When I was just 27, I welcomed twins into my busy household. With my eldest not yet 4 and my middle child only 19 months old, life was a whirlwind. Fast forward to today, and my twins are now 11, my middle child is 12, and my oldest is 14. After a decade spent navigating parenthood, I’ve emerged from that foggy new parent phase, and I’ve realized that some of my proudest parenting hacks were a bit quirky. Here are a few of the creative strategies I employed:
- Pre-Chewing Meals for the Kids
Juggling nursing two babies while another child complained about tough food? I took it upon myself to pre-chew their meals. Thankfully, my kids don’t remember those moments where I transformed into a human baby bird, serving up softened food straight from my mouth. - Bathtub Tooth-Brushing Assembly Line
With a single bathroom for four kids, I lined them up at the bathtub for simultaneous tooth brushing sessions. This way, I could oversee them without worrying about the little ones taking a tumble down the stairs. - Bulk Buying of Socks
If I had realized sooner that 10-year-olds deserved their own sock collection, I wouldn’t have kept a bucket of generic socks by the door. Now, my kids are sock hoarders, refusing to wear matching pairs, while I once blissfully avoided the “lost sock” dilemma. - Singing Songs About Vaccinations
Getting kids excited about shots is tough, but when they started singing, “Polio! No, no Polio! A shot hurts less than polio, oh, oh!” it made the process a little easier. We even had catchy tunes for other vaccinations, making them less daunting. - Creating an Upset Stomach Protocol
I developed a system for handling sick days, known as the Upset Stomach Protocol (USP). As soon as they could manage a bucket, my kids learned to deal with their own messes, which was a game changer in our household. - Going Clothes-Free for Babies
Outfit changes for my twins became overwhelming, so I ditched the complicated clothing altogether. No snaps, no buttons—just comfortable onesies that made life so much easier! - Choosing Not to Have a TV
Initially, I thought avoiding a television would boost our productivity. However, when we finally got one, my son mistook a commercial for a movie! Looking back, using the TV as a babysitter could have saved me from some chaotic moments. - Implementing a 7 p.m. Bedtime
I’ve always been a fan of early bedtimes, but as my children grew, I realized they started to feel deprived. When my 12-year-old mentioned her friends stayed up until 9, I adjusted bedtime to 8:30—still early, but a more reasonable compromise. - Backyard Homesteading
Growing our own food became easier than grocery shopping, so I stocked up on bulk flour and butter to make our own bread and pasta. I was definitely ahead of the low-carb trend!
I’ve come a long way since those overwhelming days. Now, as a working mom of six kids aged 9, 11, 11, 11, 12, and 14, I’m sure I’ll look back at these current parenting hacks and chuckle at my creativity. Embracing your unique parenting style—even the quirky parts—can make all the difference.
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In summary, while some parenting hacks may seem odd, if they simplify your life, they’re worth exploring!