This information and giveaway has been provided to me by Store Brand Formula. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As a mom of three, I have definitely been around the block with raising kids. My oldest is 10, so for 10 years now I have been a mother. It is amazing though how different each of my kids are. From quiet to loud to active and lazy, all three have such different personalities. Oh and did I mention they are each in their own activities that I have to balance? Well since kids outnumber adults in our household, it is definitely a challenge.
So how do I balance parenting three kids?
First, off the first thing I do each Sunday is write down the next week’s schedule on a big chalkboard in our kitchen. We literally have a whole wall in our kitchen that is useless so a few years ago I had my husband turn the whole wall into a chalkboard. Now our kids can see their schedules and there are no daily surprises. So first step is creating a schedule the whole family can see at a glance.
Next thing I do is take time each day either while the kids are at school or after bedtime for myself (or both.) So for me, I walk with neighbors for about 30 minutes a day and after bedtime, I watch something on Netflix usually. I know how people say there is not enough time in the day, but really there is some time you just have to use it wisely. Heck, I turn Netflix on when I am folding laundry or even prepping dinner sometimes!
I don’t sign my kids up for more than I can handle. Since most of the time it is me running the kids places, I consider everything I sign them up for. Does my 5 years old really need dance, swimming, and soccer? No, she doesn’t, she is 5 and honestly probably just as happy playing a game with me or stopping by storytime at the library. Don’t stress yourself out because everyone in the family will suffer.
I ask for help. This is hard for so many but I have no problem asking for help. There are so many times I need it when I have my kids split with their activities. I can only be so many places at once!
Balancing parenthood and daily life is a challenge but the return is worth it.
I wouldn’t change my daily craziness for anything. Store Brand Formula knows everyone has their own unique formula for parenting and balancing daily life. Store Brand Formula is nutritionally comparable to nationally advertised brands but costs up to 50% less. It’s called formula for a reason. They know every parent has a special formula for how they balance it all and want to know what YOUR secret formula to parenthood happiness is through emojis of course.
My emoji formula would be me watching Netflix and eating tacos alone for “me” time:
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- Go to ShareYourFormula.com, enter your name, email address zip code, and your baby’s birth date between now and April 24, 2017.
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GIVEAWAY ENTRY:
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This giveaway ends April 17, 2017.
Sarah L says
Never been a parent so don’t have any tips. Take time for yourself.
Thanks for the contest.
LC says
I use a bullet journal to keep everything organized.
Jerry Marquardt says
Balancing life for me need some meditation, to make the day a normal one.
Leah Shumack says
I always work best on a schedule and to do list. But don’t forget to take out some time for yourself!
Lisa L says
Try to meal plan to save time and not worry about meals for the rest of the week!
Richard Hicks says
Learn how to say no and delegate tasks
DEBIJOT says
We stick to schedules.
Marilyn says
Treat each as an individual.
Marilyn
Holly Thomas says
Everyone has their list of chores.
Julie Hawkins says
My tip is try to carve a little me time out each day if you can, if only for a few minutes
Colette S says
I delegate chores to my kids, so that I can have a balance in parenting.
Angelica Dimeo says
I like setting up a schedule and setting clothes out the day before so it is easier to deal with time wise. i go to bed when my kids go to bed lol
tammy smith says
For me I always got up early than the kids and had me time. Than after the kids went to bed to sit and drink tea to relax with.
Crystal Rogers Walker says
You have to make sure to get plenty of rest and take time for yourself so that you can be at your best when parenting
Anita McMurtrey says
I commented
Anita McMurtrey says
I no longer have children in my household.
Yvonne Delgado says
Take time for yourself to relax and unwind, recharge. Motherhood is to be enjoyed.
Colleen Maul says
I balance out all my activitiys with a agenda book. I make sure I have everything ready the night before cause have three boys and taking care of my Niece now is alot on a mom . Every thing is mapped out but life is not perfect so I would say what works for one mom dons’t nessesarily work for another.
kay wright says
take it one minute at a time and breath
Sarah Mayer says
It’s really hard but I try to put everything down on a planner.
Theresa Jenkins says
I had 3 girls and our rule was they could do 2 activities at a time but they had to keep their grades UP …if their grands when below a C then their activities when away until the grades came UP and that only happened twice to the same child once in 7th and again as a senior…and it only took her 2 weeks to go from almost not graduation back to an honor student….beside going to school, she became my BEST friend for those 2 weeks, if I did laundry she did, grocery shopping she did, it was TORTURE for both of us but she graduated with an A
Cheryl Chervitz says
My kids are older now, but you just have to breath. Things are going to come up daily and you just deal with it as it comes.
Sue Mullaney says
I don’t have kids myself but friends of mine who have kids say it really is a 24/7 job having kids and they’ll try to maintain balance by having someone watch the kids so they can spend time alone (or alone with their significant other).
Amy Deeter says
i take one minute at a time. that’s the best thing to do
JEN DANTUMA says
All of my children are now adults, with one still living at home. Although they are grown, my job as a mother never stops, it’s just different. One of the hardest parts to balance is having an adult son still at home. I can see what he’s doing and the choices he’s making, but I need to let him have his independence and make his own way. It’s very hard, especially since I am one who will speak up – but it must be done. He is allowed the use of an extra bedroom so that he can have more of a feel of privacy when he wants it. I respect it as his space and rarely go in there or in his bedroom. We have a good relationship.
Debbi Wellenstein says
I don’t try to do everything at once, and I enlist my husband and children to help.
Amber says
Try to get the kids involved in meal planning and planning something fun to do for the weekend so it’s not all on your plate!
sarah christopher says
Never cave to their trantrums, stay solid on your word, love them more then punish them. so if you have to scold them for doing things a lot, you must give them 2X more the love later on when they are behaving
Samantha says
Try to find time to go out as a family and do family days!
Mary Beth Elderton says
My best tip is to keep a routine. An almost by-the-clock routine lets everyone know what to expect and when, gives order to the day, and allows making “down time.”
Thomas Gibson says
I encourage my children to help in daily planning so they develop that skill.
Janet Woodling says
Organization was very important to me.
Margaret Smith says
I’m a planner, so that really helps. Also, I keep a list and a calendar of things to be done.
Cynthia C says
Things go better when you plan ahead and stay organized.
Chrissy says
We try to make sure to spend at least a half hour together just the two of us each day . Usually it’s after our daughter goes to bed but no matter how we make it happen we’ve found that that helps us drastically as parents!
Bethany Suire says
A tip I use for balancing parenthood is keeping up with a daily routin and/or schedule. My son is on the Autism spectrum and I know that if something happens and it’s completely unexpected for him, it ends up making him feel very anxious and nervous.
Tara O. says
What a beautiful picture of you and your family!
Lana simanovicki says
I just go with the flow
Susan Smith says
I don’t over schedule myself or my children so we have time to spend with each other and I have some “me” time.
Steve Weber says
no kids = no problems in life 🙂
Heather Hayes Panjon says
My tip is to plan as much as I can, but me open to changes daily.
Abigail says
I always try to build in some extra time when we need to be somewhere because I find that when I try to rush my kids anywhere we all fall apart!
RENEE WALTERS says
Put the kids in after school activities so they are tired around bedtime. Then you have an hour or two to relax before you go to bed.
Sara Zielinski says
Everything in moderation and don’t be too harsh.
Rosie says
I get up really early and get done some things that are hard to do while keeping an eye on the kiddos – like almost everything, but especially in the kitchen.
Maryann D. says
My tip for balancing parenthood is to have a lot of patience and not to over react to certain situations.
Edye says
Take breaks when you can!
Nancy says
Try to multi-task: have kids practice math facts or spelling words while you carpool , or watch/listen to TV while cooking dinner, etc.
Stephanie says
i plan ahead and ask for help when needed
Yvonne Delgado says
take time for yourself to recharge. coffee with friends, dinner with hubby, or quiet time alone.
BusyWorkingMama says
I think balancing time with your significant other, solo time and family time is key. Balance is everything!
vickie couturier says
i have a notebook with a calendar in it that i have everything wrttten down in
Tammy Iler says
I don’t have kids but I have watched me brothers kids before…and let me tell you…the parents don’t get enough credit for the things they do
Jan Lee says
I don’t have kids but I know my niece uses positive reinforcements to get the kids on schedule for the day. If they can get dressed on time then they get to choose their breakfast. Things like that, which seem to help them stay motivated and keeps my niece happy lol 🙂
Mya Murphy says
Spending time with your kids is so dang important!! I balanced by calendars, I spent time both together and individually.
Feist Laura says
Plan ahead
Kate Brown says
Don’t forget about yourself! Pamper yourself sometimes or you won’t have balance.
Michelle Bartley says
Find some me time!
Natalie says
My tip is to exercise every day. It makes parents feel less stressed!
Dana Rodriguez says
I do a lot of planning ahead and it works well for us.
HS says
I try not to sweat over small things, and find time for myself to relax a bit.
sandra says
I try to fit in gym time to help with my stress
Cheryl B says
My strategy is to handle what comes, as it comes, I try to lead by example, and stay consistent.
Mariyn Legault says
When disciplining you have to follow though on your punishment and be firm.
Victoria Scott says
I just take one day at a time, one mess at a time, one tantrum at a time LOL Other than that, I try to have clothes laid out for the week (we use one of those multidrawer things) and lunches made the night before.
Marti Tabora says
I try and be prepared at all times. Planning ahead seems to be the key for me to balance things.
Jackie says
I try to plan meals that are quick and easy to prepare so we can all sit down together for dinner after a crazy day of different schedules.