Do you assume your housework must be done while your child is either busy, out of the house or sleeping?  Or that “kids should be kids”, and it’s not their responsibility to do chores?  Or perhaps the thought of how much longer it might take if you involve them feels too daunting. There are benefits to involving kids in household chores. According to Pew Research, 62% of parents find parenting harder than they thought it would be combined with 44% of parents that are trying to parent differently than how they were parented.  There are many reasons why parenting is harder than it’s ever been, but let’s focus on some things we can do to make our parenting easier…including our kids in household responsibilities is one of those ways. What if getting your kids involved in household responsibilities not only helped you but was beneficial for them?  Getting them involved…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both children and adults. It is characterized by symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. People with ADHD may find it difficult to focus, complete tasks, and control their behavior. ADHD can pose unique challenges for students, especially when it comes to staying organized. However, with some simple strategies, students with ADHD can learn how to manage their time, keep their stuff organized, and be more focused on the task at hand.  Here are some organization tips for students with ADHD. ADHD Students should use a calendar or planner: A planner or calendar can be an effective tool for managing time and keeping track of assignments and deadlines, especially for students with ADHD who often struggle with managing their time. By having a visual representation of their schedule, students with ADHD can better organize their time and reduce the…

Laundry. It never ends. Six years ago, I wrote a Mabelhood post about the incessant burden of laundry and how I was considering giving up clothes entirely to save my time and sanity. Unfortunately, the nudist lifestyle didn’t pan out, and here I am — still constantly sorting, washing, drying, and folding clothes. I have even more washloads now, as my kids and their clothing have gotten bigger (and smellier). The laundry struggle is real, and we’re all in the same sweat-soaked, ketchup-stained boat. With this in mind, I have compiled some tips to help maximize your laundry organization and efficiency. Embrace a new laundry mindset It’s time to accept the fact that laundry is a constant in your life. As parenting author and mom of six Dawn Meehan put it: “I don’t have laundry day. I have laundry life.” The great news is: we are not living in pioneer times.…

The term “pelvic health” refers to a growing practice within physiotherapy. For physiotherapist Erica Gambarotto, it’s a specialty that was born out of personal experience. Originally trained as an orthopedic physio, Erica became alarmed by the drastic changes in her body while pregnant with twins. “I was running to the washroom all the time, amongst other embarrassing bodily malfunctions,” she recalls. “I started taking professional courses in pelvic physiotherapy, initially with the goal of treating myself. Turns out, it is a fascinating area of study, and I haven’t looked back.”

I’m a big believer in just doing your best. It’s enough. You don’t need to train for a marathon. You don’t need to lose the baby weight. You don’t need to make perfect meals every day, and you are most certainly allowed to make mistakes. These are a few realistic goals that might help you feel good about your parenting in 2024. Give up the mom guilt. I did this five kids ago because guilt did not serve me. It is not proactive and reliving something I feel bad for over and over in my head is not helpful. Instead, just apologize, learn and move on. It also teaches your kids that mistakes are OK and normalizes apologies. Do something for you. It doesn’t have to be huge, but it does show your family that you value yourself and your time. They might just need this reminder. Boundaries and Battles.…

It’s the time of year when you find yourself with double the toys in the toy room. The kids are thrilled, but you’re probably hating the mess. Don’t start the new year with clutter. With so many storage options these days, you can easily find a good solution for your space, one that looks nice and also functions well for your kids! So, for 2024, you can say goodbye to messy floors and hello to a well-organized play area with our toy storage solutions and tips for keeping organized all year long! Playroom Organization Tips: Take Stock of what toys they have Get the kids to take a few items they’re willing to donate. Throw out any broken toys or lost pieces. Including the kids in this process is critical; they need to feel they’re in charge of their own toys, and this makes them take greater responsibility for their…

Remember the days when you didn’t have kids and you stayed healthy all the time? That was nice. But these days, as a parent you’re probably finding that small kids sneezing in your face means you’re more likely to get sick, a lot. Kids bring home a ton of germs, it’s inevitable, but what can prevent is the germs from sweeping through the house and getting everyone ill. The part that sucks the most, is having to care for your kids when you’re sick. It always works out that the moment they stop sneezing or vomiting and are once again bouncing off the walls – you come down with it and have nothing left in the tank to parent. You need to know how to keep the family healthy when one child is sick. Isolate them to a different area: One of the first things you should do is to…

When it comes to having children, we can’t always plan the most perfect birth date for them which can sometimes lead to November, December and even January birthdays. With a birthday so close to the holidays, it feels like making it special for them is an impossible task. While family and friends may be heading into their busy season, we’ve compiled a list of a few different things you can do that might help that holiday baby feel celebrated, no matter the time of year! How to make your kid’s December birthday special: Plan Ahead for your child’s birthday With so much going on at this time of year, it’s important to have a plan ahead of the big day. Start planning as early as you can so that you can ensure other people (if you’re including others) have plenty of time to make sure they can attend as well.…

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, love, and togetherness, but unfortunately, it can also be a time of stress and conflict. This is especially true when you have to spend time with toxic family members or deal with inappropriate comments about you, your children, or your parenting choices.  There are ways to deal with toxic comments from family during the holidays. It is not uncommon for baby boomers to be known for making rude and inappropriate comments, even discriminatory. However, what makes things worse is that they often try to justify their behavior using excuses that are not particularly valid. For instance, some may claim that they are too old to change their ways, that they are only speaking their minds, that their comments are harmless, that your generation is too sensitive, or that they’ve raised three kids, so they know best! Generally, I’d say…