My guest today puts a great comedic spin on the daily duties of a mom. Kids are a handful regardless of how many are running amok, but double the amount mess, fits, and chaos and I can suspect what a day in the life of a mom with twins is like.
Join her on a not-so-rare day with her twins.
Mom Elevated is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Rice bubbles. I don’t think I need to explain much about giving a bowl of fucking rice bubbles to 18mo twins. Tim poured them all a bowl then left for work, leaving me with little bits of that puffed crap everywhere. I get the twins down from the table, walk away to get the cloth ready to clean the little “I hate you” balls out from the booster seat, and of course, there’s Hazel and Socks frantically racing each other to eat the leftovers in the seat.
It’s fine, I can turn this around, so I bake some muffins with Sienna. Baking mums are happy mums, right?
WRONG!
Kids get eggshell in the mixture, the mixtures lumpy because their tiny arms do not have the strength to mix it properly, they’re spilling ingredients. “Oh, it’s made with love” people caption their Instagram posts which I can only imagine has been cropped to hide the reality of hell they experienced. We’re making memories guys, it’s fine. Or as our Fisher-Price vacuum says “me oh my, oh what a mess! Clean it up now, do your best!”
Today is meant to be our last rare sunny day for a few days, so I did a final 2 loads of washing, bringing the grand total over the past 3 days to 11 loads.
Go ahead and worship me, I’ll wait.
After nap time, I hold two jars in front of me and ask “peanut butter or Vegemite?” Pointing at the peanut butter I have a slight panic attack because the jar feels incredibly light. There’s enough for their sandwiches which my friend thankfully makes them as apparently the ground is lava, leaving me armless. Off to the shops we go to get more peanut butter because if we run out and everyone loses their minds, I might just lose my fucking cool. Who are we kidding, I do that daily, but nevertheless, that’s one future tantrum I can avoid. Hi-five for future Katie!
No one is enjoying being restrained in the trolley. No amount of free fruit, crackers or stern “no’s” could rein in the hell being unleashed. Sienna’s yanking the trolley, Violet’s yanking Hazels hair, Hazel’s yanking all my fingers off the trolley, and I’m yanking down some sweet fresh oxygen filling my lungs to the brim, ready to unleash my own hell on these tiny she-devils…whom I love so dearly.
On our return home, I noticed a few sprinkles on the windscreen.
Honestly, if the washing gets rained on, I might just turn into a thunder God and let the rain wash over me while performing the most obscene booming of words my mouth can assemble.
To end the night, Sienna asked me to read her “The bear went over the mountain”. One thing I really love to do is to read to my kids. After I started she said to me “no mummy, you are meant to sing it” so of course, I started singing. A few sentences in she cuts me off abruptly with “actually, you can just read it”. Tim offered to get me some ice for that “SICK BURN”. I’m currently digging him a hole in the backyard.
Katie is a loving mum to 3 girls aged 4 and 18mo twins. She works for herself casually as a hairdresser and loves sharing stories about her busy days to brighten up other people’s days.
Please, remember to sign up to my email list so you never miss anything flawsome around here! And grab your freebie on how to Get Lost in Your Child and really engage with them even on busy days (I’m off to watch Aladdin and make some popcorn with the fam now.) If you’d like to work with me, find out how! To see your words in my blog, contact me today for a guest spot!
If you have a little in diapers but aren’t sure which brand may fit the best for their little tush, feel free to try a mixed selection with the Diaper Dabbler!
One of my newest favorite topics: curveballs. And, the timing is pretty fantastic. Let me set the scene…
Our son had a baseball game on Wednesday, and my husband got home early enough to attend. I was thankful since the girls had their respective shots that morning and were not feeling too hot. So, I went home, my husband stayed for the remainder of the game.
Family, Fun, and Flaws is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Fast forward an hour…
I get a call that they are headed to the ER, but everything is fine. As it turns out, T-man stole second and went around to third. Catcher through it to the third baseman, but he missed the ball and our son got pegged in the earpiece on the batter’s helmet which in turn smacked his eye. The policy says he had to get checked for a concussion and cleared before his next game.
A literal curveball. Ha!
He’s fine, but it made for a super late night. Therefore, my husband took Thursday off of work, we all slept in, and my daughter was able to take her daddy to donuts with dads at school. It worked out for us in the end. Definitely through us for a loop, but silver linings and all that.
Life throws these curveballs, literal and otherwise, constantly. The only difference from person to person is how you respond to those setbacks, obstacles, or challenges. Honestly, some days you may be more capable of responding well than other days. If I had been at that game, I probably would have caused more panic in our son than my husband because holy crap, he got hit in the face with a freaking baseball. I’m grateful it was him there to support T-dizzle and not me.
How do I handle curveballs thrown at me? Here are a few ways:
Breathe
Some of my friends can attest to the fact that I repeat this statement over and over. For good reason. It works. If you find yourself in a stressful situation, facing adversity anticipated or not, or simply come up against a new struggle (physical or mental), take a second. Shoot, take a day or two if you need that time. But, step back from it and breathe. Focus your energy on something other than what your brain keeps shouting at you, and see what kind of clarity or help you receive. All too often, we get so wrapped up in a moment that we forget about the bigger picture. Once we have that perspective, dealing with whatever hurdle we’re up against becomes easier.
Troubleshoot
I mean that in the least technical way possible. Haha Blame my day job, but the analogy works. The same way you would work your way through a computer or technological issue, you can submit a problem to your brain. The wiring is similar if not a bit more complicated. Do you need to unplug and reset? Do you just need a restart or reboot? Maybe there’s a virus or a bug to be worked out. Whatever the case may be, it’s likely that you can solve your curveball with a little troubleshooting.
Grace, Always Grace
As I mentioned, some days you’ll be better prepared to tackle troubles with positivity than others. And I’m here to remind you that that is A-Okay. Also, having a support system (even if it’s just one person you can go to to help you gain a different outlook on situations) will be SO invaluable. Not only someone to bounce ideas off of, but someone who will tell you how far you have come, what a great job you’re doing, and to give you a boost from time to time. We all need reassurance now and again. There is no shame in that. You can provide the same for that person or people in return. Chances are if you need a reminder, so do they.
What do you do when life throws curveballs at you? Does your system look similar to mine or do you have a completely different set of steps? Whatever the case, I want you to know that we all stumble and you are not alone. Keep doing you.
Please, remember to sign up to my email list so you never miss anything flawsome around here!
And grab your freebie on how to Get Lost in Your Child and really engage with them even on busy days. (I’m off to spend the day with the girls before brother gets out for the long weekend.)
If you have a little in diapers but aren’t sure which brand may fit the best for their little tush, feel free to try a mixed selection with the Diaper Dabbler!
Unbelievably, Easter is hopping up around the corner again! But, as always, I LOVE the holidays and am soooo ready.
That means I already have gifts ready and just a few more items to get for the magic of Easter to happen in our home. Are you prepared??
If you need a few more ideas and are still tossing around what to do for your kiddos, here are five unique Easter basket ideas you may consider:
Family, Fun, and Flaws is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Rain Boots
One year, we chose to use rain boots as a basket and filled them with the goodies (books, clothing, toys, a little candy). Not only did they act as a gift themselves but with so many options of designs out there, the kids absolutely loved the individualized aspect of the boots. Plus, buying them a little on the big size meant they could use them for longer than just a month or two.
Hats
Sun hats, baseball caps, or cowboy hats… again, the choices vary so much as to what you could use. Also, upside down, they make for the best baskets ever. Each year, my son tends to gravitate towards wearing a baseball hat over anything else all the time. In addition, in his eyes, he can never have too many hats. So, fill that baby and watch their eyes light up.
Umbrellas
I know, I know. You aren’t supposed to open an umbrella inside because it’s bad luck. But, an open umbrella upside down serves as a perfect container for larger items that don’t generally fit in a standard Easter basket. An outfit, sandals, sunglasses, bubbles, chalk, books, or anything of that nature. You are less limited or can fit it all in the turned up gift without leaving any sitting on the table. The kiddos are sure to find each item without needing to be reminded of it sitting there.
Backpacks
For those of you who hike, go on trips, or participate in camps, you can use this idea. My brother and sister-in-law did this for their little ones one year and I thought it was genius! A new water bottle, sunglasses, and other goodies zipped right into backpacks perfect for their personalities and needs. You can’t ask for a better “basket” than that.
Chairs
Whether it’s a little camping chair, a gaming chair, a bench, or a simple bean bag, you’ve got a designated spot to place trinkets for your children. You’ll always need a place to sit, and you can get pretty creative with your choice of seat for this “Easter basket.” No child will be upset with a new chair to rest in – what a special treat.
Part of the fun in each holiday for me remains in finding some magical component to letting your child know how important they are to you and in the world. You get to create this remarkable moment for them in a span of rollercoaster ups and downs in their life. Therefore, these will be bits and pieces that they hold on to and remember throughout every year as a child and an adult. Maybe they’ll continue the tradition or put their spin on what you do. However, I also get to see the delight on their faces for that minute and treasure that when I need that memory most.
Take these ideas and make them your own!
Please, remember to sign up to my email list so you never miss anything flawsome around here!
And grab your freebie on how to Get Lost in Your Child and really engage with them even on busy days. (I’m off to spend the day with the girls before brother gets out for the long weekend.)
If you have a little in diapers but aren’t sure which brand may fit the best for their little tush, feel free to try a mixed selection with the Diaper Dabbler!
I LOVE the holidays. Any kind, really. Any cause for celebration and I am all over that. Tie a ribbon around a pencil, I am done. Haha Not really, I’m terrible at tying ribbons but give me a gift bag and I will run wild.
Dressing up for Halloween never lost its appeal for me, either. If I have the opportunity, I find a pirate outfit or a minion and roll with it for work, school, or weekend growing up and now. Growing into a family meant instant themed costumes. Um, yes, please!
Family, Fun, and Flaws is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Enjoy these 5 themed costume ideas your family will love (if you don’t, we can’t be friends haha):
Wizard of Oz
Dorothy, Toto, and even The Yellow Brick Road itself are options with this amazing theme. Plus, if you haven’t introduced this fabulous classic to your children yet, may I recommend a before-bed reading and movie night? We chose this theme this year and I am sooo excited to get everyone dolled up; my husband is the Tin Man, our son is the Scarecrow, our oldest daughter is Dorothy, our newest is the Lion, and I am the good ol’ Wicked Witch. “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!”
Despicable Me
If you didn’t fall in love with Agnes, Minions, and all things despicable, you’re crazy. “It’s so fluffy, I’m gonna die!” I feel like we all re-fell in love with unicorns thanks to Agnes. Not only are there great family options here, but boys and girls alike should be pretty content with the decision to don a Despicable Me theme (whether you choose movie one, two, or three).
Incredibles
I feel like this theme will be a huge hit this year. As a family, who doesn’t want to be superheroes? And these guys are both. I mean, you could go the traditional Justice League or Avengers route, but the cartoon superheroes appeal to the younger crowd, I think. Violet, Jack-Jack, and Dash have some stellar abilities; we nearly settled on this theme ourselves.
Circus
By far one of my favorite family themes. And, with Octavia filling a lion role this year, we could have done this again. However, we decided a new setting was in order. When we donned these outfits, we were only a family of three and chose the ringmaster, a clown, and an elephant. Let me tell you, our son was THE cutest elephant you’d ever seen. Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!
Hotel Transylvania
With the third movie in this series making its debut, this theme will likely be wildly popular. Rightfully so. Dracula, Mavis, babies, Frankenstein… possibilities galore. Tell me you haven’t rolled this one around in your noggin? The costumes would be amazing and fun.
These Halloween themed costume ideas would look incredible (see what I did there?) and be winners for any family looking to coordinate. Many more come to mind. What have you decided on? If you have a younger family and still need help picking, my list is especially helpful!
Happy hunting and dressing up!!
Please remember to sign up to my email list so you never miss anything flawsome around here! And grab your freebie on how to Get Lost in Your Child and really engage with them even on busy days (I'm off to paint as we speak.) If you'd like to work with me, find out how! If you'd like to see your words in my blog, contact me today for a guest spot!
If you have a little in diapers but aren't sure which brand may fit the best for their little tush, feel free to try a mixed selection with the Diaper Dabbler!
The library in town provides phenomenal activities for kids to participate in.
One of those is the summer reading program!
Family, Fun, and Flaws is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
My son’s school includes a pamphlet during the last week of school to begin keeping track of summer reading hours logged in order to earn prizes. When we first went to collect on said winnings, we also grabbed a pamphlet for my daughters (they include babies in the program incentive to get parents to begin reading to their children, also). For someone like my son who claims to “hate reading”, I love that our library continues this each year.
So, we go to story time, listen to stories, dance to some songs, and make some sort of craft either before or after cashing in for a new treasure.
I feel like the summer reading program gives him something to work towards and enough reason to continue reading that he has found at least a book or two he has enjoyed (though I’m sure he won’t admit that).
Take a listen to this cute little song by PlayKids. The message that books are an adventure and important comes through in such a fun way for children:
Come with me and have an adventure Come with me and see for yourself All you need for hocus-pocus magic Is that book on your little bookshelf
Tell me that isn’t catchy and adorably true. Reading has always been a joy for me — I am addicted to Laurell K. Hamilton, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Kim Harrison to name a few. After a long week, I could easily spend all day reading (though I prefer books over a tablet, so I haven’t read much since my second was born and my third and last baby is now 3 months old).
Here are my tips for participating in the summer reading program:
We try to read before bed every night. I like to try to keep up with that. Some summer days tend to make that difficult, so we switch it to the morning after we get up and about. If it’s done in the morning, we try to do the reading before beginning any other task so it doesn’t get overlooked or pushed aside. I use a Happy Planner to keep track of my day like this one:
Read Together
We recently picked out a chapter book to read together. Although my son can read by himself, he still very much likes when we read together. And my daughter just loves listening and pretending to read with us and working on word recognition. The babes doesn’t get much of a choice yet, but I’m sure she’ll be happy to be part of the group learning, laughing, asking questions, and broadening that imagination.
Keep Track of Time
Thanks to my son’s school, not only do we need to notice the time we spend on reading (we try for 20-30 minutes a day at least), we also need to note which books are read and what he ranks them out of 5 stars. This has been a fun task for him as he gets to critique what he’s reading — apparently that adds a fun element for him. Try this reading log.
Try Different Kinds
My son seems to like comics a bit, but we still switch it up. He has chapter books that are more difficult, the simpler chapter books that ease them into the tougher kinds, fiction, and non-fiction. He tends to like fact books like Weird, But True, also. My daughter likes silly ones and books with touch-pad music at the moment. We shall see how they develop and change, but allowing them access to all varieties give them the opportunity to find out which are their favorites.
Make it Memorable
This step is my favorite in all aspects of family-life. I tend to not let loose and go with the flow of what they want to do very often. So, when they bring me books, I say yes and we read. The balance of mom-life and work-from-home-life gets a little hectic and reading at night all cuddled together makes me a happy mama. I revel in that time and just love the closeness it allows. Beyond the reading, I hear about their days, what their minds come up with during certain points of the story, and sometimes find where their interests lie at that given time.
Remember, we’re all just doing our best — but let’s have fun in the process! Share your favorite books or stories you have about reading with me in the comments section below.
If you’re busy like me, you may find this Free Guide helpful for engaging with your child even on your busiest day. Click Here.
To find out how to work with me – visit this page. And I’d LOVE to feature one of your stories on my blog. Click here to contact me about being a guest blogger.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my list to be kept up on new blogs, offers, and specials!
I’m a breastfeeding mama. If you need help in this area, check out the Ultimate Class!
And what mom doesn’t need help with getting their kids to sleep (if you don’t, you’re one lucky mama!)? Check out the Baby Sleep Made Simple program.
All of my babies are home with me, the activities and hustle slows down, and the slower pace just makes for a less stressed, happier mama. June seems to be flying by, though, and I took the first few weeks enjoying being able to sleep in, take care of the new baby, getting tasks around the inside and outside of the house in order, and enjoying the end of dance and baseball.
Now, I get to fully immerse the family into a more fun “routine” of playing in our new little pools and on our slip and slide, doing arts and crafts, baking/cooking, and going for walks. Of course we’ll throw in picnics and park, visiting friends and family, and just relaxing. But, for the most part, being able to go at our own pace makes me so happy.
Family, Fun, and Flaws is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I’ve considered homeschooling for this fact — no bus in our area means I tote all the kids to and from the school twice a day 5 days a week during the school year which totally eats at my day and makes me nearly constantly in a state of stress. But I really like the school my son attends and would hate to disrupt the progress he makes each year in that setting (plus he loves seeing his friends at school).
With that said, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What activities shall we do regularly this summer to keep my littles off of their tablets and video games and out into the wide world to soak up the sunshine? Read on, fellow flawed parents, read on…
These 6 Summer Activities will be on our rotating weekly schedule:
Bubbles/Chalk – Our entire driveway isn’t paved, but we have a large enough chunk in front of the garages that we can certainly enjoy a little hopscotch, drawing, and bubble blowing. The backyard creates even more fun with bubbles as our dogs like to chase the bubbles and try to eat them (how dare they invade our home, you know?).
Pool/Slip n Slide – We have a free city pool, but that usually means there are a LOT of people, you have to get there super early to wait in line, and frequently kids pass around illnesses. With a new baby, I prefer setting up shop at home and just inviting a friend or two over or rocking out ourselves. Then you can go in and out as you please, pee in the yard if necessary, and, heck, last year my son decided to skinny dip n slide (can’t do that at the public pool haha).
Arts and Crafts – I ALWAYS love arts and crafts year round, but I can do some of the messier ones outside in the summer. I have seen a couple of ideas with paint and matchbox cars or water guns. Painting rocks and items we find is another one high on the list. Maybe we’ll have to try out some water balloons with a bit of paint in them. That seems easier to clean than water guns.
Bikes/Scooters/Walks – My son learned to tie his shoes this year, at 7 years old. While this seems crazy to me (I learned when I was 4), the necessary tasks to learn seem to have shifted. This summer I’m dedicated to teaching him to ride his bicycle without training wheels (I learned this when I was 5). Last summer we were so busy moving into our new home, we neglected even getting our bikes out and he loves his scooter, so we allowed it to be substituted. However, I feel like the time has come to tackle this beast. Riding his bicycle without training wheels will be a skill checked off the list. My daughter’s a little more of a dare devil and a bit braver naturally, so I feel she won’t be too far behind brother on this one (she’s 3)… for now, she loves her strider bike and car (we let go at the top of the driveway and she flies down until the rocks stop her).
Smores and Marshmallows over a fire – Summer would not be complete without a bit of toasting over a fire. Last weekend we finished our fire pit in the backyard along with a walkway from our driveway to our front porch/door. Then, we sprayed the yard to keep away mosquitoes and other bugs. NOW, we can sit around the pit, check on our garden, play in the backyard with the dogs (next up will hopefully be a play-set), and get in some marshmallow roasting without being in a campground (although that somehow makes them taste even better).
Picnics – In the winter, we do picnics in front of our fireplace on the floor in the living room. So, naturally, in the summer, we do picnics on our porches, on the driveway, in the grass, or at a park. Seriously, eating outside be it a bbq or picnic makes summer feel well-rounded. Sitting in your bathing suit, drying out, and eating while you’re taking a break just makes the day better.
Let me know your favorite summer fun activity (whether it’s boating on the lake as a couple weekends getaways or something you do more frequently) in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!
If you like what you’re reading, feel free to find out how to work with me today! Or, to be featured as a guest blogger, contact me now. 🙂
Read Together
