What moms can do this fall with their kids

What moms can do this fall with their kids

Fall is here and it is truly one of my favorite seasons of the year. I love the weather change, the colorful leaves, and the smell of pumpkin spice in the air. Now that I have children, I want to get them on board with me with enjoying the seasons changing and looking forward to the different activities we can do together each season. I have a list of activities I plan to do with my little ones this fall and wanted to share to get you all in the fall spirit as well.

Fall paper crafts

My 2-year-old daughter Marley and I have already started our fall crafts and she is loving every bit of it. At first, I wasn’t sure how many crafts we could do together with her being so young, but these little people can really surprise you once you give them the opportunity to be creative. She has been asking me almost every day to do a new fall craft and honestly it doesn’t take much as long you have construction paper, glue, crayons, scissors, paint random items around the house like paper plates and toilet tissue rolls and you can get as creative as you wish together. If you need inspiration head over to any social media app and look for fun ideas to do together.

Go on a leaf hunt

The weather will start to get a little chillier but bundle up the kiddies and head outside for a leaf hunt. Get a basket or something to hold the leaves in and let your kids have fun collecting all the pretty colors they see. They will enjoy picking out their favorite leaves and collecting them.

Use fall leaves for crafts

If you decide to go out and collect some leaves you can use the leaves in different fall crafts by gluing them or stringing them onto different ideas. The kids will enjoy seeing the leaves they picked out displayed different ways and hanging them up will add to your fall home décor.

Jump in a pile of leaves

A very simple but fun thing to do for kids that they seem to love so much is raking the leaves together and letting them jump inside. They will love the sound the leaves make and enjoy throwing all the leaves up in the air. It’s a fun way to let them run out some energy and make a mess that you won’t have to immediately clean up.

Go apple picking

Living in upstate NY does have its perks when fall comes around because we have apple orchards to visit, if you don’t have one very close make a mini trip or adventure out of it. The kids will enjoy picking out their own apples and trying all the different flavors. The orchards also have delicious treats like apple donuts and fresh apple cider for your whole family to enjoy.

Go to a pumpkin patch

Visiting a pumpkin patch will be so much fun for the kiddies and really the whole family. You guys can pick out your favorite pumpkins and enjoy all the fun activities they will have to offer. They usually have hayrides, corn mazes and little games for the kids.

Bake fall treats

I must be honest my most favorite thing about fall is all the delicious fall themed treats. All the apple flavor, pumpkin flavor, cinnamon, and ginger it just makes me so happy. If you pick apples or pumpkins or even just purchase them from your local grocery store you can have a lot of fun baking treats with and for your kids. Social media has so many ideas to get creative with it. You can include them in on the decorating, like decorating pies, candy apples, cookies, smores and brownies and then sit down and eat your fun creations together.

Decorate pumpkins

Once you have your favorite pumpkins that you have picked either from the store or the pumpkin patch you and the kids can add silly faces or paint them and just be as creative as you wish with your pumpkins.  You can also carve them into all different shapes and characters.

Make fall themed sensory items

Sensory items are a great way to help your child explore with sorting, touching, shaking, pouring and it helps them with their motor skills. Parents have been getting very creative with sensory play and you can even make it themed to whatever you like. Grabbing different items that remind you of fall and adding them to bins or bottles for them to learn and play with will be fun and help keep them entertained for a little while.

Rent a cabin

Finding a beautiful scenic cabin for your family during the fall time will be a nice way to get away, spend quality time together and enjoy some games, movie nights and fun fall foods.

Go Camping

Honestly camping is not my thing, but tents are. I love a good tent, so I plan to have camping themed nights right in the middle of my living room or on my back porch. During summer my daughter and I loved hanging out in our tent right in our back yard during the day. If you love to camp fall is an amazing time of the year to sit around a big fire, make smores and enjoy time with your kids and family.

Go on a scavenger hunt

The windy days of fall tend to push a lot of nature items all over the yards, take your little ones outside to hunt for pinecones, twigs, leaves, worms, watch birdies really whatever your littles are into!

Go fall shopping

Shopping for fall is one of my favorites because of all the layers there’s beanies, scarves, boots, booties, jackets, just so many options. It is one of the best times of year to me to get creative with layers and have fun matching all the colors. You get to purchase items that can transition to winter as well so you get double the seasonal shopping and more excuse to purchase things.

Hopefully this list gets you into the fall spirit and has you pumped to enjoy activities with your little ones this season! Have fun, tap into your creative side, make memories that will last and have a great fall!

What moms do when the children are taking a nap

What moms do when the children are taking a nap

Your little one or all your little ones are finally taking a nap! I don’t even think I can express in words the feeling of oh thank goodness a mom feels when her kiddies are napping peacefully. From the moment a mama wakes up to the moment she goes to sleep she is constantly doing something for her children, prepping something for her children or doing something with her children and for working mamas before their shift and after their shift they are most likely in mommy mode. Mommy mode is pretty much a full-time job. Before you have a kid one of the main sayings you hear is make sure you sleep when the baby sleeps, so that you try to catch up on at least some of the rest you’re missing but honestly many of us do not sleep during that time and use the kids napping as a way to get things done. Now that I have two children, I have learned very quickly that there are honestly just not enough hours in the day to get all the things I would want to get done so if I am not exhausted, I see it as a good time to be productive or not so productive, however I feel that day. Here ‘s a list of a few things I do and I’m sure a lot of other moms do when we have the free time.

Take a shower

Believe it or not moms miss showers. I know sounds gross but when you have little ones especially, sometimes you just don’t feel like a shower goes over other needs or things that you need to get done. If you have a small baby, you don’t want to leave them unattended and if you have a toddler and a little one your to terrified to leave them alone together. Sometimes you can be so busy cleaning, cooking scheduling appointments or chasing around your kids that you totally forget to shower. When those kids finally rest their eyes it’s the perfect time to grab your favorite soaps and bath or shower aroma therapy items and just enjoy a nice warm shower. Even it’s for a few short minutes it can really boost your mood and make you feel a lot better during the day.

Go to the bathroom

When you have kids, privacy becomes a thing of the past most of the time and most of the time when you go to the bathroom you have visitors. You don’t get to just handle your business in peace or it can be interrupted by a loud noise, cry or a little person asking you a million questions the whole time. So yep, mamas do use nap time to poo, sorry not sorry.

Eat snacks

I have so many treats that I just don’t want to share sometimes but I always end up sharing. Well, when my 2-year-old is napping that is my chance to raid the kitchen and eat ice cream, chips anything I can enjoy in peace. Something about little greedy fingers not reaching for my snack just makes it taste so much better.

Watch TV or YouTube

My TV is mostly on fun educational shows and animated dancing shows all day so much that I can hear it when it’s not even playing so when I get the chance to turn it off and watch something with real humans it is such a treat. I use nap time to binge any shows I need to catch up on or look for stuff on YouTube to watch and enjoy.

Check social media apps

I love scrolling social media and cracking up at mom videos and internet news and drama when I get a moment of free time. It’s nice to be able to hear it and focus on the jokes. I also respond to any messages from friends or check the funny videos they sent me that I didn’t get chance to see yet.

Clean the house

When the kids are napping, I find this as a good time to sweep and mop the floors, do the dishes, do some organizing and just tidy up a bit. Kids are masters of making a mess in under 5 minutes and if you don’t try to tackle the messes daily things can really pile up. Whenever I try to organize stuff while my toddler is present most of the time, she is undoing whatever I’m doing, so I just give in and do something else.

Schedule appointments and pay bills

Once the house is quiet it gives me a chance make some calls without having to shh my toddler so it’s a great opportunity to handle any business. It can get frustrating trying to talk on the phone and baby is screaming or when you’re trying to use your laptop and your kiddie is trying to sit on your lap.

Hobbies

Pulling out any hobbies you have when you have some alone time is so good for your mental health. I usually am blogging while the kids are napping. Its hard to fit in the things that you love to do that are just for you when your so focused on your little ones, but it is so important to find or make the time.

Watches the kids sleep

I must say I am guilty of pulling out my phone and snapping pics and videos of my little ones resting peacefully. I swear it is one of the most precious moments and so sometimes you can catch yourself just staring at them with a big goofy smile on your face because your just so happy they are okay and that they are yours.

Do nothing at all

After being so productive all day and after being pulled so many directions in the day sometimes it’s nice to just do nothing. To literally just sit there in peace, thankful for peace and silence or just thankful for everything.

Drink coffee or wine

A nice coffee made just the way you love it or a nice, chilled glass of wine when you have quiet time can be amazing. Anything that you love to have, have it when the kids are resting it is beautiful.

Sleep too

If you are tired and you just want to nap too, take your nap, and enjoy it.  Some days I am just to burnt out to do anything besides lay down and take a nap too. Being a mommy who is sleep deprived is rough and it just doesn’t help you be the best you can be for you or your kiddies. Take your opportunities to rest when you need to and don’t feel guilty about it at all.

35 Affirmations for overwhelmed moms

35 Affirmations for overwhelmed moms

Being a mom is one of the hardest jobs on the planet some days. Sometimes your just tired and you want to just curl up on the couch and watch an uninterrupted movie or you just want to take a long nap or long shower, but you can’t because your baby is screaming from a tooth coming in or your toddler is jumping all over you because they want your undivided attention. Some days it’s simply just overwhelming and you may feel yourself wanting to cry.

When you’re a mom everyday isn’t picture perfect, everyday isn’t crafts day or a trip to the zoo. Some days are just filled with mess after mess to clean, tantrum after tantrum to tend to and chores after chores. On those rough days when your exhausted its good to take a moment for yourself and say some affirmations, give yourself a pep talk and remind yourself that you’re doing an amazing job simply because you’re trying. Affirmations are one of the most powerful tools because they don’t take a lot of time and effort it just takes saying it enough so that you truly begin to believe the positive things you’re saying. I wanted to share a few affirmations to help you when you’re overwhelmed. I also want you to know that feeling overwhelmed is totally normal and you’re not alone at all.

  1. I don’t have to be a perfect mom, there is no such thing.
  2. I am doing the best I can, and my kids think I am more than enough.
  3. I was chosen to be my kids’ mom for a reason, and I have all I need within to meet their needs.
  4. I have a supportive group of people in my life that I can ask for help if I need it.
  5. Every part of mom life is not easy, and it doesn’t have to be.
  6. It’s okay to feel any of the feelings I feel today whether they are good or bad.
  7. I am grateful to be a mommy.
  8. I am strong and I am patient with myself and with my children.
  9. I will focus on the parts of today that bring me joy no matter how big or small.
  10. I will do something for myself today and not just for my family.    
  11. I deserve a break, and to have a nice rest to be a better me tomorrow.       
  12. I am providing a home for my children that is a safe space filled with happiness, love and understanding.
  13. I will not compare myself to other moms I see on social media or to other moms I know.
  14. I will not set expectations for the day to high.
  15. Taking care of myself is the first step to being able to take care of my children.
  16. One bad day does not define who I am as a mother or make me a bad mom.
  17. Even during the most chaotic moments in my home there is so much love here.
  18. I am choosing to be happy and spread happiness to my children.
  19. It is okay for my kids to see that I have other emotions besides happiness sometimes.
  20. My children know how much I love them.
  21. I am a mommy but that is not all I am.  
  22. I will be present with my children and appreciate the time we share.
  23. I am doing an amazing job taking care of my kids.
  24. I don’t have to have all the answers just because I’m a mom.
  25. I am growing and evolving as a mom every day.
  26. I will only speak positively about myself.
  27. I am setting an amazing example for my children.
  28. My children are blessed to have such a loving and devoted mother.
  29. I am the only one who can give my children a happy mom.
  30. Any challenges I face are making me a stronger and wiser mother.
  31. I have a very positive impact on my children’s life.
  32. Feeling overwhelmed sometimes shows that I am only human and that I don’t have to do it all, all the time.
  33. My children will appreciate the effort I put into raising them.
  34. I am not the only mom who needs or wishes for help sometimes.
  35. Acknowledging my overwhelm is the first step towards change and seeking help.

If you are unsure of what it means to feel overwhelmed it’s when you just feel defeated completely, like you are drowning in whatever life, or the day has brought you. It is not a fun feeling and a lot of moms honestly feel overwhelmed and defeated a lot if they are not nurturing themselves, if they are taking on too much in one day or week, not getting the help they need or the rest they need to be the best versions of themselves for their children. You could feel completely fine and then out of nowhere the burn out just consumes you. In that moment that is when it is helpful to find a safe and private space and say your affirmations. You can say them with your eyes full of tears or with a big smile, it does not matter. You can say them in your bathroom, in the shower, lying in bed, your car, your closet, anywhere.

Affirmations help to change any negative thinking patterns we may be having, and they can really help us see our situations from a different perspective. Choosing affirmations that resonate with you and your situation gives you this new belief system that you can basically just pull out of your pocket whenever you want as a simple reminder that you are worthy of positive thinking and a positive life. They are a simple way to keep us encouraged and to help us get over self- sabotaging. It’s very easy to get caught up in what we think we should be like as a mom or what we think we are lacking especially when we are overwhelmed with all our mommy duties.  

Let this post today remind you that you are doing an amazing job as a mommy and feel free to use as many of these affirmations as you need, as often as you need to help pull yourself out of the overwhelm you are feeling. You are not alone in your feelings, and you deserve your me time to say your affirmations.

30 Affirmations a mom can say before she goes to sleep

30 Affirmations a mom can say before she goes to sleep

Affirmations are positive statements you can say to yourself as often as you need to help you get rid of having self-sabotaging thoughts. The more you say these positive affirmations it can help train your brain to think more positively about yourself and your life. Before you go to bed at night you can take a moment to reflect about your day and once you have put your little ones down for rest you can say these positive statements to yourself to uplift you for a new way day.

  1. I did my best today and I can let go of all thoughts from today
  2. I can give myself permission to now do nothing but get some rest
  3. Tomorrow is full of new possibilities
  4. All the moments I had with my kids were precious and I am grateful for all of them
  5. When I allow myself to get rest, I am a better me for my family
  6. I look forward to relaxing my body and quieting my mind
  7. I have so much to be thankful for
  8. I am worthy of love and my kids love me
  9. I breathe in a calm state of mind, and I exhale any stress and any worries
  10. When I lay down for rest I am now in my happy place
  11. I have strong faith in myself as a mom
  12. Any mistakes I may have made today do not define me, I am learning and growing everyday
  13. I deserve to care for myself and do things that make me happy
  14. It is okay that I don’t know everything, I will make a way
  15. I make my children feel loved and happy
  16. I am constantly improving myself as a person and a mother
  17. I will not focus on things that I have no control over
  18. I am grateful for my body, and it deserves to recharge with a good night’s rest
  19. Whatever does not serve me will not come with me into tomorrow
  20. My journey with motherhood is unfolding just as it should
  21. Choosing rest is choosing myself
  22. I am exactly who my kids need me to be
  23. I can feel calm and at ease now that the day is done
  24. I have the power over all my thoughts and emotions
  25. Peace is a priority for me
  26. My bedroom is my sanctuary
  27. My heart is relaxed and grateful
  28. I can focus on my breathing and breathe in only positive energy
  29. I am safe, I am loved, I am strong
  30. I will relax every part of my body and allow myself to sleep because sleep is a priority for me

When you get the chance to lay down take in a few deep breathes with long exhales, relax your muscles and all your body, and try to let in relaxation as much as possible. Empty your racing mind with any thoughts about the day you had, or the day coming and just focus on the present moment. Embrace the relaxation that is coming to you and start to say some of these affirmations out loud. When you start to say them believe each word.

Affirmations only work if you believe them and believe that you are worthy of each statement you are saying. You can say as many of these as you need as often as you need every night, and you should start to feel a difference in the way that you see your days. Its going to give you a better sense of gratitude and a positive mindset for the start of your next day.

Being a mom can sometimes feel like a lot of work and can get overwhelming with all the tasks you have to do and all the needs you must fulfill and that is why it is important to find a time of day to just be still. Find a moment to stop running around too much or letting your mind wander to much and just appreciate peace and quiet. Find time in your day to just focus on you and bring attention to your thoughts. If your thoughts are negative use this time to re direct your energy and change those negative thoughts around. You don’t only have to use affirmations when you first wake up or when you go to sleep you can use any affirmations that work best for you any time of day when you have a moment to yourself.

Enjoy this new process of working on controlling your thoughts and know that it is okay to rest and get your sleep so you will be all you need to be for you and your little ones. Sleep well mama!