Parenting short cuts - things you skip or do the bare minimum on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine that - lazy parenting. How revolutionary. The smugness is astounding. Real race to the bottom in this thread.

I'm sorry, who here is being smug?

(hint: it's you)

This has been one of my favorite threads on DCUM for a few reasons:

1) realizing that some people GET OFF on making this as hard as possible because the WORST thing to be is "lazy." I'm so glad (honestly, not sarcastic) that you have this thread to make you feel superior. I mean, why on earth would you even click this thread otherwise? And then COMMENT when clearly no one on this thread wants to hear from you? You'd just be like "Oh, no, I'm not really the bare minimum type, nothing for me here" and move on. Glad we could help.

2) Everything else in DCUM, and a lot of parenting in general in the professional circles of DC, is insanely competitive. And competitive parenting SUCKS. A race to the bottom for once, in one thread, here on DCUM, is such a refreshing change of pace.

3) There are some damn good ideas on here. After reading this, I'm for sure never doing a goody bag.

4) It's good to sometimes feel like you're doing okay, and other people are cutting corners, too.

Re: #2, I completely agree with the hacks to reduce structured activities, throw simple parties, and not over-schedule with a billion play dates. I don’t think anyone is judging those things. But I don’t agree with the poor hygiene hacks, and that has nothing to do with competitive parenting.

But it has to do with being American. Not showering every day is NOT poor hygiene!

Bits and pits need to be washed daily.

In theory I agree, but throughout most of human history, people did not bathe daily. I'm guessing you just get used to the smell after awhile, the same way I no longer notice that my kid's hamsters make our house smell like petco.

[Anonymous]

My hacks:
-Each family member uses only 1 color bath towel & wash cloth (DH-gray, me-white, DS-dark blue, DD-light blue) so we don’t have to wash towels/washcloths as often (I wash them once per week whereas they’d otherwise get washed after each use)
-Same w cups ^^ we have colored plastic cups and each family member sticks to 1 color so they can use the same water cup all day long (if the cup is used for other beverages besides water we wash it, but if it’s only used for water which is often the case as we’re all big water drinkers it gets reused all day)
-We have a “shoe station” by the door and shoes are always taken off there as soon as we come in and kept there til we go back out. This makes it a) easy to find shoes when we’re leaving and b) cleaner floors in our house
-each kid has 2 water bottles. 1 always stays in the car and 1 stays in their backpack/school bag so we’re never looking for them. We’re big on hydration! Haha. I also always keep some non perishable snacks in the car to help prevent meltdowns and/or allow impromptu outings for which I’d normally stop to pack a snack.
-we also always keep a picnic blanket and/or beach towels and sunscreen/sun hats in the car in the warmer months so we are always ready to go to the park
-we have a organizer thing that hangs on the back of our hall closet door where all school papers, kid art that comes home from school, and mail that needs sorting go. My DH or I go thru all the papers each week and deal w, hang up or recycle it as needed
-we set out cereal boxes the night before so kids can get their own breakfast in the morning. Breakfast is always simple on school days.
-my kids’ socks are all identical so when they get lost they can just be paired w any other sock in the drawer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to search for two camps for two different gender kids who are in different grades and have different interests. I also have to figure out pickups and dropoffs that fits in with our work schedules. Camp signups happens as an iterative process but we have aced it by now.

1) I am friends with the parents of several of my kids friends. We share what camps we are planning for so that some of the other friends can also signup for it. It makes car-pooling easy. We are guilty of camp-hoarding too, so my kids friends can join in too.

2) I overbook all camps. I will sign up for every thing from one camp/location, before proceeding to another vendor/activities. This way, I have full coverage. I start withdrawing from camps only if I get something better for the kids.

3) Other parents and I will be the first people to sign-up our kids for the camps, as soon as registration opens. If it opens at 1 am, we are up and quickly register for it. We have a system for which camps to sign up for.

3) DH and I usually sit together to sign-up and maintain a google calendar for the signups that we share with the kids.

4) Vacation happens at the beginning or at the end of the break. A couple of leisure weeks happens when one of the parent can be off and we basically do nothing but veg out, have playdates, go out to eat, shop for BTS, schedule home/yard improvements and my cleaners come to do a weeklong deep cleaning.

This is a system that has worked very well for several years. My kids like to go to camps that their friends are also going to. So, I do the work to get all the parents organized and the camps then becomes a fun playdate kind of activity.

I have also arranged for EC coaching and classes from private instructors at home for my DD's team. It has been extremely helpful to build a winning team and resulted in good friendships between parents. Kids look forward to these classes because we build in playtime before classes as well as snacks. Parents get a break too and can run errands because kids are having fun with their friends and learning or doing something constructive. Usually, this is a year-round thing. My kids are very social so anything that they want to do (or need to do), we have to make sure that several of the friends are doing it with them.

I think you misunderstood the assignment. None of these are hacks.

OMG this sounds daunting. Exactly what I would avoid

[Anonymous]

- Since DH wakes up early to start WFH, and the preschooler and toddler wake up way too early (usually between 6:30-7), we've gotten into an awesome routine where DH dresses them, takes them to the potty, sits them on the couch, turns on an educational show for them (like Blippi!), gives them bowls of fruit...

So I can sleep in with the baby! Waking up and getting them ready for school is so much easier since we started this routine!

A year or two ago, I never would have liked/would have argued about: the kids eating breakfast on the couch or watching a show before school. Maybe I would even have wanted to dress them myself so they'd be in "cute" outfits.

Since having baby #3 all I have is gratitude. Whatever makes everyone happy and buys me more sleep

- Also: PAPER PLATES. I used to think this was such a waste/cheap. Well, I got tired of doing dishes multiple times a day during this pandemic when we'd regularly spend every. Single. Day. Home. So. Many. Dishes!!!! We now use paper plates and bowls about 90% of the time!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is why I chose to stay at home. Inkmow mot everyone has that choice but man every day so just a hurdle for people to clear. Considering cleaning my children and brushing their teeth something that is negotiable. Nope. That’s no way for me to live.

Well, I work full-time but my kids are bathed daily and their teeth brushed twice a day. Oh, and all the beds get washed once a week. Imagine that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:- Since DH wakes up early to start WFH, and the preschooler and toddler wake up way too early (usually between 6:30-7), we've gotten into an awesome routine where DH dresses them, takes them to the potty, sits them on the couch, turns on an educational show for them (like Blippi!), gives them bowls of fruit...

So I can sleep in with the baby! Waking up and getting them ready for school is so much easier since we started this routine!

A year or two ago, I never would have liked/would have argued about: the kids eating breakfast on the couch or watching a show before school. Maybe I would even have wanted to dress them myself so they'd be in "cute" outfits.

Since having baby #3 all I have is gratitude. Whatever makes everyone happy and buys me more sleep

- Also: PAPER PLATES. I used to think this was such a waste/cheap. Well, I got tired of doing dishes multiple times a day during this pandemic when we'd regularly spend every. Single. Day. Home. So. Many. Dishes!!!! We now use paper plates and bowls about 90% of the time!!!

I have never understood the paper plates thing. Do you not have a good dishwasher? Our dishes don't have to be pre-rinsed (we just brush large food chunks off, which we don't have to, but it means we don't have to clean the filter as often), and everyone puts their own dishes in the dishwasher. Yes, they then have to be put away, but if we threw away all the dishes we used daily we'd have to take the trash out more. Maybe I'm missing out on the paper plate craze but they have never seemed easier to me.

[Anonymous]

A few things I’ve found that help us:

Color coding things. So each kid has a specified color water bottle, tooth brush, etc. Also there is one designated “on the go” water bottle that goes to school/sports and then one for home use. I can’t stand keeping track of a million water bottles and my kids know this is their responsibility.

Teaching kids how to do things themselves. I’ll admit the pandemic/school closures forced me into “benign neglect” and I realized my kids were capable of way more than I realized. Now at almost 5 and 7, my kids can both fully shower themselves, get allowed snacks from a designated snack shelf in the pantry, get themselves dressed in the morning, etc. It’s amazing.

They eat nearly the same breakfast every morning. Usually some type or carb (mini muffin, frozen waffle, etc.) and yogurt. We don’t get fancy in the morning.

Same with lunches. I rotate like 3 meals in their lunch box (turkey sandwich, cheese sandwich, or a bento box filled with random items in the fridge that need to be used up). Usually I’ll throw in a piece of fruit too.

Beddys for bedding. It literally zips up like a sleeping bag. Kids can mostly make it themselves although sometimes I have to help get it started. Pillows and stuffies get thrown in a jumble at the head of the bed, but it looks decently put together enough so we can consider beds made even on a weekday morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do a lot of toast and cereal. I’ve tried more elaborate breakfasts, but my kids get up too early for school and aren’t hungry enough to eat it all, and it’s always such a waste of time and energy.

My kid won't eat cereal, so I make him something the night before and put it on a plate that he can stick in the microwave. I don't even have to get up in the morning now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine that - lazy parenting. How revolutionary. The smugness is astounding. Real race to the bottom in this thread.

I'm sorry, who here is being smug?

(hint: it's you)

This has been one of my favorite threads on DCUM for a few reasons:

1) realizing that some people GET OFF on making this as hard as possible because the WORST thing to be is "lazy." I'm so glad (honestly, not sarcastic) that you have this thread to make you feel superior. I mean, why on earth would you even click this thread otherwise? And then COMMENT when clearly no one on this thread wants to hear from you? You'd just be like "Oh, no, I'm not really the bare minimum type, nothing for me here" and move on. Glad we could help.

2) Everything else in DCUM, and a lot of parenting in general in the professional circles of DC, is insanely competitive. And competitive parenting SUCKS. A race to the bottom for once, in one thread, here on DCUM, is such a refreshing change of pace.

3) There are some damn good ideas on here. After reading this, I'm for sure never doing a goody bag.

4) It's good to sometimes feel like you're doing okay, and other people are cutting corners, too.

Re: #2, I completely agree with the hacks to reduce structured activities, throw simple parties, and not over-schedule with a billion play dates. I don’t think anyone is judging those things. But I don’t agree with the poor hygiene hacks, and that has nothing to do with competitive parenting.

But it has to do with being American. Not showering every day is NOT poor hygiene!

It really is an American thing. And it uses a lot of clean water. Someday, standards may have to change. Personally, every other day is ok for my kids at least in winter.

I used to make my kid shower every day and it was a huge hassle. He was in ES and honestly, every day he came home with "school smell." Public ES schools, at least in fcps, have this particular smell, and the kids reek of it. It grossed me out. Plus I used to be a teacher and I know that nothing in an fcps ES ever really gets cleaned unless a teacher does it.

But then we went to private. No smell. Now he showers every other day and it's so much easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine that - lazy parenting. How revolutionary. The smugness is astounding. Real race to the bottom in this thread.

I'm sorry, who here is being smug?

(hint: it's you)

This has been one of my favorite threads on DCUM for a few reasons:

1) realizing that some people GET OFF on making this as hard as possible because the WORST thing to be is "lazy." I'm so glad (honestly, not sarcastic) that you have this thread to make you feel superior. I mean, why on earth would you even click this thread otherwise? And then COMMENT when clearly no one on this thread wants to hear from you? You'd just be like "Oh, no, I'm not really the bare minimum type, nothing for me here" and move on. Glad we could help.

2) Everything else in DCUM, and a lot of parenting in general in the professional circles of DC, is insanely competitive. And competitive parenting SUCKS. A race to the bottom for once, in one thread, here on DCUM, is such a refreshing change of pace.

3) There are some damn good ideas on here. After reading this, I'm for sure never doing a goody bag.

4) It's good to sometimes feel like you're doing okay, and other people are cutting corners, too.

Re: #2, I completely agree with the hacks to reduce structured activities, throw simple parties, and not over-schedule with a billion play dates. I don’t think anyone is judging those things. But I don’t agree with the poor hygiene hacks, and that has nothing to do with competitive parenting.

But it has to do with being American. Not showering every day is NOT poor hygiene!

It really is an American thing. And it uses a lot of clean water. Someday, standards may have to change. Personally, every other day is ok for my kids at least in winter.

I used to make my kid shower every day and it was a huge hassle. He was in ES and honestly, every day he came home with "school smell." Public ES schools, at least in fcps, have this particular smell, and the kids reek of it. It grossed me out. Plus I used to be a teacher and I know that nothing in an fcps ES ever really gets cleaned unless a teacher does it.

But then we went to private. No smell. Now he showers every other day and it's so much easier.

Uh, wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:- Since DH wakes up early to start WFH, and the preschooler and toddler wake up way too early (usually between 6:30-7), we've gotten into an awesome routine where DH dresses them, takes them to the potty, sits them on the couch, turns on an educational show for them (like Blippi!), gives them bowls of fruit...

So I can sleep in with the baby! Waking up and getting them ready for school is so much easier since we started this routine!

A year or two ago, I never would have liked/would have argued about: the kids eating breakfast on the couch or watching a show before school. Maybe I would even have wanted to dress them myself so they'd be in "cute" outfits.

Since having baby #3 all I have is gratitude. Whatever makes everyone happy and buys me more sleep

- Also: PAPER PLATES. I used to think this was such a waste/cheap. Well, I got tired of doing dishes multiple times a day during this pandemic when we'd regularly spend every. Single. Day. Home. So. Many. Dishes!!!! We now use paper plates and bowls about 90% of the time!!!

There’s a difference between laziness vs. hacks. Letting your children eat breakfast on the sofa in front of the TV, and using paper plates, falls into the former category. It’s not helpful to anyone looking for hacks.

Also, I’m kind of surprised that your DH gets such kudos for the bare minimum…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- Since DH wakes up early to start WFH, and the preschooler and toddler wake up way too early (usually between 6:30-7), we've gotten into an awesome routine where DH dresses them, takes them to the potty, sits them on the couch, turns on an educational show for them (like Blippi!), gives them bowls of fruit...

So I can sleep in with the baby! Waking up and getting them ready for school is so much easier since we started this routine!

A year or two ago, I never would have liked/would have argued about: the kids eating breakfast on the couch or watching a show before school. Maybe I would even have wanted to dress them myself so they'd be in "cute" outfits.

Since having baby #3 all I have is gratitude. Whatever makes everyone happy and buys me more sleep

- Also: PAPER PLATES. I used to think this was such a waste/cheap. Well, I got tired of doing dishes multiple times a day during this pandemic when we'd regularly spend every. Single. Day. Home. So. Many. Dishes!!!! We now use paper plates and bowls about 90% of the time!!!

There’s a difference between laziness vs. hacks. Letting your children eat breakfast on the sofa in front of the TV, and using paper plates, falls into the former category. It’s not helpful to anyone looking for hacks.

Also, I’m kind of surprised that your DH gets such kudos for the bare minimum…

I'm the OP of this thread. It doesn't say "hacks" - it says shortcuts, things you skip and THINGS YOU DO THE BARE MINIMUM ON.

The PP understood the assignment. You do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a rotation of 4 meals that we cycle through.

It makes grocery shopping easy, straightforward and cooking is very fast. We buy fresh fruits in season and minor variations in vegetables but 90% of the time it’s broccoli or green beans. Once or twice a week we get take out for variety, but the 4 meal rotation has gone over well with the family.

I don't know how long you've been doing that, but I can tell you that I can not eat spaghetti or plain white bread because I just was given WAY too much of it as a kid. I can eat other types of pasta or bread, but not those. I feel like we had spaghetti like 3 nights a week!

PP - can you please share the 4 meals? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh I forgot I barely brush my 2yo's teeth. She rarely eats anything sugary other than fruit, doesn't drink milk right before bed and her breath doesn't smell bad.

Gross. Even little kids need to brush their teeth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do a lot of toast and cereal. I’ve tried more elaborate breakfasts, but my kids get up too early for school and aren’t hungry enough to eat it all, and it’s always such a waste of time and energy.

My kid won't eat cereal, so I make him something the night before and put it on a plate that he can stick in the microwave. I don't even have to get up in the morning now.

Now this…is a legit hack.