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in Episodes on September 23, 2015 by The Mom Hour

Routines For A Happy Mom-Life: Episode 20

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Routines are powerful. When they’re just right, we feel energized and balanced. When they’re a little off, we feel unsettled. And when they completely fall by the wayside, we sometimes need a complete reset to get back on track (looking at you, back-t0-school season).

In Episode 20, Meagan and Sarah share their own quirky morning and evening routines. We talk about getting enough sleep, common advice about routines that doesn’t work for us, and how routines shift over time as kids’ needs and schedules change.

We also share a couple of things making our lives better lately (links below). Enjoy!

Links we mentioned (or should have!) in Episode 20

  • LaCroix water, specifically Meagan’s favorite flavors: apricot, blackberry-cucumber, and cherry-lime
  • Music Together, Sarah’s favorite activity for moms and babies or toddlers to do together
  • Dear Moms: Sleep Deprivation is Nothing to Brag About (Meagan for The Happiest Home)
  • Sarah’s thoughts on early risers (including that handy night-light that changes color at wake-up time)
  • Rookie Moms’ genius hack for getting out the door without yelling (which inspired Sarah’s evening lullaby playlist)

Related

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: self

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« Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (As New Moms): Episode 19
Debunking The Myth Of The “Good School Mom”: Episode 21 »

Comments

  1. Sheena says

    September 25, 2015 at 3:13 pm

    Love the talk of routines at home! I am struggling especially at the 3-6pm time of day. I lack energy, the kids want attention and I need to make dinner.

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      September 25, 2015 at 7:34 pm

      Oof, yeah, that’s a hard time for us too. That’s usually when I get up and get physical to keep my own energy going – so I tackle leftover dishes etc. that have gathered all day. Whenever possible we get outside during that time, weather permitting. And – of course this is one of those pieces of advice always easier to give than follow – if I do a little bit of dinner prep/planning earlier in the day, then it’s not so daunting during that timeframe. Thanks for commenting, Sheena!

      Reply
  2. Jacquie says

    September 25, 2015 at 11:22 pm

    Great topic, thank you for covering. I love glimpses into how other moms structure their lives. It took me a little while into being a stay at home mom to figure out that anchors throughout my week were key to my sanity.

    Am branching out with my La Croix flavors as well 🙂

    Reply

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The Mom Hour
Sarah joined @marnihughestv on @newsnationnow this Sarah joined @marnihughestv on @newsnationnow this weekend to talk about how the formula shortage is affecting moms in our community. You can watch the clip at the link in our bio.
A day at the beach with kids is, um, no day at the A day at the beach with kids is, um, no day at the beach. (Sorry, had to. 😎) There’s gear to pack, sand to remove from unseen regions, and safety and sun protection to be mindful of. Thanks to our team of contributors, we’ve got you covered on the blog this week with the products that will make your beach outing fun, safe, and comfortable at every age and stage.

Click this image at the link in our bio to get beach gear recs for every age and stage from baby through teen! And big thanks to @catieparrish @cafedumartin @stacybronec @kiamhammon @emilyeroark for the great suggestions!

#beachgear #momsatthebeach #beachwithbabies #beachwithtoddlers #beachwithkids #beachvacationgear #bestbeachgear #beachgearguide #beach #momlife #summermomlife #beachmom #beachfamily
We're meeting next week to build out podcast and b We're meeting next week to build out podcast and blog content for the next few months. What topics should be on our list to cover?
New episode! As moms, we are our kids' biggest fa New episode!

As moms, we are our kids' biggest fans. But when it comes to deciding when, how and what to share about them with others, the struggle is real. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah discuss how talking about our own kids in a public forum gets tricky as they get older (think bigger kids, bigger problems) - and not just for the reasons you might think. Join us for a real conversation about navigating the ever-changing seasons of motherhood and how we think you can be honest and authentic without sharing *everything* going on inside your four walls. We wrap up with some updates on our specific kids (all eight!).

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Over the past few weeks, one of my kids - the one Over the past few weeks, one of my kids - the one who, as a baby and toddler, I would once have titled Most Likely To Wail So Long And Hard In The Gym Child Care That I Will Almost Certainly Have To Skip My Shower - has developed a bit of a fitness obsession. 

We've spent hours discussing his lifting program and gym schedule. And today, I scoured the grocery-store shelves for all the ingredients for a smoothie that will, I believe, help him get "jacked" and perhaps "make gains", then stood by as he prepared said smoothie, in case he needed assistance. (He did.)

The path from mothering toddlers to teens is full of surprises, friends. One day, you're trying to squeeze as much self-care as possible into the two-hour child care limit and wondering if the gym folks would catch you if you slipped out the side door for a solo sprint through the grocery store (never had the guts to try, but the temptation was strong.) 

But before you know it, the gym - and the coffee shop, and the inside of the car, and your favorite social media platforms - are no longer primarily your turf, but a shared domain where you try to find common ground even though you feel increasingly old and potentially cringe-inducing (and anyway, you've been told, clearly all the best reels were TikToks first.)

But you keep showing up. 

Because while it’s occasionally uncomfortable to wonder just how out of touch you’ve become since they were little, you also know there are bits of wisdom they rely on you for…wisdom such as how to secure the lid to the blender so you don’t wind up with protein smoothie on the ceiling.

And while they may never again look at you with with unquestioning adoration of a two-year-old, the respect you receive now, while less effusively expressed, is much harder-earned and well-deserved. 

Parenting teens, it seems, is all about striking the proper balance between humility and authority. I’m not sure I’ve figured it out yet and maybe I never will. But I’m still in here punching the bag, and meting out my mothering efforts…one smoothie at a time. 

-M

#parentingteens #grownandflown #bigkidparenting #teens #motherhood
New episode! Moms are savvy consumers, conscienti New episode!

Moms are savvy consumers, conscientious home managers, and discerning decision-makers. So why are we so often the target of hyper-generalized and cringey marketing efforts? In today’s More Than Mom episode - airing on Mother's Day! - Meagan and Sarah keep it light (and a bit snarky 😉) as we vent about the sloppy intent, terrible puns and ridiculous stereotypes advertisers use to market to us moms.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Words by @sarahelimberg, contributor to The Mom Ho Words by @sarahelimberg, contributor to The Mom Hour and new mom of a toddler from San Diego:

--

#MyMomHour usually looks like this. Mid-day Saturday, exhausted from the work week, run down from the morning, heart full because I finally made it to a day with my little girl.

This window of free time is usually during nap with a quick lunch and an episode from the DVR archives that is no doubt a few weeks old. It’s probably the most relaxed and at peace I am all week.

What isn’t pictured is all the work it took to get to this point. All the effort it took to create this time for myself. It took meal planning and dishes after bedtime and house cleaning before breakfast and grocery orders and late night laundry and lunchtime emails and a coordinated vacuum run during our park trip.

I don’t think enough people acknowledge the work it takes for parents and caregivers to take time for themselves. There are endless people and Instagram posts telling you that you need time for yourself. Time to relax. Time to decompress. But I’m not seeing those same people recognize that it isn’t always that simple. I have yet to figure out how to say to my 15 month old, “Mommy needs some time, you good?”

So if you’re reading this during your mom hour, cheers.

If you’re taking two minutes to scroll on your phone in the bathroom, cheers.

Whether you’ve figured out your mom hour or not, I hope your mug is full. 

--

Want a mug like Sarah's? Click this image at the link in our bio.

Want to share what an hour for yourself looks like to you? Tag your post #MyMomHour so we can see it and share!
It's been so fun seeing our mugs out in the world, It's been so fun seeing our mugs out in the world, filled with your coffee and tea, sitting on your kitchen counters or porch steps. Get yours by clicking this image at the link in our bio, and follow the #MyMomHour hashtag to see how moms in our community are taking (or hoping for) an hour to themselves.

💛 ☕️ 💛
Words by @lisapayne4, contributor to The Mom Hour Words by @lisapayne4, contributor to The Mom Hour and mom of four from Kansas:

--

As a single mom of 4 who works full time out of the home, free time hasn’t always been plentiful. But new arrangements have found me with more free time than I’ve had for about 15 years.

Those first hours of free time included trying to figure out what I *do* with free time. Sitting paralyzed, figuring out which of the hundreds of things should occur in this unfamiliar and uncomfortable space of alone.

As the normalcy of the new schedule begins seeping in, indecisiveness trickles away like granules of sand dissipating in an hourglass. Both indicating the countdown to the old normalcy and the gentle flow of time.

Since I work well with organization, I make a mental list, prioritizing 1-2 items begging to be accomplished in #MyMomHour. Sometimes it’s a date with myself at the gym, or a tv show that my kids don’t need to (or want to) watch with me. Often, I’ll pop in an air pod and it’s a podcast, audiobook, music, or phone call while I take care of putting things back in order around the house. Sometimes I doodle on the writings I’ve started, seeing if any inspiration percolates.

I walk away feeling accomplished, refueled and more relaxed without so much clutter, one less pile on the counter or thing on the stairs. It rejuvenates a spirit in me to get back into something I’ve left behind, a friendship, an old project or hobby, self-care…even if it’s binge-watching a new (to me) series. And it always helps me be more present when the old normalcy returns.

--

Want a mug like Lisa's? Click this image at the link in our bio.

Want to share what an hour for yourself looks like to you? Tag your post #MyMomHour so we can see it and share!
New episode! Has your reading life come to a scre New episode!

Has your reading life come to a screeching halt due to the responsibilities of motherhood? In this month’s Voices interview, Meagan welcomes back blogger, podcaster, and book club leader Amy Clark of @MomAdvice, to discuss how a busy mom can take small steps to create a readerly life. We discuss all the hacks for finding the time to dive back in (think TikTok’s #sundayreset for inspiration!) and a neat tool for finding the perfect book to match your mood. Amy also shares how reading can help you "find your people" during your current season of life. This episode is for anyone looking to fit more reading into their lives (in little and big ways).

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio! 

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts @momadvice
Words by @thepaperdart, contributor to The Mom Hou Words by @thepaperdart, contributor to The Mom Hour and mom of three from Southern California:

--

This past November, when my third child was about six months old, I decided to write a novel. It sounds insane, and like it was the absolute last thing I needed to take on, but it ended up being one of the best decisions I made that year. 

While being a mom has transformed me for the better in so many ways, it’s also made it difficult for me to connect with, and nurture, the person I was before. The person who had dreams, goals, and interests that had nothing to do with making lunches or patching boo boos. 

And while, when I initially started down this path, the idea of finding an hour a day to write seemed impossible, I’ve since learned that it’s not. And, instead, is actually kind of essential. 

Because when I find the time to write—to get lost in the imaginary world that is no one’s but my own—I reclaim a little piece of myself in the process. And even though the time I spend at this desk every day may be short, the impact—particularly on my mental health—is far-reaching. 

So when I find that hour of alone time—which usually happens late at night after everyone is in bed—I try to use it to invest in myself, and the thing that brings me joy, satisfaction, and a sense of reclaiming the parts of ME that can so easily get lost in the equally fulfilling and exhausting day-to-day work of caring for the little people I love. 

--

Want a mug like Katherine's? Click this image at the link in our bio.

Want to share what an hour for yourself looks like to you? Tag your post #MyMomHour so we can see it and share!
For the last few years, Mother's Day has felt "off For the last few years, Mother's Day has felt "off" to me (Sarah). I've outgrown the years where I desperately needed a nap and a lighter load of kid-duties and housework, where it felt indulgent and special and truly celebratory to be honored and even spoiled a little. These days, with bigger kids in school, I get enough time to myself on a regular basis. And caring for my home is actually something I enjoy - most of the time - so taking an arbitrary day off of dishes and laundry didn't sync with my actual needs.

(Pausing here to reinforce the fact that I'm talking about what felt right - or not right -  for ME, personally, one mom in a specific set of circumstances. In case it isn't abundantly clear, the TL;DR of this post is: YOU DO YOU, MAMA.)

The part that felt the most "off" was how my partner and I each felt obligated to give each other this "day off" during what is, for our family, one of the busiest seasons of the year. First for Mother's Day, during what we all know is a truly bonkers stretch of end-of-school madness, and then for Father's Day, when we're all just *barely* catching our breath and transitioning from spring to summer. It felt obligatory, transactional, and to be totally honest, the special person didn't particularly want the day off and the bestower felt kinda grumpy about providing it.

So last Father's Day Bryan and I declared that we're done trying to deliver each other a responsibility-free day for Mother's and Father's days. We're also done buying MD and FD gifts for each other, or taking the kids to Target at the eleventh hour to scrounge up a funny mug and some chocolate. We're not NOT celebrating or, like, taking some big stance against the holiday, we're just dialing it wayyyyy back. 

What makes me so happy about this is not only the *removing* of something that wasn't feeling meaningful, but the realization that we've arrived at this place because we both *genuinely* enjoy a Regular Ol' Family Sunday. We don't need breaks from family life right now; we can celebrate just by living it.

I hope your Mother's Day is shaping up in a way that feels right to you, right now. And if it isn't, there's always next year. -S
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Sarah joined @marnihughestv on @newsnationnow this Sarah joined @marnihughestv on @newsnationnow this weekend to talk about how the formula shortage is affecting moms in our community. You can watch the clip at the link in our bio.
A day at the beach with kids is, um, no day at the A day at the beach with kids is, um, no day at the beach. (Sorry, had to. 😎) There’s gear to pack, sand to remove from unseen regions, and safety and sun protection to be mindful of. Thanks to our team of contributors, we’ve got you covered on the blog this week with the products that will make your beach outing fun, safe, and comfortable at every age and stage.

Click this image at the link in our bio to get beach gear recs for every age and stage from baby through teen! And big thanks to @catieparrish @cafedumartin @stacybronec @kiamhammon @emilyeroark for the great suggestions!

#beachgear #momsatthebeach #beachwithbabies #beachwithtoddlers #beachwithkids #beachvacationgear #bestbeachgear #beachgearguide #beach #momlife #summermomlife #beachmom #beachfamily
We're meeting next week to build out podcast and b We're meeting next week to build out podcast and blog content for the next few months. What topics should be on our list to cover?
New episode! As moms, we are our kids' biggest fa New episode!

As moms, we are our kids' biggest fans. But when it comes to deciding when, how and what to share about them with others, the struggle is real. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah discuss how talking about our own kids in a public forum gets tricky as they get older (think bigger kids, bigger problems) - and not just for the reasons you might think. Join us for a real conversation about navigating the ever-changing seasons of motherhood and how we think you can be honest and authentic without sharing *everything* going on inside your four walls. We wrap up with some updates on our specific kids (all eight!).

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Over the past few weeks, one of my kids - the one Over the past few weeks, one of my kids - the one who, as a baby and toddler, I would once have titled Most Likely To Wail So Long And Hard In The Gym Child Care That I Will Almost Certainly Have To Skip My Shower - has developed a bit of a fitness obsession. 

We've spent hours discussing his lifting program and gym schedule. And today, I scoured the grocery-store shelves for all the ingredients for a smoothie that will, I believe, help him get "jacked" and perhaps "make gains", then stood by as he prepared said smoothie, in case he needed assistance. (He did.)

The path from mothering toddlers to teens is full of surprises, friends. One day, you're trying to squeeze as much self-care as possible into the two-hour child care limit and wondering if the gym folks would catch you if you slipped out the side door for a solo sprint through the grocery store (never had the guts to try, but the temptation was strong.) 

But before you know it, the gym - and the coffee shop, and the inside of the car, and your favorite social media platforms - are no longer primarily your turf, but a shared domain where you try to find common ground even though you feel increasingly old and potentially cringe-inducing (and anyway, you've been told, clearly all the best reels were TikToks first.)

But you keep showing up. 

Because while it’s occasionally uncomfortable to wonder just how out of touch you’ve become since they were little, you also know there are bits of wisdom they rely on you for…wisdom such as how to secure the lid to the blender so you don’t wind up with protein smoothie on the ceiling.

And while they may never again look at you with with unquestioning adoration of a two-year-old, the respect you receive now, while less effusively expressed, is much harder-earned and well-deserved. 

Parenting teens, it seems, is all about striking the proper balance between humility and authority. I’m not sure I’ve figured it out yet and maybe I never will. But I’m still in here punching the bag, and meting out my mothering efforts…one smoothie at a time. 

-M

#parentingteens #grownandflown #bigkidparenting #teens #motherhood
New episode! Moms are savvy consumers, conscienti New episode!

Moms are savvy consumers, conscientious home managers, and discerning decision-makers. So why are we so often the target of hyper-generalized and cringey marketing efforts? In today’s More Than Mom episode - airing on Mother's Day! - Meagan and Sarah keep it light (and a bit snarky 😉) as we vent about the sloppy intent, terrible puns and ridiculous stereotypes advertisers use to market to us moms.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Words by @sarahelimberg, contributor to The Mom Ho Words by @sarahelimberg, contributor to The Mom Hour and new mom of a toddler from San Diego:

--

#MyMomHour usually looks like this. Mid-day Saturday, exhausted from the work week, run down from the morning, heart full because I finally made it to a day with my little girl.

This window of free time is usually during nap with a quick lunch and an episode from the DVR archives that is no doubt a few weeks old. It’s probably the most relaxed and at peace I am all week.

What isn’t pictured is all the work it took to get to this point. All the effort it took to create this time for myself. It took meal planning and dishes after bedtime and house cleaning before breakfast and grocery orders and late night laundry and lunchtime emails and a coordinated vacuum run during our park trip.

I don’t think enough people acknowledge the work it takes for parents and caregivers to take time for themselves. There are endless people and Instagram posts telling you that you need time for yourself. Time to relax. Time to decompress. But I’m not seeing those same people recognize that it isn’t always that simple. I have yet to figure out how to say to my 15 month old, “Mommy needs some time, you good?”

So if you’re reading this during your mom hour, cheers.

If you’re taking two minutes to scroll on your phone in the bathroom, cheers.

Whether you’ve figured out your mom hour or not, I hope your mug is full. 

--

Want a mug like Sarah's? Click this image at the link in our bio.

Want to share what an hour for yourself looks like to you? Tag your post #MyMomHour so we can see it and share!
It's been so fun seeing our mugs out in the world, It's been so fun seeing our mugs out in the world, filled with your coffee and tea, sitting on your kitchen counters or porch steps. Get yours by clicking this image at the link in our bio, and follow the #MyMomHour hashtag to see how moms in our community are taking (or hoping for) an hour to themselves.

💛 ☕️ 💛
Words by @lisapayne4, contributor to The Mom Hour Words by @lisapayne4, contributor to The Mom Hour and mom of four from Kansas:

--

As a single mom of 4 who works full time out of the home, free time hasn’t always been plentiful. But new arrangements have found me with more free time than I’ve had for about 15 years.

Those first hours of free time included trying to figure out what I *do* with free time. Sitting paralyzed, figuring out which of the hundreds of things should occur in this unfamiliar and uncomfortable space of alone.

As the normalcy of the new schedule begins seeping in, indecisiveness trickles away like granules of sand dissipating in an hourglass. Both indicating the countdown to the old normalcy and the gentle flow of time.

Since I work well with organization, I make a mental list, prioritizing 1-2 items begging to be accomplished in #MyMomHour. Sometimes it’s a date with myself at the gym, or a tv show that my kids don’t need to (or want to) watch with me. Often, I’ll pop in an air pod and it’s a podcast, audiobook, music, or phone call while I take care of putting things back in order around the house. Sometimes I doodle on the writings I’ve started, seeing if any inspiration percolates.

I walk away feeling accomplished, refueled and more relaxed without so much clutter, one less pile on the counter or thing on the stairs. It rejuvenates a spirit in me to get back into something I’ve left behind, a friendship, an old project or hobby, self-care…even if it’s binge-watching a new (to me) series. And it always helps me be more present when the old normalcy returns.

--

Want a mug like Lisa's? Click this image at the link in our bio.

Want to share what an hour for yourself looks like to you? Tag your post #MyMomHour so we can see it and share!
New episode! Has your reading life come to a scre New episode!

Has your reading life come to a screeching halt due to the responsibilities of motherhood? In this month’s Voices interview, Meagan welcomes back blogger, podcaster, and book club leader Amy Clark of @MomAdvice, to discuss how a busy mom can take small steps to create a readerly life. We discuss all the hacks for finding the time to dive back in (think TikTok’s #sundayreset for inspiration!) and a neat tool for finding the perfect book to match your mood. Amy also shares how reading can help you "find your people" during your current season of life. This episode is for anyone looking to fit more reading into their lives (in little and big ways).

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio! 

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts @momadvice

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