SHARED by: Keri Young, Head of The Parenting Group at York Avenue Preschool

There are only a finite number of hours in a day and it can be difficult to juggle everything going on in our lives. How can we get everything done and still be present with our kids? The answer is simple, but not necessarily easy: plan ahead!

When talking to other parents, a common challenge is food and meal planning. Parents hope to feed their children nutritious and yummy meals but, at the end of a busy day many of us are still finding ourselves popping in a quick meal of chicken nuggets and mac and cheese for dinner. Guilty as charged!

A great way to manage meals is to plan ahead. On the weekends, I choose a few simple and easy meals I can make throughout the week.  I write a list of the meals and the ingredients I will need and look in the refrigerator and pantry to check for the staples I already have.  Then, I hit the supermarket solo and take advantage of quality daddy and child bonding time. It takes a lot of stress off of me to know in advance what I will prepare for meals and to know that I have all of the ingredients in my house. During some rare free moments, you might browse the internet to find easy recipes. It’s also fun to do a recipe exchange with friends over email!

Another common challenge for busy moms is finding time to organize and clean the house. This is another opportunity to make a list! I love having concrete lists that I can physically check off when completed. These lists can include daily chores, such as loading the dishwasher and making the beds. They can also include longer range large projects, such as cleaning out closets or organizing your photos. In these cases it can be helpful to give yourself a time limit each day so that you have a goal. You can set a timer for 15 minutes at a time and know that you will focus on a given chore for that time period. It sets a realistic goal and you won’t be overwhelmed.

The most important thing to remember is to give yourself a break! Parenting is hard and every day presents itself with new joys and unique challenges. You won’t always follow through with your plan… and that’s okay! Tomorrow is a new day. Do your best and enjoy time with your children, because that’s what it’s about!

Keri Young is the head of The Parenting Group at York Avenue Preschool. Interested in more topics like this? Email Kyoung@yorkavenuepreschool.org for more information on The Parenting Group.