Posts Tagged ‘motherly advice’

Due to the recent birth of our beautiful baby girl, Nora Faith, I’ve rounded up an All-Star list of moms who effortlessly seem to manage work, home, family, life, and everything in between! You can read all their words of motherly wisdom here, as well as how they manage to “do it all” while still living a life they love.

I’ll be sharing my own thoughts and baby updates soon enough, but right now, I’m simply soaking up their trusted advice while cuddling with my new baby girl! 

The following is written by Jill from The Diaper Diaries:

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When I married my husband, I must admit, I was anxious to add to our family. I have always been a “kid” person and had wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember. My husband, on the other hand, had never really spent a ton of time around kids; and although he wanted kids, wasn’t in as much of a hurry.

Looking back I am so grateful for the two years we were married before we had our daughter. I have so many wonderful memories of the time when our family was just the two of us. And I think it set a strong foundation for our marriage.

And then there were three.

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I distinctly remember the feelings I had after Lily was born — my heart hadn’t just stretched to make room for HER, but I also loved my husband more deeply than before. Watching him embrace fatherhood and fall in love with his daughter brought out intense feelings in me.

But it’s amazing how time goes on, the dishes piled up, we got low on sleep, had more kids, more responsibilities, more commitments, and those intense feelings began to fade.

And if I am completely honest, those kids can steal bigger and bigger pieces of my heart.

Do you know what is the MOST important gift you can give your kids?

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It isn’t the top stroller, or the right swaddle method (although that can be a life saver) or even the proper sleep schedule. It is a strong relationship between their mom and dad. And the only way to do that is to do exactly opposite of what is natural to do.

It isn’t hard to put your kids first once you have them. They make it VERY clear when they need something. And if you don’t jump the second they make that clear, they will make it even clearer!

Our husbands are often more subtle. And surely, as grown men, they don’t need us near as much as these children that are helpless without us. But I assure you, your husband needs you too. And he will hopefully be there long after your kids gone.

Take off your mom hat from time to time and put on your wife hat!

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Get away without the kids even when they stand by the door and beg you to stay home. Don’t just throw the kids at your husband when he gets home and run (guilty!!), but greet him with a kiss.

The treasures of raising children are truly priceless; but if we are doing it at the cost of our marriage, the whole family loses. So make sure you continue to invest in your marriage and I promise, it will pay dividends far into the future.

When was the last time you wore your “wife hat”?

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Jill is the author of The Diaper Diaries. She has been changing diapers for 6+ years as a stay at home mom of three children. She also has a devoted husband who graciously puts up with this little internet hobby. They all probably wish she would exercise a bit more discretion as she shares their life’s ups, downs and in-betweens with anyone willing to read it. You can (almost always) find her on Twitter @DiaperDiaries.

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Due to the recent birth of our beautiful baby girl, Nora Faith, I’ve rounded up an All-Star list of moms who effortlessly seem to manage work, home, family, life, and everything in between! You can read all their words of motherly wisdom here, as well as how they manage to “do it all” while still living a life they love.

I’ll be sharing my own thoughts and baby updates soon enough, but right now, I’m simply soaking up their trusted advice while cuddling with my new baby girl! 

The following is written by Laura from I’m An Organizing Junkie:

Whenever I visit my family in Ontario I try to help them with an organizing project wherever I can. I’ve done my sister’s kitchen, my sister’s entryway closet and my brother’s bookshelf. It’s fun for me, and they are happy for the assistance. Especially since it always takes less time than they anticipate it will.

Last year when I was visiting, I helped my sister organize the nursery for her second daughter. The room had all the main elements but did require a little TLC.

The plan was to make room for the changing table and a chair, find a home for the totes of “to grow into clothing”, and make it a welcoming, restful place for my little ladybug to sleep — here is the “before picture”.

With my plan in place, I was ready for the second step in the PROCESS which is to remove… and remove I did. 

Organize the big stuff first.

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Everything but the big furniture got pulled out into the hallway or another room. Once I had the space opened up I could do a little space planning to see how I was going to fit everything back in.

Utilize every available space.

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Once the furniture was in place we could start organizing the clothes. Since my sister had excellent cubby storage that wasn’t being used to its full potential, we decided to put some of the next size clothing in those and that helped free up a few totes.

Labels can be easily created for these fabric bins using self laminating sheets threaded with string and then tied to the handles.

We also brought in the changing table and that has three big drawers underneath for diapers/wipes, sleepers, crib sheets, blankets, socks, etc.

Make room for baby clothes and accessories.

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We organized shoes, booties and hats using the Koala Baby Organizer (purchased from Babies R Us) behind the door which is often neglected space. Clothes a couple of sizes out were either hung up in the closet or added to cubbies in the closet. Others were stored in totes under the crib, another often neglected space. Clothes that weren’t going to be needed for at least another year yet went up in the attic out of the way.

The makeover was a huge success and my sister now has an organized and functional nursery for her new baby girl!

Here’s one more before & after photo:

I’m really happy with the way it turned out, especially since we only had a short window of time to do it — and we had a very cute 2 year old helper who had different ideas of how things should be stored {mainly all over the floor of course!}

How do you organize your baby and kids’ rooms?

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Laura is a wife and mother to three great kids, lives in Alberta, Canada, and is an addict of all things organizing, especially containers. She is addicted to the high that comes with living a life of order and simplicity and is always looking for her next “fix”. You can find her blogging regularly and sharing her passion over at I’m an Organizing Junkie, and her organizing book, Clutter Rehab: 101 Organizing Tips & Tricks to Become an Organization Junkie and Love It!, is now available in stores.

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Due to the recent birth of our beautiful baby girl, Nora Faith, I’ve rounded up an All-Star list of moms who effortlessly seem to manage work, home, family, life, and everything in between! You can read all their words of motherly wisdom here, as well as how they manage to “do it all” while still living a life they love.

I’ll be sharing my own thoughts and baby updates soon enough, but right now, I’m simply soaking up their trusted advice while cuddling with my new baby girl! 

The following is written by Tara from Deal Seeking Mom and Unsophisticook:

Evenings are pretty chaotic in our household. With five children who are all active in sports, it often feels like we’re on the go right up until bedtime. Making time for family dinners and homework is a high priority, but making it a smooth and easy process is often challenging.

After several years of searching for pencils, glue, scissors, etc. for the current assignment each night, it finally dawned on me that there just has to be a better way. My solution seems so incredibly simple — I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner!

This past fall when I was stocking up on school supplies at bargain prices, I purchased extras of everything; not only to replenish my kids’ needs at school but to create what we now call the Homework Box.

The Homework Box:

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The homework box contains all of the supplies that any one of my kids might need to complete their homework on a given night, and it’s off limits outside of homework time so that we can be assured that we have a complete set of colored pencils or crayons available at all times.

We also store any flashcards or learning rings that a teacher sends home in the box to keep things simple. All of the items are housed in an inexpensive Sterilite tote that I picked up at Target.

Items in our Homework Box:

• ballpoint pens
• #2 pencils, sharpened
• pink erasers
• Elmers Glue-All
• Elmers Glue Sticks
• Crayola Crayons
• Crayola Markers
• Crayola Colored Pencils
• tape
• blunt-tip scissors
• ruler
• calculator
• notebook paper
• dictionary

While we still have our occasional homework battles because the kids are tired or grumpy, we’ve completely avoided the missing supplies issues so far this year!

Do you use a homework box in your household?

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If so, do you include any items in yours that I’ve overlooked?

Tara Kuczykowski is a married mom of three boys and two girls, ages 3 to 9 years, living in Columbus, OH. She blogs at Deal Seeking Mom where she shares the latest grocery store deals, coupons and freebies and at Unsophisticook where you can find her tried and true recipes.

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Due to the recent birth of our beautiful baby girl, Nora Faith, I’ve rounded up an All-Star list of moms who effortlessly seem to manage work, home, family, life, and everything in between! You can read all their words of motherly wisdom here, as well as how they manage to “do it all” while still living a life they love.

I’ll be sharing my own thoughts and baby updates soon enough, but right now, I’m simply soaking up their trusted advice while cuddling with my new baby girl! 

The following is written by Jennifer Bowen:

It’s funny, experts say that women forget the pain and discomfort of childbirth, and its true!

But one thing I’ve never forgotten was the paradigm shift of having that little life placed into my care. The things I enjoyed doing most were no longer part of my schedule, I was living on baby time now.

Even the most organized, type-A woman is forced to give up control at these times. But for most of us, there are tips we can use to maintain our sanity.

1. Renew Your Energy

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If you are anything like me, your first instinct is to use nap time as productive time. Ha, think again. This time is for you. Use it for energy renewal, spiritual renewal or try to catch a few winks yourself. This will make for a much calmer mommy.

2. Build In A Buffer

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You may have been Punctual Penny in your pre-baby days, but now find it difficult to get anywhere within the vicinity of on-time. No fear, build a buffer into every activity on your calendar. Allow plenty of time to change a diaper, feed one more time, pack the 87 items you’re sure to need in the diaper bag and fasten the 23 straps to the car seat!

3. Accept Help

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No one can do it all, especially with a baby. Now is the time to accept help from your husband, mom, sister, in-laws, friends and anyone who offers. Don’t be shy about asking for assistance, many times people will stand clear of the frazzled woman toting a baby for fear of insulting you or getting a shot of the unknown coming from your direction. Your laundry may be folded inside-out, sideways and stuffed away never to be seen again, but it’s done, you appreciate it and you can work out the details later.

4. Streamline

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Setup routines and systems for everything that needs to be done. Choose one day for grocery shopping, another for cleaning, etc. By having a set day for each responsibility, you won’t need to think about them for the remainder of the week.

5. Prioritize

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Naturally, baby is your number one priority and everything else comes second. As tasks or outings present themselves, prioritize. Choose the ones that are important to you and remember, sometimes “good enough is good enough”. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

These same tips apply even as your children get older. While the challenges and demands on your time are different, your commitment to your children is not. Mine are now 15, 12, and 9 and I remind myself of these things everyday!

What are your best “busy mom” tips?

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As a wife and mom of three boys, Jennifer Bowen, is always looking for cost cutting ideas and shortcuts to accomplish daily tasks. You can also find Jennifer on Twitter.

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Due to the recent birth of our beautiful baby girl, Nora Faith, I’ve rounded up an All-Star list of moms who effortlessly seem to manage work, home, family, life, and everything in between! You can read all their words of motherly wisdom here, as well as how they manage to “do it all” while still living a life they love.

I’ll be sharing my own thoughts and baby updates soon enough, but right now, I’m simply soaking up their trusted advice while cuddling with my new baby girl! 

The following is written by Karen from Abundance on a Dime:

When I was pregnant with my first child back in 1997, there was absolutely no question in my mind that I would breastfeed. I mean, I was a health professional with a master’s degree in nutrition – how could I not? I knew there were so many benefits to breastfeeding: improved health for the baby, increased bonding between mother and child, and incredible money savings, just to name a few!

Like many first-time moms, I had a very idealistic view of breastfeeding.

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I thought that because it was the natural thing to do, it would be “no big deal”. But a few weeks into my breastfeeding experience, with cracked, bleeding nipples, mastitis, and a clogged milk duct, I was nearly at the end of my rope and wondering how this could possibly be happening to me, of all people!

Fortunately, I did stick it out for those first difficult months, and I went on to have extremely satisfying and long-term breastfeeding relationships with both of my sons. Those early days aside, my nursing experiences are some of my most treasured maternal memories.

I’d like to share some of things I wish I had known back when I began my breastfeeding career, that would likely have made my early days as a nursing mom a little smoother and much less frustrating:

1. Learn as much as you can – before you give birth!

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As a first-time mom, I spent hours reading about pregnancy and childbirth – and very little time at all learning about breastfeeding. You’re going to be spending a lot more time nursing than you are in labor, so it makes sense to learn as much as you can about this important topic before the baby arrives. Your midwife or obstetrician can likely recommend a few good resources with accurate information about the more technical aspects of breastfeeding.

In addition, reading about the nursing experiences of other new moms can give you a better understanding of what to expect as a newly nursing mom. The Breastfeeding Café is a wonderful book filled with women’s breastfeeding stories (both the joys and the challenges).

2. Don’t expect overnight perfection.

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As the saying goes, “breastfeeding is perfectly natural, but not naturally perfect.” You’re learning a brand new skill, and that usually means some trial and error. Be easy with yourself and try to relax as much as possible (I know that can be hard when you’ve got a screaming baby trying to latch on!)

It may seem hard to believe in the beginning, but you (and the baby) will get the hang of it, and it will get easier and less stressful with time.

3. Establish a breastfeeding support system.

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Having a number of different people available to provide assistance and support when you need it is extremely invaluable in the early weeks of breastfeeding. This could include a local La Leche League leader or group, a midwife, a lactation consultant, or a friend or colleague who’s an experienced breastfeeding mom.

Ideally, there’s at least one person in your support system that you can call for advice any time of the day or night, since breastfeeding issues are not limited to the daylight hours!

4. Don’t compare your baby to other babies.

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Babies have different nursing styles, so don’t think that just because your baby doesn’t nurse the way your cousin’s or neighbour’s did, that something is wrong. My older son liked to latch on and stay on the breast for about half an hour at a time; my younger son usually stayed on for just a few minutes at a time and liked to pop on and off frequently.

5. Expect to spend a LOT of time breastfeeding.

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Breastfeeding is “on demand” and feeding times can be very unpredictable. For the first few months of your baby’s life, this is going to be one of the major activities of your day, so keep your schedule as flexible as possible.

6. Create a breastfeeding station in your main living space.

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Since you will be spending hours every day nursing, it’s important that you have a comfortable place to do it. Good posture while breastfeeding is crucial for avoiding back, neck and shoulder pain. A nursing pillow is invaluable; you may need other pillows handy for back support as well.

Having music or DVDs handy can help you relax as well ward off boredom if you’re home alone all day with the baby.

7. Learn a variety of nursing positions.

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Alternating positions at different feedings can help reduce the chances of milk ducts getting clogged. In addition, the sidelying position is invaluable for nighttime feedings as it allows you to nurse the baby while lying down in bed.

You can find photos of some of the more common nursing positions here.

8. Get to know your breasts.

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Most of us aren’t accustomed to paying a lot of attention to our own breasts. However, it’s a good idea to check your breasts daily for any signs of a clogged duct starting to develop, or a crack starting to form in a nipple.

Addressing any problems early on can help prevent much bigger problems down the road (trust me, mastitis is no fun).

9. Keep the lines of communication open with your spouse/partner.

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Breastfeeding can be really stressful for new dads, too! If you’re struggling, he is likely feeling scared and powerless to help you. Make sure you let your partner know how you’re feeling, and what he can do to help support you.

10. Be patient.

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One of the most important things my midwife ever told me was that it could take up to three months for lactation to be well-established. Many women give up before they get that far!

In fact, I did find that once I hit the three-month mark, breastfeeding had become much smoother sailing, and I was well on my way to a satisfying nursing experience with my son.

What are your best breastfeeding tips?

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Karen McLaughlin is the mother of two tween/teen boys with voracious appetites and the author of the forthcoming book Cheap Appétit: The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Family for Less Than $400 a Month (While Eating Better Than You Ever Thought Possible). She writes about living a joyful, rich life on any budget at Abundance on a Dime.

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Due to the recent birth of our beautiful baby girl, Nora Faith, I’ve rounded up an All-Star list of moms who effortlessly seem to manage work, home, family, life, and everything in between! You can read all their words of motherly wisdom here, as well as how they manage to “do it all” while still living a life they love.

I’ll be sharing my own thoughts and baby updates soon enough, but right now, I’m simply soaking up their trusted advice while cuddling with my new baby girl! 

The following is written by Aby from Simplify 101:

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Six weeks before my first baby’s due date, I thought I had everything under control. My baby shower was scheduled for the next Saturday, and I had a checklist and time-line in place for all the other remaining baby preparations.

What I didn’t realize was that the very next day my water would break.

I was scrubbing baseboards when I felt a little trickle — a little trickle that lead to an “oh no,” a tear-filled phone call to the doctor, and a panicked trip to the ER. (And no, my bag wasn’t packed yet.)

After five days on bed rest in the hospital, my doctor told me that my baby was on the way — Friday, November 13. He arrived five weeks early (the day before my baby shower) but he was a healthy baby boy — and that was the only thing that mattered.

Two days later, my husband and I brought baby Collin to his not-yet-ready home. This was when I learned my first lesson in parenting:  You are no longer in control! Another person now rules your home, your schedule, and your heart.

I don’t have any tips for dealing with the heart part (though I promise, you will get used to it soon enough.) But, thirteen years later, I have some ideas to help you stay organized while someone else rules your home and your schedule.

Tip 1:  Sleep when baby sleeps.

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It’s much easier to stay organized and keep up with the rest of your life when you’re well rested. So in the early days sleep when your baby sleeps.

In time, your baby will learn to sleep on your schedule, but until then, make sure you get plenty of rest by napping when baby naps. (You won’t have this luxury with baby number two, so enjoy it with baby number one.)

Tip 2: Ask for help.

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You’re not going to be able to do everything you did before you had a baby. Even though your baby will sleep a lot, he or she will take a lot of your time and energy. If you’re not one to ask for help, start practicing before baby arrives.

I had to learn how to ask for help while I was on bed rest in the hospital waiting for Collin to arrive. My friend Michelle helped me out by sewing sheets to fit the antique bassinet Collin was going to sleep in his first weeks at home. (This was one of those lingering items on my to-do list that didn’t get done before my water broke.) But thanks to Michelle’s help, baby Collin had a warm and cozy place to sleep his first weeks at home.

Tip 3:  Seek out shortcuts whenever you can.

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Shortcuts are a new mom’s best friend, so always be on the lookout for little ways you can save time. For example, you’ll be amazed at how much laundry one little bitty baby will create. Instead of folding your baby’s onesies, stack them in a pile and place them right in the dresser drawer.

Use just one style and color of baby socks, so you don’t have to spend time matching socks. Instead, simply drop all the socks into a basket (right next to that little stack of onesies.)

Tip 4:  Use containers and curtains to conceal baby clutter.

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Babies can also create a lot of clutter. There’s just so much stuff to care for one little person! Don’t stress about the clutter, conceal it! Corral little items like stuffed animals and rattles into small containers like metal buckets or baskets. Add a curtain to the front of your changing table to conceal less than perfect stacks of diapers, wipes and other changing necessities.

Tip 5: Enjoy every moment of it!

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These baby days are going to fly by. And you will miss them when they’re gone. So don’t worry about the clutter or the laundry or anything else. Instead, hold that baby just a little bit longer and enjoy every single minute of being a new Mom. Everything else can wait. (You’ll just have to trust me on that one.)

What tips would you add to this list?

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Aby Garvey is an organizing expert who believes organizing can be creative and fun—the more you love an organizing solution the more likely you are to use it! She is the co-owner of Simplify 101, a professional organizing business that specializes in online organizing workshops. Aby helps people around the world get organized via her online workshops and one-on-one coaching services.

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Due to the recent birth of our beautiful baby girl, Nora Faith, I’ve rounded up an All-Star list of moms who effortlessly seem to manage work, home, family, life, and everything in between! You can read all their words of motherly wisdom here, as well as how they manage to “do it all” while still living a life they love.

I’ll be sharing my own thoughts and baby updates soon enough, but right now, I’m simply soaking up their trusted advice while cuddling with my new baby girl! 

The following is written by Jodi from JodiMichelle.com:

I’m so excited to be writing here today for Andrea, I’m a big fan personally and was excited when she asked me to take her maternity photos earlier this fall.

I have two kids and two hard drives full of photos… tens of thousands of photos, not to mention the boxes we continue to move around with us. I take a lot of photos!  So when Andrea asked me if I’d share some tips on creative photography for kids and also about how I store and organize my photos, I just couldn’t resist.

First we’ll cover a few tips on how to get the best shot — and I promise your point-and-shoot camera is all you need in order to get a frame-able shot.

Your Best Friend is the ANGLE

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What angle are you shooting your photos from? Your eye? Are you always above your subject?

Don’t be afraid to move your camera around. I shoot a lot of my photos from my knee – I simply hold my camera at my side and shoot photos.

Try not to always be at eye level with your subject – getting way above your child makes for an interesting point of view as well.

No One Likes a Poser

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Posing your child for every photo you want to take is unnatural. Are you going to want to look back at their years as little kids and think – Wow, they really sat still with their legs crossed a lot.

Um, no. Your kids are fun! Their active! They love to play … get those shots, too!

I know when we look back at photos of when our kids were younger we are always smitten with the ones where they’re not paying attention to us because we truely captured them in that moment.

Every Photo Doesn’t Need to be a Full Body Experience

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I’m sure you’ve noticed in a lot of my photos, there are pieces of my children missing . Heads, arms, tops of faces, limbs … I specifically zoom in or crop or angle my shots so that this happens often. I love the little things about my kids. How a shirt fits their baby tummies, their belly buttons, their toes, the adorable manner in which they dress themselves.

And it’s ok NOT to have a smile in every photo. You’ll be smiling when you see the results!

Use Everyday Objects as Props

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It is fun to have little photo shoots with my kids — and when that happens, I get a box of stuff out or buy some balloons and then go hunting for a back drop. Setting up a sheet in your basement as “the place to take photos” is not allowed. NOT. ALLOWED. Stop it.

Have fun with it – I open my closet and let my kids find something they’re interested in. Hats, socks etc. They do the cutest things with them and if I had an agenda I would have missed it.

They have to be enjoying the props and surroundings in order to cooperate for a photo. If you put your kid in a basket and they scream – it’s ok to take the photo (screamers are great memories) but then try something else.

Those are my creative tips for now: basically don’t be afraid to try something new. And have fun!

If you’re not having fun with your camera then don’t pick it up – when that happens to me I actually give my camera to my daughter (who is 6) and she gets creative with angles and subjects. It’s fun to see what someone else can do with the same machine I use.

Storing your photos

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I wrote about how I store my digital photo files on my website last month. Check it out!

Printing your photos

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I don’t print as many photos as I should to be completely honest. And I wouldn’t suggest printing every “great photo” you take. It’s overwhelming in 5 years, I promise.

When I do print photos I use Snapfish exclusively. Their prices are great and they stand behind their quality. If I have an issue they reprint and send me another package at no cost to me. When I want a canvas print I’ve used Canvas People and have been equally as pleased with the quality and price.

I’d suggest doing a yearly or quarterly digital book of your photos and I’m going to start doing a yearly recap book.

Because I take so many photos I often have doubles and triples of a shot. I pick my fav and then delete the others. I use Flickr to store shots I’ve edited or use on my blog and I can always go back and download them again as well.

What are some of the best tips you’ve implemented in your photography to get the shots you end up loving of your kids?

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Jodi Schaap, affectionately known as JodiMichelle, believes the best in people. She’s passionate about intentional living, being involved in her communities and living naked on paper. Married to a Serial Entrepreneur and Mother to two, Jodi dreams big through her Life List and takes you along for the ride. She chronicles a series of How To’s, Tutorials, DIY junkies and Ideas over at JodiMichelle.com.

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