Tag: family (Page 5 of 7)

What It's Like to Be Married to a SAHM: The Working Dad's Perspective - Real Simple Mama

What It’s Like to Be Married to a Stay-At-Home Mom: The Working Dad’s Perspective

May 1, 2017 / The Mama / 0 Comments

I haven’t always been a stay-at-home mom, or SAHM. When I was pregnant with my first child, all the way until he was two years old, I was a working mom. I did the whole pumping/daycare/packing food/cry at dropoff thing, and I hated it. So when we got pregnant with our second child, I knew I had to make a huge adjustment.

While my husband and I were always in agreement that I should stay at home with the babies, we didn’t really know anyone (except his mom, thirty years ago) who had done it. And it was certainly a transition for our house and our marriage.

That’s why I thought to sit my husband down (after asking nicely, of course) and pick his weary brain. Now he’s the sole breadwinner for our little home, and he’s married to a SAHM. So what’s it really like… from the dad’s perspective? Continue reading

A Bedtime Routine for your Breastfeeding, Bedsharing Toddler - Real Simple Mama

A Bedtime Routine for The Breastfeeding, Bedsharing Toddler

March 27, 2017 / The Mama / 4 Comments

There are about one hundred ways to get your toddler ready for bed. And I bet you know them all: from baths to massage to lullabies and stories, everyone has the routine which works for their little one.

But when you breastfeed (which means that you probably nurse to sleep, and also possibly bedshare), your ritual can look quite different. So I thought I’d give some perspective to the parenting posts of the world, and show you what bedtime looks like at our house. Read on for a bedtime routine for a bedsharing toddler. Continue reading

Self Care for the Busy Mom

February 13, 2017 / The Mama / 0 Comments

I’ve read about a thousand posts about self care for moms. And I always get anxious that taking care of myself means sacrificing quality time with my kids, or time to clean up and get work done. There are so many great ideas out there, but I feel guilty when I think about leaving my toddler crying on the floor so that I can sip my coffee while it’s still hot. I can’t enjoy my alone time with some of these extravagant ideas… and some I just plain can’t afford.

So here’s what I’ve done: I’ve looked at my own life and what works for our little family. I’ve looked at things which make me happy and recharge the batteries of my soul. And I’ve looked at things which are easily doable on a regular basis, when (gasp!) the kids are around. What’s made it into this article are the things which fit every one of those qualifications.

The result? Self care for the busy mom. These tips won’t make you feel like you’re a horrible mother, because your kids won’t suffer. You can take care of yourself while taking care of the kids, too.

Just remember: you can’t serve others when your cup is empty. It’s taken me years to admit this, but it’s true. So take care of yourself and be well, my friend. I’m in the trenches with you, but I’m still smiling! Continue reading

Life with Cystic Fibrosis: A Mother’s Perspective

February 6, 2017 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Like most people, I’d heard of cystic fibrosis (CF) but couldn’t really tell you a lot about it. A dear friend of mine named Stacy has been really influential in teaching my family about CF, since her daughter Elsa has it. I felt very strongly about getting some information out into the world to help more people, especially parents, learn about life with cystic fibrosis from a mother’s perspective. Continue reading

Family Meal Planning Made Real Simple

January 19, 2017 / The Mama / 0 Comments

The kids are yelling, the husband’s grouchy, and all I want is to hide in the bathroom and cry. They want to eat… again?! But they ate yesterday!

Look, keeping house and raising kids is a lot of hard work. And you want to be sure that you have food on the table, preferably with some healthy things thrown in occasionally.

Let me throw you a line, Mama, and give you some advice on family meal planning made real simple. Cuz that’s how I do it. Continue reading

Christmas, holiday, movie, family, friendly, kids, children, parents, mom, dad, mum

Family-Friendly Christmas Movie Favorites!

December 15, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Ok guys, I need help. I admit it. I love Christmas! I’m probably a little addicted to finding the next great Christmas movie that I can watch with my kids. And I want to build my list.

Here I’ve created a varied list of Christmas movies which I love watching with my family. Some were favorites from my childhood, while some are newer to me, but all of them hold a special place in my heart for this special time of year.

With that, I’m asking for your suggestions. Comment and tell me your favorite family Christmas movie (sorry, Bad Santa) and why you love it. Let’s all expand our holiday movie-watching repertoire! Continue reading

I Don’t Have a “Good Baby”… and I Don’t Care

November 17, 2016 / The Mama / 2 Comments

You shouldn’t ask me “is your daughter a good baby?”

I don’t have a “good baby.” She doesn’t sleep through the night, she sometimes bites while nursing, and she puts her feet in my face when she’s in my bed.

And you know what? I don’t care. Continue reading

Why I Love Baby Led Weaning!

November 14, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

I’ve figured out that I’m a combination of a lot of different moms: I’m the super crunchy mom who wants organic everything; I’m the lazy mom who is perpetually wearing yoga pants and the mom bun; I’m the sweet mom who wants to make hand-decorated cookies every week; I’m the strict mom who thrives on consistency and efficiency. Baby led weaning fits beautifully into all of those personas. And my kids are thriving because of it. And I love baby led weaning! Here’s why. Continue reading

Why We Bedshare: The Simple Beauty of Cosleeping

October 24, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Cosleeping is a natural thing, and you see it in cultures all over the world. A lot of families cosleep: it’s what works for them. But I think most parents are ashamed or embarrassed to admit this. Why? There are lots of reasons to bedshare, lots of benefits to all family members, and lots of ways to do it safely. Let’s get rid of the stigma that bedsharing is dangerous or crazy, and teach parents the truth: it can be pretty damn awesome. Continue reading

Life As An Anxious Mom

September 29, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

I have said it before, and I will say it again: any anxiety you have does get exacerbated after you have a child. You can still be a fantastic, joyous parent; but you should know some things up front about living as an anxious mom. Here’s what life is like for me, as well as some tips if you’re an anxious parent too. Continue reading