This post on mom hacks is a reader request (you guys have the best ideas!). I loved the idea but had no idea how to really approach it. Then, as the days and weeks passed I found myself laughing at little things I did that may qualify as a mom hack, a little tweak or tip that I had no clue about until I got into this mom gig myself. So I started writing them down and feel I have enough now to share. On ONE condition. You guys have to chime in. I want to hear what little tricks you’ve found to make this momming thing a bit easier. Promise? Ok, let’s get started.
Tell them you hid four quarters, but only hide three. Let’s start off with one from my childhood. During my mom’s tennis matches, she would throw four quarters randomly into a field for my brother and I to search for. I found out a few years ago that SHE ONLY THREW THREE. You brilliant, terrible woman, mom (wink). You can’t argue with success though, as it certainly kept us busy well into the third set.
For birthdays, buy streamers and for Halloween, buy spider webs. It’s seriously the biggest bang for your buck. They create such a festive atmosphere and you can have enough to decorate your whole house for under $10. They are our go-to decoration.
Deactivate Sent/Delivered/Read text receipts. You can do this on an iphone under settings–> messages. Sometimes I can’t respond to something right away and it eats me up if the person knows I read it and didn’t respond (people pleaser, remember?). So deactivate these and respond when it works for your schedule without the guilt!
Zoe’s Kitchen because meals for new mom’s don’t have to be homemade. I prefer to make meals (especially this one) to be honest, but sometimes life happens (and sometimes sitters cancel last minute). Zoe’s Kitchen has a Family Meal option. The food is fresh and flavorful and they make it easy to order, pick-up, and deliver.
Provide Proof of the Easter Bunny. It’s crazy how much bunny print resemble all-purpose flour. And how you can find the Easter Bunny’s exact footprint stencil here.
Set their clocks back by 5 minutes or more. We tried to OK-to-Wake clock and honestly hated it. But a simple large-read digital? Perfect. We have this one. Early on (age of 2?) we taught both girls what a 7 looked like and it’s still a hard-fast rule in our house that they can not come out of their rooms in the morning until they see that 7 as the first number. When they were asleep Christmas Eve David sneaked in and set their clocks back 30 minutes, giving us the buffer we needed to be bright-eyed and busy-tailed when Christmas morning came. Call us the Grinch if you want. We called it brilliant!
Insist that they don’t smile for a picture. If they keep giving me that forced, awkward “are we done yet” smile when I’m trying to snag a picture, I switch my method. I say, “you know what y’all, this isn’t working, so don’t smile for this next picture. I’m serious, don’t you dare smile.” This usually sends them into giggles and BOOM, a great, natural picture is born. (Note: you can’t overuse this or it will stop working so save it for when you really need a good shot).
Chick-fil-A has a mom’s valet. I’m not sure if every location does, but at ours I can go through the drive-through with the kids buckled in, order our food, pay, then park. When we walk in, they lead us to a table all set up with all our food, napkins, and even those plastic, sticky place-mats. It. Is. Awesome.
Squeezable garlic. Molly convinced me to try it and I must admit, I’m hooked. I’ll still peel and press when I have time, but in a pinch, this stuff is incredible! See also: squeezable basil, ginger, and parsley. (I found this large one at BJ’s)
Tell them it’s spicy. Usually I am all about sharing food and letting them try mine, but sometimes I just want to meal without kid fingers poking into it, so for this I just give this shrug look and say, sorry ya’ll, it’s super spicy.
Buy squeezable peanut butter or almond butter. In fact, buy squeezable anything. But seriously, check out Yumbutter. I know we have it at our Target. They have healthy add-ins, it taste delicious, and it makes it so easy to squeeze on an apple or banana, make a quick sandwich, bring on a hike or picnic, or squeeze right in your mouth (we’ve all done it).
Make salads dippable. Because kids love to dip. Because it’s easier than stabbing lettuce with a fork. Because nothing is mixed together that way. Because it’s fun!
Magical Tooth fairy money. Sometimes she has gold coins (that I hear are very similar to the $1 coins you can get at your local bank) and other times it’s a glittery $1 bill (which I hear she makes using spray adhesive and glitter, then letting it air-dry for an hour or two).
Offer to time them. They don’t want to put on shoes? Don’t want to clear their plates? How fast can you organize the shoes? Any unwanted task becomes fun with this magical sentence: “Want me to time you? Ready? GO! 1… 2… 3…” This one still works for us, even at age 6.
That’s all I have for now but I in no way believe it’s a comprehensive list, so please make my day and chime in with your favorite parenting tricks and tips!
What if I time you to see how quickly you can do it? Ready… GO!
😉
JOHN J STATHAS says
When the kids reach a certain age, read their diary, check their phone, internet involvement, Xbox, etc… BUT don’t get caught! Parents need to know what’s going on in kid’s life – especially in these times.
Brittany Dixon says
As your daughter that kept a diary, this is painful to read 😉
Lisa Faltenhine says
Timing them is gold, works (almost) every time.
Install hooks at their level in their room so they can hang their things rather then leave them on the floor (clothes, jackets, jammies, towels)
And sometimes….just buy the pre cut veggies and pre shredded cheese.
Julie says
Not a mom yet (but soon! 9 week’s yesterday!) but this was a fun read!
Erin says
Oh my gosh I love these! Paper plates. Not for every day but sometimes you just need to get a meal down in a hurry and not do dishes. Having a stash in the cabinet has saved me.
Laura says
Dinner hack I’ve learned/ accepted for my family – pair anything “iffy” with noodles with butter. i dont get frustrated when they eat only a few bites of the other stuff and they are satisfied!
those long story books (im looking at you Disney) with huge paragraphs of text – summarize summarize summarize! works best for non-readers 😉
my kids are 7 and 9 and bring a snack to school. we created a snack station cabinet and im hands off getting ready in the morning. You want it, you pack it! similarily, they actually like the school lunch so I let them eat it – no scrambling to pack in the morning.
Erica says
I’ll have to try the picture suggestion! Usually my husband will tickle our two year old to try to get a moment of a smile for a posed pic. I use the it’s too spicy too much. I think my toddler has decided spicy = delicious lol. Love the Halloween decor around your fireplace, what a great idea! I don’t think I have many tips for you as my kids are both younger than yours…but I find misdirection is my best friend right now. I also try to give my toddler choices between two things, because kids love to pick something, but I also make a big deal about me making a choice between two things and telling him that it’s mommy’s turn to pick.
sherry says
You had me laughing with the quarters. I love your “this is super spicy” saying. Social media has helped parenting so much! Great ways to share ideas and what works and what doesn’t.
Angie says
We buy streamers from the dollar store and decorate their doors for their birthday! Also, The Dollar Store has great banners and colored paper plates and napkins for birthdays. We only celebrate as a family so it still makes the day special for them. I love timing them to complete a task too: eating, cleaning, getting dressed! I agree, the Chick FIL A app is a lifesaver! Another time saver is obviously doubling up on a recipe and freezing half for later. It’s great to have fresh spaghetti sauce, lasagna, or soup ready at the last second.
Kathy says
So fun! I loved reading this!! 🙂
Landon says
Let them help pick out veggies at the store (select the item, bag it and put it in the cart) then help make dinner with that veggie. Depending on their age/skill level let them wash, cut or even just plate the veggie and/or set the table; all this makes my daughter excited to eat everything served especially what she picked out.
Laura says
Since we have to be out the door by 7 am during the work week, I dress my boys for the morning at night. Honestly, except for a few special outfits, the clothes are just as comfy. Then pj’s are a novelty saved for weekends! It saves so much time in the mornings! Also- a crock pot with a timer! If we are going to the gym or someplace after work I can set it in the morning and have it cook for a certain amount of hours, then it will automatically go to the “warm” setting after cooking. Having a hot chicken curry simmering and ready to eat when we get home in the evenings is a beautiful thing!
Tara says
These are great! I love the quarter hiding trick. It’s supposed to rain here all weekend so I think I may be using that one! My mom also introduced me to a good game for kids while waiting unexpectedly. Grab a penny and hide it in one of your hands and they have to guess which one it’s in. My daughter even likes hiding the penny from me. Sometimes we’ve played this for 20 minutes! And it’s so easy because I always have a penny when we’re out and about!
Lucy says
Harris Teeter to go /express lane groceries! I order from app on my phone, pick a time, pull in & pick up. Well worth the 4.95 fee. They call you and let you know what’s our and if you want a substitution. Also, when my 4 year old doesn’t want to go to bathroom or says she doesn’t have to go-we turn it into a race. I say “ I bet mommy can get to the potty and go before you!!” She then says “no, you can’t.” She races me there and goes before me. She never notices when I don’t go. Ha ha.
Erin Turner says
I love these! When I want my kids to go to bed, I tell them that the Sleepy Train is coming. Then we all do the “chugga chugga choo choo!” as we make our way into each kid’s room. It has actually turned into a great way for my 22 month old to communicate that she is tired. When she’s had enough for the day, she says, “Choo choo!” Anyway, the kids all love the ritual and making all of our “stops” and it makes bedtime less of a fight. 🙂
Sam says
Why didn’t you like the ok to wake clock? That is genius about turning back the clock!! Also genius to say “don’t smile.” Definitely going to try that. Mine would be setting out clothes the night before (do it for myself too!) and getting her to help me put the groceries in the back of the cart (she’s in the front seat still right now). Gives her something to do and keeps the fussies at bay! You should do a hack post for when #2 comes because that’s happening for us in April 🙂
Chantal M Shelstad says
That quarter thing? GOLD.
Lindsay says
Great topic! My 2yo gets super constipated, so I often give her prune juice. She wouldn’t drink it the first time (as i suspected) because of the color, so I started calling it “candy juice” and she now loves it. She also is more likely to eat something healthy if she knows an animal eats it (e.g. didn’t like carrots until she found out bunnies eat them, didn’t like bananas until she found out monkeys do, etc.) so I always tell her an animal likes whatever I am trying to get her to eat. Did you know kitty cats LOVE green peas?!? 😉
Elizabeth Evans says
I also do the “how fast can you do it? I’ll time you!” and then start counting tactic. They usually start running before i get to 3. As a mom of 3 (baby just turned 6m), I’d love to add to your list – but I feel like they’re winning right now and I have no tricks. I’m telling you this because I think we all have times when we just have nothing left to give and have zero patience. The good news is that I know this is a phase, things will change (easier? harder?..). My kids are my greatest joy and I am so overwhelmed right now! Things that I know will make this phase better: sleep, being outside, giving myself grace, outsourcing. 🙂
Stefani says
1) Hiring a nanny or sitter, even for a couple of hours. (Have her send pics and wear them out at the park etc.)
2) Try a chore list for the 2 older ones. making bed, emptying dishwasher, HW, etc.& it’s only “x” off if you DON’T have to tell them to do it.
3) Treasure Chest-filled with Dollar Tree items, they can pick 1 or 2 items (up to you) every Friday if they’ve earned it.
4) Play the “Game of Mouse”-Silence from everyone, no noises that a mouse would not make are allowed. The 1st person to talk loses. Winner get a quarter.
Be consistent. Don’t be afraid if putting a Disney movie or educational on and sitting them in front of the TV when you’re burned out. 3 is alot! Especially when you have a 6 month old. GET SOME HELP.
And yes, it will get much easier. But find a trustworthy sitter ASAP and take a couple hrs for yourself.
Sarah says
Great post! My parenting hack of the week is the TouchNote App. My daughter opened her birthday presents after friends left the party but a few family members stuck around. I took a picture of her opening each gift and using the app it sends picture postcards. Personalized amazing photo Thank you postcards typed and mailed from the app all while nursing the baby. I can never get to the post office let alone sit down for a huge batch of thank you notes! Takes me weeks and weeks usually. Embarrassing. This is my new plan forever.
Samantha says
I love this! So many great ideas!
On those nights when mommy just CAN’T read the whole wordy Doc McStuffins golden book at bedtime, read the first sentence or two of each page. The story line still makes total sense! This only works until a certain age of course 😉
Also, a salad chopper! I’ve found my girls eat chopped salads more easily.
Lexi says
Whenever we were at the store and my sister and I asked for something we didn’t need, my parents would say, “Put it on your Christmas list!” That usually satisfied us enough to stop our begging. Of course, we never remembered to add those things to our list, so clearly they were impulse wants!
Paula says
Bribe Quarters. In lieu of the $15/hour babysitting fee, I get $10 in quarters, load my pockets, and hit the stores with the kids. Our first stop is a candy store where we spend a few minutes scoping out the exact treat they plan to buy. The rules are they have to stay near me, and for each 15 minutes they behave, they each get a quarter; misbehavior means they lose a quarter. The game starts new with each store. We drop by the original store for some added incentive if we need it. At the end of the 2 hour trip, everyone is happy. It has Saved Me, y’all.
Lauren Brennan says
These are also great, and I really enjoyed reading the comments too! And man, your story about your mom hiding the quarters had me laughing out loud! So genius, so evil, so funny!
It’s hard to think of the hacks that I use offhand, but one that I’ve been using lately is telling my three and five-year-olds that “the last one up is a rotten egg!“ It works every time to get them to Job everything immediately and run upstairs for bedtime. And usually I am usually the rotten egg!
For my infant, I have been keeping an extra package of diapers and wipes in my trunk for when I inevitably run out on the go.
I also use a muslin blanket as a blanket, a burp cloth, a play mat, and a breast-feeding cover so I don’t have to pack those individual things in my diaper bag. With three kids, and my bag is already so full!
Lauren Brennan says
Sorry for the typos, darn autocorrect!;)
Kerry says
When my sisters and I were little and we started wanting to stay up till midnight on New Years Eve, my parents would move the clocks ahead throughout the day/evening so we rang in the New Year at 8pm. 🙂
Kat says
I chop all the raw veggies for lunch or dinner, and put them in colorful piles on the counter as early in the day as I can. The kiddos ‘help me’ by standing on a stool and sorting, putting in bowls, or taste testing each one 😉 If I leave them around for a while they will keep snagging them all afternoon/evening. By the time we actually sit down for dinner both girls have had a fair portion of veggies and I don’t worry about them only eating one bite of the cooked food.