Tips for reducing stress during kiddo bedtime

All parents deal with that special time of night that I like to refer to as the “witching hour”…when you are tired from a long day of work and your sweet kiddos are tired and turn into cranky kiddos and you may burst into tears. Ha!  In my opinion, whoever is caring for your children during the time before bed isn’t the only one who is dealing with the kids’ moods – it’s the whole family! At this time of day, you are trying to wind-down your children, fatigue is high, the family is transitioning their own day and kids often are at their neediest. It’s no wonder this time of day can be painful for parents! Many moms and dads need the time to decompress and have some quiet time themselves around children’s bedtime. Here are some tips on how to keep the peace without resorting to 2 tall glasses of vino and know that your children go to bed smiling.

Get comfy as a parent
Changing after work helps you make the mental shift you need to rid of a sour mood. The minute you put on your comfy clothes, you begin to relax. Also, often time parents are wearing work clothes they don’t want to get dirty with the kids when they get home, so changes creates a more relaxed atmosphere.

A breath of fresh air
Kids tend to be wound up from the day and even more excited when you arrive home from work. Before beginning your evening routine, take a walk around the block or just head out to the yard.

Give kids what they want — you.
Many moms come home and immediately feel they have to jump into household chores. Instead, take your shoes off and give your kids your total attention so they don’t spend the new hour or two fighting for your attention. Even if it is just ten minutes, your children will then most likely go play with their toys or entertain themselves with their siblings, etc.

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Heigh Ho – Heigh Ho…It’s off to Spring Cleaning we go!

Yes, it’s THAT time of year again…time to clean out the accumulated ‘junk’ that has made its way into our life during the winter and have a fresh start for spring.  It can be a daunting task as you survey closets, garages, and storage spaces that cry out to be purged and deep cleaned – especially when all you want to do is play with your kids!  Why not include them in this spring rite?  Make them part of the process – spend some quality time, AND get things accomplished!  No, they can’t do everything – but you can put together a simple list for them to undertake while the adults deal with the big stuff – you can get through the necessary chores a little quicker and even make it fun.  For families with more than one child it can become a spirited competition to see who finishes the fastest or gives away the most. In my household it always seems that when the whole family helps clean, the house stays sparkling longer and there is a tendency to know where things are instead of mom having to ‘find’ everything. Here are some ideas for little one to tackle.

Kids to Do List:

Go through toys and books, separating what is no longer used to give to charity.

Strip or make the beds.

Clean the sink (I remember being assigned this task by my grandmother when I was a child) – there is satisfaction when the fixtures shine.

Dump the small trash cans (or at least place them near the larger one.)

Go through the house and find anything that belongs to you and return it in your room.

Dust the floor/furniture/window sills.

Play some fun music and the time will fly. Praise children for doing a great job and stress how helpful they are (even if they can’t do it as well as you.)  At the end of the project reward yourselves with a fun experience – a movie night with popcorn and ice cream or some time at a park. Happy clean-up!

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