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motherhood

5 Ways to Ensure Your Child Is Getting Enough Physical Activity

by Jennifer Landis November 6, 2019

For most of your child’s school day, they have to sit down and listen to their teacher. A good education has countless merits, so you want them to sit, listen and learn. However, you know the importance of physical activity for children too — not only do they need to burn off restless energy, but doing so can greatly improve their health as well. And improving physical fitness now sets the groundwork for a healthy future. Stronger muscles, improved endurance and aerobic fitness will stay with kids who engage in physical activity from an early age.

Of course, you can encourage such activity at home, but you want to make sure your child gets a bit of action at school too. Here’s how to ensure they get a break to stretch their legs.

1. Talk to the Teachers

Firstly, your child’s teacher can tell you how much time they spend on their feet during the school week. Find out when they have physical education classes and for how long. Apart from that, the teacher can let you know how long recess is and what your child tends to do during that outside time.

You might also want to chat with the school gym teacher. They can give you a better idea of what your child gets up to in gym class. The sessions might have a routine — stretching and warm-ups that lead into sports training, for instance. Find out how much your son or daughter participates as well. If they’re often choosing to sit on the bench, they might need to do more exercise after school.

On that note, keep in mind that the Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children get one hour of physical activity every day. If you find that your little one doesn’t get enough exercise at recess or in gym class, supplement the time with after-school activities.

2. Be an Example

It’s no secret that children often emulate their parents’ behaviors. If they see you avoiding exercise, they’re likely to follow suit. Instead, be a good example to your child. Be vocal about your physical fitness pursuits and how much you enjoy them. Seeing you on your feet will inspire your kiddo to get on theirs. Teachers can step into a similar role, and it’s one of the best ways to promote physical activity in schools. Together, you can both motivate your child to get up and get going.

3. Find Activities Your Little One Enjoys

Perhaps your child needs a bit more physical activity than what they get from gym class and recess. If so, enlist them in an activity that gets them moving with enthusiasm. The school itself might have afternoon intramural leagues — hone in on the sport(s) your little one enjoys so that they look forward to going. You can also find similar activities at local gyms and churches. Or, consider signing your kid up for lessons to learn a physical skill, such as swimming, dance or karate.

Don’t do any of this without finding out your child’s interests. They won’t want to go or participate if you enlist them in an activity they don’t like. But something that excites them? That’s the best way to get them moving.

4. Schedule a Play Date

Playing outside is more fun with a friend — your child will certainly agree with that statement. Reach out to other parents to set up playdates for both of your kids. You can take them to a local playground and get them moving that way. Alternatively, sign them up for an after-school activity to help them feel more comfortable thanks to the buddy by their side.

You can also simply let them loose in the backyard or playroom of your home and see what they get up to. Without access to electronic toys, they’ll probably get on their feet and play together in no time.

5. Plan Family Outings Too

As previously mentioned, you should lead by example when it comes to physical fitness. Make it your mission to plan family activities that take you outside. It can be as simple as setting your timer and taking a walk. Kids with a competitive spirit will love to race against time and see how far they can go in a half-hour’s time.

Of course, you can get more creative than that. Perhaps you can orchestrate an outdoor scavenger hunt, in which your child has to find pine cones, acorns, leaves and other natural materials. Or, buy a kite and head to an open field to run it and fly it in the sky. Not only will you improve your child’s physical fitness, but you’ll also make memories because you’re doing it together. As a parent, you already know there’s nothing better.

Get Moving Today

With very little effort, you can make sure your child gets the exercise they need to stay healthy and happy. Follow the above steps to ensure you’re both content with the physical activities in which your kiddo participates. The best news is that no matter what you choose, you’ll be setting your little one on a path to live healthily for years to come. Get everyone moving today and feel better tomorrow!

Motherhood

4 Clever Ways to Manage Your Kiddos When You Have Anxiety

by Jennifer Landis October 24, 2019

written by Jennifer Landis

Worrying about everything is part of being a parent. We fret about whether we’re raising our kids right, and if we’re helping them grow into happy, healthy and productive members of society. We hope we’re not screwing them up too badly, and maybe — just maybe — that they’ll turn out smarter and stronger than we did.

It’s part of the job description when you become mom or dad. However, sometimes that worry becomes something more, turning into full-blown anxiety. If being a parent is hard, being a parent with anxiety is nearly impossible. Here are some smart ways to manage your kiddos when you can’t ease your fears.

Realize You’re Not Alone

No one likes to talk about mental health due to the negative stigma around the topic. Plus, popular media likes to showcase people with mental illness as monsters. It’s no surprise people want to hide their diagnoses.

Your first step as a parent with anxiety is to realize that you’re not alone. Anxiety is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting as many as one out of every five adults in the U.S.

Without support and treatment, this issue can be nearly impossible to deal with. Even if you don’t seek professional help, realizing you’re not alone can change your entire perspective.

Take Care Of Yourself

As a parent, your default behavioral setting is to put your kids first. You cancel your appointments and put off your hobbies in favor of taking them to the dentist or driving them to soccer practice. While this isn’t a bad thing necessarily, as a parent living with anxiety, you need to take time to take care of yourself. If you’re giving everything to others and not keeping anything for yourself, eventually you won’t have anythig left.

Take time for self-care, whatever that phrase means to you. Self-care for parents can be tricky, especially if you’ve got little ones underfoot and are ready to collapse into your bed. Just remember this phrase — self-care isn’t selfish. Taking care of yourself, even if it means a quick five-minute meditation, will make you a better parent in the long run. Plus, it makes it easier for you to manage your anxiety while still being there for your kids.

Talk To Your Kids

It’s tempting to hide your struggle with anxiety or mental illness from your kids. However, the chances are high that, even if you’re not talking about it, they can sense something is off. If you keep it a secret and leave it to their imagination, they may think it’s something to do with them or that they’re the problem.

Talk to your kids about mental health and mental illness. You don’t need to talk about the details of your anxiety or what triggers your panic attacks. Instead, teach them about anxiety and other mental illnesses, which can help them grow into more empathetic individuals.

Mental illnesses are more common than most people think. If we want to get rid of the stigma surrounding them, we need to start teaching the new generation that it isn’t something to hide or be ashamed of.

Plus, by talking to your kids about mental health, you give yourself an out if you have a terrible attack. Instead of trying to hide it, you can say you’re feeling anxious. Ask for a few minutes of silence, or play a game to see who can go the longest without talking. It’s easier to deal with symptoms while teaching your children to be accepting and empathetic of others.

Contrary to popular belief, talking to your kids about mental health isn’t going to mess them up. Instead, it will help make the world a more welcoming place. As children grow up and head out into the world, they will be more understanding of those with mental illnesses and erase the harmful stigma.

Seek Professional Help If Needed

The negative stigma surrounding mental health tends to encourage us to weather things on our own. Some people can manage their symptoms without assistance. However, if you’re not one of those people, you’re not without options.

Plenty of resources are available, from therapy and medication to support groups and more. Each is designed to help you manage anxiety without allowing it to negatively impact your life. If you feel like you’re getting dragged under, reach out for a lifeline and let it support you until you can figure things out.

You’ve Got This

Being a parent is hard. Being a parent with anxiety is even harder — but it’s not impossible. Reach out for help if you need it, and keep the conversation about mental health open with your kids. You’re not alone, even if your anxiety tells you that you are. You have the power to do it.

Baby and mother sleeping together in bed

The Link Between Depression in Mothers and Their Baby’s Sleep

by LifeAsMama October 11, 2019

written by LifeAsMama

It’s common for newborn babies to not sleep through the night, as do their parents. However, research shows that the first six months of life are extremely important in the development of sleeping patterns (circadian rhythms) for the future. New studies show that babies whose mothers suffered from depression before they were pregnant or during their pregnancy are much more likely to having erratic sleep patterns in their first six months than other babies. We’ll explore in this article exactly what this link means for newborns.

The Background to the Study

This latest study comes from years of studying the link between sleep and depression and circadian rhythms, and finding that they were closely interlinked. At first, the research focused on adults and teenagers, before they moved on to looking at the link in newborns. This research is based on studies of sleep between two groups of newborn babies and their mothers. One group is comprised of mothers who suffered from depression during their pregnancy, and the other group is made up of women who have never suffered from depression in the past or present.

The Study Details

The women in both groups wore small devices on their wrists called actigraphs which evaluated how much sleep they got at night, how much light exposure, and their daytime routine including activity and naps. They started wearing them during the last trimester until their babies were eight months old. Two weeks after the birth of their babies, each child also received a small actigraph to wear for eight months.

Impact on Circadian Rhythm

The study showed quite conclusively that babies who were born to depressed mothers had nearly zero or zero evidence of an innate 24-hour circadian rhythm after birth, whereas the babies born to mothers without depression had this. This continued throughout the length of the study. As Nancy Kruger, a psychology writer at Australian help and Oxessays explains, “if sleep is constantly disrupted and there are no clear circadian rhythms, these individuals grow up to be much more likely to also develop depression. This is why it’s so important for all babies and new mothers to get the best sleep possible.”

Napping Patterns

One key connection found that babies born to moms who were depressed tend to nap more during the day, take more time to get to sleep at night, and also wake up much more often throughout their sleep. This is like insomnia in adults but starts much earlier. This creates more sleepless nights in parents but also means that those children may be more likely to suffer from depression later on in their lives. Researchers did reassure families that babies born to depressed mothers will not necessarily follow in their footsteps even if depression runs in families, while also warning non-depressed parents that they should still closely monitor their baby’s sleep.

The First Months

It’s very important for babies to be trained in the fist few months to sleep when it’s dark and be awake when it’s light out, so that their circadian rhythm can develop properly. Young babies that are two months or younger need 11 to 18 hours of sleep, so napping is also recommended, and for the next ten months 11 to 15 hours of sleep is required. Then, infants between the ages of 1 and 3 need 12 to 14 hours. That’s why it’s important to establish rituals around bedtime to help children understand the difference between nighttime sleeping and daytime sleeping, such as night clothes and day clothes.

Building a Schedule

It’s also important to build a sleep schedule around bright lights during the day to get your body’s circadian rhythm to associated light cycles with sleeping. Make sure you’re not shining the light in their eyes and they’re protected from direct sunlight. By four months old, the sleep schedule should be much more regular and centered on nighttime sleep with fewer breaks. In fact, Georgie Prince, a health blogger at Academized and Paper Fellows, adds that “during this time, it’s also important for the new mother to sleep on a regular schedule as well. The post-natal period is a high-risk time for depression in new mothers, even if they have no prior background of depression, and lack of sleep is a contributing factor.”

By making sure you’re monitoring your baby’s sleep patterns and building a natural schedule for sleep from the earliest age, you’re giving your child the best possible chances to have normal sleep patterns later in life and prevent depression.

About the Author

Ellie Coverdale, a health writer at Ukwritings and Essayroo, shares her insights on psychology and health in families. She is interested in the links between families and physical and mental health. You can also find her work at Boomessays. In her free time, she practices yoga and meditation.

Health Motherhood

11 Healthy Weight Loss Tips After Pregnancy

by Guest Contributor June 27, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

Losing weight after you have a baby is difficult, and it’s often different with each pregnancy. With one pregnancy, the weight might fall off, but next time, it might be a struggle to lose even a few pounds. Weight loss after pregnancy is always troublesome, and moms usually spend most of their time worrying about their baby rather than their own health.

I understand the struggles; I’ve had three kids and had to lose weight after each baby. Most importantly, losing weight had to be in a healthy way. I breastfeed my babies, and dramatically dropping weight while breastfeeding can cause your milk supply to crash. It’s tempting to resort to drastic measures to get back down to your pre-baby weight, but you have to do what’s best for you and your baby.

Here are 11 tips to help you lose weight after pregnancy in the healthiest way possible.

1. Remember to Eat Full Meals

It can be hard to remember to eat when you have a new baby. Everything is centered around diaper changes, feedings, cuddles, and (if you’re lucky) nap times. There were some days after giving birth when I would realize I hadn’t eaten at all. Instead of taking the time to sit down for an actual meal, I would usually reach for something quick, like chips or a sandwich.

I eventually learned that was a mistake.

Cutting back on eating may help you lose weight, but it’s not a healthy way to do it. Also, if you’re breastfeeding, you need to eat so you can create milk to feed your baby. A balanced, healthy diet is the best way to go about losing weight after pregnancy.

2. Eat the Right Foods

So, you remembered to eat, but reaching for that pan of brownies or having pancakes every breakfast doesn’t help either. Your body needs nutrients to help it come back to its healthiest form, and you need fuel to produce enough milk for your baby.

Your goal is to eat healthy foods. You want to eat things such as lean meat, chicken, eggs, fruits, vegetables, yogurt, whole grains, legumes, and beans.

Photo by Dana Tentis from Pexels

3. Healthy Snacks

Snacks are my downfall. I can eat healthy meals, but I give in to temptation and grab some chocolate chips for a snack. Remember this, bad snacks erase the work you put in with healthy meals.

Breastfeeding mothers often feel hungrier, so you tend to find yourself snacking more often. Include healthy snacks in your menus such as nuts, whole grains, strips of veggies and dip, yogurt mixes, and granola. Finding healthy snacks doesn’t mean it can’t be delicious.

4. Don’t Eat Too Late

When you’re up late at night, it’s easy to snack, and that snacking is typically not healthy. You’ll find yourself reaching for bowls of ice cream, chips, or other unhealthy treats. Even if you ate well all day, eating late at night can erase all of that good work you did throughout the day.

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon from Pexels

5. Avoid Fast Food

When you’re busy, fast food seems like the obvious choice. The problem is, t’s not good for your waistline.

Eating at home is the cheapest and healthiest choice when trying to lose weight after pregnancy. Pack your lunches if you’ll be out and about during lunchtime. It’s also a good idea to write meal plans to avoid grabbing a pizza or take-out food.

6. Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking plenty of water is essential. You need to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Drinking enough water helps flush toxins out of your body, and it helps keep you away from calorie-filled drinks.

Water also has other benefits. For example, it helps prevent dehydration and improves your metabolism, which is a vital part of properly managing your weight.

Fluids are necessary, so don’t limit yourself to water. Try soups, stews, fresh juices, and smoothies. Those are all good selections when you’re trying to lose weight.

7. Get Moving Each Day

Perhaps the hardest thing of all after pregnancy is making time to exercise on a regular basis. You have so much to do when you’re a new mom, but including a form of exercise each day in your daily routine is a good idea.

You don’t need to pick any crazy exercises. Walking, jogging, dancing, swimming, yoga, and more are good picks.

Photo by Daniel Reche from Pexels

8. Sleep As Much As Possible

Getting sleep when you’re a new mom is nearly impossible. A straight eight hours of sleep is like the holy grail for parents—don’t expect to find it.

Try to get as much sleep as possible. Being sleep deprived adversely affects your metabolism and will slow down your weight loss process. Find time to take power naps, take advantage of babysitting offers from family members, and go to bed as soon as your baby falls asleep.

9. Try Yoga

Yoga is one of the best exercises to start when you want to lose weight after pregnancy. You can watch a video on TV and practice yoga moves when your child is taking a nap. If you can get away for an hour, a yoga class is a gentle way to add exercise to your weekly routine.

10. Walk Often

You need to try to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, and walking is a daily routine that you need to check off every day. Try to walk as often as you can, even if that means taking your baby with you. Walk to the library, to the store, or more. All you have to do is put your baby in a carrier or stroller.

11. Give Yourself Time

Most importantly, give yourself time to lose the weight. It took you nine months to gain the weight, so don’t expect it to disappear in a few weeks. You usually can’t exercise for the first six weeks after giving birth, and starting slow is a smart idea.

Try not to lose focus on the goal: healthy living. If you focus on the numbers on the scale, it’s easy to lose motivation. Keep focusing on the small changes that you’re incorporating in your life. Don’t feel stress or depressed.

Losing Weight after Pregnancy

Your goal is to live a healthy life. The dropping numbers on a scale are the side benefit of a healthy lifestyle. By focusing on eating well, sleeping, and getting active each day, you’ll find that the weight drops off slowly. Remember that breastfeeding mothers need to slowly drop the weight to avoid a dramatic drop in your milk supply.

Author Bio

Kate Boynton is just another mama of three constantly striving to do her best. She loves organizing things into lists and helping others find what they are looking for. You can find her sharing Postpartum Health hacks & tips on her blog.

Fitness Lifestyle

Top 6 Exercises To Help You Recover After A C-Section

by Guest Contributor May 2, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

The number of C-sections is increasing across the world, which isn’t a good thing according to experts. This particular type of delivery is necessary in some cases, but when used without a valid medical cause it is not a risk that should be taken. The recovery after the procedure can be lengthy and wrought with complications, so it is essential that you let your body recuperate before beginning ab-tightening exercises to get rid of mom pouch. Prepare yourself for such exertions with some gentle exercising which will strengthen the weakened parts of your body.

Belly Breathing

Belly breathing is an exercise you can start doing immediately after your return home from the hospital. This will help not only with the recovery of your abdominal muscles but also with pain and stress relief.

To perform this most basic breathing exercise, lie down on your back and make yourself comfortable. Then place your hands on your belly and breathe in through your nose. You will need to take a deep breath to feel your belly expanding under your hands. Next, exhale slowly through your mouth and gently pull your bellybutton in. Hold the position for about three seconds before taking another breath and repeating the exercise 5-10 times. Do this exercise several times a day to both prepare your muscles for walking and to relax afterwards.

Seated Kegels

You should be familiar with Kegel exercises already as practicing them is highly beneficial during pregnancy. Seated Kegel exercises are safe and efficient and should be performed to restore the strength of your pelvic floor. Note that if you have a urinary catheter after the C-section, you can only do Kegels once it has been removed. At this point, they will also help you recuperate after the invasion of a catheter.

Do your Kegels twice daily, once in the morning and again before going to bed.

Walking

As soon as you can walk, you should do so with the intention of getting your muscles working again. This won’t be easy due to the major trauma inflicted upon many of the muscles involved in the walking process, so do not risk long walks outdoors at first.

However, if you are a mother who wants to shed her baby weight fast, you should already have a treadmill installed at home as it’s an essential tool for rapid post-pregnancy weight loss. In fact, you’ll need a few other fitness machines to provide you a proper workout at home, but these should wait for six to eight weeks after the C-section. A treadmill, on the other hand, is a piece of equipment you should start using right away. It will allow you to take extended walks without the risk of being stranded in the middle of the street should you quickly become tired. Avoid using it for running until you receive clearance from your doctor, and even then proceed with caution.

Wall Sits

Stand about 1-2 feet away from the wall with your back turned to it. Then, carefully lean on the wall and slide down until you achieve a sitting position (only with air instead of a chair). You can use something to hold onto at first to avoid falling.

Hold this position for a few seconds before carefully straightening again. Do not rush, but instead make your movements precise and controlled. This exercise is excellent because it will engage a variety of different muscles. You should rest between repetitions and don’t try to push for more than five.

Glute Bridges

Lie down on your back with your knees bent and feet firmly planted on the floor. Then, lift your butt off the mat engaging your glute muscles. This is a great exercise for core recovery and strengthening.

Note that you shouldn’t try to perform this exercise for at least six weeks post the C-section. When you do start, listen to your body carefully and don’t overdo it. Move gently and lower yourself to the mat one vertebra at a time.

Plank

Once you are ready to return to strength training after your C-section (six to eight weeks if the recovery goes without complications) you should start with body weight exercises. This means that plank and its many variations will be your main go-to exercise for at least a couple of weeks.

Start slow with a partial plank during which you rest on your knees. Side-planks are extremely efficient for C-section recovery in particular. Note that you should stop immediately if you feel any sharp pain or develop bleeding. Your initial body weight exercises must be very low intensity.

For more tips on how to recover from a C-section, click here. Be sure to heed the advice about taking it easy as overexerting yourself before you heal properly can cause permanent damage to your body.

About the Author

I’m Agatha Singer, a work-from-home mom of two little nuggets. My interests range from the latest e-Commerce trends to traditional folk culture and adventurous traveling. I always stay open to new ideas and expertise to make my writings handy and captivating for you.

Inspirational

What My Kids Have Learned From Seeing A Working Mom

by Amanda Foust August 8, 2017

written by Amanda Foust

I grew up with a stay-at-home mom, and I loved it! In fact, when she TRIED to go to work, I threw a big enough fit that both the babysitter and my mother knew never to try it again. And they didn’t.

The attention, support, and close relationship I received from my mom I owe to her dedication in the home. You would think because of my great childhood experience I would choose to be a stay-at-home mom as well! But I didn’t.

You see, things have changed, and it’s nearly impossible for families to survive on one income. The cost of daycare drains the second income very fast — making it hardly worth it.

So as a working mom, I have been racked with guilt for not giving my children the childhood I received. But I have been on a journey to change my perspective and see that my children have learned a lot from seeing a working mom!

Here is a list of a few things:

1. Hard work

Money doesn’t grow on trees (although that would be nice)! We have to work hard to provide for our families or to live the life we desire! Hard work is an important lesson to teach children.

2. Organization

We have to balance our time as working moms in a different way than mothers who stay at home. Organizational skills doesn’t always come naturally, but it’s essential! Our children are watching us and will learn how to lead organized lives because of what they see.

3. Inspired to live their dreams

I am always encouraging my kids to dream and then to make those dreams happen! Well, some of us working moms are living our dreams, and our kids can be inspired as they watch us make our dreams come true! We can show them first hand that their dreams matter. For some kids, they will want to stay at home with their children, and that dream should be celebrated too!

4. Intentional quality time

Because our time is pulled in two directions, our family time is spent much more intentionally and the focus is on quality since quantity isn’t always an option.

Here is a post about the importance of being a present mother and ways to spend quality time together.

5. Priorities

Okay, so maybe I loved my mom staying home because I felt the center of her world along with my siblings! But I think it’s important for kids to learn that the world does NOT revolve around them. Growing up and seeing that the world didn’t care all that much about me was a hard lesson to learn. But now I am teaching my kids that they are loved beyond belief, but mommy’s goals and dreams are important too! It’s all about prioritizing them.

6. Equality

Sometimes I believe the guilt comes from being raised in a family where women stayed home, and the men provided. But I love that I get to teach my children that both their mommy and daddy get to do what they want. I LOVE working and being with them. Equality allows me to choose, and for that I am grateful!

Working moms…do you struggle with guilt? Tell us in the comments what you have taught your kids by being a working mom!

Inspirational

How To Survive Motherhood Without A Tribe

by Amanda Foust August 8, 2017

written by Amanda Foust

I’m all about mom tribes, but what happens when you don’t have one? There are chapters in life that keep you isolated or transitions that cause you to relocate and start over with friendships. Let’s face it…if we based our success as mothers on our surrounding mom tribes, there would be times we would set ourselves up for failure.

I’ve been a mom for a handful of years, and I LOVE people. My problem isn’t meeting people as much as it is that I require a lot of depth in my friendships. Sure, going out for coffee or a glass of wine is nice, but if there’s not meaningful conversation to go along with it, I probably wouldn’t make the time to do it again. You see, I need a break as much as the next mom, but I, personally, wouldn’t choose to spend my break in surface level conversations. Maybe it’s the expectations of the members of my tribe that keep me from finding the right additions.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with people who are okay with lack of depth! These friendships probably are WAY more fun! Moms who don’t require constant meaningful conversations are likely to find their tribe a lot sooner than people like me. But if you can relate to my expectations, how do you survive without your tribe?

1. What if your family became your tribe?

When your kids are young and you are in the early trenches of motherhood, sometimes you just need your family! Instead of looking for a way out, look inward! Look toward your spouse and even your kids! Let them morph into your tribe. You may even have extended family that can fill in the gaps where you wish you had friends! My grandma, mom, and sisters are some of my best friends and vital parts of my tribe!

2. Remember you’re not alone.

Sometimes it’s easy to feel like you are the only one lacking a tribe. But you aren’t! There are others seeing posts about the “mom posse” and how “it takes a village” and wishing they could find theirs! The key to finding your tribe is to not convince yourself that you are the only one without it!

3. What if your tribe didn’t have to be other moms?

My closest friend and confidant is not yet a mother. She is always there for me, let’s me talk about my kids as much as I want, and loves them as her own. Have you ever considered that your tribe may not be all mothers? I’m sure you have friends who haven’t had kids or don’t want kids who you can form a meaningful friendship with.

4. Find adult conversation through other ways.

This may sound silly, but various podcasts and Netflix episodes provide me with the adult conversation I long for throughout the day. I listen to the same weekly podcasts and watch consecutive seasons of shows that remind me there is more out there than kids sing alongs and Mickey Mouse Club.

Don’t give up on finding your mom tribe. Until then, implement the tips above and let us know how it goes!

Inspirational

A Letter To My Pre-Mom Self

by Amanda Foust August 4, 2017

written by Amanda Foust

To my Pre-Mom Self:

I look at you with your wild and carefree spirit. You had dreams of traveling the world, expanding your horizons, and launching the career of your dreams. But the desire of motherhood kept knocking on your heart. Each time you would sit by yourself in your quiet and spotless apartment after a long day at work, you would imagine hearing the giggles of little ones. Every time you would save up enough money to hop on a plane for an adventure in Europe, you would be reminded of the adoption costs you had researched. There’s a reason your sense of adventure morphed into a longing to be a mother. It’s who you were created to be!

It’s where you shine!

I see you looking in the mirror at your young and fit shape, yet wishing you were thinner. While you pick yourself apart, you could never imagine the way it feels to give life to a child. This life will stretch you and widen your shape, and never in a million years would you believe that going days without a shower, sleep, or a hot meal would be the joy of your life, but it will be!

So here’s my advice…

Sleep long and hard and enjoy it! Take those vacations and soak up as many new experiences as you can. Love your body for exactly the way it is, and look forward to the reasons why it will change after having kids. Pursue personal development so that you can confidently teach your children all the reasons why they should love themselves exactly the way they are and so that you don’t forget who you are.

I also have advice for when you become a new mama. Give yourself grace! Let me tell you a secret…no moms really know what they are doing, so don’t expect yourself to be the first! Do what you can and give an abundance of love to help compensate for what you do not yet know.

Be prepared for a void to be filled that you didn’t even know you had the moment that sweet, wrinkly babe is placed in your arms. Though the house will no longer be quiet, and sleep will be a distant memory, you will love being a mother — you were made to be the mother of this child.

I also want to reassure you that your dreams are still alive and well — even after kids! You will be able to continue building the career of your dreams with one hand while rocking your baby with another. You will spend many nights crying yourself to sleep over “mom fails,” but you and your husband will also laugh until your sides hurt about the funny things your children did that day.

Though your body may become softer, your heart will become stronger. You may not love every minute of motherhood, but never once would you trade it for your pre-mom self.

I can say that I don’t miss you, If anything, I’m excited for you!

You see, the best is yet to come!

Home Lifestyle

A Must-Read Organization Guide For Busy Moms

by Amanda Foust July 24, 2017

written by Amanda Foust

As a mom, I find myself searching again and again for tips on how to create a more organized life for myself and my family. An organized life doesn’t come naturally to me, but I do consider organization important to decrease life’s stress. I have been a mother for four years and still have much to learn, but here are the “guidelines” I use for keeping an organized life.

1. Declutter often!

It is hard to maintain a stress-free environment when you are constantly surrounded by clutter. Make it at least a monthly routine to go through everything in your home and donate or toss what is unneeded. At first, this endeavor will take much of your time, but after a few rounds, decluttering will just require maintenance. Living in a clutter-free home decreases stress and allows everyone to feel a sense of freedom.

A few tips for a clutter-free home:

Don’t buy so many toys.

Plan a capsule wardrobe.

Simplify your children’s closets

2. Use a planner.

There are so many planners out there — for good reason! They help give us a sense of control over our busy lives. We have written several planner reviews on our site to help you find the right one for you, but we also created a planner printable of our own to help mamas stay better organized. Check it out here.

We have thought of everything including:

A Weekly Planning sheet — Write down your purpose for the week, list your appointments, plan out desired habits, and keep track of your top three goals to ensure success!

A Weekly Calendar sheet — Mark out your detailed schedule for the week.

A Sunday-Saturday Daily Schedule sheets — Fill out the to-do list, daily gratitude, water intake, body fuel (breakfast, lunch, dinner, & snacks), movement (exercise), and answer three purposeful questions each week.

A Meal Planning sheet — Create a list of meals and a grocery list for the week.

A Financial Planning sheet — plan out your weekly/monthly bills to ensure they are paid on time.

Visual reminders are key to completing your to-do list and reaching your goals! Print off a set each week and start planning!

3. Stick to a morning and evening routine.

Start your day off right with a mindful routine that sets you and your family up for success — a healthy breakfast, meditation or quiet time, and productive start to the day. Get the hard parts out of the way first! Here are 7 Facts For A Productive Morning.

For an evening routine, do all that you can to prep for the following morning! Pick out outfits for the family, prep breakfast and lunches, and tie up any loose ends that could cause chaos in the morning. Bedtime is an important time to implement a routine as well. Here are 5 ways to help your kids wind down at bedtime.

4. Involve kids in household management

Though you may manage the home, it’s not your responsibility to take care of everything. Once your children are capable of cleaning up after themselves, require their participation in chores. This will help take things off your plate, improve your relationships by allowing everyone to be involved, and to teach work-ethic and responsibility.

10 Chores So Easy, Your Toddler Could Do Them!

5 Ways To Involve Your Children In Your Work-From-Home Business

How To Raise Financially Smart Children

For more organization hacks, here are 25 Organization Hacks for Really Busy Moms.

Tell us in the comments your best tips for keeping your life organized!

Career Lifestyle

How To Battle The Guilt Of Being A Work-At-Home Mom

by Amanda Foust July 21, 2017

written by Amanda Foust

I say it all the time that I love working from home! But something many work at home moms (WAHM) feel but don’t talk about is excessive guilt. We have a wide-range of responsibilities that we have to handle all at once. Taking care of the children, managing the home, and completing work has to happen all at once. There are no boundary lines that separate our duties — no 9-5 work day that comes to an end. All of our work is done in the fringe hours of our day with kids in our laps and dried food in our hair.

We wake up early to fit work in before our children are begging us for breakfast — they are ALWAYS starving. Then we are interrupted all throughout the day with every little need (or want). It would be unrealistic to send children into the workforce with their parents and think they can get anything done, but yet we expect ourselves to be experts.

Since we aren’t able to show up to give 100% to our family and to our work, how should we battle the guilt we so easily feel?

1. Remind yourself that you are doing your best!

You are no superhero. You cannot be perfect. But you CAN do your best! If your kids are loved and your work gets done in the end, you are doing well. Celebrate that. No one has 200% to offer each day. Do what you can!

2. Separate your work and time being a mom as much as you can.

This sometimes feels impossible, but do your best to set designated times. In the morning before breakfast and after nap time I give my kids complete attention and put the laptop aside. I do the same at bedtime. Eye-contact and direct attention for a few short spurts is better than being half present throughout the entire day.

3. See yourself the way your kids see you.

I guarantee your kids aren’t as hard on you as you are on yourself! In fact, your kids think you are pretty awesome! They see you juggling and balancing like a madwoman. They see the hardworking and nurturing mama wrapped all in one! You have decided to tackle the hard just to be with them, and they feel important! They don’t expect perfection; they just want love!

4. Rest

I believe “rest” is what I feel most guilty about. There is so much to do, so how dare I even think about resting! But this just isn’t true. Guilt is an ugly thing and the cycle of guilt and unrest just makes me show up for my kids and work in the worst ways. To help me get out from under the guilt, I have to make rest a priority — and so should you!

WAHM’s, tell us in the comments how you handle the guilt that comes from working at home!

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