This is the third of three guest posts by our friend Amy, who blogs at The Finer Things in Life. Her three part series focuses on getting things done with toddlers. As a mom who has had toddlers for the past 13 years I cannot wait to read her ideas.

So… we’ve all had a good laugh at my playground workout with the kids, and hopefully you were encouraged to let your kids help you with some household cleaning (while they still think it’s fun!), so to conclude this series, now what? What else do I get done with my toddlers and preschoolers?

Well, um… everything.

It’s going to be a few years (at least) before I can go about my day without turning around and tripping over a little person, or refilling a sippy cup with one hand while I stir gravy with another, or (insert any activity that needs to be done during the day followed by any sort of inevitible interruption)…

My challenge for you today: embrace this time with your littles. Don’t fight it. What a wonderful gift we’ve been given to be everything to our children. What an opportunity for growth and learning (for us and them!) just by including and encouraging them in the daily routine. I can hear the collective sighing (and is that a tear I see?) of all of you more experienced moms… this season of life won’t last forever. In fact, I’m willing to bet that in the end it doesn’t last nearly long enough.

And just a few thoughts on a sample of the everything that I try to accomplish with my littles…

• Cooking: It takes longer, and often presents a bigger mess, but I don’t know a more valuable skill for kids to learn. The earlier the better! My three year old boy is now in charge of all egg cracking at our house. I honestly don’t have to fish out any more eggshells for him than I do for myself. Suggestion: have your kids crack eggs into a cup (just in case you have a stray shell) and then dump them into the other ingredients or skillet.
• Running Errands: We’re old fashioned in Tiny Town. We get our mail at the post office, and there is no online banking. Our library is run mostly by volunteers. My kids love to ride their bikes or hitch a ride in the stroller as we take care of errands. I love that they are getting to know the “helpers” in our community; they know our postman, everyone at the bank and the city office, and most of the library ladies.
• Gardening: So what if a few green tomatoes end up in the bucket? Kids are supurb harvesters of produce! And it’s true ~ if they grow it, they will eat it!
• Shopping: Even I will admit that this is not my favorite chore to do with my kids. In fact, on Friday I found myself wishing there was another way to go about this task. But we survived. My suggestion: take lots of snacks. Lots of forbidden snacks. You know the ones. The ones that keep your kids relatively quiet and entertained throughout the store partly because they taste so good and mostly because the kids are in shock that they get to consume such a suger-laden, dye-filled treat!

In the end, getting things done with toddlers and preschoolers isn’t really about getting things done. It’s about the kids. It’s about teaching the kids and spending time with them. Afterall, kids really don’t care so much about high-tech, expensive toys. They just want to be with mama. Embrace this time. Cherish this time. Use this time to form that trusting bond with your children that hopefully will continue through the years when the tables turn… when you are seeking their attention. When you are asking a thousand questions to learn about their day, and their friends, and their hopes and dreams. It won’t be long!

Great post Amy, thanks for taking the time to share some of your wisdom with us! If you are interested in guest blogging for Happy to be at Home email the 3 Moms at 3Moms@happytobeathome.net.

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