How to Make Mom Friends and Beat Stay at Home Mom Depression

How to Make Mom Friends and Beat Stay at Home Mom Depression

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How to Make Mom Friends and Beat Stay at Home Mom Depression

 

It can be lonely  as a stay at home mom and easy to slip into stay at home mom depression if you don’t intentionally surround yourself with other mom friends.

 

So often our spouse doesn’t understand what we’re going through, our family and friends might not be in the same season of their life, and the expectations that we put on ourselves (or society or loved ones) can make the mom guilt unbearable intense.

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

 

 

 

After my son (who is currently a year old) was born, I struggled with Postpartum Anxiety and Depression. I found myself isolating myself from even my other SAHM friends, withdrawing from my family, and feeling generally worthless. It was one of the hardest times of my life and I’m thankful that I currently have seen the ‘light on the other side of the rainbow’.


But during that period, I struggled deeply and felt so alone. I am so thankful that I had a mom tribe that I connected with, both in person and online, because it helped me realize that, no matter how tough things were, I wasn’t alone.

 

What type of SAHM are you?

 

My first suggestion when it comes to connecting and meeting other moms is to think about the type of SAHM you identify with.

 

When I first started to meet up with moms at the library or ones that I met in groups, I made the mistake of thinking that I would immediately connect with them all right away. And while I still am close friends with some of the first moms I met, there are many that I didn’t connect with.

 

Your energy is so valuable and you don’t want to spend it with people who are going to bring you down or make you feel bad about the type of mom you are. And it’s OKAY if you don’t connect with everyone.

 

There are a lot of different types of moms out there so you’ll want to find your tribe. If you’re a “Pinterest Mom” you might not want to spend your time with moms who make you feel bad about wanting to craft with your kids.

 

Or if you’re more of an “Amazon Prime” mom, you might not want to spend time with moms who want to spend more time creating homemade decorations for every event.

 

Give yourself permission to feel other moms out on playdates or in groups but know that you don’t have to vibe with them all. Don’t allow yourself to feel guilted into a friendship that makes you feel bad about yourself or drains all of your energy. You deserve to be around others that make you laugh and feel joy!

 

 

 

 

Finding Mom Friends Near  You

 

There are two main ways I’ve been able to connect with other moms friends and that is in person and online. There is an incredible power in meeting up with like minded moms in person for coffee, a walk, or just to get some sanity and talk to another grown up.

 

Some of my closest mom friends are ones that I have randomly met in Facebook groups and we’ve just clicked. We connected because our 2.5 year old were super close in age as babies and now, we all have 1 year olds too!

Once A Month Meals

 

The first place you should go to find moms near you is Facebook! Search and see if you can find a local moms group. You can be bold and simply post that you’re looking for like minded moms, and put a few words to describe this mom (coffee loving, like to craft but isn’t that good at it, enjoys working out, primarily seen in a mom bun… wait I’m describing me!) and suggest a time and place to meet up.

 

One of the easiest suggestions is to suggest going for a walk at a local park or place where you can get to actually talk to them. I’ve met up with moms places where it was super busy or my kids were all over the place and I felt like I didn’t get to talk to them at all!

 

Always start with meeting at a public place (free is best!) before inviting them over for a playdate! There is nothing more awkward than having a mom come over for the first time and you don’t vibe or your kids don’t get along (and I’ve been there!)

 

You should also look and check and see what local mom groups already exist (we have a MOMS group in our town), check out your church or religious center or see if you can find a MOPS group (Moms of Preschoolers)!

 

Often many of these places will offer child care for you and it can be a great time to refuel yourself and connect with others!

 

Meet like minded friends online

 

Because life is so busy, I sometimes only see my ‘in person’ mom friends once a month. I knew that I wanted to feel more connected on a daily basis and needed someone other than my kids to talk to.

 

Insert my virtual MOM TRIBE!

 

Over the past few years I’ve been able connect with so many moms from around the world who are feeling similarly than me all online! Heck, it’s one of the reasons that I created A Purpose Driven Mom! I knew that there were more moms out there like me, I just had to find them!

 

 

 

Social media is going to be the best place for you to connect with other like minded moms. You can use hashtag or group searches to find other communities where your ‘mom’ is hanging out.

 

Search things like ‘crunchy breastfeeding moms’ or ‘work at home moms’ or ‘2 under 2 moms’ and a BUNCH of suggestions come up (make sure you search A Purpose Driven Mom and come join our group too!)

 

Become active in those groups, answer questions from other moms and ask questions! I can’t tell you how life saving it was at 3am when I was cluster feeding my daughter to have other moms awake in baby sleep groups to talk to!

 

Once you find mom groups you love, ask for suggestions for podcasts or other groups that they love. I have found so many other members of my mom tribe by connecting with other podcasts and blogs that moms have suggested to me!

 

Some of my favorite podcasts for moms include;

Young Wife’s Guide

Cultivating the Lovely

Mom Struggling Well

God Centered Mom

Raising Arrows

Hello Mornings

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of these are perfect podcasts for Christian Moms who want to get some inspiration and find communities that they can connect with! Many of these bloggers also host virtual conferences which can help you feel even more connected!

 

Virtual conferences are my FAV (Heck I even ran my own this past year! You can go back and get all the recordings here) because you don’t have to leave your house and you can connect with some many incredible women.

 

One of my favorite ones is coming up in just a few weeks so, if you’re looking for a great place to start connecting with moms, I highly recommend the Homemaking Ministries Conference this upcoming September! And if you're reading this after September, go and grab the recordings!

Stay at Home Mom Quotes

 

Being a stay at home mom is tough. We get lost, we feel lonely and stay at home mom depression is a real thing.

 

So when you’re feeling lost, make sure you reach out to other moms, connect with people, and surround yourself with positive influences that bring you joy!

 

In the meantime, check out this list of positive mom quotes and affirmations (you can grab a copy of my fav ones here) to build you up when it’s tough.

 

Because mama…. It’s going to be TOUGH! But you’re doing a GREAT JOB! 

 

 

Make sure you SHARE this post with of SAHM who probably feel just like you! PIN it to read for later!

 

Is Brandless Legit?

Is Brandless Legit?

by | Sep 17, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Is Brandless Legit?   Brandless is one of the newest online shopping websites to hit the inboxes of people wanting cheap, organic products.   They are known for the fact that all of their items are non-GMO and mostly organic and just $3 and, for the money...

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

by | Sep 3, 2018 | Healthy Living, Mom Life | 0 Comments

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom   There are many weight loss plans for breastfeeding mothers out there and I have found that the 2B mindset is made for breastfeeding moms!   I have been following the principles laid out in the 2B Mindset program for a few months...

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

 

There are many weight loss plans for breastfeeding mothers out there and I have found that the 2B mindset is made for breastfeeding moms!

 

I have been following the principles laid out in the 2B Mindset program for a few months now and have not only lost almost 20 pounds but there has been little to no change in my milk supply, I constantly feel full, and have transformed the way that I see the scale, food and my body!

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

 

What is the 2B Mindset Program?

 

2B mindset is a nutrition program from Beachbody, the creators of many home fitness program and nutrition plans.

 

 

The main focus on this program is mindful eating and helping you lose weight without feeling boxed in and restricted.

 

 

I’ve been following the Beachbody programs for 6 years now and have been able to lose 70 pounds before I had my daughter and subsequently have 2 healthy pregnancies where I’ve been able to continue to exercise, eat healthy and drop the baby weight within a year.

 

2B Mindset was created by a registered dietician, Ilana Muhlstein, who herself has lost 100 pounds with this program! (and honestly, there's just something about following a program from someone who is in the trenches with you that makes it so special).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With 2B mindset exercise is ‘extra credit’ and the focus is more on developing a healthier relationship with food. When I heard about this part of the program, I was sold. I knew that even though I exercised 5x a week, there was something missing nutritionally that was standing in the way of my results.

 

 

The program comes with digital access to over 40 videos that you have lifetime access to. You can watch them in chunks, binge them all at once, or just go back to the ones you need when you might be struggling with a craving or need a refresher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You also get access to an iOS app where you can track all your food, a journal to use if you’re more of a paper/pencil type of gal, and a water bottle to help you always be ‘water first’.

2B Mindset for Breastfeeding Moms

 

 

I truly believe that 2B Mindset is the perfect program for a breastfeeding mom. I nursed my daughter until she was 19 months old and am currently still nursing my one year old AND have been able to lose weight at the same time.

 

 

There are a lot of misconceptions about postpartum weight loss and breastfeeding and many times women either don’t eat enough or hold onto some body fat while they are nursing. This doesn’t mean though that it’s impossible to lose the weight!

 

 

2B mindset is 100% set up to help you have weight loss without feeling deprived.

 

 

 

One of the core principles of 2B Mindset is ‘water first’. This means that you are fueling and filling your body with all of the water it needs (and more) which is perfect for breastfeeding.

 

I know that on days I don’t have enough water, my supply is down and my son is more fussy. By following the 2B mindset, you are ensuring that you have enough water to make your milk AND lose weight. (though I want to toss a disclaimer right here… I am NOT a doctor and every women is different so make sure you check with them if you have questions and follow your baby, and milk supply's, lead!)

 

Another struggle I had when trying to lose weight while breastfeeding was that I was hungry ALL THE TIME. I felt like I constantly was eating and many times, I wasn’t eating the proper foods for my body. Because of this, I was either gaining weight or stuck in a weight loss plateau.

 

And while it’s true that you burn calories while breastfeeding, everyone’s body is different and, if you’re just eating unhealthy foods to feel full, you won’t lose the weight anyway.

 

The 2B mindset teaches you how to fuel your body the right way AND how to go back for more food if you still feel hungry! This was a game changer for me when it came to pushing passed my last plateau. I finally felt like I didn’t have to feel deprived but could still lose!

 

 

One of the toughest principles to follow (but I'm working on it!) is the ‘dinner and done’ principle. Most of my night time snacking is habit and I’ve found that on the night’s that I don’t eat after dinner, I almost always have a weight loss the next day. But, I also notice that on those nights I may wake up less engorged and just ‘flatter’ than normal. I nurse on demand so I don’t have a number to share  but I can definitely notice a difference.

 

If you find you need something to eat or your supply needs a little boost, adding in some veggies with a higher fat dip like hummus or guacamole might be an adjustment you make! Listen to your body and milk supply and feel it out!

2B Mindset Results

 

In the few months that I’ve been doing the 2B Mindset I’ve dropped nearly 20 pounds and can fit comfortably now in my pre pregnancy clothes. I feel a HUGE difference in my mindset and have inspired my husband to start the program too!

 

I also have started making my kids plates similar to mine and I know that they are eating a TON more veggies and a lot less processed snacks. They are also filling up on water and I’ve noticed asking less for snack after snack after snack!

 

 

 

 

 

2B Mindset FAQ

 

The scariest part for many women when jumping into the 2B mindset is that part of it is to track your weight and use the scale daily. I struggled in the beginning because I really had ‘broken up with the scale’ during my last pregnancy.

 

2B mindset has allowed me to change my mindset around the scale. I no longer see it as ‘the enemy’ or something that will make me sad, but rather a tool to help me see what foods my body prefers. I’m not obsessing over the numbers but rather adjusting course as need be. This allows me to drop my "I’ll try again Monday” mentality and actually create lifestyle changes!

 

 

I also wanted to share what Beachbody itself says about this program and breastfeeding moms...

 

“La Leche League International advises breastfeeding moms to wait at least two months before making any drastic effort to lose weight, allowing their bodies to recover and to ensure a steadymilk supply.

 

However, the 2B Mindset can help you get in the right frame of mind to makehealthy decisions for you and your baby so you can ultimately shed the baby weight.

 

Remember, everybody is different, so you should consult your physician before starting this nutrition plan. Keep in mind that breastfeeding women may naturally lose 1 to 4 pounds per month simply due to the amount of energy required for nursing.

 

You may notice a slight reduction in your milk supply at the start of this program, but it should quickly rebound so long as you continue to nurse frequently, drink plenty of water, eat according to the plan, sleep when you can, and keep your stress low. Some women may also see a decline in milk supply as their baby begins to transition to more solid foods, but that is to be expected for any nursing mother.”

 

 

2B Mindset Costs

 

2B mindset is an incredible program and completely worth the cost! Starting at $99 you can get the entire system with the videos! If you’re looking to incorporate exercise in as well, you should definitely get the package where you get a year to stream Beachbody on Demand AND the 2B Mindset access! This way you can have all the tools at your fingertips!

 

 

If you decide to sign up for 2B Mindset with the link below, you’ll also get access to me as your personal coach to help guide you through! I run private support groups full of women doing the program with similar goals to be in each other’s corner!

 

If you have any questions about which option is right for you, I’d love to setup a 15 minute FREE consultation so we can chat! Just head over here and fill out this form!

 

If you’re ready to get started, go and grab it now! Email me once you do at coachingwithcara@gmail.com so we can get you into our health support group ASAP!

 

And if you have any other questions, just leave them in the comments below!

 

 

Is Brandless Legit?

Is Brandless Legit?

by | Sep 17, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Is Brandless Legit?   Brandless is one of the newest online shopping websites to hit the inboxes of people wanting cheap, organic products.   They are known for the fact that all of their items are non-GMO and mostly organic and just $3 and, for the money...

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

by | Sep 3, 2018 | Healthy Living, Mom Life | 0 Comments

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom   There are many weight loss plans for breastfeeding mothers out there and I have found that the 2B mindset is made for breastfeeding moms!   I have been following the principles laid out in the 2B Mindset program for a few months...

Activities to Prepare Your Kids for Preschool

Activities to Prepare Your Kids for Preschool

Get Your FREE Tot School Weekly Planner!

How to Prepare Your Child for Preschool

My 2.5 year old daughter will be starting part-time preschool in the fall and I’m excited and nervous and wondering how this will be.

Adding preschool into our lives was a decision we made for a few reasons. Our main reason was that she’s always stayed home with me and, before her brother was born a year ago our main interactions were playdates or a music class we attended weekly.

Since adding a new baby into the mix (and her getting older), I’ve noticed how much more of my attention she is seeking and her struggling when it comes to playing with others. We’ve had a lot less playdates because it’s just tougher with 2 babies and all the nap schedules to contend with.

I can tell that she is craving more interaction with kids her age and know that it will be good for her to be around others, learn from others, and pick up some of the social skills that I cannot teach her at home.

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

Why Tot School is a Good Idea for Toddlers.

For the past year and a half we’ve also added some intentional learning into our typical routines. Part of this is the teacher in me and the other part is knowing that, no matter what she learns at school, she needs reinforcement from home and any added ‘learning’ never hurt anyone.

We don’t do anything too structured as far as home school but we have implemented some Tot School  practices into our weeks. In full transparency, it’s been much tougher and less frequent since the baby was born but, I know that any learning activities we do helps!

We follow the curriculum from ABC JESUS LOVES ME  which allows us to have a structure of what is developmentally appropriate while fitting it into our day naturally. We don’t have a time where I announce “it’s school time” but times during the day where we do activities to promote learning.

Tips for Naturally Integrating Learning

Having a more casual approach when your child is younger is the easiest way to decrease the stress for both you as the parents and them as the child. You never want to force them to do activities or make it so that it’s not fun because, let’s be real, if it’s not fun, your kids won’t’ do it!

We try to pick a theme for each week and come up with 2-3 activities we can do for that theme. The curriculum is great at giving ideas for what themes might work best and activities to go along with it. I print them out on Sundays for the week and keep them in a divided storage shelf so that I can easily grab something if we have 20 extra minutes in our day and want an activity.

 

All day, we also are working on learning in our environment however it naturally comes up. We point out letters, find numbers, count things, try to make patterns and categories with toys, and READ, READ, READ!!!

I Can Change the World

Teaching Your Child During the Day

 

If you’re looking for other ways to incorporate learning and prepare your child for preschool, try to find pockets of your day that allow them to be creative, problem solve, and explore.

 

This can include outdoor play, games like “I spy” or nature walks, cooking, puzzles, seek and finds and more! There are so many ways to make learning and exploring fun, and those are all skills your child needs going into pre-school!

 

The more you can talk to your child, explain things you are doing, and share new words with them, the more that they will pick up! My daughter has learned so many new words simply from me saying what they are (“Ari, this is a spatula! We’ll use this to stir”), having her repeat it (“Watch my mouth when I saw that word. Good, now you say it”) and using it whenever it comes up in context (“Can you pass me the spatula? Oh we need to stir… hmmm what could we use?”)

 

 

Teaching your preschooler social skills.

 

One of the things we are working on now is all of the social skills she will need when going into preschool. We know that sharing is hard for any toddler and that she’ll learn how to do it when those moments happen but, that doesn’t mean we won’t work to help her learn those.

 

When preparing your child for school you can help them by reinforcing manners during the day. Toddlers are completely capable of saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and by reinforcing that AND modeling it when we speak to them and everyone else in the household, it helps them make manners a habit.

 

You can also help them learn about sharing (we use the phrase ‘it’s time to take turns” all day in this house) as much as possible. We are struggling A LOT with this right now, particularly as her favorite thing to do seems to be to take whatever toy her little brother is playing with at the moment. BUT, that doesn’t mean I won’t try to take as many teachable moments as possible.

 

Round up of Activities You Can Do At Home

 

If you’re looking for some activities you can start with your toddler now to get them ready for preschool, look no further! I’ve rounded up some super fun activities that you can incorporate into your week and that your toddler will love!

 

#1 Cereal Color Sort Mat from A Purpose Driven Mom 

 

 

 

#2 Matching Games from Becoming Shultz

 

 

 

#3 Fine Motor Skills from A Purpose Driven Mom 

 

 

#4 Tracing Activities from Meraki Mother

 

 

#5 Magnetic Counting from From Engineer to SAHM

 

 

#6 IXL Activities from Theresa’s Reviews

 

 

#7 Sticker Matching from A Purpose Driven Mom 

 

#8 Lace and Trace Activities for Fine Motor Skills

These are great because they keep little hands busy and help with their fine motor skills! These are the ones that we love!

#9 Basics skills such as using glue and scissors

We do a lot of play and practice with regular glue and glue sticks and just ordered a great book to get her practicing with safety scissors.

 

 

#10 Educational Shows that Promote Learning and Language Development

 

Our favorites are ones you can get on Amazon Prime like; 

Super Why

Daniel Tiger

Creative Galaxy

Dora the Explorer

 

 

Did these tips help you??? Make sure you share them with another mama on your Facebook and PIN them to come back to later!

 

Is Brandless Legit?

Is Brandless Legit?

by | Sep 17, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Is Brandless Legit?   Brandless is one of the newest online shopping websites to hit the inboxes of people wanting cheap, organic products.   They are known for the fact that all of their items are non-GMO and mostly organic and just $3 and, for the money...

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

by | Sep 3, 2018 | Healthy Living, Mom Life | 0 Comments

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom   There are many weight loss plans for breastfeeding mothers out there and I have found that the 2B mindset is made for breastfeeding moms!   I have been following the principles laid out in the 2B Mindset program for a few months...

7 Ways to Homeschool on a Budget

7 Ways to Homeschool on a Budget

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Get Your FREE Tot School Weekly Planner!

7 Ways to Homeschool on a Budget

 

Guest Post from Tiffany Thomas of  The Crazy Shopping Cart

 

It’s August!  That means autumn is just around the corner!

 

It also means it’s time for back-to-school shopping, which can get expensive quickly!

 

It’s even more expensive when you are homeschooling your children, and you have to purchase new curriculum and books.

 

We recently began our homeschooling journey, and I was amazed at how quickly I went overbudget – and that was after getting only 1/3 of the books on the reading list!

 

After talking to several friends who have been homeschooling for years, I came up with seven tips for saving money on homeschooling!

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

homeschool on a budget

1. Thriftbooks.com

 

This is a website that sells used books, many from school libraries. They’re sold at a much lower cost than used books are on Amazon or even Half Priced Books.  You can earn rewards points on your purchases to use towards future purchases, as well!

 

2. Library Sales

 

Find out from your local library when they have their next sale. Libraries often have quarterly, or even yearly, sales where surplus books are sold and the proceeds are used to purchase new releases.

We often purchase entire series of books for only a few dollars. Books that aren’t directly used for homeschool are saved for birthdays and Christmas gifts.

3. Find Free or Discounted Curriculum

 

The internet is full of homeschool blogs.  Many homeschool programs are free or significantly discounted.  We use Pinterest searches to help us find different activities, programs, and curriculums that are offered for free.

Our current homeschool program is a bit of a modge-podge of five different sources that fit our learning style and lifestyle the best.

Almost all of them are free (such as Easy Peasy and The Good and the Beautiful), or are only about $30 for the year (like Peaceful Press and Spelling City).

4. Dollar Store

 

If your student is struggling in a certain area, or there is an item that you tend to need a lot of, most dollar stores will have inexpensive workbooks and school supplies you can purchase in bulk.  We get math workbooks, handwriting worksheets, and more for just a dollar each!

 

 

5. Join Co-Ops and Homeschool Groups

 

You do not need to necessarily participate in everything offered by local homeschool groups, but at the end of school year (or beginning of the next), many of them sell items that they no longer need.  This can be old curriculum books they no longer learn from, or school supplies that their kids have outgrown. If you are looking for something specific, chances are that someone will have it!

 

 

homeschooling on a budget

 

6. Shop Back-to-School Clearance

 

Since you are homeschooling instead of sending your children to public schools, you have the luxury of waiting a few weeks after the school year to replenish your school supplies.  Many large retail stores like Walmart, Target, Staples, and more will sell school supplies for literally pennies!

 

7. Groupon Field Trips

 

One of the best things about homeschooling is field trips!  We love to go on regular field trips: to the zoo, the children’s museum, and other fun places.  These tend to get quite expensive, however. We buy year memberships to our favorite places, but there are always a few that we really only want to try once or twice.  Sometimes we get bored, as well, and we want to try somewhere new.

This is where Groupon is really useful.  We get to explore new places for half the cost!  There are always offers for museums or other locales that we’ve never even heard of before.

 

In the end, homeschooling can be quite expensive if you just purchase everything at full-price.  But with a little bit of time and research, these tips and tricks should help you save a lot of money!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiffany Thomas is a former math teacher and SAHM who loves finding good deals!  She and her husband, who is an engineer, work together on The Crazy Shopping Cart.  They enjoy spending time with their family, geeking out over sci-fi together, and saving money.

 

Is Brandless Legit?

Is Brandless Legit?

by | Sep 17, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Is Brandless Legit?   Brandless is one of the newest online shopping websites to hit the inboxes of people wanting cheap, organic products.   They are known for the fact that all of their items are non-GMO and mostly organic and just $3 and, for the money...

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

by | Sep 3, 2018 | Healthy Living, Mom Life | 0 Comments

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom   There are many weight loss plans for breastfeeding mothers out there and I have found that the 2B mindset is made for breastfeeding moms!   I have been following the principles laid out in the 2B Mindset program for a few months...

The Best Way to Get Organized for Back to School

The Best Way to Get Organized for Back to School

Getting Organized for Back to School

 

Every summer the same thing happens; I let go of our routines slightly, get a bit unorganized, allow the house to be more “lived in” and messy and just enjoy.

 

But there is something magical about the start of the school year.

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.


back to school organization

 

It feels just like the start of a New Year to me. Everything seems brand new, I want to work harder on my goals and finishing the year strong and we start to get used to our new routines and schedules. And this year, on top of my stepson going into middle school and that adjustment, my 2.5 year old is starting PRESCHOOL!

 

I know, I know… cue the tears!

 

She’ll be going 3x a week from 9 am-12 pm which means adjusting our normal schedule where we’d normally go on playdates or run errands, praying my 11 month old keeps his current 2 nap schedule for a bit (which means he’ll nap 9:30-11:30!! Imagine the possibilities with 6 extra ‘kid-free’ hours a week!)

 

Speaking of my 11 month old, we’ll also be starting Tot School at home in September which means figuring that routine out and when we’ll not only do activities but having to plan them out. (We use ABC Jesus Loves Me for our ‘curriculum’ and love the flexibility it gives while providing structure to make it easy for moms)

 

With my stepson staying at the same school, not much changes for his schedule but now  it’s time to add in more sports, clubs and activities and it’s a recipe for disaster when it comes to remembering everything and just feeling on top of life.

Using Trello to Get Organized

Enter Trello!

If you’ve been hanging on my page at all lately, you know I am OBSESSED with Trello, heck I even teamed up with my girl Elisa from Meal Planning Blueprints to make an entire COURSE  around how it can help moms!

organize your life with trello

Trello is going to be a mom’s best friend for back to school and I’m so pumped to be able to use it for the first time this entire school year. Trello eliminates having to have papers everywhere, forgetting dates and to-dos and losing things you know you need.

Trello will also allow you to share your Back to School lists and to-dos with other family members so if you have older kids, it’s a great way to communicate and if you need your spouse to pick them up from practice or your mother in law to attend a school event, you can keep it all streamlined!

Trello allows you to make BOARDS that you can organize with various lists and tasks. And because I know you don’t have a ton of time to do things, I’ve set up a Trello board just for you to copy for FREE!

 

Just click the link below and you can snag my Back to School board (you’re welcome!) Just COPY it to your account and it’s yours to edit. If you don’t have Trello, just go here and get a free account! Between the website and the app, you’ll be in your Mom Organization Glory! 

 

trello for prayer requests

 

If you’re not sure about Trello or want to see how I organize my board, I did a video for you to give you all the tips on making this board work for you and your family! You can watch that or check out the step by step ideas below!

 

How to Copy Boards On Trello

 

If you want to copy the board, you’ll need a Trello account to do so but it’s free so that rocks. Once you log in go on over to the right where it says SHOW MENU. Next, hit the MORE button and hit COPY BOARD. When you copy the board, you can decide if you want to rename it and where you want it to go. Feel free to use it as a template, to get ideas, and customize however you want!

 

 How to Create a Back to School Board on Trello

 

Step #1 Create Lists on Trello

 

You’ll want to start with making lists for all the things you want to remember, Look at these as your categories. My board has lists that include;

 

IMPORTANT

SUPPLY LIST

SCHOOL LUNCHES

THINGS TO BUY
IMPORTANT DATES
IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ROUTINES

HOMEWORK STATION

 

You can add as many as you want and even organize this board by kid or month.

 

 

Step #2 Customize Cards on Trello

 

Now that you’ve created your lists, go though and customize each card.

 

Some of my favorite ways to do this is to add links of ideas I see on Pinterest  (because we all know we’ll pin a ton of things and forget to do them all) , link to my meal planning boards, and create master shopping lists.

 

You can do this with multiple checklists on each card, adding in important dates, sales you see, organization ideas or adding attachments with specific links!

 

 

Step #3 Add members to Trello

 

I think one of the best features of a back to school Trello board is adding members so that you can all be on the same page. You can add your spouse, babysitter or whoever and if you want them to be responsible for a task or just let the, know of a date, use the @ sign and add their name. This way they’ll get a notification!

 

 

There are limitless possibilities when it comes to Trello for back to school and know that you can be a less stressed mom ASAP! Now go grab this FREE back to school board, copy it and start to customize it for your family!

 

 

Did this help you out??? Make sure you share it to your facebook or PIN it to go back to later!

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Simple steps to make your mornings a little easier

Simple steps to make your mornings a little easier

Getting out the door will be a breeze with these tips

 

Guest Post by Kimberly Poteat of Happy Mommy, Tired Mommy.

 

It is back to school season. Early mornings and late nights for parents and maybe some kids. Depending on their homework load. I have gathered some quick tips for parents and children to make getting ready the next day and getting out the door on time a little easier.

This post may contain affiliate links which cost you nothing extra to use but may provide me with a commission. To read my full disclosure head on over here.

 morning routine

Kids organization

 

A week worth of Clothes

 

Lay your clothes out for the whole week. This saves a bunch of time with getting ready. Sometimes it takes time to find the perfect outfit. If you get it ready ahead of time though you won’t spend half the morning just on your outfit, or the kids won’t either.

 

The Night Before

 

Have their backpacks ready so they don’t forget their homework.

 

Put Shoes and backpacks by the door. If they are by the door, you pass them on your way out so there is no forgetting backpacks or shoes.

 

Bathroom

 

Bathrooms can get chaotic in the mornings. Why not set everything out like their toothbrush, hairbrush, anything else they might need.

Parents 

 

Of course, the parents have a longer list of ideas than kids. We have a lot more responsibilities. Do not forget the milk!

 

Make a weekly list and reminders

 

If you cannot remind your kids to get their clothes out for the whole week on Sunday, write yourself a note or put it in your phone as an alarm reminder. There are a ton of list apps out there where you can set a time a date to alert you.

 

Prepare breakfast and lunches the night before

 

If you are having cereal, set the box out on the table and bowls then in the morning all you have to do is grab the milk. If you want a little more substance to your meals, you could make a breakfast casserole and stick it in the fridge and bake it right when you get up. When everyone is getting ready it will be done in time so everyone can have a nice breakfast together.

Kids Sticky Notes

 

 

Write out a calendar and set reminders of special events or kids activities to stay up to date with them.

 

You can have some fun with your calendar make it color coded or get stickers to match your events like footballs for little league or ballet shoes.

 

 

Get coffee ready for in the morning

 

Set a timer on your coffee machine so you can have it ready by the time you get up. Or make it at night if you like iced coffee. Stick it in the fridge for later.

 

Get up a little earlier so everyone does not feel rushed

 

Set an alarm 10 minutes before you want to get up give you time to wake up before heading off to do your daily tasks. I know most people dread getting up early even earlier than they are used to.  It can change how your morning goes tremendously. It is amazing how much you can get done with an extra hour or thirty minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kim is a mommy blogger at Happy Mommy, Tired Mommy where she blogs about Self Care and Children Activities. 

 

Is Brandless Legit?

Is Brandless Legit?

by | Sep 17, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Is Brandless Legit?   Brandless is one of the newest online shopping websites to hit the inboxes of people wanting cheap, organic products.   They are known for the fact that all of their items are non-GMO and mostly organic and just $3 and, for the money...

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom

by | Sep 3, 2018 | Healthy Living, Mom Life | 0 Comments

2B Mindset for the Breastfeeding Mom   There are many weight loss plans for breastfeeding mothers out there and I have found that the 2B mindset is made for breastfeeding moms!   I have been following the principles laid out in the 2B Mindset program for a few months...

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