Tag: Millington

all, Parenting

I don’t have my s*@# together.

schmidtkathryn

I too have days that I don’t know the difference between up and down.  

I have days I don’t want to clean, cook or take care of any one. I just want to simply be, simply exist. Days when my children are so overwhelming and loud I can’t function. And to tell you the truth they aren’t being bad, they’re just being kids. Those are the moments I feel like the world is flying by me. When I feel like I’m zoning out. 

I can tell you this much my kids are happy most of the time. They are clean, fed and VERY LOVED! 

These moments DO NOT make me a bad mom. These moments make me human. 

As a mom you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. You feel like you need to handle it all. Girl let me tell you, you can but it may make you loose your sanity. The days of moms keeping the children happy, keeping the house clean, having dinner done and made by the time your spouse gets home every day are gone. We live in a different world now. If you are a mom who can do this, PLEASE teach me your ways! Many of the moms I’ve run into can’t.

At the end of the day if your laundry is still not folded its ok. If your dishes need to be washed and you are too exhausted its ok. If your child is upset, talk to them, soothe them.  Is your spouse happy? If not how can you help?

In my home we live, we laugh, we love and we deal with dog hair.

~ Katy Schmidt                                                                                                                                 The Nurturing Doula, LLC                                                                                                          Birth Doula, CPST and CBE                                                                                                           805-791-8325                                                                                     http://www.thenurturingdoula.com                                            thenurturingdoula@hotmail.com

 

all, Parenting

Easier Shopping with Kids

schmidtkathryn

Whether they are babies, toddlers, preschoolers or school aged children, shopping with them can be challenging.

Here are a few things to make each stage easier:

Babies:

  • Take them directly after a feeding if possible. Who knows maybe they’ll nap!
  • Make your list at home during nap time, so you can focus on what you need
  • Schedule your groceries to be picked up or even delivered. Sure having them picked up or delivered is fine most of the time, but when your babies are little the more you force yourself to go out the easier it will be.
  • For the first few weeks if you need groceries have someone else get them. Delivering a baby is hard on your whole body.
  • I found baby carriers can make shopping a little easier
  • Remember infant carrier carseats are safer in the basket not on top where smaller children sit.

Toddlers:

  • Bring snacks, no really bring snacks with an extra ziplock for the snacks they drop on the floor
  • Bring a few toys for distracting also get your hands on some of these rings if you don’t have them yet.
  • Make your list at home
  • Get cup strap which works on soppy cups, bottles, and some toys, for those moments when your little one wants to throw their cup.
  • If you have a lengthy list try to take some breaks, bonus points to the stores with fish! Kids love fish.
  • If you have a “helpful” toddler encourage them to grab something off the shelf and “put” it in the cart.

Preschoolers:

  • Preschoolers (most) like to be independent and not ride in the cart, which means chasing them down when they decide to run. When I first encountered my own runner, I took the time to teach him why we couldn’t just run off from mom.
  • Bring snacks, no really bring snacks with an extra ziplock for the snacks they drop on the floor
  • Make your list at home
  • Try to teach them about the produce you are picking out even if its just practicing how to say it
  • Have them count items you are buying more than one of
  • Read a few things off of your list to them before heading in, have them grab those items.

 

School aged:

  • This is the perfect age to teach them how to pick produce, how to watch out for the dented cans and check expiration dates on the dairy.
  • Have your child help you make your list at home.
  • Depending on the age, have them read the list to you
  • Try a new food with them, this will encourage them to be more adventurous with their food.
  • As they become older challenge them to find the best price on an item, remember the whole grocery list, or even pick all of the ingredients for a meal.

 

From the moment they were born they have craved knowledge.

They need to spread their wings and learn with their whole body. Shopping with children won’t always be terrible. If  you only have a baby now and its currently easy to shop with your little one, it may continue to be easy or it could get harder. With every age know that there can be a melt down. Its how you handle it that makes a difference.

When your little one is having a melt down and someone, like me, stops and says: I’ve been there and it gets better know that they mean it!

It takes a village to raise kids, really it does! Lastly on rare occasions you find someone who stops and tries to distract your little one briefly. They see you on the brink of a melt down yourself and they speak to your child with a kind soft voice.

I have been on both ends of this spectrum. When I encounter this situation I do not get too close to the child as that may seem life threatening. I try to talk to the kiddo who is most likely at check out with his/her parent and district them with “hey thats a cool shirt or toy!” Sometimes its the little things that help other moms out. Happy shopping!

~ The Nurturing Doula, LLC

    Katy Schmidt

    805-791-8325

    http://www.thenurturingdoula.com

    thenurturingdoula@hotmail.com

 

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Top 5 Summer activities

schmidtkathryn

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Summer is right around the corner!

We all know that feeling of what should we do with the kids today? The park again!? No, we did that yesterday and the day before! If you are tired of the same summer activities over and over you’ve come to the right place. I’ve compiled the top 5 inexpensive things to do with your kids over summer break, and one of them is free! Each title is hyperlinked to the corresponding place.

Flint Children’s Museum

  • Admission: adults $6 and children $6
  • Hands on exhibits for children of all ages
  • No limit how long you stay and play
  • Snacks and beverages for purchase lunch can be brought and eaten there, but only in designated areas

  • personal favorite: the music room

 

Fort Clarkston

  • Admission: Children $10 Mon-Thur, $12 Fri-Sun
  • Slimbing area
  • Slides
  • Scooters to ride
  • Arcade
  • Gift shop
  • Cafe and bar

  • Personal favorite: Children and adults receive wrist bands, they can not leave with anyone else but you.

Lake Callis

  • Admission: Day pass for Davison Residents $5 per vehicle, $10 per vehicle for non residents
  • Lake to play in
  • Splash pad: Admission:  Residents $2 and Non-Residents $3, 2 yrs and under free
  • Concession stand
  • Grills
  • Kayak and water board rentals
  • Friday night movies on the beach

  • Personal Favorite: Splash pad is gated so little ones are contained

Bowling   

  • 2 free games each day for kids registered
  • Shoe rental is included at some bowling centers

  • Personal Favorite: Bowling gives kids a chance to practice their hand eye coordination

Columbiaville Library

  • Admission: Free!
  • Summer reading program for children and adults
  • Daily activities for the kids 
  • Prize drawing each week for adults
  • End of the summer party for kids and adults

  • Personal Favorite: It encourages reading for all ages

 

If you found this helpful to make your child’s summer fulfilled please share it!

 

– Katy Schmidt

The Nurturing Doula, LLC

805-791-8325

http://www.thenurturingdoula.com

thenurturingdoula@hotmail.com

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A letter to my “mama’s”

schmidtkathryn

From the day I met you, yes all of you, I thought to myself wow! Wow, you are so strong, and so beautiful. We worked on your birth plans, your postpartum plans, and checking your car seats. You stumped me with questions, then I made sure I answered them in a timely manner. Time is catching up with us so we practice labor and birth positions. Im pretty sure you think I’m crazy because of how much fun I have with teaching you all this craziness. The day of your labor, you showed me your true strength. As we arrive where you plan to give birth. I see your nervousness. You may think you hid it well. To the untrained eye ( i.e.: spouse who you fool often) you did hide it. Distracting you was my main focus. I watched you minute after minute. Trying to stay calm and breath through the pain. I reminded you to keep breathing and I could tell you were having a hard time. There was a moment I could tell you wanted to give up. I looked at you and told you you can do this! You are doing this! You are almost done. Your baby will be here soon. You kept going, contraction after contraction. Until your baby arrived. When your face relaxed and you realized you did it! YOU did it. You brought your baby into this world, into your family. I watch you look at your beautiful baby, yes even boys are beautiful, in amazement. The look of “I grew this tiny human in my body and my heart”. Time seemed to stop for a moment. You had a smile on your face from ear to ear. Motherhood is hard, long, dirty and much more work. Labor and Delivery was hard but you got through it beautifully. You are so strong and If you ever think you aren’t you can call me and I’ll remind you how strong you are!

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I am one PROUD doula! Have a great day. Welcome to motherhood. Please give those babies hugs and kisses from their favorite doula

~Katy

The Nurturing Doula, LLC

thenurturingdoula@hotmail.com

805-791-8325

facebook.com/KSThe.Nurturing.Doula