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Tag: sanity

  • Supermom In Training: It takes a village

    Supermom In Training: It takes a village

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    When they told you it takes a village to raise a child, they weren’t entirely right. You can raise a child without the village backing you. But when you’ve got the strength of the village on your side, you can raise a really awesome well-rounded kid!

    I have a village. I have amazing grandparents who give my son so much love and attention and comfort. I have wonderful aunts and uncles who spoil him in every which way. I have incredible friends who love my kid as much as their own, and who are my sounding board when I’m on the edge of a ledge. I have a church full of parishioners who have always embraced my son and made him feel like he belongs. I have the greatest school, with such passionate teachers and volunteers, who make his school experience one that has been inclusive and positive and very educational on so many levels. And speaking of the volunteers, I’ve been lucky enough to have befriended many of these lovely ladies, who look out for my son as well as me, who offer advice and help, and devote so much of their own time to making my son’s school days exciting and fun. I have this awesome community, where we all look out for each other, where we feel safe and where we have made true friends. And, even though I freelance, I have a network of colleagues and clients whom are understanding when it comes to motherly duties – some are parents, and we spend the first half of meetings or interviews catching up on one another’s families. They provide me with comradery and grown-up conversation and sanity.

    Because of them, all of them, I can be a better mom. These different people have shaped my bean into the smart, inquisitive, compassionate kid he is today, and provided me with the friendship I’ve needed in times of being frustrated, exhausted and scared, because, as a parent, these moments happen a lot. 

    I love my village. And I am forever grateful for my villagers.

    A full-time work-from-home mom, Jennifer Cox (our “Supermom in Training”) loves dabbling in healthy cooking, craft projects, family outings, and more, sharing with readers everything she knows about being an (almost) superhero mommy.

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  • Melany Of MList: 4 Potty training tips that will save your sanity

    Melany Of MList: 4 Potty training tips that will save your sanity

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    Potty training – it just might be one of the most challenging things for parents. There are so many things that factor into the success and timeline of potty training, from whether your child is actually ready to carrying it through until there are no more accidents at all, even at night. It can be a long process – but now, with families at home more than ever, it’s the perfect time to conquer this milestone. Use these 4 potty training tips that will save your sanity.

    – Make the potty as accessible as possible. Yes, it’s great to have one in the bathroom so your little one can mimic mommy and daddy on the toilet. But kids who are learning to potty train also don’t recognize the urge until the very last-minute, and getting to the bathroom on time could be a huge challenge. It may not be the decor accent of choice, but a potty in common rooms like the living room or kitchen could also help things along.

    – Let accidents happen. Yes, the cleanups are awful. And I know all about changing sheets in the middle of the night. But the more that you child is out of diapers and accurately feeling what’s going on down there (wet underwear or bedding), they won’t feel the true discomfort of it and, hence, want to use the toilet. (Quick tip: If nighttime bed-wetting is a problem, layer sheet, plastic sheet, sheet, so you already have another dry later ready to go.)

    – Have a reward system in place. Bribery may not be the best parenting route for other lessons, but when it comes to potty training, you want to do anything that works. What’s your child’s sweet spot? Smarties? Doritos? Keep them handy and in sight but out of reach. ONLY give them out with a successful number one or two in the potty.

    – Make it fun. No- it’s not fun for you. I get it. But when it’s more fun for them, they’ll be more inclined to get into it. Let them help you choose a potty. Decorate it with stickers. If you’re training with a toilet, there are decals you can affix to the bottom of the bowl for boys’ “target practice,” as well as flushable floating targets (my mom used Cheerios with my brother). And pick out new big-boy or big-girl underwear together. 

    Melany xx

    Married with three kids, MList’s Melany is a jack-of-all-trades. Not only is she a hardworking mom but she’s a serial saver (she loves her MList Card!), she loves to cook, she is very spiritual, and she is very organized. She is also chronically busy. Get her take on what to see, do and buy in Montreal and beyond.

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  • Supermom In Training: 4 Quick ways to simplify your life as a parent

    Supermom In Training: 4 Quick ways to simplify your life as a parent

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    I’m always looking for shortcuts – quick hacks that will make my life just a little bit easier. Whether it’s taking a few extra minutes to get organized, or a few extra dollars to save my overall sanity.

    If you’re hosting, get help! There’s no need to go at it alone. If you’re having a big group over, make it a potluck so everyone pitches in. Or, meal kit services like HelloFresh can streamline the whole process by delivering all the ingredients and recipes you need right to your front door (they even have an all-inclusive Thanksgiving kit too).

    Meal plan. Take the time on the weekend to plan the dinners for the week. Take it a step further and prep some stuff for breakfast and lunch too (cutup veggies and fruits, meal muffins, and more). It will save you the headache of figuring things out in the moment day-to-day.

    Organize some reciprocal playdates. If you need a few extra hours during the week, suggest to a fellow parent that you’ll take turns hosting playdates after school or on weekends. 

    Take time for you. You know what will make you a better parent – if you’re a happier, healthier parent. No, there’s isn’t always time in the day for alone time or a nap, but you can always find 10 minutes here and there for some quiet downtime, some yoga stretches, a walk, or just sitting quietly and decompressing.

    A full-time work-from-home mom, Jennifer Cox (our “Supermom in Training”) loves dabbling in healthy cooking, craft projects, family outings, and more, sharing with readers everything she knows about being an (almost) superhero mommy.

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