Parent Hacks

Amazon deal ends Saturday: Eagle Creek travel gear 25% off

At Amazon: Eagle Creek travel organizers

How do I love thee, Eagle Creek? You are my favorite luggage brand! The first suitcase I purchased was by Eagle Creek, and I continue to be devoted to the brand all these years later.

These days, I'm in love with the Eagle Creek Pack-It system for two totally different roles: family packing and business travel.

Family packing: keeps clothes separate and organized

When you're packing for a family in a single suitcase, it helps to have a plan for keeping the kids' clothes separate from your own. Otherwise you'll dig through the whole bag and make a mess looking for one tiny pair of underwear.

You could use Ziplocs or bedsheet packaging to separate and categorize everyone's clothes (and I have), but Pack-Its are reusable pretty much forever which I suspect makes them more economical. Certainly better for the earth.

Another nice touch: you can buy Pack-Its in different colors, so you can use one color set per person. Once your kid is packing on his own, pass along the Pack-Its for him to use with his own suitcase.

Business travel: keeps clothes neat and wrinkle-free

My husband -- the man on an eternal quest to Eliminate Every Wrinkle -- turned me onto Pack-Its. He uses them for business trips when he actually needs to look presentable. His shirts stay wrinkle-free, and he can compress everything and therefore pack more than expected into a carry-on bag. (He also gets a little Type A jones from all the lovely organization when he unpacks in a hotel room.)

I used to think Pack-Its were too fussy, but I'm now a convert. Overall, they save so much time and frustration.

So! Amazon has put a bunch of Eagle Creek travel gear on sale through Saturday, including a wide selection of Pack-Its. If you've got summer travel on the calendar (or your kids are heading to sleepaway camp) now is a good time to consider if these travel organizers will help.

At Amazon: Eagle Creek Travel Gear 25% off or more

Discount expires June 15, 2013.

How trust and parenting go hand-in-hand (it's hard)

Trust is the moment before the parachute opens.
Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I came across two posts yesterday that made me think about the relationship between trust and parenting. And I already think about it a lot.

As much as it's about practicality and organizing and decluttering, Minimalist Parenting is about trust.

• Trusting you will find your way. 
• Trusting your kids will gradually reveal themselves. 
• Trusting the world has something bigger to offer than what you can see at this very moment.

Ideally, trust is the result of confidence + optimism. But sometimes you just have to take it on faith, because who among us feels confident and optimistic all the time?

Jen Singer illustrated this in beautiful and comforting hindsight. In looking back over hard years that included her cancer and divorce, she sees that her kids' childhoods weren't ruined.

From Awesome, Yet At Times, Painful at MommaSaid.net:

...Despite two very difficult “life stressors,” as the psychology community euphemistically calls the crap-storms that are cancer and divorce, I no longer worry that my kids’ childhoods have been ruined. Rather, their adulthoods have been primed for a far healthier and effective way of dealing with the troubled times that come with life on earth.
Continue reading →

Sometimes, trust requires us to sit and even observe a painful situation so that life has a chance to teach something it couldn't any other way. Again, this is usually obvious only in hindsight; in the heat of the moment it hurts -- and can even feel cruel.

Kelly Wickham is a mother, educator, and no stranger to hardship. She's had enough experience with life's lessons to be able to observe and then face them with her own children.

From Manifesto: The Giant Ball Pit of Life at Mocha Momma:

...I took all four of [my kids] aside and said, "Look, I've been watching you for like 15 minutes and I have some advice I want to give you. You can use this for the rest of your life, but it's a lesson that, if you get it now, will serve you well. Are you ready?"
Continue reading →

(I couldn't extract one quote that sums up Kelly's post. The power is in the whole story, so click over if you've got a moment.)

My son finishes 7th grade today. It has been his best school year yet. A few years ago, he wouldn't set foot inside a school building.

My daughter finishes 4th grade today. She is plugged into herself in an exquisite way I wasn't at her age. Last summer, her best friend moved away and she wasn't sure she could manage going back to school without her.

Trust. Even when the road leads somewhere you can't see.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. Thank you for being here with me.

The blogosphere is exploding with incredible storytelling about parenting. Here are some more recent favorites: one of the best "sorry I haven't posted in a while" posts ever, from Mir; an unexpected journey from Alice; and a reminder that trust doesn't always feel good, from Rebecca.

One mom's DIY approach to summer: "structure, not scheduling"

Photo credit: Kyran Pittman

In response to my summer vacation "big picture" post, Sara responded:

...I'm trying to balance [my 4 year-old's] need for lots of stimulation with my need to get things done. I've decided to say somewhat structured, but not scheduled, if that makes sense.

Structured, not scheduled. Doesn't that sound lovely? I talked about something similar in my relaxed parent's guide to summer vacation, but her phrasing just ties it up in a bow. (Thank you, Sara!)

Flexible structure works for my family because we all need a break from the tighter schedule of the school year BUT we don't (usually) lapse into the blahs (them) and regret (me) that come with no structure at all.

But what does "structured, not scheduled" look like?

For Kyran Pittman, it looks like Camp Whattawedo.

Open mornings (complete with breakfast bar) and themed afternoons based on local activities, library visits, swimming, crafts and projects.

Some preparation is required (stocking the breakfast bar, researching local events and attractions, communicating the plan) but there's lots of room for wiggle and input.

If your kids are too young for self-directed mornings, perhaps there's a local kid who wants a summer job as a "mother's helper"? The first time I heard the term mother's helper it sounded like a cutesy cocktail. But it refers to a kid who gets paid to entertain and take care of your kid while you're home. Babysitting lite.

Read Kyran's post for details (and, of course, fantastic writing). Then follow along with her summertime adventures (and share your own!) on Kyran's Facebook page and on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #WHATTAWEDO.

→ At Planting Dandelions: Welcome to Camp Whattawedo

Kyran is a dear friend and one of my favorite writers. Her book is also titled Planting Dandelions, and it's the perfect summer read.

Summer project: homemade merit badges

I'm a sucker for merit badges. Who isn't? Photo credit: Etsy/Julie Schneider

I'm not crafty, but as a kid my mom did teach me some embroidery stitches. To me, embroidery is more like coloring than sewing, so it's less intimidating to learn.

Besides, that's the thing about summer -- there's time. Time to learn and time to mess up and start over. That's the beauty of this tiny project. Yes, it's time-consuming, but it's small and open to interpretation. Great for middle-graders.

And FUN. BADGES. You know you want one. I do. I'm gonna suggest this to my almost 10 year-old daughter as a summertime project.

Click through to the Etsy blog for a beautifully-photographed, well-written tutorial.

→ At the Etsy blog: How-Tuesday: DIY Embroidered Merit Badges

Thanks to Claire Robertson at Kiddley for turning me onto this tutorial.

Another adorable idea, this one from CRAFT: incorporating LEDs into embroidery.

Looking for a beginner guide to embroidery? My favorite is Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray.

Swimming with kids: tips for making it easier

Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Swimming is one of the great joys of summer. But let's be honest: swimming with little kids is a pain. At least it was for me.

Now that my kids are older and are strong swimmers, I've arrived at that holy place:  the poolside lounge chair. But if you're not there yet, I've combed though our "day at the pool" hacks and added a bit more wisdom of my own.

→  Continue reading Tips for simplifying swimming with kids at The Accidental Expert.

Summer vacation: the big picture

Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I really love summer, but I also happen to work part-time and have older kids, neither of whom are big on sports, camps or planned activities. So it's pretty easy for me to feel relaxed about it. That said, I've consciously cultivated that attitude in opposition to the general trend all around us to plan everything up.

By now, my minimalist parenting leanings are no surprise. But I wanted to share two links I hope will help you think differently about summer, especially if you're feeling panicked about the months ahead.

I wrote "The relaxed parent's guide to summer vacation" for The Week in an effort to hit the big points.

To many parents, the prospect of bored kids and an XBox beckoning from the basement is enough to make a summer full of planned activities seem like the most attractive option.

But I would argue that summertime doesn't have to be either-or. There's a sweet spot between "planned" and "free-range." Sure, it looks different for each family based on childcare needs, budgets, ages and number of kids, and interests. But it's there. Here's how to find yours. [Continue reading at The Week] →

A few days after that post went up, I ran into Mir's summer manifesto for big kids over at Alpha Mom. Her writing is always superb, and she brings context to her list with a loving reminder that the kids are growing up.

Call me a sap if you must (you wouldn’t be the first one), but once both my kids hit the teens, it really sank in that yes, they do grow up and aren’t going to be here with me forever. Their childhoods are going to be over in a few short years. This fills me with a mixture of panic over all I still want to instill in them before they’re no longer under my roof and wistfulness for simpler times, when teenagers weren’t expected to spend their summers doing things that will look amazing on their college applications. [Continue reading at Alpha Mom] →

How are you feeling as summer gets underway? Hopes? Worries? Wondering what all the fretting's about? Let's talk about it in the comments.

Separate eggs with an empty plastic water bottle

Photo credit: Ippinka.com

That's right, you can separate eggs by slurping the yolk into a clean, empty water bottle. It may not be easier than separating eggs the old fashioned way, but it will certainly keep the kids entertained in the kitchen.

→ Read the full post (and watch a video!) at Ippinka.com

 

Hot day? Store your sunscreen in a cooler bag

Photo credit: Mrs. Mordecai

Mrs. Mordecai discovered the secret of keeping sunscreen from getting runny and separated on those hot summer days...keeping it cool!

From her blog post "Keeping Sunscreen Cool," reprinted with permission:

I read an article that talked about how heat can break down sunscreens and make them ineffective. I thought a week in a hot, hot car would not be the best for our brand-new, beginning-of-summer tubes of sunscreen.

I put the sunscreen in an insulated lunchbox and kept an ice pack in the top when we were away from home. Not only has the sunscreen remained effective through the summer (we have had NO sunburns this summer, hooray!), it has been much nicer to put on. I hate putting on warm, oily, slimy sunscreen.

*forehead smack of brilliance*

We've got more sunscreen hacks here, including the smart idea of "marketing" it to reluctant kids as face paint.

Training kids to dispense the right amount of toothpaste? Talk amongst yourselves.

At Amazon: Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste (affiliate link)

Sara asks:

My kids are of the age where they don't need constant supervision while brushing their teeth, but they struggle with using the right amount of toothpaste and keeping the toothpaste tube clean!

I'm tired of toothpaste duty and cleaning up globs in the sink. Any ideas?

In my house this was a manual dexterity issue more than it was not knowing the "right" amount. Squeezing a tube of toothpaste takes some decent motor control.

We had the best luck during those years with stand-up tubes of toothpaste with pump-like dispensers that only let out a small amount of toothpaste.

Another option: liquid gel toothpaste in flip-top bottles that comes out more easily.

What say you, Parenthackers? I bet someone else has a better answer than I do.

This awkward conversation might save your son's life

I was all ready to write a light-hearted post full of silly puns to share some facts about testicular cancer and the ease and importance of monthly self-exams. 

But then I got the news that a young man I know was just diagnosed with testicular cancer. He's scheduled for immediate surgery. He'll find out next week if the cancer has spread.

Suddenly this post feels very personal and urgent, so I'll just get straight to the facts.

• Did you know that Testicular Cancer is the #1 cancer in young men ages 15 to 35? 
• Did you know that Testicular Cancer is highly survivable if detected early?
• Did you know that young men should be doing a monthly self-exam in the shower?

Stop by the Testicular Cancer Foundation website to request a FREE shower card with self-exam instructions.

Awkward conversation? You're not alone in feeling that way (watch the video). But it's so important and so easy...and it might save the life of a young man.

Thanks to Jim Higley for drafting me onto the Single Jingles blogging team to spread the word on "Man Up Mondays."

Reading + links for your weekend

For some of you this is the first week of summer! Hard for me to get that into my head as it's cold and rainy here in Portland and my kids are in school for two more weeks. But there's some sun at the end of the tunnel, I know it.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. Here's some reading and listening to enjoy.

Ever think about the "dead" in deadlines?

...here's something for you to consider. I wrote this yesterday based on a tweet that stopped me in my tracks.

→ Are deadlines really a matter of life and death? (The Accidental Expert at Babble)

A profile of work/baby juggling

Austin Kleon is one of my favorite writers/artists on the Web. He has so much more to say than "hey, look what I made!" In this interview on Copyblogger he talks about how he combines creative work and caring for his six-month old son (among other things).

→ Here's How Austin Kleon Writes (Copyblogger)

3 quick tips for cutting sugar from kids' snacks

I already loved the down-to-earth advice and delicious ideas at One Hungry Mama, but then I met Stacie in person and am now a full-on fangirl. Great video. Especially love the snack box idea (not unlike my prepacked single serve snack hack).

→ Video: 3 New Ideas for How to Cut Sugar At Home (One Hungry Mama)

Taking kids to a baseball game?

I have a pretty good hack submission. I've written a guide that highlights the rules and bonuses you can take advantage of when taking your kid to a Major League Baseball game. It's pretty thorough and I think other parents will find value in it.

Thanks, Jake! I especially like the city-specific tips.

→ The Ultimate Guide to Taking Kids to a Baseball Game (Ballpark Savvy)

NYC Dads Group talks Minimalist Parenting

I loved doing this podcast interview with Adam and Matt of NYC Dads Group. There are so many new ways for men to join the online community of dads...exciting to watch it grow.

→ Podcast: Minimalist Parenting and Dads Dealing with Depression (NYC Dads Group)

Red Rover answers the question "what do we do today?"

If you're in (or visiting) New York City, Atlanta or San Francisco, this looks helpful for summer: curated event listings for all the great things going on in town, sortable by distance and time. Museum exhibits, drop-in classes, arts and crafts, sports, shows, library programs, festivals, and more -- via mobile app or the web.

→ Red Rover (via Kristen Chase of Cool Mom Picks)

How do minimalist parents handle summer scheduling?

NPR debut! Christine and I discussed minimalist summertime planning on NPR's "Tell Me More" on Tuesday. If you'd like to listen to the recording or read the transcript, it's up on the NPR website.

→ Minimalist Parenting: Doing More With Less (NPR)

10 family movie picks you can borrow from the library for free

I've become a little obsessed with borrowing DVDs from the library. Given there are now multiple ways to watch (and pay for) any given movie or TV show, free movies feels like a coup.

The "problem" is that you have to dig into the catalog and search for older movies. Of course, this isn't a problem at all. Sure, your kids may initially balk at older movies, but five minutes after you hit Play they'll be hooked.

Here are nine movies and one TV series to kick off your summer family movie nights. All have an important message to impart or a tricky situation to explore later in conversation.

→  Continue reading 10 picks for cheap (or free!) family movie night at The Accidental Expert on Babble.

Add water flavoring to medicine to make it more palatable for kids

At Amazon: Mio Water Enhancing Liquid, Blueberry Lemonade

Megan's found a way to make the medicine go down a little easier for her kids:

My kids have both been sick on antibiotics and I forgot to get the medicine flavored at pharmacy. [You can do that?? -- Asha]

So I flavored the medicine myself with store-bought Mio water flavorings. Not only did they work -- the kids got to pick their own flavors with each dose.

I added a drop or two of the flavoring to each individual dose, mixed it and then sucked it all up in syringe! The kids loved it.

I have no idea what the difference is between the flavorings at the pharmacy and these water flavorings, so I would ask the pharmacist before trying this yourself.

We've received lots of creative ideas for getting kids to take their medicine. Past hacks include using bendy straws, masking flavor with candy spray, dipping lollipops, and offering a chaser of flavored syrup.

Sometimes you do what you gotta do.

See all medicine hacks

How do minimalist parents handle summer?

Update: The interview was fantastic! Christine called in from WBGH in Boston and I called in...from my bed in Portland. My heart really started pounding when I could hear the NPR broadcast on the phone.

If you missed it, here's the piece on the NPR website.

Christine and I will be discussing summertime strategies for minimalist parents on NPR’s Tell Me More today, 5/28.

This is a national radio program broadcast at different times in different cities. Find your local time on the NPR website (just scroll to the bottom of the page and select your state).

In the meantime, leave a comment here, or talk to us on Twitter (@minparenting) or on the Minimalist Parenting page on Facebook.

• Summer overscheduling: problem or solution (to zoning out in front of a screen)?
• Strategies vary based on whether parents are working or at home (or working at home). What works for you?
• How do you hope this summer will go for your family?

Hope you’ll tune in. Exciting!

Reading + links for your weekend

It has been an odd week around here. I've been in a low-level funk ever since returning from Mom 2.0 Summit, which makes no sense. Frankly, it pisses me off because really, why? (Especially in light of the happenings in Oklahoma, it feels pretty spoiled. Donating to the Red Cross helped.)

It finally dawned on me that transitions (even good ones) usually break my stride.

This week, my husband, Rael, started a fantastic new job at charity: water and celebrated turning 45 by pledging his birthday to clean drinking water programs. I've talked about charity: water before, when Christine and I teamed up on a raffle to raise money as part of our 2011 Camp Mighty team. At the time I had no idea that Camp Mighty would be the birthplace of our decision to co-author Minimalist Parenting.

This is an amazing moment for Rael and for our family, and I couldn't be more proud of or excited for him. But it also means shuffling the work/family balance again, especially now that Minimalist Parenting is making its way in the world.

It's yet another lesson in humility: even good changes (and this is a GREAT change) take time to settle in, and we need to be gentle with ourselves during the process.

So! As you head into the weekend, I hope that you can take a moment to be gentle with yourself and enjoy this transition into summer.

I just found out that my long weekend will include BBQ, Star Trek and fondue, which improves my mood considerably.

P. S. As I finished writing this, I got news that Christine and I will be talking about Minimalist Parenting and summertime planning on NPR next week! EN PEE ARE, FOLKS! I'll post the details as soon as I have them...but talk about MOOD FIREWORKS. *hyperventilate*

[Edited to add] NPR details! We'll be on Tell Me More on Tuesday, May 28. Check the NPR website for local broadcast times.

While I calm myself down, here's some weekend reading for you:

Kiddley is back!

Hooray for returning blog friends! Not that I've ever met Claire Robertson (formerly known as loobylu) in person, but does it matter? She and her husband, Phil, have relaunched Kiddley, their wonderful site full of fun kid stuff. I talked about Kiddley a bunch of times when it launched in 2006, and am so glad it's back.

→ Kiddley (say hi to Claire for me)

10 Shortcuts for Better Cooking

 There is so much smart stuff in this post by Lindsey Johnson I don't even know where to begin. And that's not even menitoning the gorgeous photos. 

→ Living Well: Ten Secrets (Actually, Shortcuts!) for Better Cooking (Design Mom)

15 tips for parents who travel for work

In case you missed it, here's my recent Babble post about minimizing business travel "reentry." It's getting good feedback -- this is a real pain point for many families.

→ 15 tips for minimizing work travel "reentry" stress (The Accidental Expert)

The Family Dinner Challenge

Aviva's giving folks practical help and encouragement for pulling off family dinners. Four weeks of menu plans, a checklist, and resources for healthy family eating. Check it out!

→ The Family Dinner Challenge (The Six O'Clock Scramble)

Gardening with kids: grow a "petting garden"

I'm pretty proud of this project I did with the help of a Summer Stunner grant from P&G.

→ Soft plants inspire a good idea (Go Mighty)

Please help Oklahoma tornado victims

Sarah James is from Oklahoma City, and her post broke my heart AND provided direct links to organizations providing direct assistance. Please click over and help if you can. 

→ How to help Oklahoma tornado victims (Whoorl)

 

Amazon deal ends Saturday: Eagle Creek travel gear 25% off

Amazon has put a bunch of Eagle Creek travel gear on sale through Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Read more →

How trust and parenting go hand-in-hand (it's hard)

Trust. Even when the road leads somewhere you can't see.

Read more →

One mom's DIY approach to summer: "structure, not scheduling"

The summer plan is structured, not scheduled. Sounds lovely, but what does it really look like, day to day?

Read more →

Summer project: homemade merit badges

You know you want one. I do. I'm gonna suggest this Etsy tutorial to my almost 10 year-old daughter as a summertime project.

Read more →

Swimming with kids: tips for making it easier

In my new post at The Accidental Expert, I've combed though our "day at the pool" hacks and added a bit more wisdom of my own.

Read more →

Summer vacation: the big picture

Two links I hope will help you think differently about summer, especially if you're feeling panicked about the months ahead.

Read more →

Separate eggs with an empty plastic water bottle

Photo credit: Ippinka.com That's right, you can separate eggs by slurping the yolk into a clean, empty water bottle. It may not be easier than separating eggs the old fashioned way, but it will certainly keep the kids entertained in the kitchen. → Read the full post (and watch a...

Read more →