Joining up with Kelly and the gang for 7 Quick Takes in the first time in forevahhhh.

This morning I had friends on my mind, having had a great chat with a girlfriend last night and looking forward to a friend’s new baby this weekend and cheering on a friend with a serious injury and I realized that I have learned so MUCH from my friends (my mom and sister included) about being a mom that maybe some of my “mom hacks” would be as useful and life-saving and/or fun for other moms.  Here are 7 although I got a slew and I’m sure you do, too!!

1.  Peanut butter and jelly.  A staple.  Unless you have a kiddo with a nut allergy, skip this one.  Peanut butter BOTH pieces of bread and the jelly won’t leak through.  This was an elementary school lunch life saver!!  And……a two-fer here…….Perfect steamed broccoli.  3 minutes.  Perfect consistency and a pretty much a weekly staple that everyone eats.  Antioxidants for the win!
2. Sheets.  Spend the money on the good sheets and everyone has ONE set of sheets.  You wash them weekly or whatever your schedule is and put them back on the bed, no folding and no space hogging.  (now we do  have a second set of flannels because come winter, I do love me some flannels)  Frees up all kinds of space in your linen closet and really how many sets of sheets do you need?  This absolutely excludes babies and potty training kids because they need an exponential number of sheets!!!
3. Give your kids chores.  Give them a variety and give them young.  Think life skills.  And……this is the hard part…..don’t go behind them to make it perfect.  Good enough is good enough.  They will improve in time.  Frees up YOUR time and they can now clean their own toilets, showers, wash, dry, fold and put away laundry, dust, dishes…the list goes on.  Trust me.  This is GOLD!!!  now, from time to time, I will just do the chores and give them a “break”….this ensures my own OCD clean sanity and they still know how to perform what is necessary.
4. Teach your kids to cook.  This is one I slack on to be honest, but I will say all of my kids have a basic cooking skill set and I believe it is enough to keep themselves alive and relatively healthy in college.  I enjoy cooking, but in a pinch it is great to walk the kids through getting dinner started if I’ll be home late for dinner knowing we won’t be eating dinner at 9 p.m.
5. Make time for yourself.  Whatever that is.  Knitting.  Reading.  Art.  Beach time.  Rest and relaxation is crucial in life to recharge and enjoy more out of the routine days.  It’s the one I most struggle with, but I do make the effort and some seasons it comes easier than others and it is always worth it.  So keep plugging away, mama!
6. Friend circles.  Make ’em.  Keep ’em.  They are oxygen.  They will give you the best, tried-and-true recipes you’ll use for life.  They will be your shoulder, your mentor, your mentee, your sanity.  Friends take work.  Some people are better at working it, but every friend is worth it.  Text.  Call.  Visit.  Fly, drive, walk.  Whatever.  Your tribe, your ninjas, your people.  They are the spice of life.
7. Books.  You do not need to finish a crappy book.  Ever.  Life is too short and there are too many good books to be read.  So download Goodreads and keep track of all the “to-reads” for when you pick up that stinker and move on.

Peace out  and happy weekend!!