Category: Motherhood

To the mama’s having a bad week.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 8 Comments

I am right there with you.

For a patient person, my patience is thin and you know what? It’s ok.

Do I feel guilty about it? Sure.

Do I wish that every day could just be rainbows and butterflies? Absolutely.

This motherhood journey is not all rainbows and butterflies though, and boy don’t we know it.

The other day both my kids were crying. One because he couldn’t have a snack right before dinner and the other just because her big brother was crying and she thought she needed to as well.

A glass of wine and a bathroom break with the door actually shut and not being opened or pounded on sounded so amazing at that moment.

I feel like sometimes the pressure just builds up for us with every cry or every tantrum and it’s tough to not be bothered.

Throw in a long day at work and I am just exhausted thinking about it.

It’s hard to keep your head up as a mom.

I think sometimes we just feel beat down. Weather it be a rough night of sleep, a bad potty training day, a crying baby you just can’t seem to soothe, a guilty day of work when you just wish you were home, a sick kiddo that has you feeling miserable as well.

The list goes on and on.

It’s all ok though and I really hope you know that when you feel this way, how great of a mom you are.

It’s the toughest job in the world that you show up for every single day. But the reward? It’s the greatest of all time.

Keep your head up, make sure you take the breaks you need.

Take time for yourself, use your tribe of people when you need the help and DO NOT feel guilty about it.

Take a deep breath and know that the guilt will subside and there will be far more better days than bad ones.

Just know that you’re a wonderful mother and we are all in this together.

I wish someone would have told me..

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 16 Comments

Do you ever remember the rejection you felt when you were younger and someone didn’t want to play with you or sit with you or even just talk to you?

It was the worst getting your feelings hurt or feeling left out at recess or not having a partner for a fun activity.

I think about that way more often now that I have children.

I wish someone would have told me to make sure you play with them whenever you are asked. That advice is actually worth getting.

When I’m busy and feel like I have so much to do and a little voice comes up behind me and says “mommy, will you play with me?”

A far too usual reply ends up being “in a minute, let me just finish this really quick”

Sometimes do you even look behind you at the little face so eagerly waiting for you to be done when you are busy with your tasks? I’ll be honest, not always.

I feel like we think because they are so little, they won’t understand. But trust me, they do.

A bad day or a sad day could easily be cured by simply sitting down on the floor with your children.

Let them take the wheel, trust me their imaginations are enough to sweep you up into their worlds.

Sit on the ground and be present.

Let them bring you things, let them dance around you and zoom across the living room.

The laundry can wait to be folded and put away.

The dishes can stay dirty for a little while longer.

The floors don’t need to be swept right this minute.

The housework never goes anywhere, but these little moments with your children do.

Give them your attention.

Let them make you laugh and be silly.

You need it just as much as they need it.

My favorite is when my son tells me he had the best day ever with me when all we did was play for a little while or went out and about as a family.

So the next time you hear that little voice come up behind you asking you to play or to talk or to sit with them.

Make sure you do.

Play with them, it matters more than you know.

“Me Time” On Mother’s Day.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 2 Comments

*This post may contain Ad links*

Since becoming a mom, I feel like sometimes Mother’s Day is more hectic than some normal days! Anyone else!?

Sure you get some relaxation, maybe breakfast in bed or a delicious dinner but sometimes it just ends up being a busy day in general and that’s not always a bad thing.

Lately though, I’ve just been feeling burnt out. Between mom life, work life, wife life, never ending housework. It’s a lot to keep up with.

So this Mother’s Day, fingers crossed I get to sleep in!

I wanted to share my favorite “Me Time” indulgences that keep me sane through this hectic wonderful life. Maybe they will inspire you to do something relaxing for yourself on this upcoming Mother’s Day weekend!

1. Reading

I have always been a big bookworm and it’s by far one of my favorite “me time” indulgences. Lately a couple times a week when I’m lucky enough to get the kids to bed early, I’ve been grabbing a good book and pouring a glass of wine.

2. Binge Watching Shows.

It doesn’t happen often, but when I get to sit down with my favorite snack and binge watch some shows it’s a great day! What are your favorite shows right now?

3. Self Care Days.

I am such a self care advocate and I really don’t do it as often as I should. Lately my favorite self care indulgence has been my new Auraglow teeth whitening kit.

I am an avid coffee drinker and it’s honestly helped so much, I was starting to get self conscious! If you would like to know more on my thoughts let me know and I can do a separate post.

4. Writing.

Sure I’m a blogger but one fun tid bit about me is I’ve always loved writing short stories. I’ve once thought about putting them all together into a short stories book but….dreams. Sometimes they are hard to follow. Writing is so soothing to me though, especially pen to paper.

So moms, let’s find some time to crunch in more “me time” in our days!

Let’s throw out the pressure, let’s throw out the guilt, let’s throw out the “I have to do everything” attitude and take some time for ourselves.

We deserve it and I hope all you moms out there have a wonderful Mother’s Day and know that you are doing an amazing job!

7 Time Saving Hacks for Busy Moms.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 29 Comments

I know what it’s like to be completely frazzled to get things done with how busy you get being a mom. Being a wife. Being a career woman. It can get overwhelming.

I’m here to give you some tips on saving time and saving yourself from getting run down and fed up.

I hope you find some that help you below.

Get things ready the night before.

This is especially important if you have school aged kids. Put out their clothes, pack lunches, have things ready the night before. Or if you have young ones, I still love to have my toddlers clothes ready and all the baby’s bottles ready to go for the night and the next day.

Always have a to-go bag.

I always have my diaper bag packed for both my baby and my toddler but I feel like even if they were older, having a bag filled with small things to keep them busy and snacks is always so important to be able to grab on the way out the door.

Calendars and lists.

I am such a list person. I love writing out to-do lists and scheduling out my months in calendars. It really helps to put pen to paper for me and to keep appointments, meetings and family schedules on track.

Meal service delivery.

Seriously makes dinner time so much easier. The last thing I want to be doing is spending an hour preparing dinner after a busy day and the prices are so comparable to what you would buy for ingredients on your own at the store.

Meal prep.

Something I am so bad at but I know it would make my life so much easier. Meal prepping is a great way to save time for all three meals of the day. Crazy how much time during the day we spend on food.

Being present.

Something I’ve really tried to do this new year. Staying off social media. You can spend hours scrolling through reels and stories and your Facebook feed. I know this because I’ve done it, since staying off some social medias I really have freed up a lot of my time to make life easier by doing other things.

Routine.

Sticking with a routine is such a life saver. You know when bed time and wake up time is for your kids and it helps you get your tasks done either after bed or before wake up. Plus it’s just good all around for everyone in the family.

3am Wake Up Cries. (Exhausted Mom)

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 6 Comments

From the moment those two pink lines show up, you are being told how hard being a parent is.

Constant crying, feeding on demand, diaper overloads.

And of course those 3am wake up cries.

But they never tell you the pure emotional exhaustion you will truly feel from trying to be the perfect mom.

And I’m not talking about I’ve just worked a week of 12 hour midnight shifts in a row…I’m talking your whole body is tired, your shoulders and neck are sore and kinked from constantly looking over at your baby, chasing after your toddler. Your mind is on auto-pilot and you forever hear crying even when they aren’t.

It’s just exhausting being a mom.

Period.

There’s no explanation needed.

It’s. Just. Hard.

You put all your energy into these tiny little humans that you have been so blessed to have.

Every thought is about them now.

How do I make my baby happy today?

Is my toddler getting too much screen time?

What can I do better so we sleep better at night?

How do I split up my attention equally?

How do I keep them healthy and safe always?

How can I be better?

How can I be perfect for them?

How do I make time for my husband? For my home? For my career?

That’s the root of it all. We always want to be better, we want to do better for our babies.

We want to be the perfect mom.

The one who looks flawless without a hint of dark circles under her eyes.

The one with hair that looks like she is able to wash and exfoliate regularly.

The one who never has a spot of spit up on her clothes or the smell of it radiating from them.

The one who looks like she’s never changed a blow out diaper in the Target bathrooms in her life.

The one who’s kids look like they would never have a tantrum in aisle 5 at the grocery store.

It’s impossible.

There’s no such thing as a perfect mom.

Yes, some might hide it way better than others but we all have one thing in common.

We are all exhausted.

We are all at some point everyday dealing with diaper overloads and spit up and drool stained clothing.

Meltdowns during the day and waking up to those 3am cries at night.

So don’t ever think you aren’t a good enough mom, please.

Because we’ve all been there.

We are all exhausted.

We are all emotional.

We are all so blessed to have these babies.

But one thing I hope to never happen to any mama’s in this world? You will never be alone in your feelings, EVER. Please just know that.

And if you ever need a reminder? Well, we are here even during those 3am wake up cries.

Don’t Wish Away The Years.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 10 Comments

I look at this little face, these little cheeks and these little hands and I wish that I could stop time.

The years go by so fast.

All these little stages of growth, I feel like sometimes we wish them away and it breaks my heart.

We wish the pregnancy stage away because the heartburn, the aches, the discomfort is a lot sometimes.

We wish the baby stage away because we just want some sleep and to be left alone at times.

We wish the toddler stage away because we just want some peace and no screaming or crying or things thrown at us.

Before you know it, they are starting school and that peace and quiet you experience when they aren’t around doesn’t seem so nice anymore.

And then they are off to high school and it’s sports and school dances and dating and those tantrums and all that noise? Well you miss it because they are always gone.

Let’s stop wishing away the stages of these sweet little ones.

Instead let’s embrace it. Again with my this years motto, embrace the chaos.

Live in the moment and just let all the craziness of this thing called parenting wash over you because it’s nothing but wonderful chaos.

As parents we are all tired, all stressed and all need to give ourselves more grace and alone time. I so get it.

Just don’t wish away what will only end up being memories once these little ones grow up.

We will want it all back.

How To Tell If You’re Ready For Another Baby.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 24 Comments

Something I always knew I wanted, more than one child.

But when you have your first, you get so caught up in it all, it’s hard to tell when you might be ready for another one.

I always assumed I would want my children closer to three years apart. When you first bring home a newborn all those fantasies about having another child so soon kind of go up in flames with your exhaustion and tears.

But then they grow up and they get cute and their own personality and they start to get a little bit more independent and the thoughts start creeping in…

I could totally do that all over again, am I ready!?

I think I first knew I was ready to have another child when the thought of seeing those two pink lines on a pregnancy test didn’t make me want to run for the hills.

So if you haven’t guessed by now.. we are expecting our second child!

My son is turning 2 in July so he will be about 2 1/2 when this new little bundle is born.

I remember having so much anxiety at first thinking of having two children…now don’t get me wrong I still have anxiety but there was a time when I was like…how would I even be able to do it?

You get so worried about how another baby will impact your marriage, your wallet, your home life and it’s scary. I know we have all felt it.

But a few things have changed since those first anxiety filled thoughts on having a second child and I thought I would share them with you today, because that’s what we are here for always! Being honest and sharing our thoughts.

When my husband and I started talking about it.

I knew for sure when my husband started bringing up a second child as well. Once he is on board with something it’s usually a go! It makes me feel so much better knowing we both were ready again and have my partner on board with tackling two kiddos together!

When the thought of being pregnant didn’t scare me anymore.

I remember being so nervous one day when I missed my period when my son was just turning 1. My anxiety was going crazy, and when I got that negative test I was happy. Fast forward, almost a year later and when my period would be off when I would see that one line, I felt disappointment. At that point, I knew I was at least ready to try again.

You’re ready for your baby, not to be the baby anymore.

I struggle with this still. I’m so attached to my little man and sometimes it makes me sad knowing he won’t be my only baby anymore. Don’t feel guilty thinking that. But realize your heart will grow instantly with your new little ones arrival.

You have blacked out labor from the first time.

Sounds weird I know but so true! It’s not fresh in your mind anymore. For me, of course I remember everything about my labor but the pain is definitely blacked out. Which makes the thought of another child way less traumatizing!

You want another baby.

Of course this is the most important reason to be ready! You want another bundle of joy and the thought of it makes you so excited! Of course we will always be nervous but the excitement wins out in feelings and that’s what matters most.

We are so excited for this new journey of bringing another little one into our lives. And I am beyond excited to see my little man as a big brother!

Thank you as always for reading!

Top 5 Tips To Become an Organized Mom.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 29 Comments

As a mom I feel like one of the biggest struggles is staying organized.

It’s a huge goal but it rarely happens, am I right?

I know in my family, I’m the one being asked what time everything is at or what day and where is this and where is that?

It’s a tough job to stay organized!! I definitely struggle on the daily no matter how hard I try. I’ll be good for maybe a week and then I slack again.

So I came up with a list for myself to help me with the areas I struggle with most in hopes that it will stick in the long run. Plus I hope sharing it will help you as well.

So let’s get started on my 5 tips to becoming more of an organized mom ☺️

1. Clean out your purse.

If there’s one thing that makes me feel like a bad ass mom, it’s a clean and organized purse and diaper bag! Throw out those random receipts, old snacks that have found their way to the bottom. Go through your wallet and organize those cards and coins. It is such a relief when your purse is organized and it’s a great start!

2. Keep a planner.

Do I have a planner? Yes. Is it halfway filled out? Also, yes. It starts out so promising but I never keep it up! A planner can be a savior in the organizing department and I’m going to try my best to stick to it! Maybe putting it on display will help my hubby not to ask a million daily questions on activities…maybe 😉

3. Use storage bins/Storage furniture.

Now this I am wonderful at! Storage bins and furniture that is used to storage is my go to! I have an ottoman that stores so many toys and I love it. I always have cute decor bins all around that hold toys and other things as well. They not only help to stay organized but it helps your house stay more picked up!

4. Meal plan.

My downfall. I am a terrible meal planner and my biggest goal is to be a great one! If I am a better meal planner I can then avoid the “what do you want for dinner?” “I don’t know, what do you want?” Argument that happens a lot. Planning dinner ahead and having a cute meal calendar is my goal! So let’s achieve it together!

5. A solid routine.

Let’s face it, it all comes down to routines! When you have a solid morning and night time routine your whole life is just so much smoother. Is it easy? No? Is it worth it? HECK YES! I strive to perfect a morning and night time routine and it’s a struggle but it’s a priority that needs to be made as we navigate through this mom life.

As I work on these organization tips, my goal is for it to help me be a better, a more calm and happy mom.

They all help make our everyday lives easier and therefore we have more time for the fun things!

What do you struggle with the most?

Let’s help each other out! Moms supporting moms it’s my favorite.

As always, thanks for reading and have a great week!

Another week…

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 14 Comments

Does time get away from anyone else or is it just me?!

I just thought I would share a little life update since I’ve been so MIA!

We lucked out tonight, and softball was canceled due to weather. Michigan got snow last night, and if our bodies haven’t reacted enough to spring, we get to go through it again!

I am starting a new job with a huge corporation this week! I have been a dispensing optician for the past (almost) 9 years, and I truly have loved every moment of it!

The first office I started at was awesome! The doctor and his wife were some of my favorite people. What is that saying though? People don’t quit a job, they quit the management? Yeah, that’s what I did. The manager was not the nicest person. In fact the 7.5 years I was there, we had 25 employees come and go. Some lasted a year some not even a day… it was so sad because I had truly gained so much from that office.

The last office I worked at was amazing all around. Such good people! One of the docs though… I’ll just stop there. 😂 I just knew that it wasn’t going to be a good fit for me in the long run, so I’m taking a turn with a corporation from HOME! No more going to an office!

There is SO much to learn though. I am on the computer 100% of my day. Not really a bad thing, but there is no face to face interaction. Although during a global pandemic, I’m not mad about it.

SPORTS! My daughters are in sports! I had mentioned softball earlier, that is what my oldest daughter is playing. My youngest is playing soccer! I know nothing about softball, however I played soccer as a kid and really enjoyed it, SOOO I volunteered to coach! I’m not sure what I was thinking when I did that!

We have had some health problems here too! No COVID, at least that’s what the tests say, but I’m not sure what to believe or not to believe anymore. My girls are still having issues that may or may not be related to whatever “virus” they did have, BUT they are overall healthy and were just praying the heal quickly!

Oh, and I dyed my hair pink! I love having fun with my hair, and this just seemed right!

That is my life update! Lots going on daily, but that is pretty much the just of it!

We want to thank you all for your support! This week actually marks one year of blogging for us! We enjoy every post we do, and every connection we make with each and every one of you! Keep reading, stay healthy and stay safe. ❤️

6 Rookie Mistakes New Moms Make.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 41 Comments

Becoming a mom was the best/scariest experience! Being a first time mom myself I know just how scary it can be not knowing anything.

I’m here to give you a few tips today on the mistakes I’ve made as a new mom in hopes it will help all you other mamas out there!

Moms supporting moms is my favorite thing!

Believing everything you hear.

I can’t even tell you how much advice you will get while you are pregnant or a brand new mom.

Some of it is fantastic but then there’s the horror stories and the snarky comments.

Trust me when I say, you just can’t believe everything you hear. Every parent has a different experience with parenthood. Every birth is different.

Most of your anxiety comes from listening to others and your own mind so relax mama, you’ll be fine!

Not napping while the baby naps.

I was notorious for this. I felt like I needed to get EVERYTHING done while the baby napped but you don’t.

You really, really don’t!

Take that nap, or just take time for yourself when your baby naps. It’s so important and you will appreciate it in the long run!

Comparing your baby or yourself to others.

Just don’t do it. Nothing good will come of it. Each baby goes at its own pace and that’s perfectly fine. Just because your friends baby is walking at 8 months, doesn’t mean your baby won’t be up and running around soon!

So many women I know were having babies when I had my son and I felt myself comparing and it was the worst thing I could ever do.

Just because one mom looks like a superhero by getting everything done, doesn’t mean she’s not exhausted and feeling as defeated as you are at times.

Don’t compare!

Ignoring your spouse.

I feel like the easiest thing as a new mom is to get wrapped up in the baby, it’s just the most natural reaction to motherhood.

But don’t get so wrapped up that you ignore your spouse, the one who helped create this beautiful tiny human. Yess they might seem annoying because they get out of the house daily or get to sleep more but they are feeling overwhelmed too so lean on each other.

Communicate and be kind to each other.

Take time for yourself.

Even if it’s just an hour at your favorite store or 30 minutes reading a book. Or even a nice long hot shower.

Do it.

Take time for yourself as much as you can to recharge, to clear your mind, to breath.

You’ll be a better mom, you’ll feel better and you just need to do it.

Ask for help.

As much as you want to, you can’t do everything. It’s impossible.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Having a support system will be the best thing for you and your family.

Whether it’s meals being dropped off or maybe just an extra hand with laundry or dishes. The best thing I ever learned as a first time mom is definitely not to be afraid to ask for help when you need it!

I hope this helped you out mamas! And if you are a seasoned mom please feel free to leave advice in the comments below!

Always love hearing others experiences since everyone’s is always so different ❤️