Time Saving Tips

This is a great article that Gretchen sent out so I thought I would share. It was found at http://lifestyle.msn.com/familyandparenting/babyandpregnancy/articlebc.aspx?cp-documentid=6076769&page=1

Our families are counting on us, too, which means more pressure to whip through all our duties, from grocery shopping to scrubbing bathtubs. "Moms are always on call," says Susan Newman, mother of five and author of “The Book of No: 250 Ways to Say It — and Mean It — and Stop People-Pleasing Forever.”
"You're on call with your cell phone. You're on call with e-mail. You're on call 24 hours a day. You're on call when the baby wakes up in the middle of the night."
When we add our regular on-call status to our already long to-do list, we're left exhausted, wishing we had more time just to be with our families instead of running errands. Sarah Merten says meal planning used to be her biggest "time suck."
We were spending a lot of time at the grocery store and a lot of money because we weren't planning ahead," says the 32-year-old Portland, Oregon, mom of two boys. Last year she swapped her late-afternoon ritual of last-minute dinners and almost daily trips to the store for an organized system of meal planning on an electronic spreadsheet. Now she saves more than $100 a month on groceries by shopping once or twice a week, avoiding impulse buys, and, when she's in the produce aisles, choosing only in-season fruits and vegetables.
Mapping your menu on the computer may not appeal to everyone. But when it comes to shrinking the time it takes to do regular chores (and still do a bang-up job), anyone can appreciate having a few great tricks up her sleeve. Here are 50 ways to save time by doing things faster, so you can spend more time doing the things you really enjoy with your family.
1. Assemble your children's outfits when you put clothes away in their drawers. Then you can quickly grab a full outfit without having to waste time scouring the drawers for a matching shirt and pair of pants.
2. When you see a great toy on sale, buy several and sock them away for your child to give to friends at birthday parties throughout the year.
3. Give your grade-schooler a "homework box" with pencils, an eraser, a stapler, a calculator, and a ruler. Ask her to bring it to the table whenever it's time to do homework.
4. Forget about addressing your party invitations by hand. Go to the United States Postal Service website to create party invitations that can be shipped to addresses you upload to the site. Or, have your own photo printed onto a postcard invitation at Snapfish and they'll stamp the cards and mail them for you.
5. Stock your produce drawer or a lower shelf in your refrigerator with snacks like carrot sticks and apple slices that your kids can grab without your help. Set up a similar area in your pantry with baggies full of dried fruit or graham crackers.
6. Skip ironing and get wrinkles out of a shirt or pair of trousers by putting them in the dryer for 15 minutes with a damp hand towel.
7. Stop wasting time looking for things you use often, like scissors, reading glasses, or baby wipes. Stock up and keep duplicates in the rooms where you spend the most time.
8. Designate 30 minutes after dinner for cleaning — and get everyone involved in folding laundry, doing dishes, and clearing away clutter.
9. Store sets of sheets and pillowcases inside unfolded pillowcases to make bed changes fast and easy and minimize clutter in your linen closet.
10. Program the phone numbers for your favorite take-out restaurants into your cell phone so you can call to pick up dinner on the way home and avoid paying for delivery.
11. Create a file for coupons for your favorite restaurants and file them with take-out menus. Put the coupons that expire soonest at the front of the pack.
12. Set up a box for bills that need to be paid and stock it with stamps and envelopes.
13. Organize your favorite articles, parenting information, and recipes so you can find them more quickly. Place pages from online sites, magazines, and newspapers in page protectors and stash them in a three-ring binder.
14. Store your child's outgrown clothes in large plastic bins and affix labels such as "0 to 3 months", "6 to 9 months", "9 to 12 months", and so on. Once your child has grown out of a size, you can easily store the clothes, loan them to a friend, or take them to a consignment shop.
15. Set the table the night before and put items like bowls, utensils, cereal, fruit, toaster, and bread out to avoid a morning rush.
16. Shop for holiday and birthday gifts year-round. Whenever you see a great gift for someone you love, buy it and set it aside for giving later.
17. Start a monthly meal exchange program with five friends and neighbors. Once a month, cook enough for two dinners. Stash one in the freezer and take the other to meet up with the group and swap healthy, freezer-ready main dishes. Then go home with four other meals, and put them in the freezer alongside the extra one you made for your family. Suddenly you're stocked up with a variety of easy, homemade dinners.
18. Limit personal e-mail and computer time to twice a day.
19. Do all of your errands one day a week, working off a list and taking the most efficient route.
20. Hire a babysitter for a couple of hours on the weekend so you can tackle household duties and errands without kids in tow.
21. Chop all your vegetables, fruits, and herbs for the week's meals at one time so everything will be ready for cooking.
22. Add important appointments and activities to a master calendar in your e-mail in-box and set up reminders for up to one week ahead. This calendar can be shared with family members via e-mail. (Google Calendar, a free Web-based system, even sends reminders to cell phones.)
23. Sort belongings into clear, labeled bins that can be stacked and stowed so your child can easily find things like DVDs and toys without your help. Use brightly colored labels and picture labels for toddlers and preschoolers who can't read.
24. Stop by the post office before 3 p.m. on weekdays, when the long lines usually begin to form, so you can get in and out more efficiently.
25. Keep disinfecting and glass wipes in the bathroom for quick cleanups around toilets, sinks, and mirrors. You could even do a speedy wipe-down while you bathe the kids.
26. Keep a phone book in your car to avoid unnecessary calls to 411 and to quickly look up addresses.
27. Set up two folders related to your child's schoolwork — one for school notices and the other for schoolwork you want to keep.
28. Skip folding laundry and instead hang up all clothing except for socks, underwear, linens, and towels.
29. Grocery shop on the weekends or, if you don't want to waste precious weekend time, go to the store after the kids are in bed. You'll whiz through the store with much less frustration because you're not also feeling the pressure to get dinner on the table and everyone into bed on time.
30. Choose meats or other proteins that can be used for several meals during a week. A store-bought rotisserie chicken can be shredded and used for several dishes, like chicken enchiladas, homemade chicken soup, and chicken salad. Slow-cooked pork tenderloin can double as barbecued pork sandwiches with just a bottle of barbecue sauce. Cooked beans can go in salad, tacos, and vegetable soup.
31. Open mail with the trash can nearby so junk mail and catalogs can be thrown out immediately. Even better, sign up with a free service for reducing junk mail like the National Do Not Mail list.
32. Keep cardboard boxes labeled "donate," "trash," or "consign" in the garage or storage closet to routinely rid your house of unused items and clutter.
33. Save time and money on routine shopping trips by buying items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, light bulbs, and batteries in twos when they're on sale.
34. Keep an overnight bag in your car with an extra outfit for each child, including diapers or underwear, nonperishable snacks, and toiletries. In the event of an emergency, messy meal, or whirlwind overnight trip, you're set
35. Stock a binder or folder with a list of emergency contacts and household instructions for things like watering plants, pet care, and mail collection so you won't have to write everything out each time for a house sitter or babysitter.
36. Designate a cabinet in your kitchen for medicine so you'll have easy access to everything from pain reliever to bandages when and where you need them. Make sure it's secured with a child-safe lock.
37. Sort medicine into small, labeled storage bins — one bin for children's medications, one for adult cough and cold remedies, one for first-aid supplies, and so on, and keep them in the locked cabinet.
38. Tape the dosage instructions for common medications like children's acetaminophen to the inside of your medicine cabinet.
39. Splurge on a super fast-drying hair dryer and cut hair-drying time in half.
40. Keep a pack of thank-you cards in the glove box of your car or in your daily planner so you can write notes while sitting in the car or waiting for a doctor to see you.
41. Turn your hangers backward at the beginning of every season. Anything left hanging on a hanger that's still turned backward at the end of the season hasn't been worn — give it away!
42. E-mail your thank-you notes instead of sending a card.43. Schedule your child's doctor's appointments for first thing in the morning when you're less likely to have a long wait.
44. Get rid of one bag of clothes, toys, and books for every bag that comes into the house. It means less stuff to clean up.
45. Write down or print out all-important phone numbers — for people like your child's doctor, the next-door neighbor, your veterinarian, and so on — and place the list in an inexpensive picture frame that you keep in your master bedroom or the kitchen. This way, you won't need to write out contact information for a sitter or grandparent — just point out the list, and they'll know who to call in case of emergency.
46. Fill a basket with socks and keep it near the front door so kids can quickly grab a pair. Put the shoes they wear most often next to the basket.
47. Order diapers and wipes online — no more lugging big boxes home from the store.
48. Label shelves in the linen closet so family members know where items like beach towels and guest room sheets belong.
49. Keep an assortment of greeting cards on hand, filed by occasion. You'll save time on trips to the store, and you can quickly take care of an unexpected birthday or send off a heartfelt condolence.
50. Forget sorting laundry. Wash everything in cold water.
Now you're armed with a fistful of tips. Still don't know where to start? First you need to decide which duties require your immediate attention and which you can do later.
Make a list of weekly commitments and write down how much time each one takes, recommends Stacey Crew of Charleston, South Carolina, author of The Get Organized Guide for New Moms.
Don't forget to include everything from scrubbing toilets to volunteering in your child's classroom. Once a list has been compiled, you'll be able to see what has to be done and what you can skip. This will be a good indication of whether you can handle additional obligations like pitching in with your child's preschool newsletter or helping a friend who asks for a favor.
If you're on the fence, say no, Newman advises. You'll feel worse if you can't follow through, leading to stress and emotional exhaustion — something that could translate into how you interact with your kids.
Don't forget to involve your kids in chores, too, Crew suggests. You may feel like you need to do it all, but you don't.
"Kids want to learn," says Crew, a mom of two girls. "They want to help."
At the end of the day, Newman says, it's more important to spend time with your family or on your own than to fixate on finishing chores. Put away your cell phone, log off the Internet, and focus on your kids. Once their bedtime rolls around, take 15 minutes to rejuvenate yourself by sipping on a cup of tea or going for a walk.

9 Steps for Parents

Here is a great article from http://www.kidshealth.com/parent/positive/family/nine_steps.html


Raising children is one of the toughest and most fulfilling jobs in the world - and the one for which you may feel the least prepared. Here are nine ways to tackle child-rearing responsibilities that can help you feel more fulfilled as a parent - and enjoy your child more, too.

1
Nurture your child's self-esteem.Children start developing their sense of self as babies when they see themselves through their parents' eyes. Your tone of voice, your body language, and your every expression are absorbed by your child. Your words and actions as a parent affect your child's developing self-esteem more than anything else. Praising your child's accomplishments, however small, will make him or her feel proud; letting your child do things independently will make him or her feel capable and strong. By contrast, belittling comments or comparing your child unfavorably with another will make him or her feel worthless.
Avoid making loaded statements or using words as weapons. Comments like "What a stupid thing to do!" or "You act more like a baby than your little brother!" cause damage just as physical blows do. Choose your words carefully and be compassionate. Let your child know that everyone makes mistakes and that you still love him or her, even when you don't love his or her behavior.

2
Catch your child being good.Have you ever stopped to think about how many times you react negatively to your child in a given day? You may find that you are criticizing far more than you are complimenting. How would you feel about a boss who treated you with that much negative guidance, even if it was well-intentioned?
The more effective approach is to catch your child doing something right: "You made your bed without being asked - that's terrific!" or "I was watching you play with your sister and you were very patient." These statements will do more to encourage good behavior over the long run than repeated scoldings. Make a point of finding something to praise every day. Be generous with rewards - your love, hugs, and compliments can work wonders and are often reward enough. Soon you will find you are "growing" more of the behavior you would like to see.

3
Set limits and be consistent with your discipline.Discipline is necessary in every household. The goal of discipline is to help children choose acceptable behaviors and learn self-control. Children may test the limits you establish for them, but they need those limits to grow into responsible adults. Establishing house rules will help children understand your expectations and develop self-control. Some house rules might include: no TV until homework is done, and no hitting, name-calling, or hurtful teasing is allowed.
You may want to have a system in place: one warning, followed by consequences such as a "time out" or loss of privileges. A common mistake parents make is failure to follow through with consequences when rules are broken. You can't discipline a child for talking back one day and ignore it the next. Being consistent teaches your child what you expect.

4
Make time for your children.With so many demands on your time, it's often difficult for parents and children to get together for a family meal, let alone spend some quality time together. But there is probably nothing your child would like more. Get up 10 minutes earlier in the morning so you can eat breakfast with your child, or leave the dishes in the sink and take a walk after dinner. Children who are not getting the attention they want from their parents often act out or misbehave because they are assured of being noticed that way.
Many parents find it mutually rewarding to have prescheduled time with their child on a regular basis. Create a "special night" each week to be together and let him or her help decide how you will spend your time. Look for other ways to connect with your child - put a note or something special in his or her lunchbox.
Adolescents seem to need less undivided attention from their parents than younger children. Because there are fewer windows of opportunity for parents and teens to get together, parents should do their best to be available when their teen does express a desire to talk or participate in family activities. Attending concerts, games, and other events with your teen communicates caring and lets you get to know about your child and his or her friends in important ways.
Don't feel guilty if you're a working parent. It is the many little things you do with your child - making popcorn, playing cards, window shopping - that he or she will remember.

5
Be a good role model.Young children learn a great deal about how to act by watching you. The younger they are, the more cues they take from you. Before you lash out or blow your top in front of your child, think about this: is that how you want your child to behave when he or she is angry? Be constantly aware that you are being observed by your children. Studies have shown that children who hit usually have a role model for aggression at home.
Model the traits you wish to cultivate in your child: respect, friendliness, honesty, kindness, tolerance. Exhibit unselfish behavior. Do things for other people without expecting a reward. Express thanks and offer compliments. Above all, treat your children the way you expect other people to treat you.

6
Make communication a priority.You can't expect children to do everything simply because you, as a parent, "say so." Children want and deserve explanations as much as adults do. If we don't take time to explain, children will begin to wonder about our values and motives and whether they have any basis. Parents who reason with their children allow them to understand and learn in a nonjudgmental way.

7
Make your expectations clear. If there is a problem, describe it to your child, express your feelings about it, and invite your child to work on a solution with you. Be sure to include consequences. Make suggestions and offer choices. Be open to your child's suggestions as well. Negotiate. Children who participate in decisions are more motivated to carry them out.
Be flexible and willing to adjust your parenting style.If you frequently feel "let down" by your child's behavior, it may be because you have unrealistic expectations. Parents who think in "shoulds" (for example, "He or she should be potty-trained by now") may find it helpful to do more reading on the matter or to talk to other parents or child development specialists.
Your child's environment has an impact on his or her behavior, so you may be able to modify that behavior by changing the environment. If you find yourself constantly saying "no" to your 2-year-old, look for ways to restructure his or her surroundings so that fewer things are off-limits. This will cause less frustration for both of you.
As your child changes, you will gradually have to change your parenting style. Chances are, what works with your child now won't work as well in a year or two.
Teenagers tend to look less to their parents and more to their peers for role models. But continue to provide guidance, encouragement, and appropriate discipline while allowing your teen to earn more independence. And seize every available moment to make a connection!

8
Show that your love is unconditional.As a parent, you are responsible for correcting and guiding your child. But how you express your corrective guidance makes all the difference in how your child receives it. When you have to confront your child, avoid blaming, criticizing, or fault-finding, which undermine self-esteem and can lead to resentment. Instead, strive to nurture and encourage, even when you are disciplining your child. Make sure he or she knows that although you want and expect better next time, your love is there no matter what.

9
Be aware of your own needs and limitations as a parent.Face it - you are an imperfect parent. You have strengths and weaknesses as a family leader. Recognize your abilities - "I am loving and dedicated." Vow to work on your weaknesses - "I need to be more consistent with discipline." Try to have realistic expectations for yourself, your spouse, and your children. You don't have to have all the answers - be forgiving of yourself. And try to make parenting a manageable job. Focus on the areas that need the most attention rather than trying to address everything all at once. Admit it when you're burned out. Take time out from parenting to do things that will make you happy as a person (or as a couple). Focusing on your needs does not make you selfish. It simply means you care about your own well-being, which is another important value to model for your children.