Helpful tips for Mom

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This summer was a bit crazy for the Wilson clan.  We sold our home of nine years and lived with the in-laws for three months, then moved into a new house the week before I went back to work fulltime.  I did the best I could, but I think it’s safe to say I won’t be winning Mother of the Year.

Despite the madness and noticeable absence of home cooked meals though, I did manage a few small mommy successes.  Here they are.

Removing Gak:  The Easter Bunny inconsiderately brought my kids Gak, a gooey substance made from what I’m sure is radioactive slime.  When the stuff comes in contact with cloth, it sticks like tar on feathers.  Washing failed, hand-picking failed, even peanut butter was a no-go.  Guess what finally worked.  Vinegar!  If you set the contaminated article in a bowl of vinegar, the Gak scrapes out easily.  Woo-hoo!

Soccer Smelliness:  Our mud room use to stink like an NFL jock hamper thanks to a constant influx of sweaty shin guards and cleats.  No longer, because a fellow mom turned me on to the use of deodorant.  Now our kids spray their equipment after each use with Right Guard, and we enjoy a clean, powder-fresh scent year round.

Cold Lunches:  I use to buy the re-freezable ice packs to refrigerate my kids’ lunches, but my so called Honor Roll students would inevitably toss them in the garbage can with their used straws and trash.  Now I simply freeze their juice boxes!  They stay cold long enough to keep the yogurt from spoiling but are (mostly) defrosted by meal time.  Yes, thank you, I am brilliant.

Kitty Stench:  We have one cat, amazingly a still alive cat, whose litter box would begin smelling after only a day or two.  About a month ago, I accidently purchased multi-cat litter.  It was a good five days before the odor became unbearable.  Sold!  Now I actually have the time to revel in the drastic reduction of my kitty poop scooping duties.

Fruit Flies:  We recently suffered a major infestation of these annoyingly prolific beasts.  I tried every possible method of destruction known to the Internet and actually found one that works!  Place some fruit in a bowl, cover with Saran Wrap, and poke holes in the top with a fork.  The flies, drawn to the smell of the rotting fruit, wiggle their ways under the wrap, but can’t get back out.  Suckers!  If you empty your trap and replace the piece of decaying peach or apple nightly, and, of course, remove the original source of the flies (read: start doing your dishes on a regular basis), you’ll be bug-free in no time.

Here’s hoping my new-found knowledge (though gleaned through a half-butt attempt at efficiency this summer) will make your mommy-life a bit easier.  Peace out.


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