Experienced moms know a thing or two. Picky eaters? Screen time squabbles? Managing messes? There’s a trick for that. We spoke with area moms to get some of their best hacks for making motherhood easier.
Emily Irwin, Mom to Oliver and Violet
- Freeze pureed veggies (think zucchini, carrots, squash) in ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer to another container in the freezer, then toss into sauces or mac and cheese to add a serving of vegetables to every meal (hidden for those kiddos averse to even the thought of veggies!).
- If your sidewalk needs some art, but you’re in a pinch and don’t have any sidewalk chalk, mix together two parts water to one part cornstarch, add in a few drops of food coloring, and poof! You have your own sidewalk paint!
- Take photos, all of the photos, include silly selfies, and then make sure to print them. We use Chatbooks and get simple, small, printed books each month. My kids love seeing everything we’ve done together, and don’t care what any of us looked like doing it. So even if your hair is a mess, make the memories stick by taking photos.
Dr. Hasti Raveau, Mom to four
Mala Child and Family Institute
- Build and protect moments of joy in your relationships. In your home, with your partner, your friends, your kids, in ways that feel simple, present and almost priceless. That sense of safe, joyful connection is what creates the foundation for regulation for us and for our children.
- Other tips start to work because there’s something steady underneath them. So less about perfect strategies, and more about creating a life that feels safe enough to hold joy.
Kerrie Kwasniak, Saline Mom to Charlie, Conner and Cole
- Crockpot meals! I will prep these and freeze them. All I have to do is put them in and set the timer.
- Use over-the-door shoe holders for organization. They can be used everywhere!
- Always keep a bag of extra clothes, a box of freezer gallon bags and a towel in the back of the car.
- Giant pool noodles under the fitted sheet so the kiddos don’t roll of the bed.
Nicole Elizabeth Yaeger, Mom to Mia and Adam
- My favorite new thing to do is bring a fitted sheet to the beach. Lay it out like you would on the bed, fill the corners with sand and roll the corners under and now you have a beach blanket that won’t budge and blow back with the wind! It’s a total life saver.
RELATED: Advice From Dads
Tara Joshi, Mom to two sons
Owner, Clay + Code
- Open the STEAM kit. Even if it gets messy. Even if it takes extra time. Even if everything is not perfectly organized, like most of our houses with kids. Too many great learning toys, probably good intended birthday gifts, get donated before the curiosity ever starts. Open the box and let them explore. Learning should happen daily. The mess can be cleaned up. The squeals of excitement are worth it.
Jennie Polzin, Milan mom to Miles, Freddie, Jane and Kate
- I keep Dum Dum suckers in the glove compartment of the car for times when they did well after an appointment, or times when they were really cranky to distract them!
- I have Band-Aids stashed everywhere: my purse, church bag, junk drawer, in the car. We always need them and often have been able to give them to friends and others that need them when we are out.
- When the kids were all very young, they often went to bed in their clothes for the next day. They just liked this and preferred this.
- I keep the kids in church as much as I can during the service. I bring snacks, fidgets, coloring books. They are sometimes a little loud, and that is okay. I almost never took them out of church, and it helped them learn the importance of being in the service and being present in their own toddler way.
Krista Parker, Mom to Isla and Eleanor and Stephanie Miller, Mom to Lenore and Remy
Owners, Hide and Seek, A Play Boutique
- Sneak nutritious foods into meals and snacks wherever you can. A blender is a great tool for hiding the texture of veggies in other foods! We like to blend shredded carrots into spaghetti sauce, finely chopped mushrooms into lasagna and spinach into smoothies whenever possible. This won’t take the place of eating a portion of vegetables, but it’s a nice supplement on the days your child refuses to eat anything but mac and cheese. Speaking of which, did you know you can cook macaroni in bone broth before making mac and cheese? Bone broth is rich in protein, amino acids and essential minerals and electrolytes. Adding cheese masks the flavor of the broth perfectly.
- Also, if you’re too tired to prep food or snacks, pop into Hide and Seek for one of our fresh fruit smoothies made with just fresh fruit and veggies, oat milk and honey. No artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners!
Ashley Tibbs, Mom to Dev and Dani
- Screen time for toddlers is not to be feared. I would even go as far to recommend watching movies as a valuable tool for play development, language growth and means of connection/conversation. Hear me out! Movies are highly motivating stories, and these stories easily expand into creative play. When kids internalize the structure of a story, they can apply that narrative to a set of toys. Open ended play no longer feels daunting to them. Their play reflects the imagery of the movie, they are using internal visuals to access vocabulary and bring ideas to life, and they have a hands on outlet for recreating scenes that have elements of creative and problem solving. Don’t fear the screen time. Let them watch the movies.
Kelsey Schneider, mom to Alice and Lucas (and soon baby number three!)
- Meal prepping each Sunday afternoon. My husband and I make Lunchables at home that are easy to grab and and go for our kids (and ourselves). By having all the food washed, cut up, and put into travel containers, we are able to grab what we need when we need it.
- During the summer, I have our foldable wagon in my trunk with a box of summer essentials. No matter if we stop at a pond, beach or playground. I have towels, a change of clothes and summer toys (including sand toys) so no matter where we stop we can have fun! Don’t forget the cooler backpack with all the snacks and waters for the day!
