Category: Parenting

How to Get a Picky Eater to Eat More Food

Strategies to Get a Picky Eater Eating More Food

My son is a seriously, seriously picky eater.  He has been for…well, basically forever.  The agony of trying to get new foods in him is something I never imagined!  And for every hour I spend trying to get him to eat new foods, I spend another hour convincing myself that pretzels might actually be nutritious.

I don’t like forcing him, which is fine because that never works anyways.  So over the past few years I have tried tons of strategies to get him to eat more.  Some have worked, some have failed.  What I can tell you is that I have yet to find a magic bullet that can transform my picky eater into a foodie.  So don’t beat yourself up if your child only eats goldfish and bread.  It’s not ideal, but it’s also not unusual.  You’re not alone!

So the strategies that you’re about to read are what have worked for a picky eater who is still a picky eater – but with a little more variety.  Because this is reality!  

Give these strategies a try to see if you can add even just one or two new things to your picky eater’s diet:

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The Best Bath Toys for 1-Year Old Girls

The Best Bath Toys for 1-Year Old Girls

Without a doubt, one of my favorite times of day is bath time.  Maybe it’s the lack of technologically-enhanced toys or maybe it’s just that bedtime is approaching, but I find it very soothing.  Luckily, my daughter loves bath time as much as I do, so it’s always a happy time!  And since bath toys really only last a couple years before they just start getting gross, I’ve been able to buy her new girly bath toys (as opposed to the hand-me-downs from her brother) totally guilt-free.  It’s been great! 😉

So if you’re on the lookout for gift ideas for a 1-year old girl or just want to make bath time more enjoyable in your own home, give some of these bath toys a try:

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5 Brilliant Solutions for Saving Your Child’s Artwork

What to Do with Your Child's Artwork

I’ll be honest. When my son started preschool this year, the last thing on my mind was what the heck I’d do with all his artwork.  In fact, I couldn’t wait to see what he’d bring home!  I had the magnets ready and oo’ed and ah’ed at his initial creations.

Then they kept coming.

And coming and coming.

I swear, he has 4 art classes a day!

So it wasn’t long before my husband confronted me.  The artwork had to find a home.  One that wasn’t the kitchen table, kitchen counter, or family room end table.

And he was right. Within weeks, the artwork had taken over the house.  I wasn’t willing to part with it (obviously). So that left one option – figure out what to do with it.

 

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10 Engineering Gifts that Will Blow Your Preschooler’s Mind

The Best Engineering Gifts for Preschoolers

I have a preschooler who is obsessed with being an engineer.  It started young with mega blocks. He would build a tower taller than himself when he could barely even walk.  Then he moved onto trains.  And I’m telling you, he was (and still is) obsessed with trains.  He recently came up to me with a new train and said “Mommy, look at this. See how the piston moves the piston rod and then that moves the coupling rod and then that makes the wheels move? See? See? See how it works?”  

So, needless to say, I’ve somehow reached a point where my 3-year old knows more about engineering than I do.

I am bound and determined to make sure I give this little guy all the opportunities I can find to help him succeed as an engineer, but for now, that’s just going to come from his toys!

So if you’ve got a little engineer on your hands too, give these gifts a try.  You will be blown away by how well they do!

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The 10 Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas for 1-Year Old Girls

The 10 Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas for 1-Year Old Girls

Looking for stocking stuffer ideas for a 1-year old girl in your life?  You’ve come to the right place. 😉

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, so shopping for stocking stuffers is something I look forward to every single year…and I start early!  And this year is extra special because I have a new little almost-1-year-old girl to shop for!

Years of shopping for her brother has made the task of coming up with the perfect stocking stuffers a little easier, but there are still some things that are perfect just for little girls!  

Hopefully this list will make your shopping a little easier this year:

Related post: The Best Gift Ideas for 1-Year Old Girls

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10 Hobbies that Make Money for Stay-at-Home Moms

All of these hobbies give stay at home moms the ability to make money from home!

I’ll be the first to tell you that nothing is as wonderful as staying at home with your kids.  I’ll also be the first to tell you that nothing is as wonderful as making your own money, on your own terms, doing what you love.  

And as luck would have it, you can actually do all of these things at the exact same time. It sounds too good to be true, but it’s totally achievable.  You just start by making money from your hobbies!

I have not one, but two hobbies that make me money while still being a stay-at-home mom.  Neither interferes with taking care of my kids.  In fact, often, they’re a welcome, if not necessary part of it.  But most importantly, these hobbies (both of which have the potential to become full-blown careers) provide me with more mental stimulation than I ever got in a 9-5 office setting.  They also give me something to talk about with my husband that doesn’t revolve around our kids or household.  And of course, they make me money, which means much more than just the extra cash around the house.

So if you’re feeling the pull to go back to work, but also have a big case of mom guilt, consider some of these hobbies that may be able to give you the best of both worlds!

Related post:  60 Ways to Make Money as a Stay-at-Home Mom  

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Stocking Stuffer Ideas for 2-Year Old Boys

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for 2-Year Old Boys

I’m not going to lie, I absolutely love shopping for my kids for Christmas and there’s something special about stocking stuffers!  These were always the first things my sisters and I opened as kids and I hope that my kids look forward to it like I did.

So if you’re on the hunt for stocking stuffers for 2-year old boys, this list is for you!  These were the biggest hits for my son when he was 2…and many still make regular appearances years later!

Good luck with your shopping and happy holidays!

Related post: 12 Best Gifts for 2-Year Old Boys

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