In our private Facebook group last week, I asked: “What's something you do that makes your life easier that you would recommend to a young mom?”

And we rounded up a bunch of helpful answers on all sorts of topics.

On laundry and clothes:

“Don’t fold underwear.”

“Give every family member their own color towel. 2 for each person. No more mystery who’s leaving it on floor. Problem stops.”

“My [teenage] kids all do their laundry on their own now, but we started very early on with sorting their clothes into a basket for each of them and they were responsible for putting them away.”

“I HATE matching socks so I wait until there’s a huge basket of mismatches and we play the “sock game”. I start randomly throwing socks on the bed and then they try to match them up. They get 10 cents a pair and have fun and I don’t have to do it.”

On food:

H-E-B Curbside, or if you don’t live in a place where H-E-B delivers, you can try Kroger Delivery.

“I always batch cook. I almost never cook one meal at a time. If I am cooking spaghetti, we’re having it tonight and we’re having it tomorrow with fresh garnishes. I also keep healthy "convenience" dinners on hand i.e. frozen soups, or a potato and chicken drumsticks to throw in the air fryer.”

On play and fun:

“Let them play! It doesn't always have to be an organized activity or even educational. It's okay to just let them play independently. Now that being said- I will pre-plan my week with 3 intentional activities to do with my toddler. Like making slime, baking cookies, going to the library etc. That definitely helps me feel like we can do all the things without being overwhelmed.”

“Feed kids in the bath tub — knock out two tasks with one stone, plus it’s FUN! (And super easy clean up).”

On teaching by example:

“When you find something what works for you, teach your kid how to work with you. Example: I say aloud “I’ve found what works best for me is putting anything I want to take with me in the walkway by the door when Im getting ready to leave the house, that way there is literally no way I can not see it on my way out. So, If there is something you want to take with you AND you want help remembering, put it by the door.” Then whenever she says “I want to take this baby doll and all these items… “ I remind her - “If you want to make sure we don’t forget it, put it by the door.”

On Mama’s inner life:

“Something that makes my life easier is truly listening to my intuition. It's taken me a while to figure this out (starting from when I got pregnant) but there are a lot of messages coming at us all day distracting us from our own mama superpower: our intuition. This means breaking rules... a lot. And questioning things and people... a lot. But the more I do it, the stronger my bond with my son gets and the more powerful I feel. Listening to my intuition makes life easier for me because I realize it gives me that natural flow in my family that I know is meant to be.”

“Embracing the idea of TTAT (two things are true) - has been something that has helped me personally, in my marriage, in parenting and in relationships. It helps me feel less while also being able to hold myself accountable from a place of self-love rather than shame.

Example: When my kid is having an off day, where she’s especially needy/whiney/bossy-

TTAT #1 - “Something feels tricky for my kid and I wish this day was more pleasant for all of us.”

TTAT #2 - “Good kid, hard time.”

TTAT #3 - “I am not enjoying this and it won’t always be this way.”

If you would like to be a part of these conversations, please join our private Facebook group here.

And a shoutout to all the moms who contributed to this conversation: Ann, Jill, Bernadette, Sara, Crystal, Carrie, Landry, Claire and Anna. Y’all the REAL MVPs. 🏆

Events happening in Bastrop County this week

Friday:

[For Mama] ❤️‍🔥 Loteria Night at the Painted Raven. 6:30-11 pm. Free but space is limited.

🍹 Tiki Time Social at the Country Chick. Shop local vendors and enjoy pork sliders in your best Hawaiian gear. Take pics by the art cow! 3-7pm. Free.

🤠 All-ages Line Dancing Lessons at Rising Sun Vineyard. Scoot your boots. 6pm. $10.

🇺🇸 Heroes and Hot Rods Veteran’s Day Cruise In and Car Show happens in downtown Bastrop. 400 cool cars, a veteran’s parade, and more. Start down by the Visitor Center. Both Friday 5-9pm and Saturday 7:30am-4pm.

Saturday:

🍁 Fall Fest and Market Days at Down Home Ranch. A fundraiser for the ranch features a Farmer’s Market, hayrides, craft stations and more. Tickets for activities available for purchase. 9am-2pm.

🦗 Tiny Predators, Tiny Prey Hike at Buescher State Park. During a hike with a Texas Master Naturalist, learn about the spooky but fascinating small-scale world where various insects fight for survival! 10am. $5 for 13+. Free for 12 and under.

🏘️ Smithville Garden Club hosts the annual Smithville Tour of Homes featuring five homes and one historic church. There’s also a quilt show and shops and restaurants open for a small-town charming time. 11am-3pm. Tickets are $15 each, cash only.

Tuesday:

🌉 Bastrop Bridge Turns 100! Celebration at Neighbor’s Bar and Yard. 5:30pm. Free with registration.

Thank you, Mama!

I appreciated the positive feedback on the essay I wrote last week. I am truly grateful for the encouragement and the sharing. If I haven’t responded to your email yet, please know that I will in the coming week.

Many blessings,

Elise