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Transparency in Parenting: Toddlers on the Go

July 5, 2017

This post is sponsored by Happy Family Brands, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I’m going to make a pretty big admission right off the bat here because I believe in transparency. This spring marked the first time I ever left the house alone with Fox.

I used to hide from the fact that I was too overwhelmed to leave without the help of my husband, but once I started being up front about it I quickly learned that there are a lot of other parents in the same boat as me!

Toddlers are unpredictable and there were times I got the keys in my hand at the doorstep and retreated back in the house. I think I was spooked by incidents like that one time where Tyler ran to the bathroom at a restaurant and Fox began a meltdown and I was then married to the table, just in case the server thought our unsuspecting family was big bad dine-and-dashers.

I finally ripped the Bandaid off because I know his brain is a sponge right now and he deserves to learn and experience seven days a week, not just two. It went great and I haven’t stopped taking him since!

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There are a few things that have made my life exponentially easier. I’m here to share them with you 🙂

Spring for the Membership

We have a wallet full of membership cards. One easy fee per year and you’ll be waltzing into your favorite spots without trying to work it into your budget each visit. We have a variety of memberships to different museums, theme parks, and zoos. Another bonus: most come with perks like memberships to partnering museums, discounts at the gift shop, and free member-only events.

Wear Them Out

Before we go anywhere, I make sure Fox gets some time to run around and play in the backyard. If he gets enough energy out he often falls asleep in the car, so I can enjoy a cup of coffee at the park or dissect my favorite museum exhibit before he wakes up ready to rage. Those few moments of calm before the (toddler) storm, no matter how cute the little twister may be, keep me centered before our adventure begins for the day.

Food to Go

On one of our trips out to the Natural History Museum, I forgot to bring substantial snacks for Fox. He was not happy waiting in a queue that was completely lined with chips, fruit snacks, etc. while we waited to buy him a $10 kid’s meal. Not my finest moment. Since then, we’ve been packing what we call “squishies” or Happy Baby’s Clearly Crafted™ pouches. This organic company values transparency as much as I do, so much so that they make their pouches clear so you can see exactly what I’m feeding Fox: high-quality ingredients in yummy flavors.

To learn more about Happy Baby’s Clearly Crafted™ pouches and get your exclusive $1 coupon for 3 Clearly Crafted™ pouches at Walmart, click here.

Do you have any tricks to make outings run smoothly? Let me know in the comments below!

 

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