A suburban motherís role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after.– Peter De VriesEnjoy a few time-saving tips from the NFH moms!I’ve found that having less stuff makes it easier to clean up and tidy at the end of the day. There is less to put away if you only keep what you really like and get rid of those things that feel like a burden to have around. Also, life is much easier if we add an element of fun to the daily routine. For lunch, if I cut sandwiches with a fun shaped cookie cutter (dinosaurs are currently popular in our household), the kids are far more willing to eat.– Lara Freeman“Being a working mom means juggling my home life and professional life all the time. To make sure I stay on track (most of the time), I try to have two things going at once.†For example, if I’m making phone calls for the paper, I’ll make sure I’ve got a load of laundry or dishes going as well. It’s all about multi-tasking.î– Lindsey HarrisonMy mom saver tip is simple ó make a list. I find I do better when I have things written down. I will write events out months in advance, plus put them on our family calendar. †My other time saver is my crock pot.†Although I work from home most of the day, I love throwing something in early in the day; and, by the time we are done with work and school, it is ready.†In the last couple years, I have tried to do something for myself. Every five weeks, I treat myself to a pedicure. I sit back, read my Family and Parent magazines while getting pampered.– Angela MorlanBring PJs to the gym so that after evening swimming lessons your child can shower and is ready for bed when you get home.Get backpacks and lunches ready the night before school so it’s not so chaotic in the morning.– Michelle BarretteI have never been especially fond of multi-tasking. Unfortunately, all mothers must learn how to juggle numerous tasks. So, when I found myself stressed out by the demands of children, work or the constantly ringing phone, I called a halt to all activity and brewed a pot of loose-leaf tea. For some reason, the few minutes it took to enjoy a good cup of tea instantly restored my sanity, and gave me enough of a caffeine jolt to return to action.– Kathy Hare
