From tiny clothes and cozy blankets to soft toys, people love to bring or send presents for new babies. It’s hard to resist these adorable items, but offering a gift to another member of the family could be a welcome alternative. Here are some ideas of what to give in honor of the baby.
Image by Nico H. from Pixabay
Something for Mom
A typical new mother is exhausted from around-the-clock feedings and perhaps feeling a little less like herself. Something specifically for her, such as a spa or nail salon gift card, will give her the occasion to pamper herself. Another gift card option is one for her favorite clothing store. After months in maternity clothes, she’ll most likely be ready for a new outfit. For the mom who needs some encouragement, a book of short inspirational quotes or meditations may be just what she needs. If she finds comfort in doing meditation, she may also enjoy psychic readings being offered by a spirit guide to uplift her mood.
Something for Siblings
If the baby has older brothers or sisters, they may feel jealous and overshadowed by the noticeable focus on the newborn. When siblings receive special attention from friends and family members, they may be more inclined to celebrate the new little one. Bringing the older child new toys or games can make them feel noticed and appreciated. Cookie bouquets are another great option for young children and bigger kids, since they are fun to look at and delicious to eat.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Something for Dad
The father of the new baby might just be the most overlooked family member. He may not want to admit it, but a first-time father can feel hesitant about his new role and wish for some guidance. A parenting book just for dads can make him feel more prepared and connected. Even an experienced dad might like a journal to record memories of the baby’s early life from his unique perspective.
Providing gifts for the many needs of a newborn is one way to support the family, but it’s fine to change things up. Bringing presents for the baby’s family members can convey encouragement for them in their very important new roles.
It will be my birthday a few days from now. At this stage of my life, I only wish for
simple things, good health and more years to see through my children raise
their own family. I may not be that old,
but there are health issues that need to be addressed to achieve a life that I
wish for. While I’m working on my personal health goals, I’m trying to steer
clear of unpleasant things, situations, and even people that would bring out unnecessary
stress.
Me time is all that I ask for my birthday. I just want to stay at home and enjoy watching new shows on Netflix. I want to free my mind of worries for a moment while lounging on the couch or lie in bed with that super soft Foam By Mail cushion. (In retrospect, the closed cell foam sheets in our bed have also helped a lot in easing out the muscle and joint pains.)
Being a stay at home mom, contrary to what other people might think, is also a lot of work. We wake up early, cook breakfast, make the kids ready for school, then we’re left with a pile of mess to clean up, and an almost never-ending list of chores. But knowing moms to be really good at multitasking, there are times when we have already finished the massive list of chores to do and yet, we still want to do something productive. We dread the thought of sitting down, doing nothing and being unproductive. We moms always make the most out of our time, and when we’re left with nothing else to do, we still look for ways to feel productive at the end of the day.
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Fortunately, there are numerous
things you can still do in the comforts of your own house that are definitely
worth your time!
Re-Organize the House
Yes, you make sure that house is
always spotlessly clean, but you can take it to the next level by organizing
everything and making a system of ensuring it stays organized for a longer
period of time. You can follow the famous phrase that says, “A place for
everything, everything in its place†or the famous “5S†methodology (Sort, Set
in Order, Shine, Systematize, Sustain). Whichever trick you wish to use, it is
important to know that smart organization is
an effective tool in sustaining orderliness in the house and even
can make a space appear bigger, giving more room for you and your kids to move
around the house.
Do Some Redecorating
You may think redecorating is
unnecessary, expensive and needs talent, but you’ll be surprised that it’s not.
Everyone wants to live in a house that creates a positive response from those
who live there and for anyone who would happen to visit. Redecorating helps out
a lot because it can affect the overall ambiance in your house, giving you and
your family a surprisingly refreshing feeling. It also doesn’t have to be
expensive at all, all you need are the right tricks to
transform your home even if you’re not an interior design pro. It doesn’t have to be
one big major project as well, you can start by incorporating some of the
latest trends in your home.
Create a meal plan for the week
Have you ever had those moments
when you have a dinner menu in mind, and then suddenly you realize you lack one
important ingredient? Did you ever find yourself throwing expired goods and
stale veggies? Or worse, did you ever find yourself staring at your fridge at 5
pm wondering what to make for dinner? Well, fellow moms, if you ever felt the
stress about running errands for one missing ingredient, the guilt for throwing
excess food, or torn on what to cook for dinner every single day, then creating
a meal plan is the answer! Creating a meal plan can save you a lot of time and
energy, knowing what is on the menu makes prepping ahead a lot easier. Plus it
doesn’t take that long to master creating it especially if you’re already
familiar with your family favorites.
Try a new recipe
Impress your family by cooking
out a new recipe, or baking some pastry. Research on some exciting recipes or
watch tutorials on the internet. Or maybe it’s time to dig into that old
cooking book you had and actually start trying the recipes out. Cooking
something special for your family and watching them feel satisfied and be happy
with it gives us a feeling of fulfillment at the end of the day.
Exercise
Being a mom also means we have to
stay physically strong and healthy for our family. That’s why inserting
exercise time in your busy schedule is so important. Exercise can also be a way
to reduce stress from simply being a mother, improve the quality of your sleep,
boost your energy, and makes you a role model to your kids. You don’t have to
hit the gym and pay for an expensive membership. You can try Yoga or Zumba at
home by simply watching free videos on the internet.
Being a mom is always a
challenge, but being a mom is also a very fulfilling career. Every hour is
spent on productive things for our family and our home. So at the end of the
day, it’s always nice to have that feeling that we have accomplished so much from
the time given to us.
