parenting Archives - Leaf and Steel

Surviving Sleep Deprivation as a Stay-at-Home Mom

February 20, 2023

Being a mom is one of the most rewarding experiences in the world, but it can also be one of the most exhausting. I didn’t understand just how tired I would feel. From late-night feedings to early-morning wake-up calls, the demands of motherhood can leave you too feeling like you’re running on fumes.

Sleep deprivation is a common reality for many moms, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it. In this blog post, we’ll share some tips and strategies for surviving sleep deprivation as a mom, so you can feel more rested, energized, and ready to take on the day.

How to Keep Your Toddler Cool in the Summer

June 21, 2022

Summer is here and things are starting to heat up! I’ve amassed some easy ways to keep your baby or toddler cool in the summer.

Here on Long Island, the temperatures can easily reach the high 90’s in June. On top of the stifling humidity, it can get pretty dang hot!

Some of the links in the post are affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission, at no cost to you.

I’m always careful to make sure my toddler doesn’t get too hot. Some days, you just need to stay inside to protect yourself. However, we do try to get out as much as possible. There’s nothing quite like fresh air and sunshine!

Stay Inside During Peak Hours

Some days, it’s much to hot to stay out from 10-3pm, so we usually save our outdoor activities or errands ’til the end of the day.

Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

This is basic first aid that should be in your repertoire. Make sure to know the signs!

Water, Water, and More Water

Always keep your baby and toddler hydrated! Whether that’s with water or breastmilk or both. We also love the Pedialyte hydrating ice pops on days when it’s super hot.

Try an Ice Cream Maker or Make Your Own Ice Pops

This nostalgic ice cream maker is sure to keep your little ones entertained and cool. I still remember using one in my childhood.

These ice pop makers are perfect for frozen treats.

Did you know you can also make breast milk popsicles?

This one is another quick ice cream maker.

Use a Stroller Fan

A stroller fan is a registry must-have. It’s small enough to throw at the bottom of the stroller when you don’t need it.

This one is super cute! It is re-chargable via a USB port.

Invest in a car seat cooler.

Who ever invented these is a genius! Simply freeze it and place it in the car seat or stroller for a few minutes before letting your little one sit. If it’s really hot I give my little one frozen teethers to hold onto while the car cools down.

Get the Sprinkler Out

Running through the sprinkler is a childhood classic. It seems only kids can tolerate the freezing cold hose water. My toddler also loves playing in her kiddie pool for as long as I’ll let her!

Always Carry Ice Packs

You can use old teething rings, your own coolers ice packs, or these fun ones for kids.

They are great to use in transition from activity to activity, or just as an extra way to keep cool!

Are you looking forward to summer? What do you to do help your kids beat the heat?

How do you keep cool?

Let me know below!

The Best Books About Dads (for Father’s Day 2022)

June 10, 2022

Today I’m sharing the best dad books for Father’s Day 2022! These books make excellent gifts for dads for holidays or even gifts for new dads!

My daughter and husband love to read together – I know I’ll be adding some of these titles to our collection this year.

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

I don’t know about you, but we have books strewn all over our house. They’re everywhere. There are books for the bathtub, books for the stroller, books for grandparents’ houses and books for the car….

“Can you read your book while you wait” is an everyday phrase in our house. My daughter has been a voracious reader since the beginning. I love how much she loves to read! I credit our dedication to reading every day since birth (okay, not every day, I’m human).

In my experience, reading and parenting go hand in hand!

There’s nothing sweeter than having my daughter crawl into my lap with her favorite book. As much as I love our snuggles during Puffin Rock or Elmo, reading a great children’s book with her is a joy like no other.

Looking for a gift for mom too? Check out our Gift Guide for the Tired Mama in Your Life!

When is Father’s Day this year?

Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 19th, 2022. Father’s Day is held on the third Sunday in June in the United States.

I have super special celebratory gifts planned. Since my daughter is young, she’ll probably give her dad a homemade card. But, I’m adding on one of these books so they can read it together!

When should I start reading to my baby?

As soon as possible! Even if it’s a quick little board book in the beginning, get into the habit of reading to your baby immediately. I remember adding it onto my list of things to do when I had a newborn.

Make it a point to read with your child every single day.

See this article from Parents for more information: “The Benefits of Reading to Your Newborn” (click here for reference):

Studies have also shown that children who were read to as newborns have a larger vocabulary, as well as more advanced mathematical skills, than other kids their age. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, for example, found that kids who are read to every day are exposed to around 78,000 words each year—over five years, that adds up to 1.4 million words heard during story time.
There’s also a direct link between how many words a baby hears each day and her language skills. One study found that babies whose parents spoke to them a lot scored higher on standard tests when they reached age 3 than children whose parents weren’t as verbal.
Parents, “The Benefits of Reading to Your Newborn”

Lessons from Stay-at-Home Moms

How do I read to my baby more?

I always say that the easiest way to read more books to your little one is to tack it onto an already formed routine. Reading before bedtime, around a mealtime, or after a nap are some of the best times to read with your baby.

Baby M loves to read by herself when I’m making her meals or in the car! By having lots of books in lots of places, it’s easy to keep your little one reading.

Baby Books to Celebrate Moms Everywhere

My Dad is Amazing by Sabrina Moyle

Why a Daughter Needs a Dad by Gregory E. Lang

Why a Son Needs a Dad by Gregory E. Lang

Made for Me by Zack Bush

My Dad Loves Me! by Marianne Richmond

I Love Dad with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer

I Love You, Daddy by Jillian Harker

We Love Our Dad! by Jan Bernstain

Because of You, Dad by Kobi Yamada

Dad by My Side by Soosh

When Dads Don’t Grow Up by Marjorie Blain Parker

Your Baby’s First Word Will Be DADA by Jimmy Fallon

You Made Me a Dad by Laurenne Sala

Spot Loves His Daddy by Eric Hill

Because I’m Your Dad by Ahmet Zappa

So, there are some of the best books to help your little one celebrate Father’s Day in 2022!

Spot Loves His Daddy and My Dad is Amazing are my favorites!

Are you familiar with any of the dad books above?

Let me know below!

2022’s Word of the Year

January 1, 2022

2022’s word of the year is…drumroll please….COURAGE!

You may have heard of the idea of choosing a word of the year instead of or in addition to a New Year’s resolution.

Each year, my friends and I select a word for the New Year. We share them with each other and then check in throughout the year to see how much progress we’ve made with it!

This year, I’m going with courage.

I have so much that I want to accomplish in 2022, and I can’t do it without f

I remember being a preschool teacher and being SO anxious to talk to this, ahem, intense parent about their child’s behavior.

Right before I had to meet with them, I was discussing my fears with my boss, terrified.

“Don’t be scared,” she told me, before doubling back.

“Or be scared, and do it anyway”.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s being scared and doing it anyway.

That’s the kind of energy that I want to bring into 2022.

Why choose a word?

Choosing a word of the year can be a less stressful alternative to a New Year’s resolution. Resolutions are easily broken or difficult to maintain for a full year.

Picking a word that you’d like to bring into the New Year offers infinite opportunities for practice and growth with that principle.

How do I pick a word?

There are plenty of lists out there online. Taking a few moments to meditate on what you are leaving behind in 2021 and what you want to cultivate in 2022 can be helpful.

I noticed that in 2021 I was holding myself back in a lot of areas of my life because the logistics of getting what I wanted seemed too complicated or scary. Part of why I chose my word was because I felt myself turning away from opportunities because I wasn’t willing to practice courage.

I wanted to leave all the self-doubt and fear in 2021.

Ironically, the word courage scares me. That’s how I know it’s something I need.

How do I use my word of the year?

You practice it!

My word last year was discipline. I practiced discipline in my day to day life by exercising, writing consistently, and working hard to keep my house clean.

It’s cool to sit back at the end of the year and see how that principle has altered your life.

There have been a few years where I can’t even remember what mine was by the time the next ball drops, and that’s okay.

I think the important thing about New Year’s resolutions and choosing words is really about acknowledging that we still have room to grow and we are capable of change.

Do you choose a word for the New Year?

If so, what’s your word?

What do you want to bring into 2022?

Let me know below!

Back to School Chaos? 5 Ways to Simplify Your Life

September 7, 2021

As the fall approaches and summer comes to a close, it’s clear that my life has lost all sense of routine! I thought I would list a few of my favorite things for beating the August laziness and getting back on track!

Autumn is my absolute favorite season. I want to be able to fully enjoy it with my baby this year, and not be caught up in the effects of my own scattered brain. For example, the past few weeks I’ve been going to the grocery store several times a week, instead of sitting down an meal planning so I only have to go once.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

I want to make sure my schedule is clear so I can do all the fall things.

Here are 5 things I use to help me reset and get on top of my life:

1. Freezer Bags

I know it sounds simple, right? I started getting into freezing when I was researching things to make postpartum life easier. I’m quickly became obsessed with the concept of taking one day to cook for a whole week (or two!). I make a huge batch of healthy turkey chili and freeze it once it cools. I have lunch for at least 7 days. Having my meals prepped like this gives me one less thing to think about during the day. I also will pre-chop vegetables that I commonly use, like carrots or onions. When I’m cooking dinner I can just throw in the bag and it saves time and makes it easier to cook on nights when I just don’t feel like it. 10/10 recommend freezing everything. Ziploc bags work best. I’ve found that store brands can be a bit more flimsy.

2. Slow Cooker

The best way to cook those meals for the freezer bag? A slow cooker. My crock pot is my best friend once the weather cools down. I love how the smell of bread, tomato sauce, stew, or whatever I’m cooking fills my home. There’s something so comforting about having a home cooked meal, and something so convenient about not having to actually cook it. This is the crock pot I’ve had for over 7 years, and it’s still working so well!

3. Online Coupons with Honey

The next item on the list isn’t exactly a thing – it’s virtual couponing! Using sites like Honey save you time by finding the best coupon code automatically. I love a good bargain and use to spend time searching online for a discount code. Honey makes life easier by doing this work for you – and it’s free!

4. Acrylic Organizers

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably wasted hours of your life just looking for things. I have a lot of trouble keeping things clean and putting things away when I’m done with them. I’m in the process of changing this, because it’s something I really don’t like about myself. When everything has a designated spot in my home I save so much time. When I’m done using an item, I know where it goes and where to find it. So does my husband. I’ve started collecting acrylic bins and they’ve helped me immensely. I can see what’s in them and they are easy to clean – win-win.

I have them in every area of my house. The place they have helped the most is in my snack drawers and fridge! I used this set.

5. Daily Planner

What routine/organization list would be complete without a daily planner? This daily planner is beautiful and has not only calendars but plenty of space to write down multiple events for each day. It comes with labels to help with the planning process. I’ve tried using apps on my phone, but pen and paper is my preferred way of staying organized.

So, this fall you won’t see me stressing out about managing my day-to-day responsibilities.

I will be contently walking through a pile of fallen leaves with my PSL and organized life in tact!

What do you need to help you get organize? Do you do a reset when the seasons change?

Let me know below.

7 Things I Do Every Day as a Stay at Home Mom

August 16, 2021

I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 8 months now and I love it! I am so grateful that I’m able to be home with my daughter. There have been SO many sacrifices to make this work, but it’s been worth it.

It took me a while to figure out my rhythm and how to have a productive day. It took me even longer to see value in what I am doing. It really is a full time job. I am a nanny, a chef, a secretary, a personal shopper, a housecleaner, a milk factory, a teacher and countless other job titles.

There are people making a lot of money doing what I do.

I am also a wife, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a writer, and a member of the community.

I am so much more than a stay-at-home mom. That’s why it’s been important for me to take time every day to do the following 7 things!

Here are 7 things I do as a stay-at-home parent to stay sane!

1. “Work” Time

Being a stay-at-home parent means that I take on more work around the house, simple as that. I take time throughout the day to work on the annoying tasks that have to get done, like

scheduling
being put on hold for half the day by Verizon, Staples, etc.

forgetting to put 1 essential food item on my shopping list and then spending an hour going back to the store to get it
spending several days taking my 10-year-old printer apart instead of biting the bullet and buying a new one

2. Walk

Walking is the only type of “exercise” that works for me. I really do it to clear my mind and get some fresh air for me and the baby. We like to find little waterfronts to explore and we always play this checklist game.

LOOK for 1 dog
LOOK for 1 cat
LISTEN for 1 bird

SMELL 1 new smell (fresh cut grass, laundry)

And of course, say hi to anyone we pass, because becoming a mom has made me friendly. Or, maybe it’s just the lack of socialization in 2021 ha!

3. Relax

I relax for part of nap time. I have to. I “work” 24 hours a day. It took me a little while to see that it’s perfectly okay for me to take time to relax as a stay at home parent. I have no lunch break. I have no “decompression” time on my commute home. It’s on me to manage my mental wellness and realize when it’s time to be productive and when it’s time to put my feet up and scroll Instagram or watch TV.

4. Reach out

It can be mind numbing to talk to a baby all day. The narration, the “oohs” “aahs” and “yayayays” make me feel like a robot some days. That’s why I’ve made it a priority since my daughter was born to make a phone call every day. It’s one of the easiest ways to stay grounded in the insanity

5. Get out of the house

I hate this one, but I do it anyway! Maybe it was the events of 2020 that caused me to be comfortable with being a shut-in. Leaving the house can be hard. Leaving the house with a baby can be even harder. Every day, we try to get out of the house. Even if it’s just those waterfront walks or the grocery store, being in public and getting a change of scenery keeps me grounded.

Our new favorite place is the pet store, or what I like to call the “free zoo”. Baby M loves looking at the fish and kittens up for adoption. It’s a quick and easy way to keep her entertained out of the house. We’re always looking for fun, easy, free things to do together – if you have any suggestions, let me know below!

6. Work on my hobbies

This is the hardest one on the list. I struggle with finding the motivation to work on the things that fill up my cup. Writing, reading and working on my side projects sometimes get put on the back burner. However, I’ve found I’m a better mom and an all around better person when I’m carving out time to work on the things that bring me joy. After spending %90 of my day giving my energy to other things, this time is necessary.

7. Play!

The most important thing I do as a stay-at-home is PLAY with my baby! There’s nothing better than sitting down on the floor and reading my daughter a book or playing peekaboo. The sound of her little laugh when I pretend to eat her feet fills my heart with so much joy. I know that after food, a safe place to live, and clean clothes, my uninterrupted time is the most valuable thing I can provide for my child.

What do you think of this list? What do you do to stay sane as a stay at home parent?

Let me know below.

The Best Baby Advice I’ve Received

April 5, 2021

“Go by the baby, not the book.”

It’s the best advice I’ve ever received. Before I was a mom I thought I had it all figured out. I thought I knew exactly what my baby would like or dislike. I would read about the magical connection brought on by baby carriers. I had visions of myself baby-wearing throughout the day, getting things done and soaking up that skin-to-skin contact. Well, my daughter gets overheated very quickly and greatly dislikes the carriers we have.

I read that I shouldn’t introduce a pacifier for a month to avoid “nipple confusion”, but you bet your bottom dollar I was breaking open the binky packaging at 4 am on our first night home. Same with bottles. And teethers.

There are so many “rules” to parenting. So many suggestions. So many apps telling me when and how to feed, nap and bathe my baby. I think I’ve broken almost all of rules the so far. And were doing just fine.

Although I’ve only been doing this for four short months (which is really four years in mom-time), I’ve learned to read my baby’s cues and meet her needs based on this. If she’s vigorously rubbing her eyes, she goes to sleep, even if my Huckleberry app is saying she isn’t due for a nap for another hour. If she’s sucking her hand, she eats. I’m not sleep training. I’m not timing how long she eats anymore.

I go by my baby, not the book. She is fed, clean, well rested and HAPPY. It’s an absolute privilege to respond to her needs and be present for her.

So, go by your baby not the book. They’re going to change the advice in 10 years anyways.

What lessons have you “unlearned” while parenting?