Mom Life – Joyful Messes

Mom Hacks

5 Tips for Welcoming a New Puppy Into Your Home

Bringing a puppy into your household is one of the most exciting decisions you can make for yourself, your family, and the dog! That being said, there is a lot to think about to ensure that it goes well. From preparing the necessary supplies and pet grooming items to puppy-proofing your home and spacing out the introductions, keep reading for the five tips the whole family needs to know when welcoming a new puppy into your home. 1. Prepare the necessary supplies. Before your new puppy arrives home, you want to ensure that you have stocked up on the necessary basic supplies that will ensure you have a happy and healthy pet. By having the essentials prepared, you and your puppy can focus on settling in together. Folding Metal Dog Crate In the beginning, you want to be sure to have a crate, food and water bowls, food (including some…

Mom Hacks

How to Keep Your House Clean With Little Kids

It never fails. You put laundry in a basket, and it ends up on the floor. You put toys in a basket, and it gets dumped out. You clean the kitchen, and someone comes in and makes a mess. You feel like the only way to keep your home clean is to clean it and then never enter it again. Your life officially becomes the meme that says, “I’ve cleaned the house, so if you could stop living here, that would be great!” We all know that is not going to happen, but there are some things that you can do to keep your house clean. Give them something to do while you clean—I once saw a mom who put her little one in a box with crayons and let them have at it! Make cleaning a game with a prize at the end—if they can walk, they can help…

Kids Activities

Fun Indoor Activities for Your Kids

Kids need simulation. Childhood stimulation is crucial for a child’s brain development. One of the ways that children acquire skills they are going to need in life is via all sorts of activities. When kids play, they not only engage in doing things during their free time. Play also helps kids in other ways. A child can learn how to interact with their peers. Children also learn about the world around them. Kids who are given time to play also have a chance to exercise. That helps them get rid of their excess energy and become fitter at the same time. Many children love spending time in the open air. However, this isn’t always possible when there are difficult weather conditions. Mom life means figuring out solutions to problems and making great indoor activities for both cold and warming weather. Kids who can’t play outside should have indoor activities instead.…

Mom Hacks

10 Kids’ Gear Essentials to Keep at Grandma’s House (So You Don’t Have to Pack Them)

Babies love visiting their grandparents’ house for all the pure affection, cuddles, great food (and free rein) they offer. The challenge is traveling to their place with a baby who cries and poops a lot. Mark my words. There will be times when you will inevitably forget packing a few baby essentials you noted down on your travel must-have checklist. It happens to the best of us. Packing for a baby is a mammoth task. For the sake of your sanity and convenience, keep the following items at grandma’s house and thank me later: Playard or Pack ‘n Play A playard is basically an enclosed piece of furniture where babies can play safely. Also known as pack n plays, these things are foldable, making them an amazing option for travel. Folded playards are lightweight and don’t take up a lot of space when stored away. So if your grandchildren are…

Breastfeeding

Tips and Must-Have Products to Pump at Work

Many mothers face the same worries as they near the end of their maternity leave. Frequently asked questions include: Where will I pump at work? How long of a break will I get? What do I need to buy? I don’t want you to have to stress and worry. This post will help alleviate your worries and answer your questions as you prepare to head back to work. What You Need to Know About Pumping at Work Know your rights As you make preparations and plans to pump at work, notify your employer of your plans. There is a good chance they have experience with this and can help. Even if your employer is up to speed on your rights and their responsibilities, it’s important for you to know, too. The Break Time for Nursing Mothers Law legally requires employers to provide time (and space) for employees covered under the…

Mom Life

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress in Children: What You Need to Know

Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about the detrimental effects of stress on children’s health. And it’s not surprising at all. According to the latest data from the CDC, the average weekly number of children’s mental health-related ED visits has been on the rise over the past year. In 2020 alone, the number of such visits was a shocking 44% higher than in 2019. Moreover, we know that as many as 35% of American children experience stress-related health issues, which means that more than one-third of U.S. kids don’t have effective methods for coping with external and internal stressors. But is dealing with stress always a bad thing? Or could a surge in cortisol be helpful in some situations? This article aims to explore the difference between good stress and bad stress in children, along with everything parents can do to help their kids manage everyday pressures in healthy…

Kids Activities

Educational Printables

Educational printables can come in handy when it comes to helping children learn and practice various skills. Writing, math, reading, and fine motor skill practice are just a few examples of what you can use educational printables for. Whether you are homeschooling or just looking for extra practice worksheets to help fine-tune their skills, these educational printables can be helpful when learning. Included in this list of free educational printables is a variety of different learning subjects. The subjects range from math to science and learning the alphabet. Many also include games to go along with them to help to make learning fun and not so boring. Writing with LEGO Letters Fun for both preschool and kindergarten-aged children, this LEGO writing printable pack includes helps children build the letter with the LEGO, trace the letter, and then practice writing the letter. Printable Science Experiment Worksheets Kids will love these fun…

Mom Life

Guide to Christmas Gifts for a New Mom

It’s that most wonderful time of the year when people have started pre-planning their Christmas shopping! There are the typical gifts for aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, siblings, and kids. What do you do when one of the people in question, also happens to be a new mother? Don’t worry! We are here to help you figure out the perfect gift for the new mom to be! Whether the new mom has given birth, or is due any time now, here is a list of 5 gifts which will be cherished and appreciated for their thoughtfulness and practicality! It is no secret that new moms do NOT have a lot of free time on their hands! They are either busy preparing for the baby, or if their bundle of joy has arrived, they are busy fixing bottles, nursing, and changing diapers. No matter how tired we get as new mommas,…

Homeschool

Ways to Make Learning at Home Fun and Engaging

One of the greatest things about homeschooling is that as the teacher, you are not limited or confined to a desk and a blackboard. The world is your classroom! In this post, I offer simple and easy ways to make learning at home fun and engaging. So whether you are a homeschooling mama, or your child is currently a remote learner, there are so many ways you can take the sit-and-get method of learning and make it fun and magical for both you and your learner(s)! Manipulatives Matter Younger learners are always moving and grooving, and manipulatives really engage your tactile learner– the learner that likes touching and tinkering with everything. Manipulatives are always engaging. Some of my favorite manipulates are actually the simplest and easiest items to snag from the store. Below is a list of manipulatives you can easily implement in any of your lessons! Dry Erase Markers…

Mom Hacks

Mom Hacks That Will Actually Help

Today, if anyone is looking for a life hack, then they are moms. Life hacks are creative and simple ideas that make life easier. Once you learn a hack, you will feel that you have been doing that task wrong the entire time. Mothers are always looking for mom hacks to make things easier. These may include things that can save time and/or money, like the best kitchen gadgets for cooking quick and easy dishes for children or family. Then, others are needed for sanity. Being a mother is not easy, which is why every small thing counts. What Are Some Great Busy Mom Hacks? As previously mentioned, being a mother is one of the most challenging jobs today. However, some simple mom life hacks can make your life easier; they include: Monster Spray As mothers, we often have our children hating bedtime because they are scared of the dark…