As in, the journal that you excitedly purchased after becoming a mom and swore you would write in diligently every day and record all of your precious child’s accomplishments?
Yup. That one.
You would think that as someone who enjoys writing, especially about motherhood and babies, and even occasionally gets paid to write about these topics, that I’d be excellent at keeping a journal.
NOT SO.
Not so…at all.
NEW ARTICLE ON HER VIEW FROM HOME
Naptime can be the best.
Finally having the chance to sit down with a nice cup of cold coffee and a pack of Oreos a bowl of quinoa and watch four episodes of Grey’s Anatomy in a row?
YES. Sign me up. I freakin’ love naptime.
But the actual getting-child-to-nap part?
The 1.5 hour struggle, the reading of Elmo’s Night Before Christmas 12 times in a row even though it’s nowhere near Christmas, the tears, sweat, and complete and utter frustration?
Let’s go into this in more detail, shall we?
Your days will be full of wondrous activities, such as:
-romping outside in the fresh snow every day
-building snowmen
-drinking hot chocolate
-reading books by the fire
-and cuddling under blankets together.
Ah, sweet winter bliss.
-spending 1.5 hours attempting to put on a single pair of gloves
-repeating the phrase, “Yes, you need a jacket; it’s minus fifteen outside!” until the words no longer hold meaning
-waking up at 6AM to your toddler asking, “Playground now?” Every. Single. Day.
-texting your partner to pick up pizza and a treat on the way home because your child is “in a mood” again
-and basically spending most of your time trapped in your home and relating FAR too much to Emma Donoghue’s novel, Room.
Surviving winter with a toddler is tough. But it can be done!
I’ll show you exactly how you can not only survive winter stuck indoors with your rambunctious toddler, but how you can THRIVE while doing so!
Here is the ultimate guide you NEED for surviving winter with your toddler!
Teething, man.
I thought I had a grip on it.
“Aw, honey—are your teeth bugging you? Here’s some frozen fruit and a hug.”
And then the molars started arriving.
Me: “Good morning, sweetheart! What should we do today?”
Toddler: *Screams* *Drools* *Chews on fingers*
Welcome to OOTD with Mother Haggard!
Ahh, those lazy, hazy days of summer.
The sun is shining, the birds are singing and your thighs are chafing because you thought it’d be fine to wear denim shorts on a ten minute walk to the grocery store. (…It’s never fine.)
This OOTD is perfect for drinking lemonade by the pool, or for waking up every day at 5:30AM with a toddler towering over you saying, “Playground? Playground? Go? Now?”
Today’s Look: “Sweaty Playground”
I hear you. Sometimes, especially being a stay-at-home mom, it seems like my day is made up of the same routines, day in and day out.
Where did the spontaneity go? The excitement? That sudden rush of danger that makes you feel alive?
Well, look no further!
Here are a few guaranteed ways to break out of that boring rut and bring back the thrills:
I have worked many jobs in my day.
My first job was a grocery store cashier when I was fourteen. I wore a mint green vest and a floppy clip-on bow tie. (Publix: Where Shopping is a Pleasure.)
I once worked at a university campus during the summer, and one day a week, my job was to walk around the campus and flush every toilet. An entire day spent each week just flushing toilets. (I eventually grew to love it and I still have not ruled it out as a potential career one day.)
An indie coffee shop that I romanticized in my head, but in reality the owners would take pictures of the crumbs that I missed when sweeping and email them to me at home.
A hip barber shop where I had to talk about things like beard trims way too seriously for my liking.
I’ve worked in many, many different offices. Real estate law. Entertainment. Alumni Services. Property Management.
Out of all of these jobs, in all of those fields, I can safely say that none of them kick my ass as much as being a stay-at-home mom does. It’s like the weirdest, most demanding unpaid internship ever, with either the best boss or the worst boss, depending on how many naps have occurred that day.
Feel like taking a closer look?
Come join me and my daughter Lucy for a day! Don’t wear anything nice. Ignore the barking dog. Don’t try to pet the cat. And bring some something sweet, please.
7 Things that Happen When You Bring a Young Toddler to the Grocery Store
(as told via Supermarket Sweep gifs)
