A Guide for Moms from a Mom: Don't You Hate it When...

Sure, parenting is often the most rewarding experience of your life, but most people don't tell you it's also the hardest thing and that you'll feel like you're losing your ever loving mind at times! All in all though, I wouldn't give up being a parent for anything in the world. I have three sons with very different personalities and life is always interesting in our household. It can be difficult to juggle day to day life sometimes and if you're a new parent or simply feel like you're losing your mind, read this article for some tips on how to juggle daily life with your children.

A Guide for Moms from Moms: "Don't You Hate It When..." #1: After School Snacks

When I pick up my kids from school, I either take a snack with me in the car that won't be too messy to eat or I prepare something right before I go pick them up. By doing that, I don't have to check out what's in their backpacks, have them take their shoes off and wash their hands while trying to make a snack at the same time. You can take a package of wet wipes into the car so they can clean up before they eat their snack in the car. My kids hands are generally dirty after playing at school all day, even though they do wash up at lunchtime.

A Guide for Moms from Moms: "Don't You Hate It When..." #2: Car Pools

I don't generally car pool because we live so close to the children's school that it's no problem to get there ourselves. If you would like to carpool to save on time and gas, try to establish a connection with other parents in your children's class. This can be done on the first day at school, back to school night or by going to school parties. Talk to the other parents to see if they would be interested in carpooling or post a ad on the school's bulletin board and talk to parents who respond to it.

A Guide for Moms from Moms: "Don't You Hate It When..." #3: Family Dinners

Family dinners are often a hectic time at our house. The kids won't always eat what the grown up's eat or one of the kids won't like what the other one eats. I personally don't believe in the "eat what's on your plate or don't eat at all" rule unless your child won't literally ever eat anything that is on your table at dinner. If my kids don't like something, I have them try it and chew it in their mouth while I count to five or ten, if they still don't like it, they are able to discreetly spit it into their napkin. We do this each time we serve it.

At the beginning of each day, I try to decide what we're having for dinner right then. It can be very hard to decide what to cook for dinner when all the kids are running around playing or doing homework. If possible, I try to make some of the stuff during the day before they get home from school. For example, sometimes we have sugar free pudding for desert. Instead of trying to make it once the kids are home, I make it before schools over. If you're making a casserole for dinner, prepare it, cover it and stick it in the fridge. When it's dinner time, pop it in the oven and you're ready to eat dinner. I try to use shortcuts whenever I can.

A Guide for Moms from Moms: "Don't You Hate It When..." #3: Post lists around the house

If you have younger children, they might do better when a list that they can read daily to remember what they are supposed to do. My kids were getting easily distracted so I posted list inside the back door and inside the closet door. When they get home from school, they can read the list and follow it. It doesn't always work but I am thankful for the times it does.

One of our lists is the After School To Do List:

1. Show Mom all papers in backpack (even if it's old school work or drawings).

2. Put shoes and backpack in close and SHUT DOOR.

3. Wash hands.

4. Have Snack (if you want one).

5. Do homework.

6. Have dinner.

7. Free Time (May only be for a few minutes. Free time is playing in the room or MAYBE watching TV or playing outside IF Mom says it's OK).

8. Check chore list for your Chores.

9. Have a Snack if Hungry

10. Get Ready for bed (Wash face, brush teeth, get pajamas on, make bed, put cat stuff in bathroom if asked).

11. Kiss Mom and go to sleep!

A Guide for Moms from Moms: "Don't You Hate It When..." #4: Bedtime

My kids always drag at bedtime. The kids have two different bedtimes and I start the process continoulys so when one is in bed, the other is getting ready. First I give them a warning, "You're going to bed in 15 minutes." "Only 5 more minutes until you get ready for bed." They brush their teeth, go potty and get a drink. Sometimes we'll have a story at night or I'll lay with them and talk about how their day was. What works for us is to tell them how long they have before they get ready for bed instead of saying "Time's up! Go to bed."

As a parent, you'll find what works and doesn't work for you. Make notes of the ways that do work so you can continue to do it that way. Ask the advice of your friends, your family, search for more articles online like this one. You don't have to be a Super Mom to be a great mom. To me a Super Mom is doing what you are capable of. If you can't get your kids to eat their green beans, or if your child finds a can of spray paint and starts staying it on different areas of your yard (yes it happened to me), don't feel like a bad parent. If your kids are fed, dressed and loved, then you are doing a great job.