoo or Chic-fil-A.

Being Prepared…

It’s way easier said than done and I fail at this a lot (see reference to cutting yourself some slack). 

Working with a Toddler

Ways I Try to Plan and Prepare

  • My planner. I’ve tried to keep up with things on my phone, but I’m a paper and pen type of gal.  I used the Simplified Planner by Emily Ley.  It’s simple, it’s pretty, and there’s plenty of space for just what I need. 
  • Meal Planner. I use a May Designs notebook especially designed for meal planning and grocery shopping. Since I’ve started using this template it’s been life changing. 
  • Laundry Ever Morning. Dishes Every Night. Since we moved this hasn’t been happening exactly as I hope but we will get back into the routine.
  • Prepared Snacks. Our toddler loves to eat. He now knows that the bottom drawer of the fridge is dedicated to him.  If he wants a snack he runs to the fridge and mumbles something about the handles.  Once the door is open, he opens the drawer and grabs a snack.  This makes the process easy and quick.  No fussing child and parents trying to figure out the problem.
  • Busy Games. Let’s be honest, as moms we have things to get done.  I don’t want to use the tv all the time so having simple little games (mostly found through Pinterest searches) give me 5-10 minutes to finish my hair or prepare dinner. 

 

Working with a ToddlerUsing My Time Wisely

  • Busy Games. These 5-10 minutes or sometimes longer that simple things like a paper towel roll and the pouch lids give me are tremendous helps. In five minutes, I can finish up something that really needs to be done.
  • Nap time. That 1-2 hour period of our afternoon is crucial.  This is when mom gets office work done.  I sometimes shower and fold laundry also. Then when I see or hear movements on the monitor I quickly wrap up what I’ve got left.
  • Getting Up Earlier. I’ve started waking up a little earlier to allow myself some time for a short workout, shower, and some quiet time.

Cutting Yourself Some Slack

  • Done is better than perfect
  • “Grace Not Perfection” – Emily Ley
  • Seriously, you don’t have to be perfect. The Pinterest Mom….if you’re not her, then don’t try to be her.
  • You are the ONLY mom for your child(ren).

When All else fails….

  • Grab your purse and leave the house.
  • Go to the park, the zoo, or CFA.

Filed Under: At Home, Baby, Moms, Parenting, Women Tagged With: Baton Rouge Moms, Juggling Toddler, motherhood, Red Stick Moms, toddler, WAHM

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