Having a full-time job takes a lot out of you, but at least you get to leave that stress behind once your working hours or over. Unfortunately, being a mom doesn’t afford you that luxury. Being a parent is another full-time job, one that you always need to be present for. The work never stops; however, there are ways to give yourself a little extra time during the day.
A shortcut is a secret method that you can use to give your kids the same care and attention at a much quicker rate. Curious? Then read on to find out some shortcuts for busy working moms.
Use A Slow Cooker
Sitting down for a family meal a few times during the week is important to strengthen the bonds you have with your children. It is during this time that you can teach them table manners and learn about their day. Sadly, a full meal takes a while to prepare, and you don’t want to spend most of the evening standing in front of a warm oven instead of spending time with your kids.
That is why a slower cooker will change your life. You can whip up a full meal inside one of these devices and leave it to slowly cook throughout the day. Then, you have a full meal ready for when everyone gets home. What’s more, slow cookers are perfect for creating healthy dishes like casserole or stew, so it has this additional benefit too.
Find A Laundromat
It doesn’t matter how many loads of washing you get through in a day, the pile of dirty clothes always seems to regrow by the time you are done. Laundry is no one’s favorite activity, and it involves a lot of waiting around. This time waiting could be used in a much more productive way, and you can get this time back when you use your local laundromat.
Sundance Wash has locations all over the country and you can use their laundry services to give yourself a break on the way home from work. Leave your washing in their capable hands while you go for a coffee or take the kids to the park for some much-needed quality time. It doesn’t cost much, but the additional expense is worth it for the extra time you receive in return.
Cup Magnets
Every parent has had to struggle through repeatedly washing dishes. This task is even more grueling when your kids constantly keep reaching for new cups in the cupboards after only using the original container once. This behavior leaves a trail of empty, dirty cups around your house, a problem you don’t have time to solve. Fortunately, the magnet hack could save you this trouble.
Take an afternoon to glue magnets on the back of your kid’s plastic cups. This allows them to place them on the fridge once they have finished their first drink. Since they will be reaching back inside the fridge to get more juice, this magnetized cup will remind them to use this cup again, instead of reaching for another clean one. It is a simple shortcut, but it is one that will save you time searching the house for dirty cups.
Use An Artwork Binder
Clutter doesn’t just originate from your home. Your kids will bring home a lot of their art projects from school, something you do not have the space for. While it can boost a child’s self-esteem to hang one of your kid’s drawings in a prime location, these works of art can quickly get out of hand. When it comes time to replace some of their work, you don’t want to throw it away. However, these projects can make your living areas a mess after a time. That is why you will need a quick storage solution.
A binder provides you with a place to store all your kid’s previous school projects in one neat place. Set a rule that lets you hang up their art for a week or two; after this time, it can go in this special binder. This means that you always have space for their latest project and have all their previous work stored so it won’t get lost.
Use Ankle Weights On your Stroller
Your days of shopping are going to be limited if you work full time. This means that will have to try and get everything you need in one trip, and taking the kids out means involving the stroller. This stroller provides you with a handy place to hang your shopping bags, but overbalancing this device can cause the pram to tip. Strap some ankle weights to the front legs of your stroller to evenly distribute the weight, so you never have to pick up your shopping from the floor again.
Summary
These shortcuts do not take much effort, and they can make your home life so much easier. Remember, being a parent is tough so make the most of these breaks whenever possible.