Make sure you check out the giveaway at the end of this post!

Start your school bedtime routine early.

To get back into the swing of things – going to bed earlier and waking up earlier – we start getting into the hang of our school bedtime routine about two weeks before school. This slowly helps our bodies readjust.

Get back into the habit of eating breakfast every morning.

In the summer, we very rarely eat breakfast. Throughout the school year, we try to eat breakfast every morning. This prevents snacking during school time. You can also make a quick smoothie to drink during school.

Go back to school shopping.

Going back to school shopping for new colorful pencils, notebooks, and glue is always a fun way to get in the back to school spirit.

Create a daily schedule for each child.

I have began creating a daily checklist for myself. If it’s not on the checklist, it’s most likely forgot about. Creating a basic family spreadsheet with chores, daily subjects, and outside-of-the-house classes makes a back-to-homeschool routine less stressful. Will you all do Bible as a family, and then math individually? Do you know one student who might finish a subject faster than another? What subjects will you do everyday, and which ones only on certain days? Sort out your thoughts, and then make a final “master” spreadsheet to hang on the fridge for the first few weeks.

Our schedule basically went like this:

Monday – Math, English, Spelling, Science

Tuesday – Math, English, History

Wednesday – Math, English, Science

Thursday – Math, English, Piano lessons, catch up History/Science

Friday – Math, English, and any catching up or tests

Order curriculum.

Figure out what curriculum you need for which child. Making a spreadsheet, on Microsoft Excel or on paper, always helps me. Mark your children’s names across the top. Down below, write what subjects you are covering. And in the boxes, list each curriculum, if you need to buy/rent textbooks, if you already have them, or if you’re totally creating your own curriculum.

Here is a sample.

Homeschool Classifieds, Slugbooks, Amazon, eBay, and Facebook groups are great ways to find homeschool curriculum for cheap.

Start reviewing last year’s material.

Although we keep the traditional August-June school schedule, we do learn year round. (I’m addicted to history.) To get back into the school mentality, we recap the past year’s studies. There are so many fun, textbook-free ways to learn and memorize. Instead of hitting the books hard the first day, slowly begin reviewing last year’s material, briefing over old curriculum, and specifically your weak points.

Get organized.

Getting organized always puts me in a more productive mood.

1. Sell or give away old textbooks. (Facebook, Amazon, eBay, etc.)
2. Go through school papers, and purge the unnecessary.
3. Throw away unusable school supplies, and figure out what you need to start the new school year.
4. Sort through books, and get rid of what you don’t need.
5. Invest in a bookshelf or bins, and sort curriculum, supplies, and crafts.
6. Make a list of all the curriculum and supplies you need to buy.
7. If you’re creating your own history/science curriculum, buy a year-at-a-glance calendar, and loosely sort out your Pinterest and blog findings.

Buy a planner

Buying a planner (and using it until it falls apart) can easily organize day-to-day plans. Or get a FREE online one!

What are some of your favorite ways to plan for the new school year?

Back to homeschool giveaway!

Another homeschool year is right around the corner! Many homeschool moms are busy preparing, planning, and finalizing curriculum choices for the upcoming school year. And many are trying to squeeze every last penny out of their homeschool budget, hoping to afford all the books and resources they will need.

Whether you’re living on one income or are buying curriculum for multiple kids, homeschooling can put financial strain and stress on a family. So I’ve gotten together with a great group of homeschool bloggers to give you a chance to win a gift card to a major online homeschool retailer. Our hope is that we can bless a few homeschool families (although we wish we could bless many more) so they can decrease that burden and buy the curriculum and supplies they need.

Three people will win a $250 gift card to either Rainbow Resource Center or Christianbook.com – two great places to shop for homeschool curriculum and resources, with the best prices around!!

To enter for your chance to win, simply use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Now I know this is quite a few entries, but each of these bloggers has generously chipped in their own money to make this giveaway possible, so I hope you will take the time to do all of the entries. And hey, the more entries you do, the better your odds are of winning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends July 19, 2024 at 11:59pm. Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a resident of the U.S. or Canada to enter. Selected winners will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prizes or another winner will be drawn. By entering this giveaway, you agree to be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers (see the Terms & Conditions on the Rafflecopter form).

The post Planning a Back to Homeschool Routine – Giveaway! first appeared on True Aim.

How to Use Chore Charts To Help Build Character

Chores are more than just boring jobs, they’re a way for kids to contribute to the family and can help prepare them for adulthood.

1. Make an easy to follow list

If kids are prone to forgetfulness, creating a simple chore chart can help remind them of everything they need to do daily, weekly, and even monthly. Whether it be with stickers or a whiteboard, make an easy way for kids to track what chores have to be done and which ones they have done.

These chore card templates from The Idea Room are sorted by room in the house and are easy to follow! They’re best for kids able to read.

For preschoolers, this simple chart made from a cookie sheet are a great visual for little ones.

2. Offer rewards for extra chores

Sometimes, kids go above and beyond their normal chores. Offer small incentives when they do extra chores, do an especially good job, or do a chore without complaining or being asked! The reward could be anything from 30 extra minutes of screen time to $1, or a trip to Dairy Queen.

3. Let the kids be involved

When you’re coming up with the list, have kids get involved with the decision-making process. Have them go through their daily routine and the family’s daily routine to decide what needs to go on the list.

Enter to win $200 Character Building Prize Pack!

4. Make it fun

“A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!” Showing kids that chores can be fun can make them more engaging.

Also, this can emphasize the importance of thankfulness! For example, we are thankful for the house we have to clean.

5. Mix it up

Sometimes, piles of laundry and putting away clean dishes add up. Rotating chores between kids can help make things seem less boring.

Possible chores to rotate:

• Folding laundry
• Drying dishes
• Vacuuming the floors
• Dusting

View the full character building series here!

The post How to Use Chore Charts To Help Build Character first appeared on True Aim.

As moms of young kids, we definitely focus a lot on our littles’ academic development.  In fact, I’m embarrassed to admit that until I started seriously looking into the pros and cons of homeschooling, character building was not even on my radar.

Nowadays, we spend a lot of our time in character-building activities, and I love seeing my son making leaps and bounds with developing good character traits like patience, compassion, service, etc.

3 Ways a Nightly Cleanup Routine Can Build Your Child’s Character

One of my favorite ways to build character in kids is to look to your daily activities and use those as a springboard for working on your children’s desirable qualities.

For example, a nightly cleanup routine builds and improves the character traits of cleanliness, obedience, and teamwork.

“Character isn’t inherited.  One builds it daily by the way one thinks and acts, thought by thought, action by action.”  -Helen Gahagan Douglas

A Cleanup Routine Teaches Cleanliness

Whether or not you believe that “cleanliness is next to Godliness,” there are many ways to work on building this character trait… from personal hygiene like brushing teeth and bathing to the cleanliness of your surroundings like keeping your room or house neat and organized.

Personally, it’s hard for me to function well in the middle of chaos and clutter.  Do you ever feel your blood pressure rising when you walk into a room full of stuff on every surface (floors, counters, tables, beds, couches, etc.)?  

I think we all do better when we have some breathing room!  And a nightly cleanup routine will teach your child to pick up and put away his or her toys, books, and clothes in their proper place.  This is where closets, dressers, bins, and other storage solutions come in handy.

You might think: “What’s the point of having my kid cleanup every night?  He’ll just make a complete mess again tomorrow.” True! Happens all the time at our house, too.  But don’t get discouraged, precious mama!

The daily practice of cleaning up is what actually builds the character in your child.

“Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them.”  – Benjamin Disraeli

Obedience

Who wouldn’t love to have kids that listen to what you say the first time and do it without whining and complaining?  Me!!!  This is the type of obedience that a nightly cleanup routine lets you practice.

You can start asking your kids to help with the cleanup of their stuff as early as two years old.  Regardless of their age, in the beginning, you will probably encounter whining and resistance (a.k.a. disobedience) from any child.

Cultivate your child’s obedience to your request with gentleness.  Be satisfied if your two-year-old picks up just one toy and puts it away.  Ignore his or her rumblings and protestations and give lots of praise for a job well-done.  Raise your expectations week-by-week or day-by-day, depending on your child’s progress.

Consistency is Key to a Clean Up Routine

Of course, you would expect more from the get-go if you start this cleanup routine with an older child.  The goal is to remain firm (but not mean) until your child complies with your command, i.e., obeys you.

Another trick is to be consistent yourself.  Sometimes, as a parent you get so tired that you might not care if your child picks up the toys or not.  And listening to his or her whining and negotiating to get out of doing cleanup might feel like more than you can bear.  Don’t give up!  The more consistent you are, the more obedient your child will become.

As soon as you start seeing progress with your child’s obedience with the cleanup routine, you can start expanding it to other behaviors and tasks.

“Obedience will always produce benefits that far outweigh the consequences of disobedience.”  – Priscilla Shirer

Teamwork

We view our family as a team, and every family member needs to contribute.  So, help your kids build the character trait of teamwork while young, and they will be well-prepared to participate in group school/co-op projects, team sports, and on teams in the work environment.

Cleanup time is perfect for building teamwork because you act as the leader delegating a task, as well as a teammate helping pick up the stuff.  Through this simple activity, your child will be exposed and learn how to delegate, how to follow instructions, and how to share responsibility—all part of teamwork!

How to teach your child teamwork with a cleanup routine

I love nightly cleanup time with my son.  One night, I might put him in charge of picking up and putting away all his trucks; and I will make myself responsible for putting away all of his building blocks.  We switch it up every evening, depending on what kind of toys or books are out.

Our cleanup routine often feels like a game or even a friendly competition.

“If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.”  -African Proverb

I hope, wonderful mama, that you already, or come to, value character building as much (or even more) than your children’s academic achievements.

Now, I know that character formation might sound like such a daunting task.  However, your daily simple activities often provide some of the best opportunities to focus on practicing those valuable character traits.

Give it a try with this nightly cleanup routine!!!  And let me know if you have any questions or suggestions or even your own simple ideas on character building.

Tatyana Gray is a homeschooling mother of two.  She has walked away from a career as a lawyer to be a full-time wife and mother and has never looked back.  She now writes about family, motherhood, and home education at her blog, Tatyana Gray.

Get even more tips on building character!

The post 3 Ways a Nightly Cleanup Routine Can Build Your Child’s Character first appeared on True Aim.

Are you ready to start 2017 fresh? Here are some tips to organize your homeschool in 2017!

Eliminate Excess

The first thing I want you to do is take a close look at what is working, and what is not working in your homeschool. Many homeschoolers start the year with too much on their plates. If you have designed your own curriculum by piecemealing subjects together it’s likely that you have some overlap in what the kids are studying. Look at your lesson plans and see if there is *anything* you can eliminate. Are you discussing grammar in both your writing and reading curriculum? Well, cross out the excess lessons.

Your curriculum is not in charge of your homeschool. You are. It’s okay to not follow it exactly, or choose to skip lessons here or there.

Make a Plan

Writing down your goals will help you accomplish your goals. Some people like to sit down on Sundays and plan out their week, and others like to write things down each day. Find a method that works for you and stick with it.

I created a planner for myself this year that included all the the things a mom really needs- to-do lists, shopping lists, chore routines, meal planning, scheduling, homeschooling and more. I’ve found that I needed something flexible that would allow me to change the layout of my planner as my needs change, so I created many different versions of it.

Get a copy for yourself – the key to productivity and mental peace really is writing down the things you need to do so you can stop worrying about them and start checking them off!

Set Limits

I learned a couple of years ago that setting a timer can save my day. When I sit the kids down to do a lesson, we set a timer for 20 minutes or so. The kids know that while the timer is ticking, it’s time to focus, and if they do that, when the timer beeps, it will be time for a break. If they have been working hard, and the timer beeps before we finish the lesson, that’s okay. I find a place to stop, and we set it aside for tomorrow.

The goal for me is to reward focus and productivity, and prevent time from running away from me. After all, there is SO much I need to cram into our days- I can’t let a runaway math lesson crush my child’s spirit and prevent me from doing important things like feeding the kids dinner.

Set Aside Time for You

The other trick to being productive and less overwhelmed is taking time for yourself. Yes, You. I tend to get tired and cranky in the afternoons. I am an introvert, and I need time to myself to recharge. Right around 2 each day, I send the kids up to their rooms to read, or outside to play and I put on my headphones and relax. Sometimes I read a book, or watch a TV show, or just play around on Pinterest. Every once in awhile I use a meditation app and take a power nap.

It also helps to make sure you are going to bed and getting up around the same time each day. I use an app on my phone to remind me that it’s getting close to time to go to bed (because Mama needs her 8 hours!) and an alarm that gets me up at the same time each morning. A well rested mom is a relaxed mom- so if you are not getting your sleep each night, find a way to make that happen STAT. Everything else will be waiting for you in the morning.

Get the Ultimate Mom Planner on Sale Now- it’s flexible, undated and has room for all of the things a busy Mom can’t forget.

The post Organizing Your Homeschool – 5 Tips for the New Year first appeared on True Aim.

Whether you’re a college student or a busy mom, tackle life’s busy moments with the help of Dixie® To Go!

Crushing it with Dixie® To Go

Managing a blog, work, and a full time coursework in college can be tough! Studying, keeping social, making sure you’re eating right, and getting enough sleep are all important. With everyone’s busy schedules, it’s important to take a step back and enjoy the things that matter. Embrace life’s simple joys with Dixie® To Go, the official cup for crushing it!

You know those days when you’d rather stay in bed all day, but know you have a mountain of a to-do list to accomplish? Today definitely felt like one of those days.

I’ve been doing some research on decision making, and I’ve found out (and noticed) that the less decisions you have to make, the better off you are, and the more energized you feel. To start things off, I try to plan what I’m wearing the night before, since that is one less decision I have to make in the morning!

After getting up and getting ready for the day, the next decision to make is breakfast. Typically, for me, breakfast consists of a protein bar, since it is easy to shove in my backpack before rushing to class on time!

Save time, money, and an extra decision by skipping your trip to the coffee shop and using Dixie® To Go!

As a college student, Dixie® to Go is convenient for quickly making a cup of coffee before starting your morning routine. Afterwards, simply grab your cup and go! Those extra pockets of time can be used for studying to ace your next test, getting a few extra winks of sleep, or spending a few extra minutes getting ready to help you crush your day.

The cups are insulated, keeping your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks go. There’s no washing or cleanup, allowing for more time to do what you love. The cups are also microwave safe, which is convenient for reheating it at work or during a classroom break.

Formerly known as PerfecTouch, Dixie® to Go cups are BPA free, an extra plus! The cups also have a leak-resistant lid that is great for busy mornings. So if you are on the clumsier side like I am, you don’t have to worry so much about spilling your drink everywhere.

I was selected for this paid opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The post Simple Fall Morning Routine with Dixie to Go first appeared on True Aim.

Here are some great ideas to help you utilize this simple tool and keep you organized. First you’ll need to print it out. Click here, or the image below and receive the calendar PDF to your email. Don’t worry if the fields are blue, they will not print that way.

How to Use Your Free Blank Calendar Printable

You probably know the usual things to keep track of with your calendar, but here are some unique things to keep in mind.

1. Post it on the fridge for a simple meal planner. You can also write things that you need from the store in the extra spaces.
2. Put it in a frame on a book holder in the kitchen or workspace to easily write in and change your plans with a dry erase marker.
3. Make a chore chart for your kids and put it on a clipboard on their desk or workspace.
4. Make a cleaning schedule for yourself! Just in time for spring cleaning; write down those cleaning jobs that don’t need to be done more than twice a month.
5. Activity calendars keep you engaged with your children. Commit to 4 activities each month and you will be surprised how much fun you have!
6. Don’t ever miss another community event! Go to your local news station’s website and write down the fun things that are going on in your area.
7. Library fines aren’t fun. Don’t forget to include the due dates on your calendar.
8. Reading incentive calendar – have your children keep track of how long they read each day and reward them accordingly.
9. The night sky is pretty every night, but you can mark some special dates to stargaze on your calendar.
10. Restaurants all over have specials, keep track of when your kid can eat free on your blank calendar!

Picture: What the Craft

Once you download it, how are you going to use your free blank calendar printable?

The post Free Monthly Blank Calendar Printable – Any Year first appeared on True Aim.

Just because I love spring cleaning doesn’t mean that I actually HAVE time to get it done, that is far from the truth. After all, I’m a work from home, homeschooling mom who also runs a family business. My time always seems to run short, but I HAVE to make time for spring cleaning because the house needs it…and I need it. I love a clean house. I hate clutter. I need spring cleaning, no matter how busy I may be it has to be done.

As a busy mom I love finding tips to help me get things done in a timely and efficient manner without sacrificing the quality of work.  To help you start planning for your spring cleaning, I’m going to share a few tips to help you through the process!

• Prioritize 

Decide what room you need to start with, it may be the most cluttered, the room you spend the most time in or the room you do your best not to enter. After you’ve selected your first room to start with, prioritize the cleaning of your other rooms and spaces in the same manner.

• Schedule

Pick a start date and an end date for your spring cleaning. By setting up a time frame you’ll find that you are more apt to work diligently and not get sidetracked throughout your spring cleaning process. You may find that some rooms or projects that you longer than you anticipated, when that happens you can simply adjust your end date accordingly.

• Brainstorm

Start a list of projects that need to be tackled while you’re spring cleaning, do this for each room in your home. Think outside of the box, look beyond the dirty floor, sticky windows and cluttered shelves, figure out what has not been used in that room in the past 6 months, get rid of things that just don’t fit your family anymore and determine what could be changed to make each room work better for your family.

That last step can become a “Honey Let’s Do This List”, I like to work on projects for my home too, so I don’t hand out a “Honey Do List”. We work on projects for our home both together and separately, if the toilet handle needs to be replaced I can do it just as easily as he can, all it took was me trying and it was really easy!

If you like to use checklists, you’ll find a simple set of spring cleaning checklists here that can help get you started.

• Assignments

If you’re a busy mom you don’t live in a house alone, so you shouldn’t be spring cleaning alone! Once you’ve made your list of spring cleaning projects, it is time to start assigning them to members of your family. Even your toddlers can help put trash in a trash can, your preschoolers can put markers and toys where they belong, older children can help with dusting, cleaning windows, making beds and much more! Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to teach your kids life skills that they will need throughout their entire lives!

Spring cleaning can be a daunting task, but it brings about peace and joy once the job is complete! You and your family will be thrilled at the cleanliness of your home after you’ve finished your spring cleaning. Your kids may not understand that spring cleaning can bring peace and joy into your home and even themselves before you start, but once it is done they will understand completely!

What is your best busy mom tip for tackling spring cleaning?

The post Spring Cleaning Helps for Busy Moms first appeared on True Aim.

How is a busy mother supposed to be able to enjoy the Christmas season and all the joy it has to offer when her to-do list is longer than the hours in her day allows?

• Stay organized

This is key for mothers to be able to slow down throughout the Christmas season! The Multi Taskin Mom has a Christmas Survival Guide that will keep your shopping, meal planning, Christmas movie watching and more organized this Christmas season!

• Keep your priorities in order

You must remember your priorities and their importance throughout the entire Christmas season. Remember the Reason for the Season, make room for quality time with the ones you love, reach out to those who are in need of extra love and help this Christmas and ensure you save time for you to rest and be refreshed each day. Download this free printable to remind you of these priorities all Christmas season long!

• Don’t overcommit

You’ll receive invitations, your children will be invited to special Christmas events and family members will be hosting parties and more during the Christmas season. Don’t overwhelm you or your family by overcommitting. Take time to talk to your husband and children to determine which events are best for your family this year.

• Stick to your budget

Shopping during the Christmas season can be exciting, but often that excitement can cause us to continue shopping even though we’ve already purchased all of the gifts we had on our lists. When we only buy items that are on our Christmas gift list we ensure that we aren’t adding more to our already busy days, we stick to our budget and help our days remain slow throughout the holidays.

It’s important for our families to be able to spend time with us during the Christmas season, so we must take the appropriate steps to ensure that we can do so. Christmas isn’t about the gifts, parties or even the pretty twinkling lights, when we take time to slow down at Christmas time it is easier to remember what we’re celebrating…what truly matters.

How do you remind yourself to slow down during the busy Christmas season?

The post A Mother’s Guide to Slowing Down This Christmas Season first appeared on True Aim.

Tips for Flying with Preschoolers and Babies

Before take off, being prepared for the worst is always a good idea. Here are some great tips to help you know what to bring and how to be prepared for your children’s needs.

1. Probably the most important thing you can do in preparation of flying is make sure that your children know their full name, your full name, your cell phone number, your address, what to do if they get separated from you, and who to go to for help. I tell my kids that if they can’t find me, they should ask a woman with children to help them. Odds are that a fellow mom is a safe bet to get the proper help for them and less intimidating for them to approach and talk to.

2. Prepare your kids for what flying on an airplane will be like if it is their first time. Talk with them about the airport, security, seat belts on the airplane, etc. Get excited about the trip together! There are plenty of kids books about flying on an airplane available at the library as well.

3. Book your flights early if possible to ensure that you have seats together as a family! We usually fly on Southwest where seats are not assigned ahead of time, but they are on most airlines.

4. Pick a flight time (if you have options) around your kids’ schedule. This could be difficult with lots of children, but just choose a time that will set them up for success, whether that be flying at night or during nap time in hopes that they fall asleep, flying in the morning when they are adequately rested, etc. Morning flights are less likely to be delayed, so that may influence your decision.

5. Lay out comfy clothes for you and the kids for the day of travel, and be prepared for the weather in both your departure and arrival locations. This may mean layers for everyone that can be taken off or put on depending on the temperature. Remember that for the day, comfort trumps fashion. You will be sitting in a small seat for hours on end! Uncomfortable kids are cranky kids. (And an uncomfortable Momma is a cranky Momma, often with less patience.)

6. Have those comfy clothes include bright colors so that you and the kids are easy for each other to spot in the sea of people at the airport.

7. Pack early instead of packing at the last minute the night before. You can always add to the suitcases if you need to pack something that you use daily or have to do a load of laundry that you want to take with you. This will allow you to get sufficient sleep the night before, and taking care of yourself is important before a possibly stressful day of flying with little ones!

8. Ditch the diaper bag and use a backpack instead. They are much easier to carry, zip completely shut, and leave you with two hands free!

9. Make sure that any electronics you are bringing are fully charged, and don’t forget to bring the chargers with you.

10. Pack a few plastic grocery bags in your carry-on to use for trash. Somehow children manage to accumulate trash at a rate 62.7X faster than the average adult.

11. If you are traveling with a baby, pack ziplocs and a changing pad of some kind to place over the changing tables in the airport bathrooms and to use on the plane. Some planes to not have changing tables in the bathrooms, so you will need something for the seat or floor or whatever small corner you can find to change your baby with some dignity. The ziplocs come in handy for dirty diapers on the plane.

12. Pack individual servings of snacks in little baggies (or buy individual size snacks). This makes it much easier to grab for your little one, and there is a lesser chance of spilling on the plane. Or, if things do get spilled, it’s not an entire box of crackers.

13. Be sure to include some of your child’s favorite snacks on the menu for the day! It will be sure to put a smile on that cute little face no matter what is going on.

14. Pack lollipops, candies, gum, pacifiers, sippy cups, or whatever your child is allowed to have during takeoff and landing to suck on and keep them swallowing to help prevent their ears from hurting.

15. Pack some of their favorite small toys at least 3-7 days before your trip so that when you pull them out on the plane, they will be thrilled and play with them like they are new again. You could even buy a handful of cheap small toys at the dollar store that would then actually be new to them, too.

16. Here are some of my favorite travel toy ideas to pack in carry-on bags: finger puppets, books, nesting cups, stickers, pipe cleaners, crayons and coloring books, compact mirrors, toy cars, dolls/action figures, and a roll of blue painter’s tape. Tray tables make superb race tracks, stages, and canvases (for painter’s tape, not the crayons). Painter’s tape sticks onto anything but comes right off! Your kids can create some incredible tray table art with it.

17. Pack extra supplies (i.e. food, diapers, formula, etc.) in case of unexpected delays.

18. Pack your wallet, ID, and documents (such as birth certificates for children who are traveling on your lap) in a spot that is very easy to get to. It is a good idea to pack a copy of all of the kids’ birth certificates, just in case. It may also be a good idea to contact the airline to make sure that you have all required documentation.

19. Arrive at the airport with more than enough time to get checked in, through security, and to the gate. It will not help things to be rushing like chickens with your heads cut off in order to not miss your flight. Checking in, getting through security, and walking to the gate take longer with kids, and oftentimes it takes longer than you think it will.

Some of the best behaved children have their moments, especially when they are excited or anxious about flying. I hope that these tips will help you be better prepared to deal with anything that comes up so you can have a more peaceful flying experience!

Please leave a comment with your tip for preparing to fly with kids!

The post 19 Tips for Flying with Kids: Preparing for the Trip first appeared on True Aim.

Too often was I running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Enough was enough. Out of necessity I came up with a few tricks to help me organize my day and help me spend more quality time with my kids.

10 Parenting Hacks for Busy Moms

There’s no time like the present to get more organized and break that cycle of chaos that busy moms often find themselves. Try these simple strategies out and you won’t feel like setting your hair on fire at the end of the day.

Meal Planning

1. The Easiest Meal Plan Ever!!

Say goodbye to meal planning and hello to the meal plan list. Make a list of 30 things your family loves to eat for dinner, 15 things for lunch, and 15 things for breakfast. Whenever you go to the grocery store, quickly pick out 5 things from the list for dinner, 5 things for lunch, and 5 things for breakfast. That means you’ll have left overs 2 nights a week and you’ll have the same thing for lunch and breakfast a couple days a week.  In seconds your grocery list and meal plan are done!

2. Rotisserie Chickens

You can easily create 4-5 meals from just one rotisserie chicken. At around $5 a chicken, that is a big money and time saver! Make some freezer meals to save even more time.

3. Quick Wholesome Snacks

Have whole grain snacks handy to keep the kids at bay before dinner time and to give you a boost during the day. Try Honey Maid Go Bites made with real honey, no high fructose corn syrup and has 5 grams of protein and 7 grams of whole grains per serving. It will keep you from reaching for something you’ll regret eating later.

4. Make Grocery Day Meal Prep Day

There are lots of things you can prep ahead of time to get ready for meals during the week. When you get home from the grocery store, just add one extra step before putting things away. Chop and Parboil veggies so their ready for stir fry, soup, or any other recipe by boiling until almost tender then rinse in an ice bath. Measure out spices and dry ingredients and store in plastic bags or containers. Marinate meat for the next days dinner, or put together some slow cooker meals in plastic bags, freeze and when you’re ready to cook, just dump it in the crock pot and press on.

Time Management

5. A Trick for To Do Lists

Maybe you don’t like daily planners, but they are key to having an organized day and home. You at least need a to do list that is prioritized by A, B, and C. A is for things that need to be done that day. B, is for things that you would like to get done, and C is for those things that are extra work, or can be done in a couple days, but maybe you can get 1 of them done early to save even more time later.

6. A Trick for Routines

Don’t have a routine? You need one! Knowing what you’re going to do at what time really helps you conquer your to do list faster and it give the kids a feeling of stability and structure. When your children know what to expect each day, they won’t struggle with transitions or any responsibilities they have. My tip for routines is to set a wake up time for everyone in the house and try to keep it within 30 minutes. Your wake up time should be 15-30 minutes before the kids so you don’t feel like you’re rushing to get ready.

7. Bed Time

Make keeping bed time an easy decision for kids to make by allowing them to stay up later and read if they have cleaned up their room and are in their bed on time.

8. I’m Bored Activities

Keep kids occupied by having special activity ideas on cards or sticks that children can draw from to get ideas on what they should do if they are bored or when you need time to yourself. You can also keep busy bags filled with a small collection of themed toys or a quiet activity for younger children. These can be as simple as dollar store coloring books or there are TONs of ideas on Pinterest.

Set a timer and tell your children they get a small snack like Honey Maid Go Bites, if they are quiet and don’t bother you until the timer goes off.

On the Go

9. Peaceful Car Rides

Gone are the days of yelling and fighting in the car. Make travel binders or notebooks that children can work on while riding or put some special books by their seat to keep them busy while riding around. If your children do well, reward them with praise or a special privilege (10 minutes more to stay up at night for example). If they aren’t being good, have 3 special hand signs you’ve gone over ahead of time so you don’t have to yell.  2 warnings and then if the final hand sign goes up, have a consequence that fits the bad behavior (time out with mom when they get to the destination, going to bed early, no snack).

10. The Go Bag

No, I’m not talking about prepping for an emergency, I’m talking about a bag that is ready for when you need to go somewhere right away. You’ll want to keep a bag filled with wholesome snacks, like Honey Maid Go Bites, a water bottle, warm clothing or sunscreen (depending on the season), extra cash, and a small first aid kit. This can be kept in the car, front entry way closet or mud room.

You’re busy, but no matter how fast things change and how many things you need to get done, you don’t need to feel frazzled doing it all. I hope these tips will help save you time and give you more freedom to spend more wholesome, quality time with your family.

No matter how things change, what makes us wholesome never will. Honey Maid: everyday wholesome snacks for every wholesome family. This is Wholesome.

Compensation was provided by Mondelez via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Mondelez.

The post 10 Life Hacks for Busy Moms first appeared on True Aim.