1. Gather your laundry and supplies.
2. Prepare your children for the experience.
3. Take along activities for the children.
4. Take along a lunch plan for the children.
5. Fold your clean laundry into baskets.
6. Go home and put everything away.
7. Make sure your laundry problem is fixed.

The post Podcast Episode: The Laundry Mat with Children appeared first on Home Plain and Simple.

This past weekend, I went camping with my husband and our 3 children. Our friends came too with their 2 kids and we all had a blast!

Now you might ask why in the world, we would want to leave the comfort of our home and our naptime routines, and drag our 5yo, 2yo, and 9mo kiddos out to live outdoors for a weekend?

Because it’s fun! And it’s not even that hard. Read on and I’ll tell you all I know about camping with kids.

Camping with kids is fun.

First things first, going on family adventures is fun and so worth the work of packing up the kids.

Don’t let fear hold you back! Is it work? Yes. But it’s not as much work as you think.

Seeing my kids light up with the excitement of camping, and spend a weekend exploring the outdoors, fishing, riding bikes, and playing with friends was food for my soul. THESE are memories we’ll look back on. And we won’t think of the work it took or skipped naps. We’ll remember the fun, the smiles, and the time spent together.

Keep expectations realistic.

Going into your camping trip, set your expectations and keep them realistic.

I knew that my toddler probably wouldn’t nap, so I chose not to stress about it. I planned that Monday would be our recovery/catch up day: long naps and an early bedtime!

During our camping weekend, I think my 9mo only took one good long nap in bed. The rest of the weekend he napped on me and in the baby carrier! I expected that, so I was prepared at nap times to sit with the baby or wear him.

Know your children’s needs, think about how they react when somewhere new, and plan for how to meet their needs in a realistic way while camping.

Prepare!

As with doing anything with young children, being prepared is half the battle!

While preparing to go camping with babies and toddlers, think about these things:

• Where will you set the baby to play, eat, or rest?
• How many diapers do you need to bring for the length of time you’ll be there?
• Will you be somewhere near a town that you can run and get things you may need, or will you be relying solely on what you pack?
• Come up with a sleeping arrangement that will work best for your young children. (my toddler and baby slept with me, hubby had to find his own spot for the weekend!)
• What toys and activities are appropriate to bring?
• How to plan so your children can safely participate in the activities available? (hiking, biking, fishing, swimming etc.)

Pack right

Think about your camping situation. Do you have a camper that is set up with your camping gear already? Or are you starting from scratch? What extra supplies do you need to bring to camp with your children?

I’d never been camping with my kids, and we were starting from scratch so I had to really plan and pack all the camping supplies I could think of!

Besides normal camping gear + food, this is what I packed for my kids (5yr, 2yr, & 9mo).

**disclaimer, anything linked is purely for your convenience because I love to share products I find useful with other moms! We don’t get any benefits from you using the links below.**

• Multiple sets of clothing for each child (a minimum of 2 extra per child, camping is dirty and it’s nice to have dry clothes to change into!)
• Jacket/Sweatshirt for each child
• Sunscreen
• Bug repellant (I use johnson & johnsons creamy baby oil as bug repellant for my baby & toddler- it works!)
• Baseball cap/sunhat for each child
• Towels
• Diapers + wipes for the length of time we’d be gone (plus a bunch of extra because I live in fear of running out!)
• Any favorite blankets + lovies or stuffed animals (comfort items!).
• Favorite snacks and junk foods (camping = vacation = fun food!)
• 1 Sippy cup/straw cup/or reusable water bottle for each child.
• Ergo baby carrier
• Beach blanket, I use one like this for a yard blanket and love it for my babies playing in the yard!
• Camp chair for each child
• Folding/camp highchair! This was my favorite find when prepping for camping this year. It was so handy to have a safe place to set Jasper (9mo) & for snacks/meals since he loves to munch on whatever everyone else is having!
• What I didn’t bring but wish I had, was my Pack n’ Play. So that my active 9mo would’ve had a safe place to play/crawl, can’t put an active baby on a blanket on the ground when there’s a campfire going!
• Toys! We brought a variety of baby toys, our bubble machine + extra bubbles, glow sticks, and some other odds n ends. I haven’t perfected our camping toy list, but I’m working on it!
• Bikes, for our 5 and 2yo. They had so much fun biking around the campground!
• Fishing poles. The campground we went to had a pond reserved for campers-only fishing; which was fun the for kids & dads!
• First aid kit, including bandages, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, children’s Benadryl, and adults allergy medicine.
• What I didn’t pack but should have, was extra shoes for each child! It rained and we ended up with wet shoes/socks and no extras. It didn’t matter for those of us wearing sandals, but my 5yo and husband ended up driving into town and buying dollar store crocs cause they had wet shoes!
• If we were going swimming, I’d also pack swimsuits and life jackets.

Regardless of how much I pack, I’m always plagued by the feeling that I forgot something, and I’m sure I’m missing things on this list! Feel free to comment or email back with suggestions to add to my list!

Once you’re there, relax and have fun!

One of my favorite things about camping is that I get to forget about the laundry, dishes, and house chores for a while and just relax in God’s beautiful creation! Cooking is more fun outdoors, cleanup is more fun outdoors, the kids have a blast, and it’s so fun to just sit at the fire with the Hubby and some good friends after the kids go to bed.

Camping is fun, but camping with children who find new joy in every stick, rock, and puddle opens your eyes to see the world fresh and new like they do. And that’s one of my favorite things about parenting my young ones.

So sit back mama, relax, and have fun exploring the outdoors with your babies. It takes prep work, but you won’t regret it!

You’ve got this, mama <3

The post Camping with Young Kids + Packing List appeared first on Home Plain and Simple.

Raising 2 babies at once is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

My son was born when my daughter was 15 months old, and I found myself at home alone with them both just 9ish short days after he was born.

Juggling both their needs, making toddler friendly lunches and snacks while caring for my infant and recovering postpartum, and getting my toddler down for naps and bedtime were monumental tasks.

Every little thing was a battle. And managing simple tasks like putting in my contacts or taking a shower was a big deal.

I never felt more exhausted, hopeless, and alone than when my 2 under 2 were both crying at bedtime; hubby was working late, and anyone I typically relied on for help were unavailable.

But we survived it, and my life looks so different now.

All mamas have moments of exhaustion and overwhelm.

Times that by 2 when you’ve got double the babies. I know I was exhausted and overwhelmed! I have a huge respect for anyone who’s had twins, or who have 2 under 2 with multiple other children. It’s a challenge, but I know moms who’ve done it. And I did it with my 2 under 2.

That’s my message today.

It’s doable.

It’s exhausting, and overwhelming. You may have moments when you cry with your kids, and you may often wonder how you’re going to survive this season.

But it’s just that. A season.

This season won’t last forever.

My toddler just turned 2 and my baby is 9 months. My life is a night and day difference from what it was when they were 15mo and newborn!

The newborn stage is the hardest, but babies change and grow so fast!

Somewhere along the line, I realized that about every 2 weeks I could reflect and say, “hey this is easier!”

As your babies get older, things will get easier.

In the early days, you might just have to take it hour-by-hour and survive the day. I know I had days like that. But eventually the weeks will start to fly by.

Life with 2 under 2 gets easier.

Every day it gets easier. And that’s a promise.

Before you know it, your toddler will be turning 2. She’s no longer a baby, and while she still has many needs, she also helps with toy cleanup, brings the baby’s blanket when you need it, and melts your heart with her affection for her sibling.

I’m glad I had my babies so close together.

They’re already best friends. My 9mo is so cranky and “lost” if he’s awake while my toddler is napping. I don’t think he knows how to play by himself! He’s always so busy crawling after his sister chasing her around.

And my 2yo is much the same, she always comes find her brother first thing every morning. She completely bypasses me, squeezes her brother’s cheeks and says something along the lines of “hi! Good morning! Awwww I love you!”

Seeing the bond these two have, and the way they’re able to play so nicely together since they’re so close in age makes all those hard moments worth is. We survived the newborn baby stage and came out with two toddlers who are best friends. And I so look forward to seeing the way they grow up and learn more together as time goes on.  

You might be in the thick of it right now, but you’ve got this.

It might be a hard day, a hard week, or a hard couple of months. But you can do it! And you’re not alone.

Drop a comment or email back with your biggest struggle + your favorite thing about having 2 under 2!

The post Does Life with 2 Under 2 Get Easier? appeared first on Home Plain and Simple.

Going outside with your baby + toddler

When you have a baby and a toddler, getting outside and doing fun activities can be hard. One child wants to run and explore and get into everything, while the other needs held/carried/in a stroller. It can be exhausting to manage!

It’s easy to dread going out with your babies, it’s a lot of work! But getting outside and having some active fun in the sun is incredible for your health and mindset, even if it’s just 15 minutes!

Getting out the door with a baby and a toddler:

Getting out the door is your biggest hurdle, but you’ve got this!

Check everyone’s diapers, grab a snack for your toddler, throw a jacket and some shoes on everyone and get out the door! But don’t forget your stroller or a baby carrier unless you feel like toting a baby around without a break for the next hour.

What am I going to do outside with my baby and toddler?

We love unstructured playtime outside, but it does get boring sometimes. So below I’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite activities + some that I want to do but haven’t yet!

Spring Activities for Young Children

Spring activities feel a little more limited to me. Where we live the weather is often erratic, with a few warm days and a lot of cool rainy days. Here are some of the things we love to do though!

• Walks in the stroller: We do this allllll the time. I have a double stroller that I just strap both kids into and away we go! I keep it short, so my toddler doesn’t get bored; and then let her run around in our yard and explore while I follow her around with baby brother still in the stroller.
• Riding baby bikes/trikes in the driveway: My toddler loves anything with wheels, so baby bikes (the kind with 4 wheels that she can propel just by pushing w/ her legs) keep her busy for quite a while! We also love our Radio Flyer tricycle that has a detachable handle I can use to push her around.
• Toddler led walks/yard exploration: Strap baby into a baby carrier and let your toddler run and explore in the yard/park/wherever. My almost 2yo could spend the whole day happily just running around picking up sticks, playing in the dirt, and constantly asking me “what’s that?” Guide your child to learn boundaries, safety, etc. but supervise without hovering, to let them explore and wander within those boundaries.
• Yard Work: Last year when my toddler wasn’t even 1 yet, our favorite spring activity was yard work! Picking up sticks, mulching, etc.. I’d let her crawl around the yard nearby, or sit in a stroller or pack ‘n play watching me. I didn’t get my work done very quickly, but it was fun! And Brynlee loved riding in the wheelbarrow or “helping” by throwing tiny handfuls of mulch from the pile into a bucket.

Summer Activities with Babies and Toddlers

Summer is one of my favorite seasons. Warm sunny days, where even if it’s going to be a hot one, you can squeeze in some outdoor fun first thing in the morning!

Some of our favorite summer activities are:

• Kiddie pool/sprinkler/play with hose
• Beach play/sandbox
• Camping
• Going to a 4-H/FFA fair to see all the animals
• Going to the park on playdates/swinging on a swingset
• Grilling and eating outside
• Exploring the farm and seeing all the animals at Grandma & Grandpa’s!

These activities are just a quick outline of what we like to do in the summer. Really though, our favorite thing is to just hang out outdoors with the people we love!

For just being outside and having fun, keeping outdoor toys and activities on hand will keep your toddler busy for ages! Some of our favorites are listed below.

Outdoor Toys & Activities for Young Children

• Baby bikes (propelled by feet), trike w/ handle
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Bubbles
• Balls of any kind
• Baby Slide
• Child size yard tools: trowel, rake, shovel, etc.
• Beach bucket w/ shovel (my toddler loves to just carry a bucket around and fill it with twigs, acorns, and rocks… had to teach her not to pick up deer droppings!)
• Sticks, rocks, mud, acorns, dandelions

Have Fun!

Being outside with yours kids is fun. Is it more work? Yes. Do I sometimes run in and out of the house 15 times before we have everything we need to be outside? Also yes. But it’s so worth it, and the kids love it!

You’ve got this, mama.

The post Fun Outdoor Spring & Summer Activities with 2 Under 2 appeared first on Home Plain and Simple.

Life with Littles

When you have young children and babies, it can be hard to find extra energy to give your spouse. 

The hardest for me was always the first 3ish months after having a baby. Newborns are SO needy, and when you breastfeed, they’re on your body all the time! 

Add in an active toddler, and you’re exhausted. You spend your whole day, every day, tending to the needs of these tiny people, and barely meeting your own needs. 

Nothing Left.

By the end of the day, you’re exhausted in every sense of the word. Mentally, physically, emotionally. 

I remember feeling SO drained at the end of the day. Bedtime was a nightmare with 2 under 2 at first. When I would FINALLY get the little ones to sleep, I’d drag my tired body to bed, without a shower because I was too tired.

Bedtime was when I finally had a moment alone with my husband to give him my attention, and I felt guilty that I was exhausted and had no energy left for him. 

I wanted to do better, give more of myself to my husband than the exhausted shell that was left at the end of the day. I needed time and space away from the kids, to give attention to myself and my husband.

Enter: Date Night.

We don’t have a set weekly date night or anything like that. Our schedules are too sporadic. But we try to go out together fairly often, usually 2-3 times a month.

It’s not about the date itself, where we go, or what we do. It’s about prioritizing each other and our relationship. 

We acknowledge that we need to be intentional about spending time together away from the kids. 

Sometimes I’m the one that says “hey, we need a date this week!” And other times it’s my husband who suggests it. 

Either way, it’s something we’ve talked about. Communication is important, and voicing your needs and expectations together is important too. 

My husband and I are both happier when we prioritize spending time together and talking in a setting where we can give each other our full attention. 

When mom and dad are happy, everyone in the home is happier. A happy marriage helps make a happy family. 

Beyond date night

Date night is our most intentional time together. 

But lately we’ve been squeezing in time after the kids go to sleep too. Just staying up a little later and watching a movie together feels good, we’re doing an “us” thing. Something that has nothing to do with the kids.  

Being intentional about your marriage doesn’t have to be serious, or a stiff scheduled date night, sometimes it’s as simple as sending funny texts or memes to each other throughout the day to stay connected. 

It’s so easy to get wrapped up with your young children and give them ALL of you. I certainly do it. Being a mama is amazing, but being intentional about being a wife too can be just as rewarding. 

The post Prioritizing your marriage when you have 2 under 2 appeared first on Home Plain and Simple.

Coming Home from the Hospital

Bringing our babies home from the hospital was always SUCH a feeling of relief for me. No more poking and prodding and being woken up by nurses every 2 hours! Woohoo! 

This feeling was amplified x100 when I was able to bring Jasper home after our weeklong hospital stay following his birth. It was the LONGEST week of my life, and I have a huge appreciation for any NICU mamas out there or moms of babies with any health issues. You ladies are STRONG. 

Coming home is a relief! 

But it can also be a little scary.

I was excited and nervous to see how my 15-month-old daughter (Brynlee) would react to her baby brother. I knew deep down that she would love him, but she was young, and I was kind of scared she’d poke his eye out. 

Turns out she didn’t really give a hoot about the baby at first; she was just glad to have her mommy back! 

Home alone with Two under Two

Being home with both of my babies was one of the best feelings ever. It was hard when they both wanted me at the same time, but my husband was there to help. 

And then he had to go back to work…

Sharing mom

The biggest struggle I faced in those early weeks with my 2 under 2 was caring for my babies who both often needed/wanted me at the same time. 

Each family will face their own unique issues in balancing their young one’s needs. In the evenings, my two often wanted only me; leaving my husband unable to help like he wanted to, and me trying to juggle both babies. 

Urgent vs. Important

Since my days were spent with both children needing me simultaneously, I often had to choose which child’s needs were more urgent. Dirty diapers came before nursing the baby, and soothing the crying gassy baby came before settling the toddler for her nap. 

There were so many times when both would fuss or cry, and I’d have to make that split-second decision of who’s needs were more urgent.  I didn’t always make the perfect choice, and there was a lot of whining and crying in my life during the early weeks. But we survived. 

You have to do what works for YOU. 

The early weeks/months of life with 2 under 2 are spent in survival mode. At least that’s how it was for me. But taking it hour by hour and day by day makes it doable. Focus on the task at hand and remind yourself that every week will be easier as your children get older. 

It won’t always be pretty.

Instant oatmeal, microwaved lunches out of the freezer, and a thrown together freezer supper. 

Crying babies, huge feelings of overwhelm, exhaustion. 

Leaky boobs, covered in spit up, toddler wiped her face on your pants. 

I promise, it will get easier. 

Your biggest enemy right now is yourself. 

You HAVE TO think positively.

Wallowing in your overwhelm, complaining to friends, dwelling on the things that aren’t how you wished. These things won’t help you. YOU are the only person who can control your attitude, you can choose to make the best of your days or be miserable. 

Choose to stay positive and keep putting one foot in front of the other. 

The first weeks are HARD. But one day you’ll blink and realize that you’re doing it, and it’s easier.

Tips to Getting Through Tough Days

• Put on upbeat, uplifting, or inspirational music.
• Light a candle or diffuse an essential oil (lavender before baby’s nap time is my favorite!)
• Let go of your to-do list. Laundry and dishes can wait- focus on the essentials: Feed the kids, eat something yourself. Change the diapers. Don’t let the house burn down.
• Call for help: even if you can only get someone to sit with the kids for 30 minutes while you take a shower, DO IT. And don’t feel guilty about it.
• Nap when the kids nap: this can be hard, especially if your toddler and baby won’t nap at the same time. But on the rare occasion that they do- take advantage of it and sleep!
• Get out of the house. Some days all you really need is a change of scenery. If you have somewhere to go (mom’s house, and friend’s house, etc.…) do it!

For more tips on getting through tough days with a baby, check out this post. 

The post Your First Week at Home (alone) with 2 under 2 appeared first on Home Plain and Simple.

I forgot I did family pictures with 2 under 2 (plus my 5yo step-son!).

It’s like that sometimes.

When you’re so busy with your babies and life, you do what you gotta do, and you just make it work.

In those months or years afterwards when you reflect, those moments come flying back and you think “wait, I did that?” How did I do that?! Wasn’t it hard?

Yes. It was hard. But in that season of life it was just another thing. Because everything was hard.

Making supper is hard, both kids whining, one hungry, one tired. You find a system that works and just DO. Not much thinking, mostly doing. Surviving.

We prioritize the things that are important to us.

Family pictures are important to me. My babies are little, and they grow so fast. I’d do anything to freeze a few moments in time.

We’ve done family pictures every fall for the past 3 years, each year adding a new member to the family.
The first year I was the new addition, Jack surprised me during pictures and proposed.
The second year, Brynlee was a baby.
This year, Jasper was the baby. 

Family pictures have become a meaningful event, capturing the changes and growth in our family over the years. 

It’s a day I use to acknowledge and be grateful for the changes a year brought. 

Family pictures can be hard, especially with 2 under 2

Doing family pictures with young children in general can be a challenge.
Doing family pictures with 2 under 2 (especially with additional children) is organized chaos.

Like doing anything with 2 under 2, preparation is key. Imagine your family picture day and identify ways you can prepare for it beforehand. Think of any issues you may have and prepare a solution ahead of time.  

Get yourself ready WAY earlier than you think you need to.

I laid out outfits days in advance. Had snacks ready to go and scheduled 2 of my sisters to come help with the kids during the photo shoot.

I had the kid’s things laid out and ready but got myself ready first. I was ready probably 2 hours beforehand so that I’d be able to relax and leisurely get the kids ready instead of rushing. 

Wait until the last minute to dress the kids. 

Toddlers are professionals at getting their clothes dirty, and babies have blowouts. I had everything else done but waited until 15-30 minutes beforehand to quickly throw their clothes on. 

Manage your expectations

I was hoping for some great pictures, but when it came down to it, I kept my expectations low. Bare minimum I hoped for just 2 good pictures.

Surely my little family could all smile at the same time for 2 pictures? Right?

Tips to a successful picture day

• Keep it fun: Plan special snacks for the kids and/or a reward for when you’re done.

• Plan supper ahead of time: Put a crockpot meal in, plan on going out to eat, or get takeout/delivery. Anything to make your day simpler. 

• Communicate your expectations with everyone. For example: telling your spouse “I need you home at ‘x’ time to occupy the kids so I can get ready.” 

• Pick an experienced photographer who knows how to work with kids. 

• Enlist help: To get a variety of pictures and pictures of just you and your spouse, it’s helpful to get a family member, friend, or babysitter to help wrangle the kids during your photoshoot. 

• Schedule a longer amount of time to accommodate for the kids. For my family pictures with 2 under 2 I scheduled a 90min time slot with our photographer. This gave us time to take a break in the middle of our photoshoot for the kids to warm up and have a quick snack! We were also able to enjoy our photoshoot without feeling like we were on a time crunch.

• Plan your photos in a familiar environment. We did ours in our yard. Plan either to do it somewhere the kids have been before or show up early so they have time to warm up and explore a little bit before pictures start. 

Have fun.

Picture day can be stressful for the mom. Planning outfits, getting everyone dressed, last-minute ironing husband’s shirt and trying to wrangle everyone out the door.

Keeping realistic expectations, planning ahead, and being prepared for that toddler meltdown will make the day easier on you.

Plan a special treat for yourself too, whether it’s a yummy coffee or tea, or a glass of wine. Picture day can be hard, add little bits of fun to it! 

You can do this mama, and the pictures are so worth it! (even if they were taken 4+ months ago and you still haven’t printed them. *cough-cough* oops.)

The post How to do Family Pictures with 2 Under 2 appeared first on Home Plain and Simple.

My husband works for farmers in the fall, helping harvest crops until the wee hours of the morning. After Jasper was born (just a month before harvest), I’d sporadically wonder… how am I going to do bedtime once I’m on my own at night?!

Just do what works for you

There’s no judgement. 

When you’ve spent the whole day caring for a toddler and an infant, you’re exhausted by bedtime! And if you have any extra struggles, like a colicky baby + clingy toddler, you just struggle through it and figure out what works. 

My Mama Confession:

My toddler watched movies on repeat in my bed to fall asleep for the first 2ish months after her brother was born. I hated it, but, with a colicky newborn and the toddler screaming bloody murder if I left her line of sight… it’s just what worked. 

It was my personal choice not to make her cry it out; so, we just did what worked at the time knowing that it wouldn’t last forever.

The first months with a toddler and a newborn can be HARD

I lived in survival mode. But newborns grow and change fast, every 2 weeks I’d realize that it’d gotten easier! 

As my children grew and changed and adapted to life, I started changing our habits. I shifted us from survival mode, into more intentional habits. 

I am NOT a bedtime expert

I’m not a sleep expert, but I know what works for my kids. Consistency is key for us, no matter what our routine is, if we do the same thing every night, they know that it means bedtime. 

As mama, you know what works best for your kids! Listen to what your mama gut is telling you. 

My current bedtime routine

When we’re in a good schedule, bedtime happens around 8pm. We brush teeth, get fresh diapers and pajamas on, and head to bed. 

My toddler sleeps on a twin sized bed on the floor, so for bedtime I lay with her. She has her blanket and comfort items and snuggles up to me on one side, and I usually have Jasper on my other arm nursing to sleep. 

If she has trouble settling down, we’ll read a story and then I play lullabies on my phone. But usually, I just lay with her and she settles down to sleep. I like that I’m able to relax, and often read a book on my phone until she’s asleep enough for me to sneak out and go lay Jasper down.

It’s not perfect, but it works

I think I’ve had this thought about every bedtime routine we’ve ever had. And we’ve had a few since bedtime routines do change over time. There’s always something I think could or should be different. 

Extend grace towards yourself. 

The thing is, bedtime has the potential to be such a special bonding time. I love to end my days on a good note instead of stressed or fighting the kids to sleep (although trust me, that happens sometimes too). 

Choose how you end your day

You’re tired, your kids are tired. Bedtime is either the worst time of day, or the best! 

When you get past survival mode and can be more deliberate: Choose to make it the best. 

Put on some soothing music and diffuse some lavender oil for relaxation leading up to bedtime. Spend some time playing on the floor with your kids! We love laid back playtime before bed. 

If mama is tense and stressed, babies will act up. If mama is soothing and relaxed, babies will go to sleep! Body language and tone of voice says so much… be deliberate! 

You’ve got this mama!

The post Bedtime Routine with 2 Under 2 for 1 Parent appeared first on Home Plain and Simple.

Life with 2 under 2 is BUSY

Between nursing/feeding baby, getting snacks for toddler, laundry, dishes, tidy the house, make supper, play with the kids… How do you find time to shower, wear makeup, or do any of those little things that help you feel human?

It’s hard, at first

Take baby steps. When you first have 2 under 2, even just remembering to eat lunch some days can be a task!

I think I lived in pajama pants most of the time, and taking the time to put my contacts in instead of just wearing my glasses? That was a big day.  

You are important too

I’ve probably said it 100 times before, but life with 2 under 2 is spent in survival mode at first. It gets easier, promise! 

Taking deliberate thought and action helps. Acknowledge that your needs are important, and prioritize them. 

How to squeeze a shower into the day 

Showering when you have 2 under 2 is kind of a circus. There are a few ways you can manage it though!

• Shower first thing after breakfast: Little kids and babies are happiest first thing in the morning- Eat a quick breakfast with your toddler, feed the baby, and then shower while they’re happy! 

*always contain your children somewhere safe during a shower* ie: baby playing happily in the crib within earshot or listening to them on a baby monitor, toddler playing with toys in the same bathroom while you shower. 

• Shower during morning nap: when baby goes down for his morning nap, lay him down in his crib, occupy the toddler with a fascinating toy in the bathroom, and you get to shower!
• Shower while your spouse occupies the kids.
• You could also squeeze in a shower before the babies wake up or after they go to sleep. 

Take time to yourself when you can

Lay aside the mom-guilt and start taking up your family members on their offers to babysit! Or find a reliable sitter that you trust. 

Even if you just take a few hours to do something you love, do it! It feels so good. 

I think I was just 5-6 weeks postpartum when I left the kids with my mom to go ride my horse, and it felt amazing to do something just for me. I was so energized!

It’s not selfish

A happy mom helps make a happy family. If you take a few hours to prioritize yourself, you’re recharging and creating energy to be your best self for your family later.  

Whether you get a sitter to go out to lunch with a friend, or go out and get a pedicure. Taking the time to remind yourself that you are a person outside of motherhood is important. 

Self-care looks different for everyone

I think drinking my coffee while it’s still hot is self care. Going to lunch with a friend is a vacation. Texting a friend to just chat and bask in her understanding and camaraderie is food to my mama-heart. 

It will look different for each person depending on your own personal needs. But acknowledging your needs and meeting them is what’s important. 

Don’t be so busy taking care of everyone else that you run yourself into the ground

Prevention is the cure, as they say. Take care of yourself BEFORE mommy-burnout hits.

I get the most horrible “I want to crawl out of my skin” feeling when I’m feeling burnt out. And it is awful. Don’t let it get to that point!

Take care of yourself, love yourself, prioritize your needs. 

Because you deserve it mama. 

The post How to Self-Care when you have 2 Under 2 appeared first on Home Plain and Simple.

Sit down with a cup of tea, are you ready?

Let’s talk about READING for your K – 3rd Grade peeps! Woot!

I’ve written about my simple, hassle-free method of teaching reading to my kids; so if you’re working on that in your home, check out my article here!

(Want good suggestions on where to start for titles of great books to consider for your kids?  Click the link in the sidebar to get a lovely, printable list of 21 of my favorite books for reading aloud with your kids!)

There are 4 things that come with the love of reading:

1. A lifelong love of learning

2. Self-teaching in a wide variety of subjects

3. Creating a heart after things that are noble, true, and godly

4. You make a lasting, meaningful impact on your child’s life

1. LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING:

I passionately believe that helping your child learn to love reading, is helping your child learn to love learning.

Once a child discovers how magical the printed word can be, creating new worlds in their imagination, or leading them into truths and ideas that blow their minds with wonder and awe; they will develop a lasting sense of the pleasure and adventure in reading.

A child that loves learning only needs to be gently nudged in the direction of their studies.

They will eagerly move forward on their own motivated energy; rather than be dragged along by parents, miserably resisting all the way.

Did you catch that?

It means: Your job of “teaching” your child just became a lot easier, because you become more like a “learning coach”, while your child is the one who charges forward, excited to pursue knowledge. It means your child becomes their own teacher.  Which is an incredible life skill.

2. SELF-TEACHING IN A WIDE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS

If your child loves reading, they will effectively absorb a large amount of information ACROSS MULTIPLE SUBJECTS (such as history, geography, language, philosophy, science, social studies, language arts, civics, and classic literature). They do this without you needing to do more than direct what they read by choosing good books, and provide help in processing and understanding it through conversation/discussion! 

It is so rewarding: getting to discuss varying aspects of the Pacific Theater during WWII, comparing and contrasting the size of the Persian Empire with Alexander the Great’s conquered territory, hearing my younger child correctly describe whether a specific muscle movement is voluntary or involuntary, being told the average speed of lahars (when I didn’t know what a lahar was before)…

It sure makes for a stimulating and fun homeschool day!

3. CREATING A HEART AFTER THINGS THAT ARE NOBLE, TRUE, AND GODLY

Books provide ideas and information on any subject imaginable. Good, wholesome books help form moral values of courage, heroism, truth, honesty, persistence, self-control, careful thought, and many other virtues.

It takes intention and thought to stimulate your child’s inner appetite for these nobler things – it will not usually happen by chance. You as a parent are deeply crucial in this aspect by what you encourage and allow your child to absorb during these developmental years – whether through books, social media/online, television and film, or through peers.

To create in your child an understanding of the beauty of things that are true, beautiful, and godly is to help them see the beauty of God. 

It helps create a desire in them to encourage and add to this beauty – His beauty – in the world.

The parent who achieves this, has done good work in preparing fertile soil for the seeds God will plant in their child’s life.

4. YOU MAKE A LASTING, MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON YOUR CHILD’S LIFE

The hours may seem to drag some days, but ask any older parent: Time is precious and it flies.

These days spent at home with your littles are valuable opportunities to pour into their hearts and lives. Your children love you and cherish time with you above anyone else.

You, as a parent, are the most impactful person in their lives during these formative years. Don’t waste your impact. Don’t later wish you had lived differently during this season of life. Know that your daily input is foundational and critical for your child.  Spending time reading with your child is an enormous gift with incredible benefit for the rest of their lives.

Reading out loud (even just ten minutes each day!) from great, inspiring stories or fascinating historical or scientific books is only going to increase your connection with your child, stimulate their curiosity about the world, and deepen their intellect.

Commit to Reading

What book will you start reading with your kids?  When do you plan to set that 10-minute commitment to read with them that works best for you? Don’t forget to click the link in the sidebar to get a lovely free printable list of 21 of my favorite read-aloud books!

I am excited for you to see your children’s eyes and imagination light up as you pursue this reading adventure !

– Maria

The post READING for your K – 3rd Graders appeared first on Home Plain and Simple.