How to Find More Mommy Time
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Who wouldn’t like to have more time to themselves? Moms are no exception, but it seems like they are the ones who never seem to have enough time for the things they enjoy. Between taking care of husbands, children and the house, they barely have time to breath, let alone relax. What can a mom do to find a little more time for herself? You might not be able to take a week’s vacation, but even a few minutes here and there can make a difference.
Mothers’ Day Out – There are many childcare centers, some in churches, that provide a Mothers’ Day Out program. These programs do not require that your child be registered for daily care. You can use the program a day here and there as needed. The time could be used for [nmslink:shopping, shopping], doctor appointments, or even just going home and pampering yourself. The prices on these programs vary, but it could be worth it to just get an hour or two free.
Play Dates - Depending on the age of your children and their friends, you might be able to arrange play dates for your children. By trading off the play date location, both the friend’s mom and you get a break. If it works out well, and more families are willing, you could include another family or two, gaining more free time for all the moms involved.
Tea Time – Taking even a short break during the day can be enough to recharge your batteries. Find a way to keep the kids entertained for a few minutes. It just has to be long enough to sit down and have a cup of your favorite tea, coffee or hot chocolate. The kids could have a snack, or a small [nmslink:craft project, craft project] (that’s easy to clean up). Sit where you can still see the kids, and just relax. If the children are too small to be left alone, put them down for a nap, or wait until they are in bed for the evening.
Date with Dad – It’s important for the kids to spend some quality time with dad. Why not suggest he take them out for a mini-date, while you stay home and relax. Have dinner as a family, and then they can go for dessert at the local ice cream store. Or go to a fast food place that has an indoor playground. They can get a treat, and the kids can play for a while, and you get some peace and quite.
Mothers’ Helper – Sometimes it’s nice to just have another pair of eyes and hands around the house. Many young girls take babysitting courses, but still need experience taking care of young children. If you can hire a mother’s helper for an hour or two a week, not only do you get a break, but they also get the needed experience. It is very helpful, especially if you have young children and aren’t comfortable leaving them with a sitter yet. You can still be close by, but you don’t have to be in the same room. This also makes a better transition when you are ready to leave your children with a sitter.
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How to Save Money on Groceries
I don’t know about you, but I am already thinking about ways to spend less in the New Year. Here are some ways I found useful to save money on groceries: don’t be in such a hurry when going to the supermarket.
- Before heading out, check advertising circulars carefully. Just because it’s advertised doesn’t mean it’s a good buy.
- Shop without kids so you can think.
- Don’t shop when you are hungry. Eat first to avoid impulse buying.
- Take a list and don’t buy anything else unless it’s a food basic or a true bargain.
- If you see an aisle-end display of a product you want, check the price against prices on the shelf. Shelf prices may be lower, say the editors of ShopSmart.
- Buy the whole melon, vegetable, or cheese block. Prepackaged, cut-up selections cost much more.
- Try the store brands. You’ll probably save money without sacrificing quality.
- Shop with cash if you tend to overspend. Stay within your budget by taking just a few dollars more than what you estimate your purchases will cost.
Another way to save on groceries is to plan your meals.
7 Reasons why meal planning is a great idea/
How to Slash Your Grocery Bills
Spending More Time Together
It seems like families are spending less and less time together, especially as the children get older. People are going in so many different directions, between school, sports, work and other obligations; even having a meal together is a rarity. Here are a few tips for fitting family time in your busy life.
Find a night where everyone is free, even if it’s a weeknight. If you can’t find at least one night a month that is free, it might be time to scale back on activities. Once the time is scheduled in, it is time to decide what the family wants to do. There are many activities that can be fun for the whole family.
Family dinner has traditionally been a very important time of day. Even if your family already spends dinner together, try to make it extra special once a week. Invite the kids to help plan and cook the menu. Help them decide what goes into a well-balanced meal. Even young children can help cook, with supervision. Not only will you spend more time together, they will be learning important skills.
Depending on how much time you have, and how frequently you can have a family night, consider a family sport activity. There are family [nmslink:bowling, bowling]
leagues, as well as softball and other sports. Or if you have a membership at the local pool, go swimming together. Take a walk or bike ride.
When the kids have a day off from school, perhaps you can take a personal day off work too. If it’s nice, spend the day at the park. Pack a picnic and bring [nmslink:outdoor toys, outdoor toys] and games. If the weather is bad, there are museums to visit. Many cities have a hands-on science museum that can be just as much fun for the adults as it is for the kids.
If your family has the time to go on vacation, plan a trip that the whole family can enjoy. Make a list of possible locations and activities and then decide what sounds most interesting to the whole family. Even if you can’t get away for a week, see if your family can manage a long weekend together. A quick search on-line will help you find all kinds of interesting attractions that are practically in your back yard.
Have a family slumber party. Get out the sleeping bags, [nmslink:pillows, pillows] and pop some popcorn. Pick a favorite movie, play games, sit up all night talking. Get to know each other better. Family time is fun and rewarding and even in a busy modern family a little special time goes a long way.
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