Lilac City Momma

Mommy Blog

How To Be A Happy Mom

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Being a mom is a hard job. We often feel as though we are being pulled in dozens of different directions all at once, and it can seem like, no matter what we do and what choices we make, someone is judging and telling us it was the wrong decision. It can lead to unhappiness, and that is a shame. Being a parent is such a wonderful thing that letting others dictate your own happiness means you miss out on the enjoyment of being a mom. Therefore, it needs to stop, and here are some excellent ways you can be a happy mom, enjoy your children, and forget about everyone else.

Find The Right Balance

Motherhood is a balancing act between being with your children and taking time to be by yourself, between working and staying at home, between being ‘you’ and being ‘mom,’ and much more. What works for one person in terms of balance might not work for another, which is why it is essential you work out your own ideal balance and stick with it.

You might choose to work full time, part time, or not at all, for example. No matter which you choose, you will have your reasons, and you will work out your own happiness from it. Don’t listen to anyone else about this; you need to do what’s best for you and for your family. As time goes on, you can easily make adjustments depending on where you feel you are needed most, so remember that nothing is set in stone and you can change anything that needs to be changed.

Perfect Doesn’t Exist

We often strive for perfection, but when it comes to parenting (and almost anything else in life), perfect doesn’t exist. It’s essential to keep this in mind and know that loving your children and being loved back is what counts. If you have this, whatever else you do will be good enough, and good enough is something to strive for rather than perfection.

If you keep searching for perfection, you won’t be a happy mom because you will be looking for something that you can’t find and missing out on the fun that good times that you could be having with your children. They don’t care if you or whatever you are trying to do is perfect as long as you are there with them.

Don’t Forget Yourself

When you become a mom, it is overwhelming and all-consuming, no matter how many times you do it. Yet it is important not to forget yourself in the midst of it all. It might not be possible, to begin with, but over time you must do things that are just for you. Go out with friends, learn more about fashion and go shopping for new clothes, take an art class, go for a walk, try new things or go back and do things you did before the children were born.

Although it’s crucial to be a good parent and not to neglect your children, you also need to be yourself and do things that you enjoy to make you happy. This is another example of balance and a significant one. Being a mom is important, but it’s not everything you are, and having hobbies and interests is vital to your happiness and health.

Take Care Of Yourself

It can be extremely easy to neglect your own needs when you are so focused on caring for your children, but this is a bad idea. If you aren’t looking after yourself, you won’t be happy, and you might not be healthy, and that means you won’t be able to care for your children in the best possible way.

Taking the time for some self-care now and then will make you a better parent, and a happier one. You will be the parent that your children need, and that’s what everyone wants. It might be that you need five minutes’ peace now and then and you shut the bedroom door to get it. It might be that you take up a hobby or interest as mentioned above. Perhaps you want to get away for longer with your friends, and you take a weekend or a week away somewhere. You’ll feel better for it afterward, and you never feel guilty for taking the time to make yourself feel better either.

Don’t Compare

It seems that human beings have always compared themselves to other people, but with the advent of social media, this has become easier and easier. Now we can see what other people’s lives are like 24/7, and it can be a worrying thing, especially when we look at our own lives and don’t feel they measure up.

Social media is not real life. People only tend to post the very best parts of their lives there to show that everything is good and they are happy. You may even do the same. People don’t tend to post anything about a tedious day, or a day when nothing much happened, for example. You should always take anything posted on social media with a pinch of salt, and never compare anything you see to your own life. Everyone struggles, everyone has bad days, and you are not the only one who doesn’t have all the answers.

Comparing your life to other people’s will make you unhappy, so it’s best not to worry about anyone else and concentrate on making your life as good as possible for you and your children.

Slow Down

You may have a lot to do, and especially when you have young children that list can seem endless. Instead of trying to race through everything and cause yourself stress, which will be reflected in your children, take a moment to slow down. At the start of each day work out what needs to be done and what can wait. You might want to clean the house, for example, but what if that means you miss out on a sunny day when you could be enjoying the yard or the park? What will mean more when you look back at your kids’ childhood?

Do what needs to be done, even if it means other things have to be left until later. It’s far more important to be happy than anything else.

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Why More Mom’s Should Consider Becoming Consultants

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Mothers today wear many hats; a chef, doctor, maid, negotiator, custodian, and many more. As a working mom, many hate the idea of leaving their little one in the care of someone else, but it has to be done at times. This is one of the many great reasons why moms should consider becoming consultants. Finding meaningful work that helps pay the bills, provides family, and lets you set your own hours is worth the leap. Years ago a mom had the choice of being at home with the kids or going to work. This is no longer the case. A mom can stay at home and still work. Plus, she can do what she loves doing while at home and enjoying her family. Why be a consultant?

Becoming a consultant has several branches under its umbrella. Reading over a general consultant job description can help you determine where to go. Do you love knitting? Become a knitting consultant. Cross-stitch? Become a cross-stitch consultant. Creating fancy table placements? You guessed it; become a consultant. The expertise that moms learn daily can be placed on paper to create a consulting business. Let’s explore why more moms should consider being a consultant and what consultants do.

Choose Who You Work with and When.

To start the list off, choosing when and whom to work with is important. If there is ever a conflict within your schedule, you are able to let your clients know that a particular day, time, or week will be limited in communication and consulting progress. The freedom to work remoting is a dream. Traveling to another country doesn’t hinder your business, and you can choose if you want to take the time off or continue to do business. Remote businesses work for today’s economy because business is being conducted online more and more each day.

Before landing your target clients, write down your goals for these clients. What are you wanting to accomplish with this business when it pertains to them? Ideas should be flooring the gates in your mind. There are literally thousands of ideas but choosing what you are most passionate about will fuel your drive for becoming a consultant. Once this step is down, another reason to become a consultant kicks in. It’s called income.

Increase Your Income.

This is a no-brainer for single or coupled moms. Single mothers will enjoy this work because it does put money in the bank and food on the table which is the biggest concern when it comes to working. Coupled mothers will enjoy the freedom and can keep themselves occupied if they no longer have young kids in the household or want to contribute to the household. Generating an income from your passion is a win-win situation for many. This is the opportunity to strategize and plan for others to help them excel in the industry you are knowledgeable about. The income and working when you want aspect brings us to another reason; work and home balance.

Have a Work and Home Balance.

A way to start stress-free when working and happy is to have great work and home balance. You know when you are going to work and everyone in the home respects that time. You have made it clear when you are not going to work and your clients respect that. Sometimes the latter can be iffy but not impossible.

This is a wonderful reason as well for why more moms should consider this profession. Moms can be there for all children activities instead of just one and can shout from the stands while working. There are no standard rules you need to follow when you start your own consulting business. You are the rule and have to hold yourself accounting for following your own rules. Sounds like a dream come true. Instead of fueling someone else’s business goals, fuel your own.

Conclusion

Regardless if you are a working mom or stay at home mom becoming a consultant is simple, will not empty your pockets, and will give you freedom when it comes to working. You can start a great profitable career today with a little research. You can start earning income within 30 days and it can be done on the side if you are working a full-time job. As mentioned before, search the internet for a consultant job description and what consultants do to give you insight if you have several ideas and need help narrowing your choice down.

Author Bio: Adrian Rubin is a climate change advocate and freelance writer.

Where To Take Your Kids This Summer

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If you want to provide your kids with an unforgettable childhood, a vacation will definitely stand out in their minds once they reach adulthood. After all, it is a time of year when you will all come together as a family to have fun and enjoy each other’s company, which will strengthen your bond even further.

Whether you are looking for a relaxing break or an active adventure, find out where to take your kids this summer.

Florida, USA

Top of every child’s travel bucket list will be Florida, as it’s home to unforgettable theme parks, incredible characters, and jaw-dropping parades. For instance, they’ll scream with delight on the movie-themed rides at Universal Orlando, or can meet Mickey and Minnie at the Magic Kingdom. If you’re thinking of booking a vacation to the Sunshine State, visit VacationRenter.com.

Toronto, Canada

There are plenty of family-friendly activities to choose from in Toronto. For example, you can criss-cross your way across the city aboard a streetcar, which is an affordable way to enjoy the skyline. Your kids will also love ascending the CN Tower, and they could view genuine dinosaur bones at ROM. The whole family can even take a ferry ride to Toronto Islands, which will help you escape the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city. Not to mention you can venture south to view Niagara Falls for yourselves.

Tokyo, Japan

Don’t underestimate Tokyo when looking for kid-friendly destinations. Your children will have plenty of fun in the Japanese capital, especially if you book tickets to Tokyo Disneyland, which offers theme park rides and shows for all ages. They can also ride a Ferris wheel at Odaiba, or can absorb an unparalleled view of the city from Tokyo Skytree. There are also many huge parks and interactive museums for the family to explore, such as Hamarikyu Gardens and Ghibli Museum.

Barcelona, Spain

Your kids will love a trip to Barcelona, which offers weird yet wonderful buildings designed by architect Antonio Gaudi, such as the colorful Parc Guell that overlooks the city. In addition to imaginative architecture, you can also enjoy a family picnic at Parc de la Ciutadella before visiting its zoo. Children will also love to gaze at the seahorses and sharks inside the aquarium at Port Vell, which offers 50 child-friendly activities.

Marrakech, Morocco

For a truly fun and cultural experience, book a vacation to Marrakech for all the family. Your children will feel as if they have stepped inside another world, as they can enjoy a camel ride, watch snake charmers, or explore the bustling bazaars. It’s a unique experience that will trigger their imagination, and will ensure they have plenty of stories to share with their friends once they arrive back home.

Leipzig, Germany

One family-friendly destination you might easily overlook is Leipzig. In addition to offering an extensive classical music history, it also provides a 360 degree cinematic panorama called the Panometer, which shows current and popular movies. Active families will also jump at a chance to take a canoe trip along the city’s waterways. Don’t forget to book a trip to Dresden, which offers Elbe sandstone mountains that were used in Cloud Atlas, Chronicles of Narnia, and Grand Budapest Hotel.

How To Recover After A Busy Weekend As A Parent

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Weekends are a time to relax and let your hair down, but if you have kids, this can be challenging especially if you’re planning an evening out or inviting friends round for drinks. One of the worst aspects of this scenario is that if you have one too many, it could result in a hangover and family life doesn’t stop just because you feel unwell. Children, especially younger kids, don’t understand the concept of hangovers so won’t be sensitive to the situation, which could make you feel ten times worse. Not only that, the lack of sleep after a fun night out with friends can lead to a bad start to the week, as you’ll feel groggy and demotivated from the outset.

So if you’re feeling a little frazzled, check out these ways to recover after a hectic weekend to start your week the right way.

Have a chill out day

It’s not often you get a chance to chill out especially when you have a busy schedule and commitments every day so taking a day to rest and rejuvenate is the best option. If the kids find this boring, make it fun by suggesting board games or a film and duvet day to get everyone in the mood for staying in. This way you can enjoy some peace and quiet, plus get that much-needed rest after a heavy night.

Eat a nutritious meal

It can be easy to be tempted to head for the chocolate and sweet treats to help stave off the effects of a busy weekend, but trying to stick to healthy and nutritious meals for the whole family will give you some energy and make you feel good for the week ahead. Perhaps opt for a fake-away and whip up everyone’s favorite takeout inspired meal to enjoy a tasty treat.

Cure a hangover

If you have the ill effects of a hangover and can’t seem to shift that heavy head and sick feeling, opting for a hangover cure is a great option. There is a range of treatments available at resetiv.com to tackle even the worst hangovers, and each helps to restore balance to get you back on track.

Drink plenty of water

Most people are dehydrated and don’t get enough fluids into their system each day. At the weekend this can be more prevalent plus mixing this with alcohol also dehydrates you more. Keeping a bottle topped up with water around you at all times will help to keep your water intake at the recommended level to help you feel refreshed and alert.

Get an early night

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of your day to help you replenish for the week ahead, so getting to bed at a sensible hour will give you some extra rest after a busy weekend. It can be hard to switch off, so make sure you wind down about half an hour before getting into bed, as this will help you drift off for those much-needed sweet dreams.

Essential Ways To Keep Costs Down At Home

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When you have built a great life for you and your family, it can be one of the best feelings in the world to live every day with them. However, one issue that crops up in most family households is keeping costs low, so that you can save for trips away together, or so that you can save for your children’s futures. Knowing where to start with cutting some costs can be tricky, especially when they are beginning to cause extra stress. Luckily, there are a number of solutions that mothers all around the world have put together, which have been proven to help you keep costs low and give your family the best life you can.

Set a budget each month

Every month, after payday, you will be able to create a rough figure of how much you can afford to spend once the essential bills have gone out of your account. Sitting down with your partner and making a list of what you need to buy that month and how much you can afford to spend on luxuries is a great way of helping you save money when you need to. Even if you don’t struggle for money, it’s always good to think about how your money can be put to better use in relation to food and education.

Lower your energy bill

The biggest kick in the teeth for many households is the dreaded energy bill. In winter months especially, this can go through the roof. Getting around this is much easier than it first seems. By making simple changes, such as switching from normal radiators to aluminium radiators, and investing in more blankets and throws, you can see a marked reduction in how much your energy bill comes to each month. Even better is the positive impact you will be having on the planet.

Buy food in bulk

Weekly food shops are the stuff of dreams to children, but the stuff of nightmares to most adults, even more so if you have a large family! Often, buying food every few days is less cost effective than buying in bulk, even though it may not seem that way at the time. This theory also applies to general household items like toilet roll and toothpaste. In the short term, it may feel as though you are spending more, but as the days go by, you will find that you have more loose change in your pocket. Ideally, you should keep a small amount spare from bulk buying to spend on fresh meat and dairy produce.

Start your own allotment

When it comes to buying your own fresh fruit and vegetables, you can minimize this cost even further. Having your own allotment in your backyard or in a specialized space means you cut out transportation costs of buying food. After awhile, the costs of your produce becomes so low that it may as well be free. You can grow anything from tomatoes to carrots, but if you want to get the kids involved, you could create a small indoor herb allotment for your kitchen windowsill.