Five things to make home life with kiddos easier
It's the little things... like the kind of vacuum you have
Wow, it’s been a lot of BALLERINA FARM on the Internet lately, ya know?1
Sometimes, though—more often than we do what with the very-tempting 24/7 conversation we have at our fingertips—we have to step back from the culture analysis and, like, live our lives. I thought I’d take a break myself and maybe give you one too with this uber-practical post.
I present, five things that have revolutionized my life as a mother of small children who spends the majority of her time at home with said children. Some of these things I’ve had for a while, a few I’ve purchsed just in the last year. All of them are amazing.
1. Earplugs
Only certain people will get this one but that’s okay. :) Being with kids a lot can be very overstimulating. The mess of the house (unavoidable with kids unless you have them on screens a ton) plus the noise is a recipe for major dysregultion for some of us. The ones I have provide just a little buffer. I can still hear everything, but it’s all just a little… muffled.
Also, they look cool, not dorky. (As if that matters when we’re in our homes, but hey, if I accidentally wear them to the grocery store etc. I don’t have to feel silly.) The website says they’re for festivals, sporting events, concerts, and… parenting, which, haha, I just love. Thank you for seeing the parents, Loop.
2. A visual timer
Back in my teaching days I had a huge visual timer right in the front of the classroom. It’s so helpful to see time in such a tangible way, especially for certain kinds of brains. Timers in general are also just great tools for kids—they’re an objective thing you can point to and they do genuinely help keep kids on track with what it is they need to be doing at that moment.
There might be different ones, but the Time Timer is the one I love—so simple and pretty and helpful for kids (and they’re fascinated by them and love to “set” them themselves). Now that I think of it, I maybe should get another one or two for homeschooling!
3. A sensory swing
This is the mysterious item in the picture up top. OTs will be familiar: it’s a sensory swing, basically a piece of stretchy fabric that hangs in a loop. Kids can do all sorts of things with it; it’s pretty wild. Sensory swings are great for sensitive/sensory-seeking kids (hence the name) but honestly I don’t see why every kid shouldn’t have one in their home. Any kid who comes to our house absolutely loves it, and it’s used every single day.
My husband says regularly that this is “the best thing we’ve ever purchased.” Our kids have actually worn one out, and this is our second. We have ours screwed right into a beam in our living room, but it’s easily taken down (for company, whatever) with the unhinging of a carabiner. (At least the one we have is anyway!)
4. Automatic soap dispensers
K this one feels a little silly but if you’re at home with littles you know how many times a day you and the kids wash hands. I used one at a friend’s house a while back and decided to order one. And then on Prime Day this year I ordered another one… because they’re amazing. It’s such a nice treat to hold out your hand and have the soap squirted into it. (And the kids think it’s fun, which helps them be excited to wash their hands. Little hacks and wins, am I right?)
We have one in the main bathroom and one in the kitchen. Love them. My days of making my own soap from castille soap and water and essential oils in a glass dispenser from Home Goods are over. Now I pour the Mrs. Meyers into these babies and we’re good to go. Never going back.
5. A lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner
I’m genuinely embarrassed that I mothered small children at home for 8 years before getting a cordless vac. To be clear, I’ve thought about getting one for years, but since our regular Target one was holding up just fine, and because they’re expensive (dang!), I held off.
But, um, WOW. Cordless. Light. Small swivel-y head. Kids obsessed with vacuuming now. I feel silly I didn’t take the plunge sooner as it’s an absolute gamechanger.
There you have it! I’m obsessed with these five things and they’ve truly made my life at home with little ones a bit easier and/or more enjoyable.
Do you use any of these things? What things do you own that make life with littles easier or more fun?
P.S. As a small gift for paid subs, I made a one-page PDF describing each of these and a link to the one we have—not affiliate, just for ease of purchase if you find the thing compelling!
I do have to say, I kind of called it? I wrote this little post a month ago after someone on the Internet said my work is “part of the trad wife movement.” I wrote about how I feel like feminist/trad wife is the new working mom/SAHM with regard to the division and the stereotypes, and, well… excellent pieces here, here, and here (all referencing this one in the London Times) if you need to catch up or want to know what all the hubub is about.
I want all these things now. Excellent. Especially the dang vacuum but our cord one just keeps working. 🤣
we love our visual timer too!