2521: Mom Sanity Savers by Shawna Scafe of Simple on Purpose on Parenting Advice

[00:00:00] Now before we start, you might want to check out our other podcasts covering topics like personal development and minimalism, money, health, relationships, and more. So to optimize your life in other areas, just search for Optimal Living Daily in your podcast app. Now on to the show. This is Optimal Relationships Daily, Mom Sanity Savers by Shawna Scafe of SimpleOnPurpose.ca

[00:00:28] Practical Tips on Making it Through the Day with Toddlers I may have had three kids under four, but I've said before that I'm no parenting expert. I think it's humorous when people ask my parenting advice because it's something like, uh, just be the mom you are, coffee and Jesus, and pair your sweats with red lipstick. Who's ready for my advice column?

[00:00:50] But, as with the desperation that comes with drowning in the pool of motherhood, I have learned to keep my head above the water. Most days, kind of. So, here are some of my top mom sanity savers that help me make it from sunup to sundown each day. Number one. Every morning out. Aside from a few mornings of preschool for Levi, I've got all three kids home at all times. Until we get the basement finished,

[00:01:17] it is all of us bobbing around the kitchen and living room, which literally starts to shrink by the hour as the day goes on. Getting out every morning has been the biggest sanity saver for everyone. Even if it's just a walk or a drive to the park or heading to my besties for tea, we have to leave the house. Number two. TV time. I know, judge away. But we watch TV in this house, and we aren't sorry.

[00:01:44] We have an Apple TV, so we can watch Netflix, YouTube, and this cool channel called Tastemade, which is non-stop cooking shows. Sometimes, TV is a well-placed distraction on a cranky day, or a way to get us all through a house full of sick kids. Mostly, TV is something we enjoy watching together. A place to learn about stuff like vegan pizza and the alphabet. A place to unwind. Some days it's a Sesame Street marathon. Some days it's no TV at all.

[00:02:11] It is a tool in my toolbox. TV saves my mom's sanity. And hey, I watched a buttload of TV growing up, and I'm normal. Enough. Number three. Autopilot morning routine. I laugh at one of my biggest fears when I was becoming a mom of two. When would I shower? My life is legit scary, right? Turns out showering is a luxury that is wedged into the quiet of the night, or a rush of spray while toddlers chuck toys into the tub at me.

[00:02:41] One way that I've made peace with this haphazard hygiene practice is to wash and do my hair every few days, rather than every day. Maybe on day one I look like I'm ready for prom, but it's worth it to last a few days with one less thing to do in the morning. This, paired with what I learned from getting dressed every day, has made getting ready in the mornings take ten minutes, which helps me start my day ready to take care of everyone else because I feel taken care of. Number four. Meal planning.

[00:03:11] You might not believe we meal plan when I share that some lunches are an array of frozen peas and potato chips, but we do. That combo is a toddler favorite that was either requested, or we've reached the end of the groceries for the week. Every week we grocery shop from a list of dinners, snacks, breakfasts, second breakfasts, and lunches. When it comes time to make dinner, instead of using that concoction of culinary ingenuity, Pinterest, and rational decision making,

[00:03:39] I can switch to autopilot come 4pm and make something from the meal list. Number five. Craftacular. I used to have this singular housekeeping goal of keeping my table clear. Until the kids became toddlers and my table became their land of Legos, art, books, snack bowls, more Legos, and more Legos. And that's okay. Because eventually, this will all be in the basement, and I might even miss it. Maybe.

[00:04:07] When the kids are restless, I tell them to sit at the table and put something in front of them to keep them busy. It's not a Pinterest-perfect, seasonally suitable, and educational craft. It's whatever is in the cupboards. Paints and huge paper. The cool sand from Auntie Brady. Play-Doh. Stamping books. Glue and scrap paper. Anything is something when you present it with enthusiasm. This usually keeps the kids busy for an hour, and might result in an addition to our elite toddler art gallery. Number six.

[00:04:37] Have a plan. My last tip kinda wraps everything up here. It would be to have a plan. Once a week, I start a new bullet journal and write out the schedule for the week. Then I add in different outings we could do and craft stuff slash games I have on hand to bring out each day. Having a plan helps me go from being in a reactive mode to being in proactive mode. Way more chill. And, a bonus tip. I just need to add that I get through with the help of my friends.

[00:05:07] A mom bestie or a lady posse if you're opening up your social circle is really what gets me through the day. You just listened to the post titled, Mom Sanity Savers, by Shauna Scaife of SimpleOnPurpose.ca. Big thanks to Shauna for enlightening the moms out there once again. I think all of Shauna's work really echoes this maybe more than any of our other contributors.

[00:05:34] But, I love just her second tip about watching television. One thing Shauna does so well is that she allows herself and encourages other mothers to go against the grain sometimes of what all these parenting columns are calling for. Yes, it's okay to have your kids watch TV sometimes. Surely some modern, well-intentioned parents out there are getting increasingly nervous about screen time for their children, and rightfully so.

[00:06:02] But, you can do this and still allow some screen time. And some desserts, some lazy days, some days of skipping school maybe, etc. The mold of a perfect parent is impossible to keep up. And even if it were, the child being raised by such a parent would probably be insufferable, let's be honest. Shauna is so good at offering tips, offering experience, and bringing balance while doing so. She's not demanding perfection of her children or herself as a parent.

[00:06:30] To eloquently take one's foot off the gas, as Shauna does, is a real gift these days, as we seem to think there are so many ways to live perfectly and avoid mistakes. So, very happy to have another feature from her. But that is going to end this particular feature, as it's time to wrap things up. I really appreciate you all being here today with me, friends, and making another episode happen. Wishing you all a terrific weekend, and as always, encouraging you to join me again on Monday,

[00:06:57] where we'll start a new week of ORD, and where your optimal life awaits.