i was talking to a friend yesterday and it made me think of some of the things we do around here routinely. and i thought i’d post some. in case you care. (if i’ve posted them before just humor me.)
i have outlawed several things in my house due to little ones: cereal, markers, and yogurt. if they make a bigger mess than they are enjoyed they get booted. period. but my kids did kinda like yogurt and i liked them to have it. and then they went and created go-gurt. awesome. freeze it, cut them in half (so that the servings are just right for the toddlers) wrap a napkin around it and voila! a fairly contained mess and an extra dairy serving in one.
the freeze pops are the same: cut them exactly in half instead of cutting the top off and they are more manageable for little hands and stomachs.
carry little scissors (or if you’re gross and just don’t care like me nail clippers) and when you go to mcdonald’s clip their staw to a smaller more kid-friendly size and then you don’t have the constant “wait, don’t turn it up, don’t bend it over, wait, you’re making a colossal mess” discussion. or at least not as much.
if you have sick kids and they won’t drink pedia-lite (mine never did) look for the pedia-pops. ask the pharmacist. demand the store carry them. or pull out your popsicle makers and freeze the pedia-lite. mine thought they were getting a treat and i knew they weren’t dehydrating.
on the subject of sick kids, after your babies start getting bigger keep those waterproof pad things that go under their sheets in the crib. and when they start throwing up pull ‘em out, stick ‘em under wherever your sick little one is laying and put a towel on top (to absorb the puke). then your bed, couch, rug, etc. are protected and you can throw them in the washer.
i stole this one from maury! when they get older and they start getting allowance keep track in a notebook without actually putting cash in their hands. this way, you can teach them how a checking account works (isn’t this how we actually keep our money?!), if you’re out in town and they want to spend their money you don’t have to worry about them having it in hand or not, and if you’re like us, and actually need that cash at the end of the pay period – you don’t have cash you need sitting around the house that you need for milk.
3 Comments
November 10, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Those are pretty good and I never thought of a one of them…LOL
We outlawed markers-You ought to see our furniture-b/c-it hasnt stopped.
November 11, 2007 at 1:06 am
you’re the second person to suggest cutting down the straws at the fast food places. i guess i need to listen. i gotta get some of those safety scissors. . .
and i like that checking account thing. i will definitely use that when the boys are older.
November 14, 2007 at 10:40 pm
I have already used the cut the frozen juice pop in half trick since reading your post! What a great idea! I will also use the checking account idea too!
My favorite tip for moms is pull the tabs up on the sides of the juice box. The kids have handles and don’t squeeze juice everywhere!