This post was in partnership with Nurture Life but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
"When I found out I was pregnant with my second child—only a few short months after my first baby was born—I knew I was in for some parenting challenges. Despite my love for my family, I am only one person, and a person has limits. As soon as my second child was born, and my husband and I entered the world of two under two, I found myself struggling with daily chores, letting the dishes pile up, and losing any semblance of a social life (and that was before the pandemic hit).
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As moms, it seems like being busy (and tired) is part of our job description. Whether you’re waking up with a toddler poking you in the ribcage or a baby crying for their third feeding of the night, days and nights can blend together. But you also learn a few tricks along the way that can help make those days and nights easier. Here are some of the best mom hacks I wish I could have known earlier in my motherhood journey.
1. Purchase a Meal Subscription Service to Make Hectic Days Easier
Making homemade meals my kids love is one of my favorite ways to unwind after a long week. But when our schedule is jam packed with school, activities, family commitments, and working long hours, the last thing I want to think about is how to cook a delicious, yet healthy meal my kids will eat (and not try to feed to our dogs).
That’s where Nurture Life comes in to help make my life easier. When the subscription box first arrived at our house, I was a little skeptical about the quality of food that could be warmed up in less time it took for me to make a cup of coffee. Growing up with my professional chef father, I have a palate that can sometimes be pickier than my kids.
But as soon as my boys took in the brightly colored packaging and I placed the food on their favorite plates, they dug in without question or complaint. The food not only looked and smelled amazing, but it also tasted wonderful (officially chef’s kid approved!). The pesto ravioli was creamy and savory, and the pulled pork in the mac and cheese was professional quality. My kids also loved the “special” tomato sauce that incorporated butternut squash perfectly in several of the dishes.
Source: Melissa Guida-Richards
In addition to being delicious food my kids will eat, here are a few more of my favorite things about Nurture Life meals:
- The convenience of delivery right to my door
- All my husband or I have to do is heat and serve
- They are developed by in-house chefs that perfect ingredients and appeal to picky eaters
- Each meal includes a full serving of vegetables
- You can subscribe and save to get exclusive discounts
- Bonus, you can order adult meals too!
Nurture Life‘s website also makes it super easy to pick out meals each week. The food comes in nicely-sized portions to fill up hungry children. It is also tasty and nutritious for us parents who find ourselves scarfing down our kids’ leftovers when we don’t have time to eat.
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Nurture Life
2. Restock Diaper Bags Nightly (and Put an Emergency Bag in the Car)
Whether you have a newborn or a big kid, it is always useful to have a to-go bag packed with snacks, medicine, extra outfits, wipes, diapers, tissues, and other necessities. If you have ever been caught out of the house with a baby who frequently blows out diapers, or cranky kids who need to eat 24/7 you will be thankful that you stocked up. This also gets a million times easier as your kids get older—they can help you pack that bag or even their own special backup bag.
3. Forget About Folding and Focus on Sorting Laundry
I will never forget the day that a fellow mom on Instagram stories said that she does not fold her kids’ clothes. I stared in shock at my phone for several long minutes and replayed the video in case I misheard.
So on laundry days, instead of taking the time to fold each individual item, she sorted them into different labeled containers: shirts, pajamas, socks, etc. I still prioritize hanging my sons’ nicer button-down shirts, but this sorting hack has helped laundry days immensely.
Source: Karolina Grabowska | Pexels
4. Outsource Chores When You Can
And by outsource, I don’t necessarily mean hiring a cleaning service. In the early days of parenting, I made a chore chart for my husband and me. Even children as young as 18 months old can help around the house in small ways like sorting that never-ending laundry or putting their toys away.
Also—in my personal opinion—robot vacuums provide real value, even though they are pricey. Honestly, I would buy one for each floor in my house if I could afford it. As moms, our time is valuable and when technology can help outsource a thankless—but important—task, it can be worth it.
5. Prioritize Yourself
When you are a busy parent staying home with the kids and juggling babies of all ages, or working out of the home, it can seem like you never have a second to rest and take care of yourself. Try to make time for what self-care means to you.
Maybe it’s a five-minute meditation, a walk while listening to a podcast, or a long-overdue call with a friend? Pausing to care for yourself can do wonders toward improving your mood and getting you ready to power through your next busy day. Taking care of yourself not only benefits you, but your entire family.
This post was in partnership with Nurture Life but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.