More Than a Mommy

Oh to leave or not to leave? The diary of a working stay at home mommy…

It was a year ago almost to the day and I was watching my colleagues grow their business in Nashville, TN at a national convention while I stayed home with my babies plucking away at my network marketing business. It seemed unfair that I was home figuring this CEO thing out by myself…not getting very far at all yet my coach friends were soaking in a ton of new knowledge at a national convention. It was at that moment that I realized I could do BOTH! Not only could I stay home with my babes and be the best mommy I knew how to be, BUT I could also grow a substantial business while they slept, napped, etc. to help my husband with some of the burden with monthly bills. So…that day, I signed up for the following year’s Coach Summit and decided it was something I needed to do for me, our girls and our family.

By Mary Bockert, ago

How to dress your child without breaking the bank!

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I was SOOO EXCITED and couldn’t wait to dress her. I went shopping (maaaaybeee daily) and QUICKLY realized that dressing these little beings is ExPeNsiVe!!! I needed to come up with a plan so that keeping our sweet princess clothed and looking adorable didn’t cost us an arm and a leg. Who doesn’t want their little girl dressed in the sweetest of dresses and bonnets with adorable lace anklet socks and mary jane shoes?!? I know that was my first thought until I realized that just that outfit alone was an$80 investment.

EIGHTY DOLLARS!!!!!!

By Mary Bockert, ago

123 Magic…Voila!

Your little one won’t eat their dinner, they REFUSE to leave a play date, they talk back in an attempt to really get you fired up, they stomp in refusal to do something you have politely asked them to do, they sit in protest of something you have said, they argue with their sibling….yada, yada, yada! I’m sure if you have a child, you can relate to this list in some form. Even the most even tempered, happy go lucky kiddos have a melt down that can drive a parent BATTY!

By Mary Bockert, ago

What to do in a day?!?

“I’m BOOORRREEEDDD!!!!”

Oh don’t tell me you don’t get those words coming out of your child’s mouth…I would tell you you’re lying! LOL

In all reality, kids need structure to their day…whether they are 1 month or 18 years old. Structure creates a feeling of safety and security. Making it a point to create structure in your household will only make life MUCH easier and I PROMISE you will hear less of “I’m Bored!” comments coming from your child’s oh so clever mouth.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Toddler Busy Bag Exchange

Two years ago I started, ran and participated in a Busy Bag Exchange with 11 other local moms, and hit the busy bag JACKPOT! It was really very simple…I created a Facebook event page, invited all of my mommy friends, we met 3 weeks later and exchanged our homemade activity at my home. Prior to meeting, we all signed up with what type of busy bag we were going to make, then worked for about a month creating 11 identical bags. When we got together, we exchanged our bags, so we all got to take 11 different busy bags home with us for our kiddos!
There was a huge variety of bags included, some original ideas and some made from tutorials found on other great blogs and/or Pinterest. If you’d like some great busy bag inspiration, here are all 11 bags that I received from this swap.

By Mary Bockert, ago

“Can you PLEASE eat your veggies?!?”

Since when does my almost 4.5 year old decide she doesn’t want anything to do with veggies?

I heard time and time again…make sure to give them veggies when they are young so they will love them when they are older! I took this advice and ran with it. Always giving Annora veggies with every meal and for every snack…until 4 years hit and everything changed…I mean EVERYTHING!

By Mary Bockert, ago

FORTS!!!!

“Mom, come find me?”

The words I hear from my 4.5 year old as I wash the dishes in the kitchen. With a smirk on my face, I place my dish rag down and go on a child hunt. It is pretty easy to spot the little feet sticking out from under the curtains but I play the game and act as though I cannot find her. Delise, my 22 month old, has no trouble pointing out where her sister is hiding and the game is over. Annora comes out and, of course, wants to play again, again, and AGAIN! Trying to switch things up a bit, I excitedly recommend making a “fort!” Not the usual fort, but a “Mommy Table Fort!”

We get out ALL of the big blankets and start sliding the chairs out from under the dining room table. I must admit, our fort is IMPRESSIVE! We have height, space, pillows to sit on, dolls to entertain, etc. The fort is TOP NOTCH to any novice fort builder.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Father’s Day Bliss

The hustle and bustle of the day begins at 7:00 AM in our household. Father’s Day was no different but Ben was already out the door and in the Ann Arbor, MI area before the girls uttered their first word for the day. I was in the basement working out when I heard:

“Happy Father’s Day to you,

Happy Father’s Day to you,

Happy Father’s Day dear Daddy,

Happy Father’s Day to yyyyoooouuu!!!”

By Mary Bockert, ago