Mom Life Archives | Joyful Messes

Tips for Hiking with Kids of All Ages

Hiking is a favorite pastime for people of all ages. It is a wonderful way to absorb some natural vitamin D and get tons of fresh air. Added bonuses are getting exercise while enjoying the beauty of the natural world around us. Going hiking with kids however can be somewhat challenging if you have never done so or are not properly prepared! We have compiled a list of some of the most important things to do in preparation. Also, there are some ideas for keeping the hike fun and engaging for everyone no matter their age! Length of Your Hike When planning out your hike with kids, one of the first things to determine is the length of the hike. While young kids always seem to have a limitless supply of energy, hiking may use different muscles than they are used to. A good way to decide how long your hike should…

Mom Life

5 Great Gifts for Grandparents Day

It is almost that time of year to celebrate our children’s grandparents! We may know them as Mom and Dad, but to our kids, they are the beloved Grandma and Grandpa (or whatever other adorable names they may call them). The ones who are always ready to let them get away with just a little more sugar than Mom and Dad do and who love to spoil our kids rotten! So what can we get for these cherished family members for the Grandparents’ Day holiday? What could possibly express the love that your children feel for their grandparents? Thankfully, there is a wonderful company called Minted with many unique photo gifts. These are sure to bring warmth and joy to the hearts of those who receive them. Here are five of the best gifts for grandparents available on Minted! Heart-Shaped Photo Collage While we all enjoy flipping through…

Mom Life

The Ultimate Guide to Family Finances

If there’s anything more challenging than managing a family, it’s managing finances. The financial world can be confusing and difficult to navigate, and with family finance there’s always added pressure to succeed. Whether you’re looking to clean up your finances or you’re starting to plan for your family’s future, we’ve got you covered with four tips for taking care of your family financial matters. Communicate With Your Spouse Finances can be a taboo subject for some families. It can lead to parents feeling stressed and overwhelmed, and money can even be a common catalyst for arguments. An Ameriprise study found that three in ten couples argue about money at least once a month. When dealing with family finances, an open communication policy with your spouse can help eliminate any confusion and prevent feelings of burnout. To communicate more effectively about money, start by setting a time to sit down…

Kids Activities

Staycations Solve Spring Break Problems

This is one of those times of the year when parents almost dread the fact that their kids are out of school. Why? It’s because they have to find something to occupy their time, especially if they still have to work every day. For those who can take the time away from work and spend it with the family, I want to encourage you not to dismiss the idea of a staycation, even during Spring Break, and here’s why. Traveling during Spring Break is EXPENSIVE Tourism is at its peak during Spring Break, so the hotel, entertainment, and hospitality industries look to make a lot of money from travelers. This drives up the prices of everything from gas to food prices. Yes, there are deals out there, but they are usually “get them when you see them” and can run out very quickly. You can create a staycation experience that…

Healthy Kids

5 Ways to Instill Good Dental Habits in Your Child

Raising a kid is perhaps one of the hardest jobs in the world. At the same time, it is also the most satisfying, especially if you see your child healthy and happy. Among others, one of the most difficult parts of being a parent is getting your child to develop a dental hygiene routine. A task as simple as toothbrushing can end up being a nightmare! If you are clueless about how to help your child build a better habit for oral health, we’ve got you. Keep reading and learn from the tips we’ll be sharing. Help Your Child Develop Good Dental Habits With These Five Tips From keeping toddlers entertained to teaching kids to become more responsible, parents have a long list of seemingly endless tasks. Below, however, we will focus on making sure that your child grows up prioritizing oral health. Go to the Dentist Early On …

Mom Hacks

10 Photography Tips to Capture Great Photos of Your Kids

As a parent, there’s nothing more precious to you than your children. And there’s something about children that just makes you want to capture every moment. Maybe it’s because they grow up so quickly, or maybe it’s the knowledge that these fleeting moments will never come again. Whatever the reason, capturing great photos of your kids is important – and not just for preserving memories. Photos can also be a great way to show off your little ones to family and friends or to create beautiful cards and keepsakes. Taking those pictures can be a lot of fun, but it can also be challenging. How do you get them to smile for the camera? How do you avoid getting a blurry photo? Read further to learn 10 photography tips that will help you take fantastic photos of your kids! Get down on their level Get down on their level.…

Mom Hacks

Pictures: A TRUE Family Affair

Ah, family pictures! We do them for about every holiday – Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc. While those we give them to fawn and swoon over them, we chuckle and shake our heads for they know not what it took to get those near picture-perfect smiles! In this article, I want to share a few tips to help your next photoshoot to be one for the record books. Capturing those crucial milestones is important because we can all think of a time when we wished we had a picture of something or someone who may no longer be with us. With this in mind, let’s work through planning that picture-perfect photoshoot! Check your calendar The first thing you want to do is ensure that the family photoshoot isn’t during a busy time when the family has a gazillion activities going on at one time. The worst thing in the world to…

Mom Life

Introducing Baby to Your Pets

It is almost time for your new baby to arrive! You have the nursery set up, the closet and dresser full of tiny clothes, and the changing table is stocked with diapers and wipes. You also have an adorable and curious pet! When you are already a pet parent, having a baby will not only be a big change for you as a couple, but will also be a big change for your pet. Introducing your baby to your pets is a big deal! Here are a few tips and tricks to preparing your pet for the exciting day you bring your newborn home. Animals have a much more keen sense of smell than humans. Let your pet sniff your baby bump and teach them to be gentle and calm while saying your baby’s name or the word “baby”. Just as you train a dog to sit, lay down,…

Mom Life

Why It’s Important to Be Kind to Yourself as a Parent

As parents, we often get so completely wrapped up in our children that we forget to be kind to ourselves. And sure, that’s completely understandable – but it leaves us feeling tired, overspent, and often inadequate. Let’s explore why it’s so important to be kind to yourself as a parent and how to practice that kindness every day. Improve Your Mental and Physical Health Being kind to ourselves has been shown to improve both our physical and our mental health. At times of heightened stress, self-love is crucial. It’s what empowers us to cope better with the situation at hand. On the other hand, when we think self-deprecating thoughts, we become the one thing standing between ourselves and contentment. Feel More Energized Being overly critical of your actions, thoughts, or emotions drains your energy. As a parent, you will already have less energy available as usual. If you…

Kids Activities

8 Water Play Activities for Babies and Toddlers

There’s something oddly calming about a simple act of splashing water everywhere, isn’t it? For kids, water play activities present the perfect opportunity to actively explore with all their senses, enhance fine and gross motor skills, and have fun while doing so. Babies can start playing with water right out of the womb. As they grow older and consequently, develop better hand-eye coordination, you can introduce them to a whole new bunch of engaging water play activities involving STEM toys, water guns, sprinklers, sponges, etc. If you are looking for water play ideas that are a perfect combination of learning and entertainment, you have landed on just the right page. Here are 8 wicked good water play activities kids won’t be able to stop playing – Water Relay Race How about kicking off the list with something the whole family can enjoy? Relay races are fun and…