It never fails… With little ones at home, our days quickly become a blur of chunky spit-up, toxic diapers, and never-ending sibling rivalry. Sure, “things will get easier” when the kids are older, but do they really? Every stage of development seems to bring its own challenges and frustrations to the table. Is it actually possible to “get things under control” and live a “normal, happy life”?

Well, I hate to break it to you, girlfriend, but you are already living a “normal life.” Motherhood is tough. You’ll second-guess yourself continuously. You’ll wonder whether you’ve made a mistake. You’ll believe that you’ve scarred your children for life. And you’ll be certain that the mom you see at the supermarket or the park or the library or wherever is doing a far better job than you… (never mind the fact that it is now 3 o’clock in the afternoon, she hasn’t showered since last Tuesday, and the only reason she’s finally out of the house is to get away from her over-critical-in-town-for-a-month-long-visit mother-in-law that was driving her crazy!)

It’s time to get real. Here’s the brutal honest truth…

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#1 | ultra adorable printable letters to Santa and gift wish lists

#2 | super cute and positively gorgeous gift tags

#3 | generous sources (from whence these goodies came)

Last Thursday, Amanda wore one of my favorite outfits to school—her embroidered dark denim shorty-shorts and ruffled fuschia t-shirt. Such a cutie!

Well, Friday morning’s routine began much the same way as it had the day before… As I started getting breakfast ready, I asked Amanda to choose her outfit for the day.

Amazingly, she did not resist! She voiced a cheerful "ok!" and disappeared into her closet. Moments later, she raced back out to the living room.

"Look, Mommy!" she squealed, proudly wielding the items that she had selected. She was going to wear her striped knit turtleneck sweater and her fleece pants! Of course! [ sarcasm very much intended ]

… not like it’s still summer here in Kentucky or anything; it was only 85 degrees Fahrenheit at the time…!

In an instant, the image of a cute little window cling resurfaced in my mind. And, as expected, I had absolutely no recollection of what it was ‘officially’ called or where I had originally seen it.

So, guess what I did on Friday afternoon while Amanda was at school…

Think you might be interested in virtually eliminating all your morning tantrums [ and those of your child(ren) ] !?! If so, check out My Little Weatherbuddy, the super-smart pictorial thermometer that clings to your window!

Just imagine… motivation, independence, responsibility, time, energy… and no more power struggles! Can’t put a price on that, I tell ya!

Have you ever sounded like a broken record?

Back up [ from the TV ]. You’re too close.
[ in a sing-song voice ] No, no, no… Drinks stay in the kitchen.
[ gasp ] Watch out!… awwww, crap [ or alternate expletive ]… too late.

Well, I’m not afraid to admit that I have experienced this phenomenon since becoming a mom… However, I recently picked up this really great tip from Keely, one of my “mom friends” from MOPS and owner of BookJingle.com :

Use a small (but not too small) colorful area rug to designate a spot on the floor for your child(ren) to sit while watching TV. The rug is also a great spot for doing artwork or eating a snack.

I have personally used a blanket or towel to serve this purpose in the past, but the area rug’s backing and overall density virtually eliminates any tripping hazard—and, let’s not forget, saves the carpet (or hardwood or tile or whatever kind of flooring you have) from utter disaster!

Plus, when your little area rug gets too grungy (’cause you know it will), it’ll be a cinch to replace!

Homework, class trips, extracurricular activities—staying on top of all the things your children participate in at school is a big job. School.files™ from Buttoned Up^® is the perfect container for keeping all the information about their scholastic life at your fingertips.

Key Functional Features:

• Durable file folder with compartments for three children.
• Each compartment contains five folders: stuff to do, stuff to keep, stuff to return, fun stuff, and calendars.
• Lightweight construction and notebook size make it ultra-portable.