October 11, 2019: Working Mom Hacks

Date

Oct 11, 2019

Attendees

Attendees: @Talley, Sarah B @Julia D Chinnock@Rebecca Silverblatt; @Stephanie M Cantu @Sara Corson @Myra Gibbs ; @Hernandez, Kyle E @Mary Kemp @Hay, Leslie P @Megan Fortson @Sanchez, Sara@Joanna Tryon @Lisa (McCombs) @Mandy (McCombs)

Discussion Notes

Mornings:
- lunch made, dishes out, cereal out (maybe even in bowls) the night before
- mom gets ready first then get kid ready
- mom gets halfway ready then the rest while eating
- Kids sleep in clothes (not if they're wetting the bed)
- bookshelf for jackets, things that need to leave the house in AM (for sports, library books, etc)
  - keeps stuff from getting lost in bedrooms/other parts of house
- toothbrushes downstairs so they don't have to go back up in AM to brush
Potty training/Nighttime issues
- cut off liquids at certain point before bed
- one size bigger diapers overnight
- wake them up right before parent goes to bed to pee
- pee-pad for bed – from amazon: "Pea-pod mat"
General
- amazon subscription for diapers, and everything
- amazon brand diapers/wipes – work just as well
- Costco brand diapers/wipes – also good
- games/races to get stuff done - how fast can you get upstairs and into the bath? or try to beat your best time
- Choices – do you want to get ready for bed now or in 5 minutes
  - choices that you're ok with them picking!
- "Talk So Little Kids Will Listen" book
- Let them help set rules/come up with solutions
- All the same color socks/one color per kid (or be ok with mis-matching!)
- Pharmacy with a drive-through – sometimes they will give you other OTC meds through drive-through window too
Chores
- clothes washer has delay start feature (samsung) – set to be done with wash cycle around time you'll be home
- Roomba/generic brand can set to run vacuum during the day
- kids plates/cups on a shelf they can reach – they can get out for meals, help put away
- ONE cup assigned to each kid so there aren't cups all over the house
- bring all cups/bowls/etc to kitchen at end of the night
- 20-second clean up (count slowly if needed!)
- Set a timer so they can participate/see the time
- Kids help with their own laundry
  - in 3rd grade kid, do it together with parent
  - in 6th grade, they take responsibility for it themselves
- grocery shop on Friday nights/saturday nights
- instacart/HEB curbside pickup/HEB delivery
Dinner/evening rush
- make it the day before
- Different meals for parents later in the evening
- different meals for kid (faster)
- make ahead (crock-pot, casserole, freezer cooking)
- meal-prep onn weekends
- eating strategies
  - songs: made up own, veggie tales "party in my tummy"
  - let kids fill own plate – "how many colors can you put on the plate?"
  - frame food as "Snacks" even if it's dinner
  - let them pick out food at the grocery store
  - how food will help them out – build their bodies, help run fast
  - Ellyn Satter – division of responsibility
homework
- get them to do it at after care - make sure they know child needs to do homework there
email
- Outlook: Quick Parts
- save templates/signatures for common emails
Commute
- Spotify stories podlist: "kids stories: disney & others"
- feign motion sickness – can't keep turning around to back seat

Action items

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