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9 Tips for Keeping Kids Rooms Clean

This post on keeping kids rooms clean is sponsored by The Good Stuff and Coupons.com.

If you’ve got a whole house to keep clean weekly, you know how just a few good tips can drastically alter your workload. With kids in the house, that cleaning task can sometimes seem insurmountable, but by utilizing these nine tips for keeping rooms clean, you’ll be relaxing with your feet kicked up in a clean house in no time.

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How to Clean Quietly
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Along with these tips, spending a little time making some efficiency and organization changes to your home can also help shorten the time your family spends cleaning your home each week.

Get Your Kids Involved

While sometimes it may be tempting to simply clean the room as you see fit, rather than trying to cajole your junior family members, getting the kids involved from the very beginning is key. After all, it is their room, and getting buy-in from the start will only help down the road.

Giving them ownership over how their room is to be organized can help inspire them to keep the clutter at bay. If nothing else, they will know where you expect their items to be kept when not in use.

Let Them Take the Lead

Instead of trying to make decisions for your kids as far as what stays and what goes, give them the opportunity to share their vision with you. Letting them tell you about what their thoughts allows you to get a window into their world. You can then start to speak their language, giving them the sense that you are there to help.

Everything in its Place

Simply telling kids to “put something away” can imply a negative tone, and it also isn’t a definite instruction. Instead, personalize everything. Give everything in your child’s room a “home,” or place where it will live. When things are out-of-place, asking your kids to put something where it lives is a more positive and fun way of saying “clean up this mess.”

Give Them Control of Their Domain

When clearing the clutter, you may be tempted to interject and force them to hold on to certain items. A special gift, something sentimental, etc. However, having too much stuff in their room can be positively overwhelming for kids. Imagine being asked to keep a room full of stuff you don’t want and keep it organized, and you begin to get the picture. Instead, kids need to be given the ability to say what stays and what goes.

Get On Their Level

As adults, it’s not a problem to organize things wherever we find space. However, that strategy doesn’t always work for smaller people. It’s important for them to be able to access things easily and see where they are at a moment’s glance. That’s why it’s important to start at ground level and work your way up. Having organization spaces close to floor level gives your kids easy access to their things, and it also makes it easier for them to get them put away.

Keep Things Consistent

When your kid gets to school, chances are they are being asked to store their things in their cubby. So, recreate that experience at home with their own in-room cubbies.

Mirroring what happens at school can help reinforce keeping things in their place. If you put them by the door to their room, it also helps create a drop-zone where things can be put as soon as they enter their room, before they even have a chance to clutter.

Make a Game of It

Kids love games and can turn almost anything into a competition. Try to develop a fun routine in regards to cleaning and organizing rooms. A “Clean Room Club,” or counting backwards from ten as ten items are put away can also make the experience of keeping a room clean more fun.

Create Boundaries

Your child’s room is their space inside the home, so it needs to be as functional for them as possible. If the size of their room allows it, you should strive to make separate spaces within that room. There will be a temptation when organizing to move tables to walls and open up as much floor space in the middle of the room as possible. However, that lends itself to clutter.

Show Them the Way

When it comes to finding their way in the world, often children mirror the behavior of their parents. If clutter in your home isn’t a problem confined just to your kids’ rooms, it may be helpful to look in the mirror at some of your own behaviors. Take a good look at how you choose to organize your life, and apply some of the same tips we’ve gone over here to your own space inside the home.

July 27, 2019
A Pre-Teens Guide to Cell Phone Etiquette

This post on pre-teen cell phone etiquette is sponsored by Coupons.com.

So, you’re thinking of getting your pre-teen a cell phone? Read through this cell phone etiquette guide first!

Related Content: Educational Apps for Kids

We were those parents who said we’d never get our kids a cellphone – at least not until they could pay for it themselves.

Then our daughter went to middle school. Life had changed more than I thought it would. There were after school clubs, group projects, and many more friends.

We went through most of the year without a cell phone, but I found her becoming more reclusive, and avoiding joining clubs or even getting together with friends. Perhaps, I thought, it was because her friends had easier ways to communicate with each other and their parents.

After much consideration, we decided to set up my old phone for her use. The hope was that she would find comfort in being able to contact me about after school activities. It would also make working in group projects easier to coordinate. Using an old out-dated phone meant she would also be limited in how she could use it.

When it comes to giving your pre-teen a cell phone though, there are certain rules they should and you should follow.

Mom and Dad have full access to everything on the cell phone

This one is a must. For your kids safety, and your knowledge, you need to know what they are using the phone for. There are many ways to limit what they can use the phone for, but kids have a way of finding new ways to use electronics.

At the end of every day, I take a moment to read through any texts that were sent that day. I also check her call log, and safari tabs.

No deleting phone numbers/messages

I quickly discovered that after each phone call she made or received she would delete the number. We discussed that she needs to leave the call log alone, so I can see who may be calling her. After getting a number of spam calls, she understands that this helps me keep her safe.

She also had no idea that that is what she was doing when she swiped the number away. While I hope she also hasn’t been deleting any text messages, this one is harder to keep tabs on. Discuss with your children the importance of knowing who and what they are texting.

Keep the Cell Phone out of the Bedroom

My number one rule with a pre-teen owning a cell phone is that it must stay out of the bedroom. Conversations behind closed doors, and facetime with friends don’t need to be held in private at this age.

On top of the privacy concern, allowing a phone in the bedroom can really mess with pre-teens body clocks. They may spend many hours up in the night texting friends, playing games, or watching videos. Make it priority from the start to keep electronics out of the bedroom, including tablets.

Set aside a place for all electronics, including Mom and Dad’s phones to be during the night. We bought a multi-use charging station where all electronics go at night. By setting the example

At School, keep it in the locker or turned off in the backpack.

The main reason any pre-teen should have a phone, is to stay in contact with their parents. This means, when they are at school, the phone doesn’t need to be used. In fact, it shouldn’t be used during class. Encourage your pre-teen to either turn their phone off or keep it in their locker

I once texted my daughter to remind her of our after school schedule. She got upset with me because it was during her math class. Turns out, though, it was in her locker the whole time. She was more upset she had missed my text, lol.

Keep Tabs on Data and Internet access.

If your pre-teens cellphone is going to have data and internet access make sure it is set up so you can keep tabs on it. Discuss with your child what uses data, and how much it costs. You don’t want to get a bill at the end of the month with unexpected charges.

Read more about Teens and Cell Phones: What’s a Mom to Do? from The Good Stuff.

May 20, 2019
All-In-One-Guide to Cake Decorating: A Summer fun Activity for Kids

There are a plethora of things for our kids to do outside during the summer, but when the heat becomes unbearable we must find indoor activities that keep our sanity together. I received a copy of Cake Decorating for review. All thoughts are my own.

My kids love spending time in the kitchen with me. This year has been especially fun as I’ve let them branch out more on their own. I will of course check on them, and require that they get permission to use the stove and oven, but they’ve made cookies without my help, Lemonade, Mac n’Cheese, and ramen.

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When we got the All-In-One Guide to Cake Decorating by Janice Murfitt, they couldn’t stop browsing through the pages. The gorgeous photos of finished cakes, and the easy to follow step by step photos had cake decorating on their mind. Suddenly they requests for birthday cakes became much more elaborate.

As the weather began to really heat up, I thought a fun activity would be to make some petit four cakes and let the kids play with fondant. I had hopes it would keep them both distracted and using the creative sides of their brain. I mean it’s basically like play-doh right? We just get to eat it at the end.

Now, the back of the book does have recipes for different types of frosting – marzipan, fondant, royal icing – but I thought it would be best to start with store bought fondant for our first go around. I found a tub of red and pink fondant on sale at Walmart, so that’s what we used.

To make the petit-fours I baked up a sheet cake. Cut it into 1″x1″ squares and then froze them. Frozen cakes are less crumbly to work with, and doesn’t affect the finished flavor or texture of the cake.

It totally worked! The kids spent days upon days playing with the fondant. Making little shapes to top their little cakes, and sometimes just making scenes of fondant on a plate. Some of the kids found they loved fondant and would eat it without cake, others just enjoyed the creative process of decorating a cake.

July 2, 2018
When Should A Child See A Dentist for the First Time?

When Should A Child See A Dentist For The First Time?

Experts say that kids should go to the dentist by their first birthdays. Good dental care starts early. When kids don’t get the dental care that they need, they may suffer serious consequences. A study published in 2011, in The American Journal of Public Health, showed that poor oral health in children led to academic problems and absences from school. Taking your son or daughter to the dentist near his or her first birthday is one of the most caring and responsible things that you can do as a parent. If you haven’t taken your child to the dentist by age one, take him or her as soon as you can.

How to prepare your child

You may worry about taking a very young child to the dentist. Don’t worry too much. Most dentists have a lot of experience taking care of babies and toddlers. You may get your child excited about what’s going to happen by going to your local library and choosing a children’s book about going to the dentist. Read the story at bedtime. When your child associates a trip to the dentist with something comforting (i.e. you reading a story), he or she will await the visit in a positive frame of mind. Some books about going to the dentist feature characters that kids love, such as Caillou and Dora the Explorer.

How often should your child go?

Your child should see a dentist once every six months. This recommendation comes from The American Association for Pediatric Dentistry. Tartar and plaque buildup by six months and need to be removed by a licensed dentist. When you stick to this sensible schedule, you’ll know that your child is being well taken care of.

Preventing cavities in babies

A popular toothpaste company has some helpful tips for parents who want to minimize or eliminate children’s cavities. The company recommends using a soft baby toothbrush and water to care for an infant’s mouth and any emerging teeth. Another suggestion is to avoid giving baby bottles with sugary drinks to your infant. Sugary drinks trigger tooth decay. Dental caries is a serious issue for babies. However, the New York Times reports that dental caries in infants are not as prevalent as they were in previous years. Parents are paying more attention to the oral health of their babies and young children.

What about older kids?

You may help your child to brush and floss until your little one is old enough to do it by himself or herself. You may also promote good oral health by offering healthy snacks and drinks. Examples of healthy snacks that don’t promote tooth decay include unsweetened peanut butter, fresh fruit, veggies, cheese, and yogurt. Water and milk are the most appropriate drink options for children.

Now that you know when you should take your child to the dentist, as well as how often your son or daughter should go to the dentist, you’ll be ready to take good care of your child’s teeth. The dental health tips shared here will assist you with caring for your child’s teeth at home.

May 2, 2018
4 Fun Ideas to Get Kids Outside

Experts say that children should spend as much as 3 hours a day outside. Meanwhile, most children are actually getting an average of 5-10 minutes a day playing outside. The health benefits of outdoor play are numerous, from better eyesight to decreased stress. Certain studies report that an hour of play outside each day is just as effective for severe ADHD as medication (and it’s side-effect free!)

Related Post: Rainy Day Fun

There are plenty of reasons that kids spend more time indoors now. Sometimes, it’s simply the appeal of video games and computers that keeps them inside. Other times, it’s our own anxiety as parents over things like traffic and pests. It’s true that it’s important to take some safety measures when your child is playing outdoors, from UV protection to talks about stranger danger. However, the payoff is easily worth it.

Children who play outside are more likely to have improved social and problem-solving skills, better balance and spatial intelligence, and better immunity and overall health. Getting natural light leads to better sleep and a healthy supply of Vitamin D. So, what are you waiting for? Get your kids outside!

Here are a few ideas to make it happen:

Craft Tables on the Porch

Do you have a porch, or a deck? If so, you probably usually look at it as something that’s useful for entertaining, or for family meals outside. However, how often do you use it as a play space for your children? A porch is the perfect transition place for activities that could otherwise be indoors. It can especially be a prime spot for potentially messy crafts.

So, maybe it’s time to introduce your children to finger paints, watercolors, or even papier-mache. If they’re a bit older, consider trying out macrame, beading, or toll painting. Introduce a big project, like life-size self-portraits or perhaps a huge treasure map of the backyard. And next time you’re ready for a small upgrade on your home, spruce up the porch to make it a place that both you and your children will love to be.

Children’s Garden Space

Your yard is populated with decorative plants that are meant to be appealing to adults and easy to take care of. However, most of these plants are probably uninteresting to your children. But what if you involved your children in a little bit of gardening themselves? Try out planting some easy-to-maintain vegetables, like runner beans or cherry tomatoes that will be fun for your children to munch. Plant some interesting flowers like snapdragons, or giant sunflowers that grow so fast you can chart their progress from one day to another. Sprinkle some seeds for wildflowers that your children will enjoy collecting in the summer.

Mud

Speaking of getting down into the dirt, when is the last time that your children really sunk their hands down in the dirt? When’s the last time when YOU did? Sometimes our aversion to dirt is completely out of proportion with how convenient it is to clean up afterwards. Children should get dirty! That’s what we have mud rooms for. So, if you have a patch of your yard that’s mostly just dirt, dig some pits and fill them up with water. Let the kids have fun, and get ready to scrub them off later in the bathtub.

If your yard is full of more lawn than mud, then you can still have fun with the hose. This link has some great ideas for water games the kids will enjoy.

Easy Lawn Games

If your children are naturally inclined to certain sports, like soccer or basketball, it’s probably easier to get them outside. And of course, this can be a lifelong love that will pay off in many ways.

However, if your children are young for sports, or just not inclined towards competitive games, then maybe you should try out some lower-impact lawn games. These are usually easy to set up, and can be played with two or even one person. Consider making space for games like badminton, horseshoes, even bocci ball. Check out interesting lawn games like King’s Kub, or cornhole. Not only will they provide hours of entertainment and activity if your kids take a shine to them, but you might even find that you yourself like to have them around.

February 20, 2018
New Moms Guide on How to Save Money

New Moms Guide On How To Save Money

Related Post: Learning to Live Without to Save Money

Maintaining a household budget is difficult enough without throwing a newborn into the mix. New moms looking at the cost of children from their infancy up through adulthood may feel like asking for a refund or trying to find some way to push that baby back up inside where it will not drain their bank account.

Raising your child on a budget is not an impossible task, but it does take planning, forethought, and dedication to do it correctly. A little creativity does not hurt either. Take a look at some of the most helpful tips for new moms on how to save money and still give your adorable little one all that you can afford.

A Quick Money-Saving Guide for New Moms

Learn About Sales Cycles

One of the best things you can do save money is simply knowing when is the best time of day, week, or year to buy certain items. Pay attention to when various items go on sale at your local shops and write them down in a price book.

Do this during your entire pregnancy and by the time you welcome your baby into your life, you will have a thorough understanding of how the sales cycles work in your area and you can pick up all your much-needed supplies like baby clothes when they are at their cheapest.

Make a Grocery List

When shopping for food, clothing, or anything else, always, always, ALWAYS make a list. First, a list prevents you from forgetting anything vital and wasting what precious little time you have going back into the store. Second, when you make a grocery list, you tend to stick to buying what you have listed and avoid purchasing unnecessary things impulsively.

Use the Store Sales to Plan Meals

Look up what items are on sale at your preferred grocery store and build your weekly menu around the store sales. Not only can you get control of your budget and save up to 40% during a single trip by sticking to food on sale, it also takes the some of the pressure off when deciding what to make for dinner. Coming up with meals all of the time can be tiring, but when you plan meals based on store sales, it will narrow down your choices and make deciding what to cook a little less time-consuming.

Do Not Underestimate Coupons

Moms who do not take advantage of every coupon they come across may be missing out on significant savings down the line. Sure $0.25 off does not seem like a lot of money, but when you use 20 of those during a month, you just saved yourself $5 that can go into buying more supplies or starting a college fund for your child. Many stores even offer to match a competitor’s coupons or double the saving on your coupon. You can find more coupons online sometimes that will double or triple the savings from your manufacturer’s coupon.

Use Promotional Codes

Promotional codes function similarly to coupons in that they give you a discount on goods, but generally you only use promotional codes when shopping online. Some will take the code in-store as well. Do a bit of research online before you head to the store to see if you can find a printable promotional code. Check savings forums and other mommy blogs for great recommendations.

Install a Cash Back Application

As more people turn to their smartphones to help them make wise shopping decisions, more and more companies are releasing savings and cash back apps that offer rebates for simply using the application. Although it may seem like a time-consuming progress at first, as you better understand the technique, you can save hundreds of dollars a month.

You simply login to the application and see what rebates are currently available. Once you buy the products available for the rebate, take and upload a photo of your receipt within the application. You end up saving money on your current purchases and can even make some extra cash.

Accept Hand-Me-Downs

Do not think you need to buy every item new. Take advantage of friends or family members with children and accept any hand-me-downs that they offer you. You will be surprised how much money you end up saving on very important items like clothing, toys, books, etc. Even if you do not end up using the item, share it with people in your mommy group or donate them to a local women’s shelter.

Author Charlotte Dunlop: Charlotte is an aspiring writer with a desire to help us improve our day to day lives for the better.

February 13, 2018
Encouraging a Natural Sibling Bond with a New Baby

A natural sibling bond is not something that can be forced. It can, however, be encouraged. This post is sponsored by The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

Grab this No-Stress No-Fluff Guide to New Baby Essentials

I worried the kids would have a hard time bonding with our new baby. It had been 5 years since our last baby, and I just didn’t really know what to expect. Most of the kids were excited about having a new sibling, but there were a few times they shared their worries with me. My favorite came from Lincoln

What if the baby sucks on my toys?!

It’s been 9 months since Harold joined our family, and life has been pretty blissful. Anytime the kids are feeling down, they seem to find a way to smile by spending a little time with their baby brother. The sibling bond I see each of them developing is heartwarming.

Most mornings it’s a race between the kids to get to Harold when they hear even the tiniest little peeps. The younger kids are allowed to hang out with him until Mom gets there. Their latest favorite is to climb in the crib with him. Now that he can sit up, he thinks it’s the best way to wake up too.

Venice has been allowed a bit more responsibility. Now that she’s 11, I’m working on trusting more. I’ve been hovering for 11 years, and now I need to trust that she can make good decisions. This is the first and most important tip when encouraging a natural sibling bond.

She can get him up.

Learning to trust her to carry Harold was probably the hardest part of letting go of her baby years. Teach your older kids how to hold a baby, with practice and supervision, eventually you’ll know they can safely transport baby from room to room. This becomes super helpful when I’m dealing with tantrums from other kids. Those first smiles when Harold wakes up are a treat I can’t keep to myself. By allowing the other kids to enjoy his happy attitude allows them to bond while in their best moods.

Get him dressed.

Older kids, especially my girls, love picking out clothes for their younger siblings. When they are a baby this is a great time for them to bond over fashion. Trusting their fashion sense…well, it’s pretty easy when most of the baby’s clothes already match. Even if they don’t, let them enjoy this special time. It will be something they can bond over through the years as they dress each other up for Halloween, the First Day of School, Picture Days, and just for fun days.

Even change his diaper.

Not her favorite part of becoming responsible, but an important step in learning to be helpful. I feel that changing a diaper helps kids grow close together. Sounds silly, I know, but when you have to spend time caring for someone who can’t care for their own body yet, there’s a certain love that grows.

Parent’s Choice new Premium Line of diapers has made it easier for me to trust the kids – all of them, not just Venice – change Harold’s diaper. The time-to-change indicator helps the kids know exactly when his diaper is ready to be changed. On top of the savings we get from Walmart’s diapers, this keeps us from going through diapers too fast.

Yes, I had kids claim he needed a change, just because he was crying. By showing them how the yellow line changed to blue when it needs changing, this has helped immensely. Now I can make dinner, the kids can bond with Harold, AND we can save money all at the same time!

At a fraction of the cost of other leading diaper brands, Parent’s Choice Premium Diapers offer quality and value that every parent needs in a diaper. This new line also features an anti-leakage barrier around the legs. This is KEY when encouraging a bond between siblings because NO older sibling will want to change a diaper that has leaked all over the place.

Trust me on this one – when diapers explode the kids will not change it – a problem we have not had since switching to the Premium line.

Encourage a natural Sibling Bond, by trusting your older kids and allowing them opportunities to be responsible for their younger siblings.

How do you encourage a Natural Sibling Bond?

December 18, 2017
Struggling with messy bedrooms?

Messy bedrooms feel like my life right now. I’ve gotten back to the point of walking past and just shutting the kid’s bedroom doors so I don’t have to see it. Then I came across this article I shared a few years ago, and my resolve to have clean bedrooms has returned!

Originally published on Positive Parenting Solutions. Reposted here with permission.

Clean Bedrooms—Not Just in Your Dreams

We all know the scene: a few carefully sung words by Mary Poppins, and the Banks’ children’s dolls and clothes march into the toy chest and fold themselves neatly into the closet.

Parents and kids alike wish it were real. But no amount of singing or snapping is going to make that nightmare of a bedroom clean itself. And despite your best efforts, nagging isn’t working either.
While you might not have Mary Poppins’ super powers, you can employ strategies that will help your kids clear their clutter and rediscover that they do have a floor under that mess. Try these “practical magic” tips that will get real results:

Give the mess a rest. What’s the worst that would happen if your kids never cleaned their rooms? Toys would get lost or broken, clothes would stay stained—and that’s no fun. To let these natural consequences do the dirty work for you, first warn your kids about the pitfalls of a messy room and assure them you have complete confidence in their ability to keep things tidy on their own. Then, say nothing when nature runs its course. Refuse to rescue your kids by replacing a missing toy or running an emergency load of laundry, and soon enough, the rooms will get straightened and a lesson will be learned.

Wake your kids’ inner room-cleaner with an alarm they’ll notice. The next time dirty socks and building blocks start intermixing, resist the need to nag. Instead, do a little planning so you can phrase it this way: “When your room is clean, then you may go play with your friends.” The “sugar” in your sentence can be any regularly occurring privilege, from enjoying TV time to eating dinner—but avoid offering rewards or bribes, as you’ll continually have to up the ante. Also, allow plenty of time for a thorough cleaning to take place—depending on the size of the mess, that’s probably at least 20 minutes before a favorite show or dinnertime.

Swallow your need to control. Nothing short of magic can control another person—but you can control your own reaction. Keep the yelling at bay by deciding what you will do whenever the mess gets out of control. At a calm time (so, not while you’re wading through their rooms), inform your kids that they’re old enough to keep their rooms clean. Then say something like, “If your room isn’t clean by dinner every Saturday, I will clean it with a cardboard box. Any toys and clothes not put away will be stored in the basement for a week.” Then, follow through. If you find your kids aren’t missing their favorite toy or coolest jeans, it’s time for a trip to Goodwill.

Put these techniques to work, and you and your kids will be well on your way to enjoying clean bedrooms—no song and dance routine required.

What tips do you have to tame messy bedrooms?

January 30, 2017
When Life Doesn’t Go As Planned

We can plan our life out all we want, but rarely does it ever turn out exactly as we planned, and sometimes it doesn’t even get close to the original plan. So what do you do? It’s all in the attitude, as I learned yesterday, but also the mental preparation.

Yesterday morning my sweet friend came and picked up Lincoln to give me a few hours to do something, anything I wanted. It had been a really rough emotional month for me helping a friend through some tough circumstances, and I needed that break. So after she took Lincoln I decided I’d go on a bike ride. If you know me at all, well I’d never believe I would choose a bike ride willing. There I was, though, breathing in the air rushing past me.

As I neared back home, I began to imagine the rest of the day. I’d grab a shower before Lincoln came back. Then he and I would play together. The girls would get off the bus. We’d all be happy, eat some homemade cookies, and do some house cleaning with good attitudes.

I began to laugh at myself and this perfect afternoon I was concocting. I KNEW there was no way it would go like that. The kids never clean happily, and I still had work to do. So I took a few more deep breaths and then told myself something that would prove to be very important later in the day.

“Adelina,” I said, “You know the day is not going to go like you imagine. There will most likely be fights, and the kids will be tired from a long day of school. They won’t want to help you clean, and may even put up a fight. But Adelina, it’s going to be OK. You just keep your chin up, and roll with the punches today, because you got to breathe. So smile, and don’t be disappointed if the day isn’t perfect. It will depend on your attitude.”

And so I got home, and I kept my chin up. My friend brought Lincoln back, and we decided to plant our tomatoes. And that is when the perfectly imagined day turned upside down. While I hung up the plant, Lincoln was so excited the windchime had been temporarily moved within his reach, he started ringing it like crazy. Unfortunately, it was not secure and came straight down on his head.

Blood. Everywhere. It’s all I could see. I grabbed my little boy and ran inside to the kitchen. Paper Towels were the quickest, and I thought I’id just start cleaning him off to see the cut when I knew. Mothers instinct some call it, but I just knew I couldn’t calmly clean off the blood. It was pouring out and needed pressure applied. So I sat there, holding wet paper towels on his head with one hand and fumbling with my phone in the other.

Who do I call?! What do I do?! I started calling a couple different friends, hung up and asked myself what in the world I was doing. How did I think they could help? So I did what we’re taught to do from a young age in an emergency – I dialed 911.

The operator was very patient and had an ambulance headed out to us as soon as I called. He instructed me to keep the pressure on it, and add clean towels as they soaked through. And most importantly, he stayed calm and patient with this frantic feeling mom who didn’t know how to answer most of his questions – Just where exactly is the line between A LOT of Blood, and Excessive Bleeding?

The EMT’s came in, a 2-second examination determined he would need stitches, and next thing I know I’m laying on a gurney holding Lincoln, and being strapped in. I’ll spare you all the details, but have you ever thought about how one gets home from the hospital after arriving in an ambulance? Or who’s going to be waiting for the other kids at the bus stop?

My afternoon most assuredly did not go as I perfectly imagined.

We didn’t clean. We had PB&J and baby carrots for dinner. The new tomato plant never got watered. And there were definitely some tears involved in the day. What is important is that we made it through the day with everyone alive. We even managed a few laughs throughout the rest of the afternoon. I was home to kiss my kids all goodnight and tuck all 4 into their own beds.

So plan your life. Plan your days. Then let whatever happens, happen, and just roll with the punches – or the gurney.

*Click the Image for more Family+Parenting Posts*

May 19, 2016
Staying Connected to Loved Ones the Cute and Cuddly Way

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CloudPetsForever #CollectiveBias

What do you do when you suddenly find yourself away from a loved one for weeks on end? Changing careers became an obvious choice for us as teaching just wasn’t working out anymore. The change, however, meant Mark had to go to 6 weeks of training before being officially hired.

6 weeks! The longest we’ve ever been apart is maybe 1 full week for him to play with the band at NCAA…and he was not missing me too much during those trips, nor were our kids old enough to really feel the effect of Dad being gone.

This, though. This has been tough. We moved 1300 miles for the job, and then he went off a couple hundred more to train. The kids are missing their dad immensely, and I’ve found it hard to go to bed at a decent hour while wondering if I should check the door locks a couple more times just to be sure.

One thing the kids have loved (and truly I have too), is that we purchased a very basic television plan. While it’s been fun for them to veg a bit while Mom tries to get work/school/cleaning done, I was not expecting the rush of commercials!

“Mom I don’t know how to make my bed, I need the zipper sheets” – Let me teach you!

“Mom I’ll never take a shower unless I can have cool lights flashing at the same time” – Take a bath!

“Mom we’ll pick up our dirty clothes if it’s a basketball hoop!” – Guess you’ll start to smell stinky!

But then. Then there was the one for CloudPets™. A stuffed animal that combined both cuteness with a special way to receive messages from loved ones. And this is what I heard

“Mom we really need a cloud pet so we can send it to Dad and tell him we miss him”.

My heart, be still. These kids love and miss their Daddy, and gosh darn so do I. So you know what? We went to Walmart and bought the Kitty CloudPet™. The way this works is you don’t actually send the CloudPet™ as one of my children assumed. No you hang out with it at home, download the free app that goes with it, and invite approved (through the parental controls!), other loved ones who may be far away to send messages to your CloudPet™. Oh and don’t forget to grab the 3 AA batteries it will need.

Currently CloudPets™ can be found in select Walmart stores, but will soon be available nationwide! We found the pallet display in the kids clothing section of our local store.

Meet Darth Kitty – the kids had to compromise on a name since one just wanted to call her Kitty, and the other wanted Darth Vader. We had a lot of fun figuring out how to get Darth Kitty set up to receive messages, and then we sent Daddy a special invite to start sending messages. You can watch a video and see just how easy the Set Up is.

After a successful test run of “Hi Girls…can you hear me? Did this work?” message, he moved on to telling them bedtime stories. He can take time whenever he has a break at work to send the message, and then I choose when to send it to Darth Kitty so all can hear together – usually as a special bedtime bonding time.

We were getting pretty sad that Dad is missing their first day of school this year. When he was a teacher it was always fun to send them all off together – school and work. But not this year. I’m hoping we’ll find a special message from Darth Kitty next Tuesday morning with some encouraging words that can only come from a Daddy on the first day of school.

I have a feeling we’ll find with this new job Dad may miss more of the special events then we’re used to. While in the past his schedule has always lined up with the kids, it will now vary from day to night, and include holidays. I’m pretty sure Darth Kitty will be put to good use during those missed occasions.

How do you stay connected with loved ones?

August 5, 2015