We do a lot of this. I learned this from a friend with kids older than mine — one of hers has celiac. They have to do a lot of cook separately and combine meals. Last night we had pasta. DH and I had pesto, my eldest had marinara and my youngest only eats pasta with butter. Another favorite is to saute chicken, remove…

I have a kid who gets motion sickness. I rarely travel without a couple gallon ziplock bags folded up in a pocket. They come in handy in lots of ways.

The best gift I ever got: two friends from college each came to stay with me for a different week after the birth of my first. They have older kids. One of them had had PPD. The other was a home schooler who brought her tween kids along. I’m sure my colicky newborn was the best birth control lesson ever.

I think you have to pick your battles in the summer. My eldest struggles with hand writing. Our pediatrician thinks we might consider having him tested for dysgraphia. We worked a lot with him last school year (third grade) and he made good progress. We definitely saw a slide between second and third grades. So that’s…

My kids suck at sleeping in unfamiliar places. This year, I’m bringing melatonin gummies. We’ll see how it goes. 

I have a skillet with a lid, and I do something similar, but in one pot.

Yard work only needs to be done every week or two, less often depending on your landscaping. Feeding kids and cleaning up after means happens at least 3 times A DAY. Add up the time over the course of a week and that’s how women get the short end of the stick. We get stuck with the work that is never not happening. 

Pittsburgh, PA also has the request from area libraries system. If I can’t get it digitally, this is my favorite way to get books and DVDs.

Going on vaca soon. My cat sitter also cleans houses. So I’m having her clean WHILE we are on vacation. 

If ever confronted with an actual anti-vaxer, you’ll want to be careful there. There is large overlap with gardeners, CSA/farmer’s market enthusiasts, and anti corporate food people.

She can buy a new one every day. I’m sure her staff knows how to manage or clean it.

I really love these. They are like a tube of knitted material. They never break, although they do loose elasticity eventually. https://www.amazon.com/Scunci-Damage-Elastics-12-Count-6-Pack/dp/B00GYUX8UY

I really love these. They are like a tube of knitted material. They never break, although they do loose elasticity…

I would totally shop trader Joe’s online if I could. There is a set of TJ staples and toiletry items that I love. We live far enough away now that I have to make a special trip. 

I have one like this: https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Step-Stool-Lightweight-Bathroom/dp/B014WOXB6O . I paid <$10 at a discount store. It might not be doing my wood floors any favors, but I can slide it out of the way just fine.

Lands End has several lengths. I haven’t tried them yet. I do have a rash guard from them for when I just can’t with the sun. It’s held up well.

I can’t even make the mega rolls work. I do like the doubles and they fit in the wall-mounted holders in my bathrooms. Increasingly, I’m only finding regular rolls and mega rolls in stores, which irritates me.

My mother had to have her esophagus botoxed and I legit think it saved her life. She had a bunch of complications after a surgery. The lingering one was a esophageal sphincter muscle that would let food pass. 

My brother has a baby grand. Someone in his neighborhood gave it away just to free up the space and have it go to a home where it might be used. 

Many fruits and vet do well in them. Others do not. Broccoli, for example, seems to dry out in a mesh bag.

Many fruits and vet do well in them. Others do not. Broccoli, for example, seems to dry out in a mesh bag.

I would add to let them read whatever they want. My eldest is currently all Minecraft how to books and DogMan. DogMan is stupid, but he’s finally saying, “I love to read.” Even my 9 yo still wants to snuggle and read, but I reserve the right to refuse to re read the same DogMan book after the first couple times…