Workin' Mom Homestead

Getting things done with toddlers around can be tricky. If I am trying to get things done outside of nap time, I try to incorporate my son into the mix. It teaches him responsibility and gives him a sense of independence, which I think is great for his development. He feels like he’s being helpful and I can see that it makes him happy. It also is an activity that kills time 😉

Here are some ways I have my toddler (under 2) help me around the house:

• Baking/cooking- I love baking on Saturday mornings. It’s a tradition in my house. It makes the house smell good and I love being able to give my kids a homemade treat. Charlie however, often still wants to be attached to me while I’m baking. So, I incorporate him into it. He is still a little small for the toddler tower kitchen helper, so I put him in his high chair, put the bowl on his little table, and let him mix the ingredients. I add them in one at a time and describe them to him, “Okay now we’re adding two eggs, 1, 2!” Now, he’s learning and helping. It also makes watching things bake in the oven more exciting because he got to help. Oh and he loves mashing the bananas for banana muffins! 
• Meal prep- I also let him cut things like potatoes or cucumbers with a plastic kid knife. I bought plastic kid knives for my stepdaughter years ago, because she loved to help me in the kitchen. She’s a teenager now so she can use real knives, but the kid knives still have a purpose in my toddler. When I’m chopping veggies for dinner, I’ll give him a potato that’s cut in half, and let him work on cutting the rest. This distracts him for pretty much the entire time I’m making dinner. I love seeing the smile on his face when he gets to throw his botched potato pieces onto the sheet pan with the rest of the veggies. I can tell he feels super accomplished.
• Feeding the animals- Charlie loves to help feed all the animals- dogs, chickens, ducks, my parent’s cat. He scoops up the dog food and puts it in the bowl like a champ. Does he spill some sometimes? Occasionally. Once or twice he’s dropped a bowl while walking it back. It’s okay. I try not to make him feel bad for things like that because he’s learning. I just say, “It’s okay we can fix it,” and we pick up the dog food and put it back in the bowl. I want him to know that it’s okay to make mistakes, you aren’t going to get in trouble, and you persevere and try again. He also likes to put the chicken feeder in the coop and he loves giving all the birds mealworms!
• Yard work- gardening, leaves, watering, you name it! He loves to help with harvesting potatoes and carrots, watering plants, filling the duck’s pool with water, turning the compost pile, raking leaves, picking up sticks, pretty much anything you can think of. I like to give him jobs that are easy enough for his age, but also challenging enough to keep him engaged, help him learn, and work on his motor skills. He often needs redirecting, especially with the hose, but again, he’s learning and only a year old.
• Cleaning- Charlie makes messes, but he will help clean them! Sometimes after a meal, if I have a lot to clean, I’ll give him a baby wipe to clean his high chair table and he does the job with pride. I’ve had him help me clean the sliding glass door and stainless steel appliances with my homemade mixture of water, vinegar, and a dash of dish soap in a spray bottle. This homemade cleaner works well and because it’s natural, it’s safe for Charlie to be around and use. I will also give him baby wipes to help me wipe random things around the house. While I actually wipe things down, he’ll pick something random like a kitchen chair and just wipe away. I really get a kick out of it. 

Everything you do with your toddler will take longer. It just will. But it’s okay because our job is to nurture and educate them. Don’t feel like you’re wasting time. You have to do these things anyway, and you want to spend time with them, so why not kill two birds with one stone? If I’m off work and spending time with him anyway, who cares how long the chores take? Otherwise I’m sitting there in the living room with him wondering how much longer we can play blocks until nap/bedtime. I know I only have one toddler, so I can’t speak for those who have multiple, but this works for me. 

Being a mom has definitely taught me patience. I’m always rushing around and it’s not good for me, so I let my kids slow me down when possible. My older kids always have things going on (like sports, choir concerts, parties, etc.) so sometimes the weekend just isn’t enough time to get everything done. Show yourself some grace. As long as your toilets are clean, most laundry is washed, and you have food, you’ll make it to the next week. Take it a day at a time. I often pick one thing a day to clean during the week, and my house stays generally clean. It’s not magazine ready, but it’s not a fire hazard and no one is getting sick.

1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”