Keeping up
Wow! Has anyone ever mentioned how busy owning a business can become. I knew I was in for a ride when I started my own business, but this ride sometimes goes way too fast! There are so many things to do besides the everyday tasks of running a business. Here is a quick update on what we have done.
Miss Plan It All Inc., is now accredited by the Better Business Beureau and we have joined the ICLMA, which stands for International Concierge and LifeStyle Management Association, they have been a great educational resource. Our website, www.missplanitall.com has been updated with a “resources” page where you will find several of my favorite places and resources in the local Tampa Bay area. Also working on several other projects that will involve teaching and certifications as well as adding more concierge type services for moms!
All of the things above come after family time! That means I try to get as much as I can done. To add even more family time to my already busy schedule, I have joined a mom group called Small Fry Society, in the Tampa Bay, Fl area. It’s a great concept; moms & babies get together for socials once a week. Each social is something different and provides an opportunity for moms to get to know each other. I love it! Only thing is, I always have to make sure I put it on my schedule every week and that I make time for it. To those working moms out there, I strongly suggest joining a group where you can meet other women and have some down time to have fun.
Multi-tasking children’s toys…
As a busy mom and as Miss Plan It All, I am constantly trying to come up with ideas to keep my boys ages 2 and 10 months entertained while we are out. Especially if we are going out to eat at a restaurant. I pride myself in the fact that for the most part my boys are well-behaved. But, like all kids, there comes a point where they need to stay busy and they will find a way. That is why I figured it’s best for me to keep them busy than to let them find something on their own to stay busy with. Like, banging the silverware on the table at a restaurant. Let’s be honest, no one likes that sound and I don’t want to be that parent who is being stared at by others who are trying to enjoy their meal. So, I came up with a few ideas that have helped us while out in public. I hope this helps other busy parents out there and if you have ideas to share with me, please bring them on!
Bath books- you know the ones that are plastic and kind of puffy. These are great because you can easily wipe them down after the kids have smeared food on them and they don’t take up too much space in your diaper bag. Or if you are like me, in your restaurant bag. Yes, I have a bag already ready in the car with these items in it, so it’s always there for us.
Bath squirts- these usually come in a themed pack. I like the animal ones or the little people ones because you can play pretend with them. They are fairly inexpensive, so if you lose one or forget one you don’t feel bad. These are great for restaurants because they are easy to wipe down, you can pretend they are eating too which will encourage your child to eat as well or try something different and they don’t make noise. I recently found little cars. These are great because they don’t roll off the table.
Place mats- the disposable kind. You can find these pretty much at any kids store and even in the grocery store. These are great because you stick them onto to the table. They usually have characters the kids recognize and kids can write on them or color them. Another added bonus to these, is that if you have a baby who is teething and insists on gumming the table, you can rest assured they are not actually putting their mouth on a dirty table, that while yes, it has been wiped down, remember it has been wiped down with the same towel all the other dirty tables have been wiped down with. (sorry for the visual)
Foam letters (the small ones)- I use these in the tub as well to teach my toddler the alphabet and numbers. Toss a handful of these in the bag. They are easy to clean and educational as well. And also quiet!
A special toy- right now my toddler is into Cars, with Mater being his favorite character and Thomas train. I keep these in case there is a delay in being seated or our food is taking too long and my other options are not working. I have not used these often. They are not as easy to clean because they have a lot of crevices perfect for hiding food and if we lose one, well, they are NOT cheap! So you might regret it.
Snacks- limit these so you don’t ruin their lunch or dinner. Usually a few gold-fish go along way or for the baby, the Puffs. They work well too. My toddler usually wants the puffs if he sees me giving them to the baby!
And last but not least and perhaps the most important for me:
Plastic rings- these usually come in a pack of a million. Just kidding, but a lot. You can connect them to each other and hang them on anything. These come in handy because you can attach them to the toys I have mentioned above and prevent your little ones from dropping or throwing their toys all over the place. In order for these to work you have to get a little bit creative with the toys though. I take a hole puncher and punch a hole in the toys, this way I can thread the rings through the hole to keep them in place.
Of course most restaurants offer crayons and a coloring page to keep kids entertained, which is great. However, my kids are not there yet. They will not color quietly and wait until their food arrives. They will eat, break, throw and poke themselves with the crayons, crumble the coloring sheet and throw it on the floor. So for now, this is what works for us.
Kids on my mind..
Recently, a Miss Plan It All, client and new mom asked me if I thought she was crazy because she thought about her baby all the time. She said, she thought about the baby when she was at the grocery store, when she was home doing household chores and her mom was watching the baby, even when she was in the shower. I laughed, not because I thought she was crazy, but because I felt a sense of relief knowing that this was something all parents must go through. I think about my kids all the time. I believe all parents or most parents do. Just like this mom, it seems no matter what I am doing, my kids are on my mind. Not in the “back of my head” like other thoughts, but just fresh on my mind.
As a working mom and small business owner, I am away from my kids for a significant amount of time. However, I am luckier than most working moms because I have a job and a business that allows me to make my own schedule, which in turn allows me to spend a lot more time with my kids than most working moms. I usually make it a point to schedule an activity outside the home to go to with the kids. It is a bit challenging because one is 2 yrs old and the baby is 9 months, so finding something that is suitable for both is hard. It makes me feel a little bit better to know they took part of my days schedule but I still think about them the days I actually do work and leave the house for 7 hours (which is the most I am ever gone). As parents it is difficult not to think about our little ones because they are a piece of us. We are so in tune with their actions, the new things they do or say. My advice to this mom was; don’t worry about other people thinking you are crazy because your baby is on your mind all the time. Consider it a blessing that you have someone so important to think about all the time.
I know she felt at ease with my response and knowing that I was going through the same thing with my kids. To me it is so important to make new parents feel supported and to let them know they are not alone with their thoughts.
Road trip day 5… chicken & noodles
Today my husband asked his grandmother to please, please, please, make him home-made chicken and noodles. It is one of his favorite meals that apparently only she can do just right. I was intrigued by this, one, because I have never had them and two because I have never known anyone to make their own noodles. That is why I love her so much. This wonderful lady can whip up a meal made from scratch in no time. I was also very excited because my toddler would be able to eat this meal and hopefully enjoy it as much as his dad. We took the boys to the park right behind grandma’s house and later put them down for their naps. I took advantage that the boys were sleeping and went shopping with grandma to Wal-Mart to get some stuff that the boys are used to eating. Not very many places to shop in where we were staying, so a trip to the store means going three towns down from where we were. After our shopping trip, my husband and I gathered up the boys and went to the grandpa’s homes. It was time to let grandma work her magic in the kitchen.
Great grandpa pulled out a box of old John Deer tractors that my husband used to play with when he was a child and gave it to my toddler to play with. His face lit up when he saw them. He played with each one outside in the what seemed to feel like 200 degree weather. It did not seem to bother him at all. In the mean time I was melting and so was the baby. I had two portable baby fans attached to the stroller and he was still sweating. I did slather them both and myself with sunscreen even though we were in the shade. I was finally glad when it was almost dinner time and my husband said we had to go.
Home made chicken and noodles here we come! I was so excited. When we got back to grandma’s house she had dinner ready. She even baked a cherry pie! Now this is my type of vacation. Dinner was amazing, my boys liked everything, (I gave some to the baby mashed up and he took to them very well) and my husband ate so much I think he almost made himself sick. Spending time like this with family has made this trip very special.
