1. Be prepared. I can't say this enough. I have a car organizer (thanks mom) with three sections in it- I use it for all my car "organization" of all toddler-needed items. I keep extra clothes (who knows when it's going to suddenly be freezing one morning or evening when you live in WV?) zip lock bags "ready to go" with snacks/bibs/burp cloths/empty sippy cup for water, extra pacifiers, children's tylenol, my tula baby carrier, and the list goes on. I spend a lot of time in my car, an hour a day or more even if I only go to work and straight home. If I go on even one errand, I need to have plenty of snacks and a clean sippy cup to share my ice water (hospital ice is the best) for wherever we venture on our way home (Aldi's, Kroger's....).
2. Be willing to compromise. I say no plenty (electrical outlets, walking alone in a parking lot, obvious dangers!) but sometimes I really wish Hunter wouldn't eat another 20 Teddy Graham crackers.. but if it stops him from screaming because he is obviously very hungry and we are obviously still twenty minutes from home on a six hour trip, then so be it. I'm not necessarily giving into everything he ever wanted, but sometimes, you have to do a risk benefit analysis. Just like my daily job in medicine... is it the best idea to have a toddler sustained on glorified "cookies"? No. But, did I make two eggs for him when we came home, yes. And that made mymamaheart feel just a tad bit better he ate chicken strips more times than I prefer to admit this weekend. Because its all going to be okay, in moderation.
3. Take a break. I made the mistake of once asking said close family member "Will you please watch Hunter while I *insert whatever here, eat, go to the bathroom, shower, you get the point". A wise friend recently told me, DONT ASK JUST DO. :) Wonderful advice, and it worked very well a few hours ago. I hadn't showered in approximately 24-36 hours and it was time. This was probably more my fault but it was time. Spray AANT non-toxic deodorant can only work for so long.
4. Make dates. Make them with your husband/significant other, girlfriends, and work colleagues. If you don't schedule and plan for them, they won't happen. Sometimes, a thirteen months of your life may go by and you realize you haven't been to a formal exercise class, and you may miss that- so schedule something.
5. Take help. If you are carrying a 20+ pound child on one hip, bending down to pick up two-three more bags, and someone offers to help, take it. I probably should listen to my own advice- maybe I wouldn't have a small laceration on said mama's forehead from said mama's large, heavy nikon d700 camera.... just sayin'.
6. Drink green smoothies. Make them, freeze them, drink them later. Take said green smoothie, place in mason jar, freeze, and grab on the way you run out the door. Later in the day, you will have a healthy milkshake replacement. MMM.
7. Pick a bed time and stick to it. I move Hunter's up an hour a few weeks ago and it has helped us. I was wishy-washy for a few months on the bedtime routine... then I realized waking up a one+year old at 5 am is no fun for anyone.... so in came the 7 pm bedtime. Promptly at 6:30 he starts to rub his eyes, bath time happens, then he goes down fairly easily.
8. Keep a small "on the go" make up bag in your car. I rarely find the time to throw on any make up while I am getting ready to leave the house with Hunter. A good friend bought me the (medium I believe) Vera Bradley make up bag that works well to throw in my work bag, throw in my diaper bag, or just leave in my car. I keep mascara, lip gloss, an eyebrow pencil, and BB cream for when I need to make myself presentable (again, those after work needed dates that happen once every 6 months, ok.. once every few weeks!). I also keep my essential oil roller ball so I can feel "fresh".
9. Carry a water bottle everywhere. This a good habit to stay healthy and has dramatically decreased my previous "I need a milk shake or a diet coke" runs to multiple fast food places in the past. If you are thirsty, theres nothin' like a big bottle of ice water. Lots of ice, of course. Hunter sees my water bottle and it often providers some entertainment if he gets grumpy in the car. And if I haven't filled up a sippy cup for him yet, a few of my water bottles have straws he can use/drink from also.
10. Buy matching clothes. I have an entire room upstairs covered with small piles of folded clothes. A few match, most don't. This I have only partially implemented so I am a bad advice-giver. Sorry! I have been wonderfully gifted tons of clothing which we love. But in the (rare) instance I buy anything, I keep to the same color scheme and hope to someday work towards a capsule wardrobe for each season/size of babyhood as we go along in life.
What are your toddler tips? Any other ideas that would help me or other like-minded mamas?
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