20 {more} Motherhood Tips

A couple of weeks ago I wrote 20 Motherhood Tips and it was met with wild success. So this morning, I thought I’d share with you twenty more tips for mothers. Some practical, some silly, and yet all tips.

1. Tell your kids you like them. Take some time with them, play a game, go on a walk, and slow down enough to look them in the eye and tell them how much you like them. They need to hear those words as well. Liking them means you want to be around them. Liking and loving are so different – they know we’ll always love them – but like who they are? Wow. That matters.

2. Surprise them with hot cocoa when you get coffee. Not every time, but sometimes. I zip through our Caribou or Starbucks drivethru many times and I almost always hear can I get something to which I respond not today {that’s almost like in a minute}. Make a point to surprise them with a kids hot cocoa from time to time {it’s around $1}. And have the wipes or napkins ready.

3. Get up before them. {except if you have a newborn – you must sleep} Make it a habit to wake before they get up. This gives you just a bit of time to set your mind for the day ahead. Pray, sit still, drink your coffee, write, do whatever you need to do before the crazy happens and get ready – they’re coming. Or on the flip side — stay up later if you’re a night owl. Just get some you time in the mix.

4. Do not ever run out of wipes. Or paper products on the same day. No explanation needed.

5. Save some of their artwork. Try to save the things that they’ve drawn or written. Fill in the blank worksheets and all of that? That stuff hits the save folder which becomes the slowly thrown out folder. Take pictures of them by their works of art – after all how long can you save a sugar cube pyramid before the ants find it?

6. Invest in Goo Gone and Goof Off. Wear a mask if you use it. Here’s why. One time we came home to find that one of our sweet little ones had used a permanent marker all over our main floor {it’s a birch laminate thank goodness.} We used Goof Off and scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed and after a long bit of elbow grease it all left.  And, by the way, hide the permanent markers if you have littles.

7. Record their heights on the wall. We’ve got a section of wall between our dining room and the living room where we’ve recorded the heights of our kids. Is there writing on our wall? Yes. Are there sweet memories on that wall? Even more yes. Find a spot and record those heights. You’ll be amazed at how much they grow and how much you treasure that wall.

8. Display their artwork. They need to see it up. Just like you take pictures of them with their projects, they also need to see their stuff on display. Right now I’ve got sand filled plastic palm trees on our table, stained glass art projects on the window and a fridge with drawings. They love it. Display their work and tell them how much you like it.

9. Read the same book over. And over. And over. Especially when they are younger – this is how they learn! I’ve got some books memorized – Good Night Moon, The Cat in the Hat, Blueberries for Sal and more – because I’ve just read it again and again. There will come a day where they don’t sit on your lap asking you to read those stories again so for now just read it again.

10. Let them help you make dinner. I know you can get it done in half the time if you do it yourself, but make a point to let them help you with dinner or lunch or breakfast. We’re teaching them to be adults and they need to learn how to cook. Read Let them cut the Peppers to read my story.

11. Let their friends come over. Don’t wait till the house is perfect – but learn to be gracious and open the door and let their friends come over. You can do it. Those kids don’t care that you have dishes in the sink or a pile of papers on the counter. That doesn’t matter. You, opening the door for them, that matters.

12. Play outside with them. Swing, play soccer, build a sandcastle, walk around the block – just be and do with them. Just the other day one of my sweet little ones told me it was the best day ever because I had thrown what felt like 439 pitches to them on a super hot sweaty day. They didn’t care that it was hot. They just loved it that I took the time to throw that whiffle ball to them.

13. Their clothing drawers will get messy. That is simply the reality. Their messy drawer is NOT a sign of their gratitude for you getting their laundry done. Their messy drawers are due to them being young and them trying to be independent and get themselves dressed. Seriously – don’t fret over the drawers. Just push them shut, smile, and tell them great job.

14. Write down thanks. Keep a journal. Record the good things with your kids. One of my favorite things is to read our gratitude journal from years passed. There’s something endearing about reading about how your now sixteen year old was thankful for polly pockets and stuff like that. The journal not only keeps your heart centered , but it also provides a beautiful record for your family.

15. Eat corn for dinner. And only corn. At least once in the summer. We do.

16. Watch them sleep. Take a couple minutes to wander into their room at night – especially after one of those I’m going to pull all my hair out days – and look at them sleeping. There is something absolutely peaceful about seeing that crazy busy four year sleeping away that helps to erase the fact that you spent the day chasing him and trying to keep him in the yard.

17. Hold their hand. Keep holding their hand while you walk in the store as long as you can. Trust me, the day will come when they no longer grab {or want to hold} your hand. Those are sweet days, the little toddler hand that fits in your hand. Cherish them.

18. Tell them thank you. Make sure to tell them thank you for what they do. I know the dishes may be part of their responsibility, but they still deserve thank you’s and that’s a job well done. We wouldn’t want to be stuck in a job where the boss never tells us thank you – they deserve it as well.

19. Get in the picture with them. I am not much of a be in a picture type person. However, I’m starting to recognize the importance of me being in the picture with them. They will cherish these pictures. Take time and make yourself be in the picture. Don’t wait till your hair is perfect, or you look exactly how you wish to look – just get in the picture.

20. Be real. Don’t be the mom who walks around with the smile plastered on your face all the time. If you’re having a hard day, tell them. Still rise up and do your best, but be real. Our kids need to see us being real and us still fighting through and being mom for them. Often, in those moments where I have tears in my eyes  one of my littles will have just the right I love you mommy words.

Twenty more motherhood things that I’ve learned. Combined with this post 20 Motherhood Tips this is only 40 out of the many, many motherhood lessons that are out there. We’re in this together!

What motherhood tips would you add?