So we’ve made it to February, which is usually the time when folks have either fallen off the New Year’s resolution wagon or take a step back to assess how they are doing.

I am happy to report that I am doing great! OK, it might have something to do with the fact that I don’t really do resolutions. My theory is that I suffer enough. So, while I’m raising small kiddos, I get a resolution “free pass”. Do we mamas really need extra stress and self induced pressure?

I get that everyone wants to be healthy and lose a few pounds. I’ve got a postcard on our fridge that has an illustration of a goddess woman, with the words “Can you pinch an inch? Do you give a shit?” It’s just a reminder that maybe mamas need to cut ourselves a bit of slack – a few pounds and an extra inch or two is a small price to pay for getting to grow humans in our bodies.

Rather than putting pressure on myself this year, I am relieving myself of it. I have two examples:

1) My photo dilemma: I had five years worth of unprinted photos hanging around my neck like an albatross. I finally admitted that there was no time in the foreseeable future that I could dedicate to this project, and it was only getting bigger with each photo taken. A quick Facebook status update asking if anyone was up for a project put an end to my photo woes. Project has now been completely outsourced. The weight that has been lifted from my shoulders is indescribable.

2) The next outsource came in the shape of a teenaged homework helper who has a 95% average in French Immersion. My son’s FI was causing me an incredible amount of stress. My lack of French rendered me useless – throw in the fact that I don’t really get Gr. 5 Science either and I was a complete waste of space. Now, three times a week my angel teenager relieves me of that aggravation. My son does well on his homework, understands the material and I am no longer pulling my hair out every evening.

Outsourcing these little projects certainly ends up costing a mama a few bucks, but I am a strong believer that at whatever cost, you can’t put a price on mama’s sanity!

Here are three sorting, stacking and memorization games that are fun, but at the same time they help teach children the basic skills of organizing. Shhh, I won’t tell them if you don’t.

Sorting - Find common household objects like buttons, coins and keys and let your kids sort. They can sort by size, type and color. Have them sort the items first to see how they might arrange things. A lot of visual learners will sort by color if given the choice.

Stacking – Did you know there is a stacking sport? It’s called speed stacking and it is growing in popularity across the US. Simply put, it is a game of stacking cups extremely fast in order to build a pyramid and then taking it back down again. Kids love it but really it is teaching them some great skills like hand-eye coordination, focus, and creativity to name a few!

Memorization – My kids are loving the game Memory right now. You lay all of the cards out and turn over two at a time until you make a match. I am surprised at how well my 3 year old can recall where the hidden match is and she even shows me up every once in a while!

Teaching these basic skills early on will help your children conquer their organizing journeys in the future!

Q. Bedtime is chaos in our house. My kids are always getting out of bed and it’s usually 10 o’clock before they’re asleep. I’m exhausted! What can I do to get them to go to bed and stay there?

There’s a reason all the good TV shows are on at 8 and 9 o’clock! With the children nestled all snug in their beds, that’s supposed to be mama’s time to sit down and relax (or do laundry, make lunches…a mama’s work is never done after all). It’s time to reclaim your evening, for your sake as much as the kids’.

1) Pick a bedtime: Children need sleep. Some parents will argue that their children operate just fine in spite of an 11 o’clock bedtime, but in reality their little brains and bodies need time to recharge and grow. Bedtime should be between 7 and 8pm. (Some kids need to go to bed earlier if they’re starting to phase out naps).

2) Keep wake up times the same: Tempting as it is to enjoy your coffee in peace on Saturday morning while the kiddos sleep in, it is best to keep a consistent wake up time.

3) Bedtime routine: People think I’m crazy when I say ‘time for bed’ and my son is still bouncing off the walls looking wide awake. But five minutes into our bedtime routine and he’s curled up on my lap with his blanket and rubbing his eyes. Whether it’s bath time, stories or lullabies, your kids will learn that these things mean ‘sleep’ and will start to wind down.

4) Playtime is over: After a nice bedtime and everyone is tucked in, the fun stops. You’ve said your “goodnights” and “I love you’s”, now you mean business. If they’re climbing out of bed, go in and put them back to bed with only a “Stay in your bed, please” and then leave the room. Sure you may have to do it 50 times the first few nights, but consistency is key and they’ll soon get bored if they know you’re really serious and they aren’t going to be able to squeeze another story or glass of water out of you.

Nanny Carrie’s Tip:
For the little ones: Starting very young, have a certain song that you play just for bath or bed time. They’ll learn to associate the song with winding down at the end of the day.

For the bigger kids: After bedtime routine, start letting your child have some time to read quietly in bed by themselves. It will start training them to wind down independently and give them a sense of pride in being able to stay up later than their younger siblings.