The ultimate Parenthood goals are making sweet memories while raising orderly human beings.
Sometimes…. Ok, most days, things don’t go according to a parent’s plans. Being on time, the whole family fashioning a good look, owning a home that only needs cleaned once a week, and kids that never whine. These are what parents’ dreams are made of!
Social media perceptions can sometimes cause moms to be extra insecure. No one really talks about the struggles.
However, if you use Twitter, you’ll read several relatable, sarcastic, and entertaining tweets about parenting. Instead of questioning what you’re doing wrong in your home, you’ll feel right at home.
There are really too many good tweets to pick from. Out of hundreds, these 10 are among my favorites!
1. Perfect-ish Family
All the parents standing around at BBQ’s and parties.
Nothing brings me more joy than the family I constantly complain about.
1. Wash 2. Forget to move to dryer 3. Rewash the now smelly clothes 4. Move to dryer 5. Repeat steps 1-4 6. Dry both loads together 7. Rerun dryer for wrinkles 8. Move to basket 9. Fail to fold 10. Move back to dryer
Some do yoga and various other forms of meditation. Here’s what any mom really needs though-
That's great, childless friend that just got back from a weeklong meditation trip to Bali where you found inner peace. I got to go to the grocery store without my kids so, you know, samesies
Me, on phone after all day with the kids: "Thanks for calling. These kids are driving me nuts. You have no idea how good it is to hear another adult's voice."
Other adult: "Um, I was just calling to tell you your car warrenty is expiring, and to see if you wanted to extend it."
I think it’s safe to say that no one is the perfect parent. And any given day even the most motivated mom or dad can try to plan for the perfect day. But we’d be fools to expect a mess-free, whine-free, energetic, fun-filled non-stop 18+ years.
At least we have Twitter to share our experiences with. But these hilarious parents’ daily struggles just crack me up!
As a stay-at-home mom of 6 years, I made it my job to find ways to guide our family in the frugal lifestyle. Because you know, if you’re not making an income (alongside your spouse), the best you can do is save it and stretch it.
In 6 years time we haven’t gone on any fancy family vacations, we hardly dine out, and we even get picky with our monthly bills and groceries. I don’t get my hair or nails done. Not even a hired babysitter.
It was a challenge living on one income, but we made it work. We had everything we needed.
So, what happened when my husband took a job that paid less? Well, I promised I’d do whatever it took to make the difference up, if not more. So, I applied to a weekend job near home. Because of my husband (Steven)’s job and military obligations, I’m not able to work much (when it comes to making sure one of us is home with the kids).
When I took this part-time job, I realized that it was actually freeing as a (mostly) stay-at-home mom. I began to have a purpose outside of home and more importantly, I started getting more adult socialization. And on top of that, it’s comforting to have a little extra income.
Then, this weekend happened. I was scheduled to work when my husband was on orders. And the grandparents were all busy with their weekend plans, living their own lives as they should. And I had never hired a babysitter before. I panicked.
How do you even find a babysitter?
I can’t even afford the babysitters on care.com and I wasn’t about to ask just anyone. So my in-laws suggested a friend to help me search. She asked around at Youth Group at our church and soon enough, someone was interested.
Leading up to work, I had been slightly nervous, wondering:
How will our new babysitter and my boys feel about each other?
Will it be weird to leave them with someone I don’t know much about?
Will the boys behave?
Will they be busy and have fun?
Will I get an emergency call at work?
And will she enjoy it enough to come back?
Then, this nice girl shows up at our house and I introduced myself and the kids to her. I show her around, show her the list of phone numbers, rules, and things to keep busy.
And I was certain there would be one kid clinging to me as I ran out of the door. Our youngest had just woken up and wanted me to hold him. Weirdly enough, without a cue, he ran over to her, hands upward, to be picked up. Such a good feeling!
I called Steven on my quick little drive to tell him that I officially left the house! It was exciting! It was freeing!
When I came home I discovered that the kids were busy THE ENTIRE TIME! They had so much fun with the new babysitter that they were begging me to have her over again! They also went to bed easy that night and slept in later than usual the next morning.
My husband and I got thinking we should’ve had a babysitter all along, because now we can:
Go on dates when grandparents can’t babysit
Have someone watch the kids so I can run errands (if Steven’s on orders)
Make appointments at the bank, car dealerships, and other financial institutions
Go Christmas shopping alone
Both potentially work the same day
The biggest realization of hiring a babysitter is WOW! WHAT A DIFFERENCE! For our whole family! I’ve been living under a rock for 6 years!
Babysitters are a blessing to families because while they care for our kids, they have energy to play with our kids that we sometimes don’t, and they make great role-models.
Regardless of your situation, it’s definitely worth finding someone to hire at least every once in a while! Just think of what you could do with the extra help! Back in my babysitting days, I was hired for regular date nights, a day for mom to tend the garden, and once a week so the parents could take dance lessons.
On our Facebook page, Mommas Group, one topic Moms struggle with is babysitters. After some research, care.com is useful, but not all moms feel comfortable using the site. Not to mention, the cost calculator. Moms in our region don’t typically pay $15 or $20 an hour for care.
To join this conversation, please comment below how you found your babysitter, your region, and what you pay. If you don’t have a babysitter yet, what are your questions and concerns?
“Frugal” can be explained as stingy, penny-pinching, and tight. But for those with the conservative lifestyle, the word has an entirely different ring to it; thrifty, economical, and resourceful.
It could explain the type of person who likes freebies, when in fact nothing is actually free. Everything costs someone; labor, shipping, ideas, and just solid goods in general.
But for most, “frugal” is a mentality of prioritizing, saving, and getting extra creative when you can’t have everything.
My family has learned the art of being frugal over a span of 6 years. In 2012 my husband and I were expecting our first baby, near the time of his second deployment. So I made the easy decision then, to quit work. As our family expanded, I continued to stay home. We always made it work, despite the occasional challenges. I feel strongly in being a part of our kids’ early childhood development and learning. And my husband’s been even more on-board after finding out what child care costs!
As a stay-at-home mom, I always felt like I wanted to contribute more. Finally 3 kids later, I’ve been able to take a couple of gigs that still allow me to be home 6-7 days a week. However, one of the best ways to contribute as a stay-at-home mom is to save a little cash. I wish I had stumbled upon an informative blog post then about frugal living.
I’m not a financial adviser, but here are some creative ways to help you save:
Tips for saving:
Monthly bills: Understand needs from wants
Needs: housing, electricity, propane, water, car(s), insurance, gas, phone(s), nutritional food, and medical services…
Think about switching your phone service to something month-to-month
If you owe a medical bill, ask if you can combine or make lower payments
If you feel you can’t go without cable or internet, try the lowest packages
Hold off on stores that you get lost in (Wal-mart or Target, which pains me to say)
Save going out to eat for special occasions or only a few times a year
Don’t make any quick financial decisions; always take the time to research alternatives, think on it, & save
Always ask for deals! (My marketing professor taught this and it’s worked)
You can even get managers to mark down prices by offering cash today (This is one of Dave Ramsey’s fun little hacks which saved us $100 on our couch doing this)
At the grocery store: Understand marketing and don’t give in
Photo Credit: (Pixabay User) Davies_Designs
Meal plan, and stick to your list when grocery shopping. Stores are designed to get you to buy more (like candy being kept low at checkout aisles for kids to see)
Look for simple recipes– extra seasonings/condiments can rack up the grocery bill
Go to the store once a week to avoid temptations during extra stops
Shop the same store every time so you don’t get lost and buy more
Aldi isn’t just for poor people and elders, you get the best price without coupons
Bring a calculator and cash only to help you stick to your budget
Avoid buying junk food and freezer meals, which tend to cost more
Bread, rice, noodles, and potatoes are affordable fillers for meals
Eggs and peanut butter are affordable protein alternatives
Buy healthy snacks apples, bananas, oranges, carrots, and other veggies. What would be more filling a $3-5 bag of chips or a $3-5 bag of apples?
When meat at the grocery store goes on sale (and is worth the cost) stock up or buy meat in bulk from your local meat market
In the kitchen: Know how to make recipes from scratch
Photo Credit: (Pixabay User) fancycrave1
Know how to make bread from scratch- Always have yeast and flour on hand
Keep tomato paste on hand for pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce, and tomato-based sauces/dips, sloppy joes…
Know how to make other sauces- Alfredo sauce is so easy!
Freeze juices of beef/pork roast, slow cooker chicken, or ham… (use in soup later)
Boil the bones from your chicken, turkey, ham, etc. with water to make stock
Refrigerate bacon grease drippings to substitute butter in savory dishes
Divide those packs of chicken and freeze individually (use 1 breast per meal)
Same for hamburger (I divide this into 1/2 lbs for when it’s just me and the kids)
Meat is expensive, divide other roasts as well
Grind up crusty bread to substitute panko or add to meatballs
Freshen up leftovers by combining them to make a new dish
Use browned fruits in smoothies, cooked oatmeal, or make a bread from it
Other areas to be frugal: How to get some help/support
Photo Credit: (Pixabay User) PublicDomainPictures
Gladly take hand-me down clothes, furniture, or appliances from a close friend or family member who doesn’t need them any more! My sister gives us all of the clothes my nephew’s grown out of. Thanks Sis! 😉
Give your items that aren’t being used a new home. Or make some cash selling them for a low price online, or selling them at a second-hand shop.
Instead of buying new books or movies, borrow from your local library
Grow a garden in Spring (& share abundance with friends and family)
Know about the free/low cost events/attractions near you including neat parks
Know what other resources/benefits are available to you
That’s all for now!
There’s no shame in being resourceful or even asking for help from the right people. Just remember, that is their sacrifice to you. It’s a wonderful ability to reach out among humankind. I believe we were all made to lean on each other sooner or later.
Part of raising a family is sometimes needing to sacrifice. It’s hard because we can’t do it all. And even if we can afford it, we don’t have time for all of it.
Frugal living is just sacrificing for now. You’re just investing in yourself and your family.
