Including your kids in the kitchen is a great way to teach them life skills and, eventually, save money. Eat well, spend less, and let the kids cook!

As we all know cooking and eating at home is typically healthier, tastier, and often more economical than processed or restaurant fare. And if there’s more than one home cook in the house, chances are there’s always someone available to cook up the night’s dinner. Someone besides the Colonel, that is.

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to teach my boys to become more independent in the kitchen. That, my friends, is easier said than done. Not because they aren’t capable. But, because I’m a control freak.

I didn’t realize how much this was true until the last month or so when I started checking myself before I grabbed the tongs, spatula, or spoon away from the child working in the kitchen. I had no idea I was doing this previously. But, I must have been. All of a sudden I found that I was stopping myself from interfering.

And the result?

1. My seven-year old started cooking the pancakes on the griddle and flipping them with gusto. He begs for pancakes every morning so that he can make them.
2. My nine-year old portioned a bulk bag of cheese into perfect one-pound portions to store in the freezer and now regularly mixes the bread dough.
3. My eleven-year old mixed up the dough for hot dog buns and tested a recipe for stuffed crust pizza.
4. My fourteen-year old baked a batch of Chocolate Minty Melts while I was out of the house and figured out his own substitutions when he saw we didn’t have any chocolate kisses.

Who knew?

Apparently, I did not. Because I would not previously have asked anyone of them to pull off the aforementioned feats alone or with limited supervision. But, once I put the blinders on (myself) and walked away, they did great. And now I know that I can cut them lose on a lot more cooking tasks.

Now, I wonder what ELSE they are capable of!

My kids have been cooking with me or hubs in the kitchen since each one was big enough to climb on a chair. But, I’ve been reticent to just release the reins and let one of them drive the chuck wagon.

The entire process has been such a lesson to me. My kids are capable of far more than I expect them to be, especially where food is concerned. While hubs and I were gone on date night, my eleven-year old even tried his hand at food photography!

It’s one thing to set a good example, but it’s another to teach — and to let go. I think I’ve worked at the first two, but have failed at the last.

And yet, how did I learn? I just messed in the kitchen, and my mom let me. (Thanks, Mom!) I started copying down recipes as soon as I could write, attempted (and failed) to make fudge when I was seven, and had perfected lemon meringue pie by ten. But, my mom really didn’t have to do much — except maybe clean up after me.

She cut me lose. And then I just did it.

What am I afraid of?

Why haven’t I been looser with my control of the kitchen? I have no idea, really. I hate to clean, that would be one thing. I fear wasted ingredients. But, let’s look at the ultimate fruit:

I can do something else while my kids do the cooking! 

It’s an amazing thought, really. And then because I’m the mom, I can make them clean up the mess. Goodness, what have I been waiting for?

I don’t have it all figured out, but I’m sure excited to see where this goes. As I type this, one of my sons is crafting birthday cake toppers for his brother’s big day while the cake their sister and I made is cooling on the counter.

I can’t wait to see where this goes!

This post is part of an ongoing series about how to eat well and spend less. Along with some fabulous foodies, organizers, and frugalistas, I’ve been bringing you suggestions on how to eat like a king without becoming a pauper to do it.

This month we’re sharing tips and tricks for including kids in your kitchen routine. Be sure to check out what the other ladies are sharing this week or browse their archives:

• Aimee from Simple Bites
• Amy from Kingdom First Mom
• Carrie from Denver Bargains
• Katie from Good Life Eats
• Katie from Kitchen Stewardship
• Mandi from Life Your Way
• Shaina from Food for My Family
• Tammy from Tammy’s Recipes

How do YOU include your kids in the kitchen?

Eat Well, Spend Less: Letting Kids Cook is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Occasionally, readers write with questions that I know others might be able to add to or benefit from. Today we’re talking about video games, gaming systems, and how to know if and when to introduce those to your household.

Take whatever I say with a grain of salt, and be sure to add your two cents in the comments section.

Q.I was hoping you could share with me the age your kids were when you first allowed video games? I have three boys-7, 3 and 7 mo. We homeschool. Winter is long around here and the big guy wants a Wii. Bad. Am I nuts to give in so early? Obviously the baby won’t be joining in, but I don’t see how I’ll be able to keep the almost 4 yr old away. Any advice is much appreciated!

A. Well, this is, indeed, the five million dollar question! While I would like to say that our family is immune to the mind-numbing powers of the video game, I can’t. I don’t really have “an answer”, but I’m happy to share our experience.

Our life with video games

My kids love to play video games, be they computer, gaming system, or iPad. I never had any intention of buying anything video game related. And in fact, in the early years, I didn’t.

I know first hand the addictive qualities of video games, having spent adolescent nights bleary eyed trying to beat Pacman as well as wasted adult days absorbed in Tetris or Baby Park. I can’t get those minutes back and now that every second of my life is accounted for, I want that time back! I guess we could say I have some video game regrets of my own.

It seems time slips by unnoticed when one is playing a video game. But to deny their presence and influence in our culture is unrealistic. The real question is who will control whom?

I will be the first to admit that video games have a fairly large presence in our home life. I don’t like to admit it. I think there’s an unspoken law in Parentdom that you’re a better mom if your kids don’t watch TV, don’t know a Pokemon from a Super Mario Brother, and never eat processed sugars.

While I know where we “coulda, shoulda, woulda,” that’s not always our reality. This is:

1. You want it, you buy it.

I think the saving and subsequent ownership is an important part of the equation. If you want something bad enough, you’ll do what you need to do to make it happen. And since I don’t share their love of video games, I don’t plan on paying for them.

My oldest, at about age 8 decided that he wanted a Nintendo 64. He had played a number of different game systems at friends’ homes and decided that the vintage “cassette” games were ideal, especially with baby siblings in the house. These could not be scratched or destroyed as easily as the Game Cube which was current at the time, seven years ago. (Smart boy.)

His brothers were then 5, 3, and 1. Only one of them was really capable of playing anything because back then most of the games were too advanced for toddlers anyway. Regardless, we limited game time to weekends and perhaps 30 minutes on a school night.

My oldest son and my husband shopped on ebay and he bought a used system and the games to go with. Since he had invested his money (with some help from younger brothers), it was a great experience in saving toward purchases and shopping for good deals.

A few years later, friends gave us a Game Cube that they no longer wanted and the hunt for used Game Cube games commenced, now with more boys saving money and investing in games or requesting them at birthdays and Christmas.

Inevitably, Nintendo retired these systems and the games became harder and harder to find. That is the way with technology — and marketing.

Since the Wii was/is pretty cool, the boys started to save their money. With fervor. They did odd jobs around the house. They weeded the flower beds in the summer heat to earn extra money. And they reached their goal! It was amazing to see how hard they worked.

And even though they had the cash earmarked for this special purchase, they were willing to share it when their parents were short on funds!

We ended up buying them the system – and have been known to play it on occasion. They spent their savings on the accessories and games, which add up anyway. We were so proud of their hard work and determination and their generosity. And they are still responsible for buying games and accessories.

Currently, only the boys, age 14, 11, 9,and 7, are very active with the Wii, though my 5-year old daughter occasionally joins in. Each of the boys has saved the money to buy handheld systems as well, Nintendo DS, and the Girl says she wants one as well.

She also has her eye on a Bitty Baby, so we’ll see who wins out in the end.

2. Set limits on the gaming time.

Video games are generally off-limits on school nights, and we try to have time limits on the weekend gaming. While timers have worked on and off in the past, inevitably we have bouts of too much time spent on gaming — or fighting as a result of overly competitive spirits.  This is our cue to pull back.

We have called for Total Unplugging on occasion in order to curb the control that gaming has.

Our plan for the summer is to have a few windows per day when gaming is allowed. The rest of the day the games need to be powered down, and children need to be involved in other pursuits: reading, playing outside, doing chores, or playing “real” games.

Having “gaming hours” is easier for me to monitor when there are so many people playing games!

3. Playing together does matter.

I think we could live a happy existence without video games, but I also know that my kids truly do enjoy this pursuit. Now that we’ve dipped a toe into iPad apps, I realize the huge addiction/education possibilities. It’s all about balance.

And there’s the added value of time spent together. My husband has had wonderful experiences playing football and hockey via the Wii with our boys. They’ve also had great times playing real football and hockey outside. But, as you say, winter is long. Having indoor pursuits is nice. And so is time spent together.

Do I wish we had fewer video games? Yes. Do I wish I could claim the no-video games, no-TV rule that I once held to steadfastly? Sure. My life would be a lot simpler — and a lot quieter.

Would that make me a better mom? I’m not so sure.

How do YOU handle video games at your house?

Q&A: Video Games is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

We’re planning for summer fun around here. Today Prerna shares how to enjoy the summer daze with an child.

We’re enjoying full-blown summer days here in India and soon it will be that time when school shuts down and our daughter is at home. all day. alone. with us.

Yes, we have an ‘only’ child and while we do manage to keep her engaged and entertained successfully during after-school hours and during the cool, winter months when picnics and outdoor fun is easier to manage, the summer is a whole other story.

The days are hot and long, school is out, friends are away with families traveling and she is pretty much housebound during the day. Yes, and we, my husband and I, have a busy home business to run as well.

So, here’s how we make the summer days fun for her and keep ourselves productive and sane.

A Stash of ‘Special’ Toys

Yes, every mother’s secret tool – special toys. If you haven’t put together a box of toys that you don’t pull out every day, do that now! Whenever, she’s getting cranky and irritable with her collection of cars or dolls, we pull out that special box which basically, has toys she hasn’t played with in months. They’re all new to her and I can almost hear her squeal in delight as she opens the box to pull out that old-for-us but new-for-her pushback car.

An Ice Cream a Day

I know. An ice cream every day. But hear me out. You can make fudgecicles by freezing simple, home made chocolate pudding in molds. Or you can do what Jessica does and make your own ice cream. Healthier and cheaper.

You’ve gotta admit, every kid loves ice cream and there is something about having a bowl filled with slurpy, yummy, ice cream when the sun is blazing outside.

Splash Fests to Cool Off

We don’t have a garden because we live in an apartment. But we let her splash around in the bath for around 10 to 15 minutes. She loves it. It cools her down and playing with water and her strange, assorted collection of bath toys just makes her day. Plus, it gives us 15 minutes to catch up on email or other biz-related tasks.

Quiet Play Time

In my earlier post on fun activities for an only child, I shared how much our little girl loves pretend play, reading books and DIY craft. We schedule all of those as well for the summer days and let her play quietly till she tires of them and needs something else to do.

A Routine to Keep it All Together

I am a huge fan of planning and routines and the summer holidays are no different. Regardless of the activities you plan or think of, they’ll be of little use if you don’t have a routine in place. Knowing what to do every day makes life much simpler for this work-at-home mom of an only child. I try (operative word, try) to not fly by the seat of my pants and yes, Jessica’s Organizing Life as Mom eBook is my trusty sanity-saver, along with her Summer Survival Guide that gives me much-needed inspiration whenever I’m stuck.

Keep in mind that all these ways to have fun can be used in families with multiples and where parents are not working out of home. However, when you have just the one child and a home business to boot, these simple activities are an easy way to keep her engaged without the need for another child for company and give you some time to work on your business as well.

Interested in more summer fun and sanity savers for the busy work-at-home mom? Sign up to be notified when my eBook Summer Sanity Savers   launches soon and get access to free chapters, a special LOW pre-launch prices and fun bonuses as well!

– Prerna Malik is a mom, a wife, a writer and woman who believes in parenting with love, being postively productive, and creating a home that invites you to put your feet up and relax. Find her sharing her simple tips and easy-to-do ideas at The Mom Writes or follow her on Twitter.

Summer Fun for the Only Child is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is generally recommended. Today I share my story with breastfeeding as well as what a new mom might expect.

I breastfed all six kids. Exclusively. For the first six months.

I don’t say that to brag. I know many, many women who for a variety of reasons are unable to make breastfeeding work for them and their families. And I totally respect that. The key principle is that your baby is well fed. Methods may differ.

Rather, I say that because I want to give hope to new moms out there.

I know that I am probably in a minority in how I fed my babies. Recently, I read some statistics that showed me what a small population out there does six months exclusive breastfeeding. Recommended, but not often done.

I didn’t set out to do it any “special” way. I was not/am not a militant “breast is best” proponent. I never attended a La Leche League meeting. I only got halfway through the big breastfeeding handbooks, and then I felt like I was doing it all wrong.

But, I was the milk wagon for my babies. And I lived to tell the tale.

For the first six months of their lives, I continued to “eat for two” and be their main, no, their only source of sustenance.

Folks warned us with our first baby that if we didn’t give him a bottle in the first six weeks that he would never take one. The implication was that our lives would be ruined. Forever.

Honestly, it was so difficult and painful in those first few weeks of nursing, there was no way I was going to jeopardize his latch or my milk supply (so hard earned by that point) so that maybe, someday, we might leave him home with a babysitter for longer than two hours.

The first one never got a bottle. Neither did the others. At six months of age, they started some solids and started to learn about sippy cups with water. They nursed until they were a year old.

This isn’t the “right” way. This is just the way we did it.

Granted, I was a homebody. And I had chosen to be a stay-at-home mom. My expectations were simply that I would breastfeed my baby. So I did.

Did I go away for the weekend with my girl friends? No, but I never did that before he was born, either. Did I feel annoyed that he wanted to nurse every two to three hours? No, my type-A self needed someone to make me sit and rest before I overdid it. Did I spend lots of money on nursing clothes? No, tshirts and jeans have been my uniform for years.

Breastfeeding felt natural. At least, thank the Lord, after those first three weeks. Once you get through the “bite-your-lip-and-suffer-through-the-pain” stage. Yeah, I know, it’s not supposed to be painful. But, it was for a time. Just saying.

So, if you’re a new or expecting mom interested in breastfeeding your baby, here are some things to consider:

1. It probably won’t be easy.

Few good things in life are “easy,” especially those things that you are just learning. Be prepared for challenges and setbacks.

This applies to breastfeeding, but yes, it basically applies to your entire parenting career, too. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, your baby will have a growth spurt, cut a tooth, get sick, or learn to drive.

Be ready to be challenged.

2. Your life won’t be your own.

Since I chose exclusive breastfeeding, mostly on demand, and opted out of bottle feeding, my time was not my own. Neither was my diet. I knew that if I went someplace without the baby, I would need to be back within the three hour window. With practice and planning, I was still able to get out and do things, but I was mindful that someone else depended on me.

And that I might get a call on my cell phone that was simply the sound of the baby crying.

I took daily vitamins, ate a balanced diet, avoided much, if any, drinking, and basically took that “eating for two” thing pretty seriously. As such, I probably took better care of myself than I had before children and in some seasons since breastfeeding has ceased.

That said, the fact that someone else depended on me was good for me. And taking care of my physical health, well, that was a pretty good thing, too.

And your life? Well, as a mom, you have a new life, shared with the people you love. It won’t be your “own”, but it will be good.

3. It really isn’t as long as it seems.

It’s so easy to count the days away, waiting for the baby to wean, start solids, sleep through the night. In the middle of it, it does seem like it will go on forever. But, it won’t.

That baby there will be eight years old next month. I still wear those pants. See? My Old Navy yoga pants have outlasted three babies breastfeeding. The time goes quickly!

The last nursing session will pass and you may or may not even realize that it’s the last. Last things are like that. They flee silently and quickly. And far sooner than you thought you were ready for them.

Life is like that.

4. It’s totally worth it.

Breastfeeding certainly wasn’t easy. I’ve had my share of late nights, mastitis, engorgement, blisters, and what-have-you. I probably cried and complained more than I remember. My life wasn’t my “own”, but despite the demands and the crying baby phone calls, it was good.

I had a closeness with my babies, an understanding of their needs, and a super power — that my husband did not possess — to comfort them when they needed me. It was very right for me to breastfeed, especially in keeping me connected with my kids and not off doing “projects” as I might have been drawn to, instead.

The days have passed all too quickly. I had a nursing baby for a good 12 to 13 years of my life. Yet, my baby-Baby is on her way to 4 years old. That last nursing session is long gone — and I do not remember it.

While I don’t believe I won any brownie points for breastfeeding, and I’m not sure that my kids’ more-or-less good health is attributed to nursing, I know that I do not regret it. Going without bottles or formula didn’t ruin us. I have wonderful memories of my breastfeeding daze. Amnesia? Perhaps. But, I know I would do it all over again.

And if it’s something you want, barring medical issues, I think you can do it, too.

Obviously, if you are away from your baby for the day due to work or school, then you’ll want to do that bottle thing, but don’t think it’s too hard to breastfeed exclusively. It really is doable!

It’s hard and it’s good at the same time.

That’s the mystery of motherhood.

If you’re a veteran mom, we would love to hear your breastfeeding story. I know that there are many situations where moms wish it had been different or better and many moms for whom breastfeeding did not work, despite their best intentions. I really want this post to be an encouragement to new moms. So, please temper any challenges you might want to share with a heavy dose of encouragement and optimism. Any bashing or absolute horror stories are subject to deletion. Thanks for understanding.

What are your hopes for or experiences with breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding Expectations is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

This year we’re on Zone Defense, moving room by room, tackling clutter and disorder. This month we’re closing in on the laundry room, linen closet, and clothing storage.

Two weeks ago I gave you your linen closet/laundry room assignment. Last week I shared my results in tackling those two related zones. At least they’re related at your house.

Today we’re talking about another area of textile storage: kids clothing.

Save Those Hand-Me-Downs

Chances are if you’ve got more than one child you have some type of clothing storage. With four boys born in quick succession, you can bet that I held onto their outgrown clothes to pass from one to another. Some of those articles of clothing have even survived long enough for their sisters to wear! Saving hand-me-downs has saved us a boatload of money.

In the kids’ younger years, it seemed that we had dozens of boxes of clothes to sort each time the seasons changed or a kid moved up a size. Especially with a baby in the house, you’ll find several groups of sizes: newborn, six months, nine months to a year, etc. The increments are small and outgrown quickly, so it’s in your best interest to have a sorting method.

Now that my kids are bigger, it seems that the immensity of our hand-me-down collection has lessened. But, we still need a good sorting method, nonetheless.

Tips for Sorting and Storing Children’s Clothing

1. Limit what your kids have access to.

While I wouldn’t call us minimalists, I think hubs and I realize that we have an abundance of stuff and we try to curb it whenever we can. And we try to do that with the kids’ clothing. We aren’t flashy dressers and we live in a moderate climate, so this helps in limiting ours and the kids’ wardrobes.

We want to make it easy for our kids to put away their clothing, so we limit how many articles of clothing they have access to on a regular basis. This amounts to about:

• 4 pairs of shorts
• 4 pairs of pants
• 5-7 tshirts
• 4 long sleeved shirts
• 2 sweatshirts
• an abundance of socks and underwear
• For the girls, 3 to 4 dresses are in the mix

2. Don’t store things you (or your kids) don’t like.

When money is tight, it’s tempting to save everything. However, to hoard clothing items because you “might” need them clutters up your house and prevents you from sharing with folks who really do need them.

If it’s stained, torn or a decade out of style, don’t save it. The stains deepen, the tears aren’t going to fix themselves, and your kids will bless you for not dressing them in tasteless clothing.

Instead trust God to provide for the needs as they arise.

3. Store clothing that is in good condition.

That said, feel free to save clothing that is in fair to “like new” condition. Utilizing hand-me-downs is a great way to save money and conserve resources.

4. Use dust-free, bug-free packaging.

Storing clothing implies that you hope to use it again. Be sure to package it in a way to help it hold up over time. I like to use plastic totes with lids to keep out dust and bugs. You can add bay leaves (cheap when bought in bulk) to further deter bugs.

Be sure to label the boxes so that it’s easier to find what you need at a later date. I have blue boxes for boys, and label according to size, and beige boxes for the girls. Store the boxes in a cool, dry place, out of the way of your household traffic, like a closet.

What about maternity clothing?

These same tips hold true for storing maternity clothes if you hope to have another pregnancy. Remember, though, that pregnancy is the time when we are tempted to feel the blahs about our looks. If you can help it, don’t hold onto the clothes that make you feel frumpy. It’s not going to boost your spirits as your body changes.

Consider loaning your maternity clothing to friends in the interim. Hopefully, your friends are good about laundry and stains. If they’re not, don’t sweat it. It’s still a great way to bless someone else and free up space in your closet.

Do you have a trick for sorting and storing kids’ clothing?

Sorting and Storing Kids’ Clothes (Zone Defense) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Little league season is rife with weekly practices and games as well as the age-old tradition of bringing snack. Consider these tips for a happier and healthier team snack.

Over the years the FishFam has dabbled in a few sports. We’ve done t-ball, soccer, and now a few of the boys are trying their hand at hockey. There are many similarities among the sports including the inevitable seven-year old chasing butterflies in the outfield, backfield, or corners of the rink.

The other overriding characteristic is the importance of team snack. Only one of our teams this season does snack. It is a huge deal to the FishBoy in question.

So much so, that when asked what he was thinking about while chasing butterflies during the game he said he was wondering what the snack would be.

While I am trying to improve our family’s overall eating habits, I have not yet taken to imposing that on folks outside our family circle. As one of the older brothers stated, “You could take carrots to FishBoy’s snack and then all the kids on his team would hate him.”

Great. Just what I need, a child scarred for life over team snack.

However, there are some fairly happy compromises that you can consider when providing team snacks. Here are some things I like to keep in mind:

Prepackaged is best.

While I want home food to be minimally processed, realistically, prepackaged is easier and more appropriate in some circumstances.

I shy away from homemade items on snack day because I want the other parents to feel comfortable and not wonder what my kitchen is like. That’s what would make me feel most comfortable as well. Plus, having pre-packaged convenience items makes it easy to pass out snack as well as store leftover items for another time. We save the leftovers for a fun treat for when we fill the fanny packs  for Disneyland.

Be conscious of food allergies.

While many moms of kids with allergies bring alternatives, it’s nice for you to be conscientious of the kiddo who might feel left out. The list below offers a range of items that can be mixed and matched to accomodate dairy, gluten, or nut-allergies. Be sure to read labels carefully and to consult the child’s parents if you need help or have questions.

Consider younger siblings.

While you are in no way obligated to feed the families of the players, if it’s in your budget to bring extras for younger siblings, that is always a nice gesture. The mom or dad who’s been trying to keep the baby or toddler happy during the last hour will be so grateful that you have something to share with their little one.

Enough is as good as a feast.

My little guy takes his cues from the snack Coach D brought the first week of the season. I indulged him when our first snack day came, but it was easy to see that he could go crazy if I let him choose all his “favorites”. Remember that a drink and one snack should usually suffice.

Healthier Options for Team Snack

Chilled beverages

• Bottle water
• Juice boxes or pouches
• Dye-free sports drinks – while these still have processed sweeteners, they are a welcome alternative to drinks loaded with artificial coloring

Snacks

• Yogurt tubes – there are a number of brands that are free of dyes as well as high fructose corn syrup. If you freeze them the night before they are kind of like a popsicle which is very cool (pun intended) for hot days.
• Applesauce in the pouches – no need for a spoon and the GoGoSqueeZ brand is unsweetened
• Cheese sticks, individually wrapped
• Individual bags of Pirate’s Booty, crackers, and granola bars
• Individually packaged fruit snacks, fruit leathers, dried fruit, apple slices, apple chips
• Individually packaged baby carrots (yes, really)

Team Snack is part of the child’s team experience. For my guy, they are a big part. While you don’t want to get your kids all hyped up on sugar, neither do you want to poo-poo this fun aspect of being in little league.

You can find a happy — and healthier — balance in there.

What’s been your experience with team snacks?

What to Take for Team Snack Day is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

The arrival of a new baby is a wonderful time to celebrate — and good food is a great way to do that!

It’s been a long time since we had a baby in the family. I’m amazed our FishBaby is well on her way to four years old. How did that happen? Those who know me will agree that two of my favorite things in the world are babies and food. Having given birth six times and celebrated these precious new lives, you can believe we have had some special food traditions along the way.

Chances are good that you’ve welcomed a baby or two in your time. Whether your own baby or that of someone you love, the arrival of a newborn is a sweet, sweet time. And one to cause great celebration and good eating! The other day Lauren shared some great ways to bless a new mom.

Here are some ways to eat well and spend less at baby time. You can plan for these for your own family while you’re nesting or strategically email this post to friends and family. Obviously, if you’re wanting to bless a friend, here’s your checklist.

1. Fill the freezer before the baby arrives.

There’s no one more ravenous than a postpartum family, mom especially. Hopefully, you’ll have friends and family to bless you with meals. But, if that’s not the case, or even if you just want to buy some more rest time on the other side of birth, fill your freezer with meals that are easy to heat up and serve. My sister did this for me often and her freezer meals became some of our favorites. (A few are even in The Cookbook.)

Having a stash of freezer meals can help you avoid take-out or expensive convenience items while providing your family with tasty meals.

Filling the freezer with ready-made meals does not need to be complicated or expensive. Double a few dinner meals for a few weeks and stash the second half in the freezer. Check out this list of go-to freezer meals to be inspired.

2. Take some delicious and nutritious foods to the hospital.

Historically, hospital food doesn’t have a great reputation. I “lucked out” that my last two hospital stays featured room service dining with a pretty decent menu. All the same, it was nice to have familiar snacks from home that I knew fit my dietary preferences.

Foods to get my body and digestion system back in good working order were especially helpful.  Having a stash of Breakfast Cookies, yogurt smoothies, and fresh fruit and vegetables ready for a friend to bring to me was absolutely wonderful! (If you’re the friend, you can take a snack basket to the new mom.) It was also a frugal and healthier option to take-out being brought in. Though I do have some fond memories of some meals from Panera, brought by friends to the hospital.

3. Bake a BIRTH-Day Cake.

The Birth-Day cake was always a very special tradition for our family. It was a wonderful way for our older children to welcome the new sibling to the family. Nanna or Auntie Jamie would bake a simple boxed mix and the kids would help decorate it. And we always had a ZERO candle to put on the cake — because that was how old the baby was.

Not only is this an inexpensive, fun, little thing for your kids to do, it serves as a type of community builder. We’re celebrating THE Birth Day! It was always fun to offer a doctor or nurse a slice of cake and include them in on the celebration.

4. Celebrate with a candlelight dinner for two.

Enjoy a special meal with Daddy, just the two of you. You’ve gone through a lot. And it’s only just begun!

Many hospitals make a special dinner for the new parents part of their “deluxe accommodations.” Sometimes these are great, sometimes they aren’t. But the moment of just the two of you is a good one to create.

Don’t be afraid to shoo away the well-wishers so that you and hubby can have some quiet down time. And while rooming-in, kangaroo care, and demand feeding were always my favorite techniques for bonding, as a clear headed, non-hormonal mother of six, today I say, it’s okay to let the nurses have the baby for an hour while you eat in peace. It’s probably the best free babysitting you’ll get in awhile.

Believe me, you will hit the ground running at home. (Finally with my fifth and sixth babies, I understood why my mom loved her hospital stays. I enjoyed every moment of “room service, housekeeping, and nanny-duty.”)

5. Stock the pantry with easy snacks and drinks.

Once you’re home, life will be fuller than it was before you left. But, you’ll still need to eat.

Having a stock of easy snacks (nuts, fruit, yogurt, hummus, veggies, salad fixins) and a great water bottle can help keep you fueled in the early days of  adjusting to life with a new baby. Whether you create a stockpile in the weeks before baby’s arrival, send Daddy out with a list, or let a friend or grandparent bless you with your snack stash, make sure it’s ready for those cravings you’re sure to have.

Having a baby is such a joyous time. Eating well and spending less can all be part of the package!

This post is part of an ongoing series about how to eat well and spend less. Along with some fabulous foodies, organizers, and frugalistas, I’ve been bringing you suggestions on how to eat like a king without becoming a pauper to do it.

This past month the Eat Well, Spend Less girls have welcomed three new babies into the fold: Clara over at Simple Bites, Channah at Tammy’s Recipes, and Baby Bargains over at Denver Bargains. So fun to follow my friends through their pregnancies and help them welcome their new wee ones!

It only seemed appropriate that we dedicate this month’s Eat Well, Spend Less posts to Baby Food!

Well, you know, babies and food. You’ll see what I mean throughout the week. From the postpartum diet to homemade baby foods to ways to bless a new mom and dad, we’ve got you covered!

Be sure to check out what the other ladies are sharing this week or browse their archives:

• Aimee from Simple Bites
• Amy from Kingdom First Mom
• Carrie from Denver Bargains
• Katie from Good Life Eats
• Katie from Kitchen Stewardship
• Mandi from Life Your Way
• Shaina from Food for My Family
• Tammy from Tammy’s Recipes

Do you have any special Baby/Food traditions?

Good Eating & Welcoming a New Baby (Eat Well, Spend Less) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Do you have a friend with a new baby? Contributing writer, Lauren suggests some sweet ways to bless the new family.

Those first few weeks of having a new little one at home are so precious. As a new mom, you just want to soak in each second because you quickly learn how fast those newborn days go.

Do you have any new moms in your life? As a mother of four little ones, I can assure you that tangible, practical help is so appreciated. While offers of “Call me if you need anything” are thoughtful, a new mom is grateful when you go the next step and actually do something helpful.

I can remember many times in newborn days where I didn’t even know how to tell others to help me. Perhaps I couldn’t think up a good response due to the fog of sleep-deprivation or being generally overwhelmed. Regardless of the reason, I was so tremendously grateful when others gave me the practical gift of their time.

If you have the privilege of knowing a brand-new mother, pick one of the helps below. You won’t believe how much you’ll bless her.

Stock her freezer with staples.

Frozen lasagnas and casseroles are fast and easy for new moms to take out of the freezer. Also think outside of the box a little: Consider browning several pounds of ground beef and portioning into smaller bags for spaghetti and homemade sloppy joes. Roast a whole chicken, debone it, and then freeze in 2-cup portions for chicken enchiladas or a quick casserole. By stocking mom’s freezer with pre-cooked meat, you’ve cooked half of the meal for her. Make sure to label and date everything clearly so she won’t have to guess what is inside.

Instead of bringing the traditional meal of supper, carry mom and the kids lunch instead.

As a new mom, things can start to get hairy around lunch time. Kids are getting cranky because they’re hungry and it’s close to naptime. Instead of treating the family to a traditional supper meal, treat mom and the kids to a lunch instead. Homemade macaroni and cheese or a sandwich tray with a side of fruit are good choices. Easy and simple is almost always best.

Pick up her groceries.

Does the new mom in your life use a service like Lowes Foods to Go or Harris Teeter’s Express Lane? Find out what time the groceries need to be picked up and then make it happen. If that type of service isn’t available in your area, have mom email or text you a quick list and then pick them up as you purchase your own items.

Drop off a stack of disposable plates, napkins and cups.

While I’m not a person who uses a lot of disposable cups and napkins, I do enjoy them during the early days of a new baby at home. A new mom doesn’t feel like standing at the kitchen sink washing a ton of dishes. There are much more important things to do like snuggling with her kiddos! By bringing her disposables, you’re giving her the gift of time.

Take mom’s older children for the morning.

I guarantee that this new mama could use some uninterrupted quiet time, even if she’s unable to take a nap. Just a small mental break could be what she needs to regroup in those early newborn days. Ask mom what day is best, then schedule it on your calendar. Take the kids to the park or back to your house to play, as this doesn’t have to be an expensive outing.

Bring the older children a goodie bag full of tasks to keep them busy.

Choose things that will keep little ones busy for awhile: craft supplies, new books, several packs of stickers, scented markers. Again, these things don’t have to be expensive. Items from Target’s Dollar Spot or the dollar store are quite sufficient. If you’re feeling really industrious, you can make a set of busy bags for the children who might enjoy those.

Spend an hour or two cleaning her house.

Don’t visit with her or offer to hold the baby while she cleans, just clean. Only do basics – get dishes caught up, fold a load or two of clothes, vacuum the floor if she says it’s okay. Clean dishes and clean underwear have a strange way of bringing a sense of normalcy to the house. New mom will go from feeling overwhelmed to feeling like things are manageable after you help her get caught up a little.

Pray for her.

While the results aren’t as obvious as a basket of folded laundry, prayer is one of the most practical ways you can help any new mother. Ask her if she has specific things you can pray over. If she doesn’t, simply pray for her rest, that God will bless her milk supply if she’s nursing, for her relationship with her other children and her husband, or for her physical healing.

Do you have a new mother in your life?

How are you choosing to bless her during those early newborn
days?

– Lauren Hill is the ‘Mama’ behind Mama’s Learning Corner, a site that features all kinds of educational ideas and tips as well as free printable worksheets. She is the mom of four young children and loves to learn alongside them.

Practical Ways to Bless a New Mother is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Occasionally, readers write with questions that I know others might be able to add to or benefit from. Today we’re talking about helping kids learn responsibility through doing household chores.

Take whatever I say with a grain of salt, and be sure to add your two cents in the comments section.

Q.I’m wondering if you could give advice about chores. My 4 year old son has chore cards for his am & pm routines (4 each on an O-ring hanging in his bedroom). These cards work great; he loves to do them.

Now move downstairs to the great room and he refuses to take care of or put away his toys…. I would like to start a rewards system for him to earn computer game time, one on one time with Mom or Dad, tv time etc. I just don’t know where to start.

A. I wish I could say that there is a “one size fits all” answer to the kids and chores dilemma. I think most of us parents want to teach our kids responsibility as well as get a little help around the house.

And there’s the added fact that we’re in relationship with one another. Good relationships require cooperation between the parties involved. Only trouble is children don’t always want to cooperate or understand the social mores involved in communal living.

Not to mention that you’re the parents and get to call some of the shots!

On rewards

I’ve struggled with the rewards system for about 14 years now and have never really found one that worked successfully for our family. Personally, I struggle with the fine lines between incentives/bribes and consequences/punishments. I don’t want to be too strict or too lenient.

The result is that we tend to look at cleaning up after yourself and contributing to the workings of the household as just part of the territory. You live here, so you are a part of what we do. We offer monetary incentives (from a quarter to a few dollars) for extra jobs, depending on the child and the task that needs to be done.

Some things motivate one kid in one season and then fall flat with the next kid or even with the same kid during a different stage of development. So, some of this is just trial and error.

Currently, washing the car is considered a veritable treat for my little people. But, in a few years, it may very well become a “chore.”

On cleaning up one’s toys

I have no qualms about taking away toys that are not cared for. While I think every child or household should have some fun, developmentally appropriate toys, most kids I know, my own included, have more than they “need.” If those playthings aren’t important enough to put away, then maybe the children don’t really need or want them any longer.

Or they’ll learn a valuable lesson on stewardship.

If you (the parent) don’t play with them, I don’t think you should have to clean them up. While all children are different, many as young as two are capable of picking up their toys. You may need to reconsider how you store them and make the clean up process as easy as possible. But, physically picking up a toy and dropping it into a plastic tub is well within the reach of many kids.

On your particular situation

In your particular instance, I would simply add a card to each O-ring that says, “Pick up your toys.” A twice daily pick-up is probably reasonable protocol or you might even want to create a mid-day ring of cards that includes some fun things like snack time or stories.

Since your system is already working, I think that adding one card should fit nicely. Talk it up that he’s getting to be such a big boy, that he’s able to handle more responsibility. And feel free to add in some extra privileges that go along with the extra responsibilities.

That said, I am no parenting expert. Some days chores go like clockwork at our house and everyone cooperates beautifully. And other days, I’m tearing my hair out to get folks to move. But, that’s where my thought process is these days.

To quote Forrest Gump, “that’s all I’ve got to say about that.”

What do YOU think?

How does YOUR family handle chores for children? Let us know what works for you in the comments section.

Reader Q&A: Chores & Kids is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

It would seem that this month we’re all reevaluating how we spend the daze. I’m working on an extreme home(school) makeover while contributor Lauren examines how to embrace a new season of motherhood.

January is always a time of fresh starts. I can’t wait to crack open my newly purchased calendar each year and plan our days. Knowing that I get to start over is a great feeling. You’re allowed to readjust the way you do things: your schedule, your commitments and even your vacation.

As a mom of several little ones, I’ve also learned that those times of needing a fresh start often happen at odd times of the year. I have caught myself completely revamping our schedule in the middle of October. Or I’ve recognized my need to overhaul our school curriculum at the end of April.

These aren’t typical planning times for most people.

With young children, each season of life passes unbelievably fast. During the first twelve months, those milestones are reached about as quickly as they outgrow clothes. All of a sudden the baby who slept in the swing all day is now a little toddler pulling all of the books off of the shelf.

But what does this mean for you as a mom? How do you keep up with your husband, your family life and your home through these quickly moving seasons of babyhood? How do you gracefully manage it all?

Examine Where You Are

Take a close look at where you are: do you have a newborn who wakes every 2 hours? Has your little one transitioned to only 1 nap a day? Do you have a little tornado that destroys every room in the house before you can blink? (We do!) Do you still have one or two children who need help feeding themselves at each meal?

All of these time and labor-intensive stages require energy.

It requires the kind of energy where you feel drained and exhausted every night when you lie on your pillow. While it’s fulfilling to spend each day with your children, it also can make a mama weary.

Be realistic with yourself if you are in this draining stage. It’s impossible to have a spotlessly clean house and still tend to those sweet faces that love you so dearly.

Be Willing to Give Your Schedule an Overhaul

My 13 month old started walking this past week. My little Mama’s heart just smiles every time I see her pop herself up and go again. She’s a red-head and very feisty and determined to walk where she pleases.

So last week, in the middle of January, I had to completely revamp the way our school flows in the morning. The baby is now old enough to stand at the desks and pull my son’s pencil out of his hand or stick her fingers in the do-a-dots the girls are working on. This new walking stage presents a new set of joys and challenges to work through.

Regardless of the time of year, be willing to stop what you’re doing and re-evaluate.

You don’t have to keep doing things the same way, despite the fact that major changes have taken place in your family. If you’ve just added a newborn to your family and you aren’t sleeping well, you don’t have to start school at 8am sharp as you did before. If your 7-month-old has just learned to crawl, you might have to add a chore time in the afternoon to vacuum the floor so she doesn’t crawl in crumbs.

It doesn’t have to be January to re-evaluate and create a new plan that can make your household run more smoothly.

Give Yourself Grace

There are harder times and there are easier times in mothering young children. If you’re facing one of those more challenging times right now, life will seem much more manageable if you give yourself an ample amount of grace.

I admittedly suffer from a healthy dose of mom guilt: Am I serving meals that are healthy enough? Have they had my full attention today? Did I make school “fun enough” this week?

During those times when mothering is more difficult, I have to remind myself that God intentionally did not make me superwoman. It is in these times that I must give myself grace. This may look like serving super simple meals for a while or maybe just doing very basic house cleaning for a couple of months.

I’ve proven to myself many times over, that when I give myself grace things seem instantly more manageable.

Don’t Rely on Yourself

As I said, God intentionally didn’t make me superwoman. He purposefully gave me more on my plate than I could handle. I honestly don’t know any mom that can handle a marriage, a home and a child or children without help from the Lord. He designed us to rely on Him.

When I lose focus of that and become too busy for a quiet time, the results are disastrous. I think it is God’s way of reminding me that He never intended for me to walk the road of motherhood without His help. I’m grateful He loves me enough to remind me to rely only on Him.

What are your biggest struggles as you enter different seasons of motherhood?

– Lauren Hill is the ‘Mama’ behind Mama’s Learning Corner, a site that features all kinds of educational ideas and tips as well as free printable worksheets. She is the mom of four young children and loves to learn alongside them.

Embracing a New Season of Motherhood is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.