So to all you moms out there (new and experienced) I have a few questions. I feel like my life is just kind of happening without any sort of my control. Wait, that probably doesn't sound right. Since moving here I have really struggled getting on any sort of a schedule. In Douglas I had my day down to a T. I mean not every second was planned, but I felt like I had some sort of order to my day. I don' t know if it is Brent's schedule and trying to get used to that, the fact that we do a whole lot more here than we ever did in Douglas, I don't know, but I'm going crazy (or feel like I am). So here are a few questions I have. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
1. If your kids shared a room, how did you get them to go to bed? Bridger was fine until we moved Corbin in there and now he refuses to go to bed without one of us in there until he falls asleep...frustrating.
2. What did/do you do to keep yourself sane...and when did/do you find the time to do it?
3. Meal planning? My desire to cook has come to a screeching halt. I need some new ideas.
So those are three areas that I will go with, for now. Seriously, any help, suggestions, advice, is welcome! Please, don't be shy :)
9 comments:
Wow. I'm right there with you on all 3. I don't know if you read my post the other day about my kids sharing a room... You can read about our "solution." The thing that keeps me sane, is a schedule. Of course that's what your whole post is about! They are hard to maintain with the kids. Another thing that helps is getting out. Playgroup, grocery shopping, etc. Also, I like to do some fun things (ie: blog, make bows, etc) when I am caught up on my other things. It helps me stay a little more motivated. I have been in a big cooking rut lately. A few days recently I've just made myself make something (something I really like!) and I actually enjoyed it. I also buy meat in bulk and cook it and freeze in smaller portions to make quick prep. I made meatballs the other day to freeze. They're fun. Anyway, I'm working on these things too. I'm looking for advice too!
Hey Collette~
So here is what I do for the meal time thing. I get out the calendar and plan at least two weeks worth of meals. Make a grocery list and get everything needed. It helps me cause I hate trying to think of what to cook every night. If you need some new recipes I just went through my mom's cookbooks and got come really easy and yummy ones. As for staying sane I am feeling the same way. Maybe we should start planning a once a week playdate thing so the kids are entertained and we can visit!
1) Don't have an answer for you and the way Ella is acting these days, I might never have to worry about that. J/k. :)
2)Run. That's hard recently. It's cold, I get to bed late, wake up early. But I usually do run four days a week. Just wear warm clothes. You really ought to try. These days I go out on walks (with Ella though) and take pictures and try to improve that hobby. I crave her nap time like a drug. I usually read or knit or surf the internet. (I need to cut down on the last one)
3) I like Kira's idea and I do that too. The problem I have with it is that if I say, ok next thursday I'm going to make tomatillo chicken... and then that Thursday comes and it's been a rough day with Ella, I don't feel like taking the time to make that dinner. So I try to be flexible and exchange it with something easier from the week. Does that make sense? I also leave one day open, with no dinner menu in case of leftovers or if I just want to make waffles for dinner.
I'm realizing, once again, how hard being a mom is. I thought being a nanny had prepared me for it and I guess it did but only to a point... I'm sooo glad you wrote this as I have been feeling so down with Ella these days. She protests naps, going to bed, she won't play alone, she won't let me out of her sight and she cries a lot. I think you and I need to talk. :)
First of all, ever since we got back in touch, I have admired you and the great mom you are. You very much seem like you've got it all together, and there's nothing that I can say to help you, because you're so much better at everything than I am. I am dreading the day when I have to put the kids in the same room, because I know it will be hard. We still have to lay with Rohne to get him to sleep sometimes, and he is 3. I am almost never sane, I feel like, and I lost my identity when I had kids. I have no idea who I am, or what I like to do any more. I don't know how to get around it. My dinners are very simple, and Jake wrote me a list of what dinners he likes, and ones he is sick of. I hated it at first, but it actually helps when I have no idea what to cook. After all, you pretty much cook just for your hubby. I can eat whatever, and my kids don't usually eat what I cook anyway, even though I keep trying. Good luck. I'm sure other people's advice is way better.
Man...I feel like I should just copy and paste your post to my blog! haha
We've got all 3 kids in one room, and it can make it crazy some nights at bedtime. We try and put Mariah down at least 1/2 hour earlier than Micah (about 7:30-8), so that she can be asleep before he goes to bed...then once she's asleep, then we put Micah and Mercedes to bed (usually around 8:30 or so). Most nights this works, but occasionally, everything falls apart, and we're up late with all the kids!
As far as getting out of the house, I usually like to do playdates, or go to the grocery store...even if it's just to get out of the house with the kids. If I really *have* to shop, then I wait until Nate is home from work, and then I just take 1 kid with me to the store, because hey, that feels like a break to me only taking 1 kid! haha I also need to get on a better schedule. I've been trying to plan out a weekly schedule of what to do with the kids--especially since it's a new year--but I am still finding it hard to do that...but I'm working on it!
As for the cooking, I have a hard time doing that, too! I feel like I'm battling kids all day long, and by the time Nate gets home from work, I'm exhausted, and usually nothing happens for dinner...or we're on the run to somewhere, and pick up something from the drive-thru. Very bad, I know. I'm working on that, though. My goal is to cook at least 3 times a week (and then have leftovers the other nights--it seems that we have leftovers 2 to 3 nights sometimes...) I figure that will let me start small so I'm not cooking every night.
Good luck...I think that you are an awesome Mom, and I think that we all get stuck in ruts...it's nice to know that I'm not the only one!
Well, here in the Mogle home we just bought a bigger bed. Why fight it!? Make sure you got a wide bed (King) and just go to sleep together as a family.
We figure that when Connor comes home from dates or the Jr. Prom that he will just come and slide in bed with us and tell us how the date was and then we will all go to sleep in the same bed.
We are fighting the same battle and losing. We've given in and put Connor's mattress in a corner in our bedroom. Dylan sleeps half (more like 'til midnight) in his crib and then the other half with us.
Sanity left the Mogle home long, long ago.
As far as meals, Connor will only eat something that is sprinkled in sugar. Cavities are cheaper on baby teeth than fighting a toddler to eat a hot dog.
If you figure all this out, let us know the secret.
Signed,
Sleepless in St. George
All I can help with is the dinner issue. I love the website allrecipes.com. I make a menu for 2 weeks and go shopping for those meals. I don't set any meal for a certain day because usually I am not in the mood for what I had planed that night. So I just pick something from the list of meals. It works great. I also get Brian involved with dinners I ask him things he wants and things he doesn't. I also have him make one meal a week so that I can have a break. Good luck!
I am really not that great at this, but here is what we do.
1. Sharing room. We moved the boys in the same one when we moved so that they could all be upstairs and the baby girl have her own room. Peyton goes to sleep by himself and before Jordan. Jordan actually has a bad habit I lay down with him for him to fall asleep in our bed, then carried to his room. It works for us because then the other one doesn't wake up the sleeping one.
2. The kids all have the same nap and rest time. The younger two still take naps in the afternoon, Jordan either lays down to watch a movie, tv or read some books. Best thing I have found though is that now that Peyton is older they play well together and I don't have to entertain them, haha. Last thing to keep me sane, PRESCHOOL!
3. no idea! If I get chicken out for something I either cook it for another time that week or leave it in the fridge to use a few days later before it goes bad.
So, I wanted to check back on what others had said. And I love knowing that I'm not alone! Being a mom is the most demanding and unpredictable job. As I have followed your blog I have been impressed by what an awesome mom you are, Collette. Thanks for sharing these questions and thanks everyone for the great advice!
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