Alright folks, buckle up because today’s adventure involves that lovely morning chaos every mom knows too well. Picture this: me, trying desperately to get my youngest out the door for preschool. Shoes are missing, he’s hiding under the table pretending to be a dinosaur, and I’m holding my coffee like a lifeline, maybe five minutes away from tears. Seriously rough start. That’s when I remembered stumbling across Amanda Parent’s stuff online. People were raving about her “best parenting tips for moms today,” so I figured, why not? Desperate times, right?
So, Here’s What I Actually Did
First thing Monday morning – that chaotic scene I just described – I decided to try just one simple thing from Amanda. No big overhauls. Her big point for mornings? Routine is king, but visuals are the crown jewels. She said kids fight stuff less when they can see what’s coming. Seems obvious, but honestly? I’d just been yelling the steps from the kitchen.
That afternoon, after the small tornado was finally at school, I grabbed:
- A cheap whiteboard we never used
- Some markers (mostly ones that still worked)
- Random sticker sheets leftover from birthdays
Then, I basically scribbled out the morning steps with dumb little pictures. Woke up sun? Check. Toothbrush? Check. Clothes? Check. Shoes? Big check. Car? Check. Each step got a sad little doodle – my artistic skills haven’t improved since kindergarten, trust me.
Next morning, things started predictably messy. Kiddo went straight for the couch cushions, ignoring my cheerful, “Hey buddy, let’s look at our cool new chart!” Yeah, got ignored hard. So, Amanda tip number two kicked in: let them own it. I plopped the whiteboard down near his cushion fort and said, “Your job is to smash that sticker button when you finish each thing! Beat the clock!” Magic words, apparently.
He kinda peered at it. Brushed teeth? I shoved the board at him. “STICKER TIME!” I maybe yelled it a little too loud. But hey, he slapped a sparkly star next to the toothbrush drawing. Small win. Getting dressed involved a minor wrestling match (some things never change), but when he finally pulled the shirt on, he sprinted back to the board and smashed another sticker on. Weirdly proud of himself.
The Realistic Results (Not Perfect!)
Let’s be crystal clear: This ain’t magic. We were still late. Finding shoes remained an epic quest. The board got knocked over twice. But? The non-stop screaming battle about every single step? That actually lessened by like, 60%. Huge. He actually kept asking, “Sticker now?” before stomping off to the next task. Progress, people!
I kept it going all week, tweaking as needed. Realized he loved picking which sticker to use for each task. Amanda mentioned little choices give big control, so now I dump two sticker options per step. Yeah, it takes an extra 30 seconds while he ponders a rainbow unicorn vs. a dinosaur, but way faster than chasing a pajama-clad escapee down the driveway.
Honest Takeaway for Tired Moms
Would I call this “best parenting advice”? That feels too grand. It’s practical. It’s just one stupidly simple tool. No fancy apps, no expensive gear. A wonky whiteboard, some old stickers, and clear pictures. Amanda Parent’s real tip for moms like me today seems to be: stop yelling the plan, let them see it and mark it off. It turns the endless nagging into kinda… a game? Still messy, still loud, but the pressure valve released a bit for both of us. And on survival mode mornings? I’ll take that win with both hands and an extra-large coffee.
