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A Busy Moms Guide to handling Depression

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Dealing with mental illness can be daunting, to say the least. When I first accepted that I suffered from depression, I was in the thick of it. Sure, I had depressive episodes before (usually when a life-altering event happened), but it wasn’t until I was tasked with taking care of someone other than myself that I began to really come to terms with my own mental health struggles. In a way, having children saved my life. But having children also adds a whole other level of stress to my mental health struggles. Finding time, as a mom, to handle my ongoing depression became a real struggle. So,I’m sharing my busy moms guide to handling depression in hopes that it will help others get a grip on their mental health, like I have.

A Busy Moms Guide to handling Depression

Use deprexis® on your time

Using artificial intelligence, deprexis® is a web-based program used to help manage depression. It uses proven techniques to provide counseling without having to deal with a live person every time. Basically, analyzing your personal input and responses to develop an approach to help you with your depression. The best part? It’s available 24/7. No needing to find a sitter, and no struggling to get out of the house to make an appointment.

A Busy Moms Guide to handling Depression

Create positive thought patterns

I’m not a stranger to self-help. In fact, I’ve been actively on medication for depression for several years. I know how much I would benefit from therapy, but it just isn’t in the cards for me at this moment. Clinically tested, deprexis® uses cognitive behavioral therapy-based techniques to identify negative thought patterns and replace with new ways of thinking.

A Busy Moms Guide to handling Depression

This type of therapy is incredibly effective. After being in the deprexis® program for over a month, the suggestions and techniques have helped me tremendously. After taking a series of questions in which you are given a couple of pre-populated answers, a program is put into place.

My program, which is specifically designed for me based on my responses, includes a long list of activities to help boost my mood. Those include some of the following:

  • Fun activities (such as listening to music, taking a hot shower, or playing with my children, just to name a few).
A Busy Moms Guide to handling Depression
  • Competence activities (like preparing a well-cooked meal, going for a long walk, or doing volunteer work).
  • Attachment or bonding activities (such as meeting new people, giving someone a hug, or doing something together with someone).
A Busy Moms Guide to handling Depression
  • Control activities (like saying “no” to something, expressing your opinion, or teaching something to others).
  • Self-esteem activities (such as helping someone in need, making a realistic plan, doing an exercise that makes your body feel strong).

Continue with other treatments

Talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are wonderful options when it comes to treating depression. But they don’t have to be the only options. Using deprexis® along with any standing orders from your physician or a psychiatrist can certainly help treatment.

At the end of the day, treatment for depression will help not only you, but the people in your life. Untreated mental health disorders can manifest in so many ways. Please head to the deprexis® website for more information on how to sign up. You can also try it for 30% off using this promo code: CENTRAL30

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Sheet Pan Pancakes

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My kids have always been picky eaters. Once they find something they absolutely love, they stick to it. Big time. My eldest loves a bowl of cereal, but that has been an acquired taste. In my 8+ years as a mom, I’ve tried to feed my kids every breakfast food imaginable. But the one thing they always seem to want? Pancakes. And pancakes just so happen to be my least favorite breakfast food to make. Mostly because three kids times three pancakes each means I am standing at the stovetop over a pan for nearly an hour (to make sure there are enough for my husband and I, as well as leftovers). It can be downright daunting! So I got creative. These easy weekday (or weekend) morning sheet pan pancakes are the perfect way to make pancakes for a crowd!

Weekday Morning Sheet Pan Pancakes

Getting creative and innovative

Listen, every mom has had moments of being at home with their kids at some point in their motherhood journey. But this pandemic took it to a whole other level! Suddenly our kids — and, who am I kidding, we! — are eating 24/7. Grocery deliveries and BJ’s Drive Up orders are now happening twice weekly. It’s basically insanity. And during insanity comes ingenuity. Is that the saying? Probably (most definitely) not, but let’s roll with it.

Weekday Morning Sheet Pan Pancakes

Who would have thought that something as simple as foregoing the griddle could be so life-changing? Okay, perhaps life-changing is a bit dramatic. But morning changing? Totally and completely accurate.

What you’ll need

This recipe is beyond easy peasy. Just grab your favorite pancake mix, water, and some vanilla, and you are good to go! Oh — and a sheet pan. Any old sheet pan will do! Just be sure you grease it (we prefer avocado oil or coconut oil).

Weekday Morning Sheet Pan Pancakes

Sheet Pan Pancakes

Yield: 12 servings

Sheet Pan Pancakes

Weekday Morning Sheet Pan Pancakes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 cups boxed pancake mix
  • 2 cups of water
  • 2 Tablespoons of Vanilla

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP ONE -

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

STEP TWO -

Mix together your pancake mix, water, and vanilla.

STEP THREE -

On a lightly greased sheet pan, pour in your pancake mix. 

STEP FOUR -

Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.

STEP FIVE -

Allow it to cool before cutting into it.

STEP 6 -

Cut into 12 servings. Top with butter, syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream, fresh fruit, and/or more! ENJOY!

Weekday Morning Sheet Pan Pancakes

© Rachel

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Why You Should Try Homeschooling During COVID19

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So many friends are asking me about homeschooling these days. The pandemic seems like the perfect time to start homeschooling. If you’ve been on the fence about homeschooling for a while, now is the time to give it a try. Your risk is low and the benefits of homeschooling during COVID19 are many!

Why You Should Try Homeschooling During COVID19

When the pandemic first became a thing, we had just enjoyed a nice bonfire with friends. The next day the entire United States suddenly realized that COVID19 was real and present danger. The realization literally hit us overnight, didn’t it? Parents and schools everywhere started grappling with the question – what do we do now? And for many of us, at least some of the answers to that question have been dictated by our state and local governments. Schools went virtual, sports seasons were canceled, graduation was a drive-thru event, and working parents have had to wrestle through massive shake-ups in child care.

As Fall approached, the reality that COVID19 is not going away any time soon sat in. Schools started virtually in the Fall, and for many of us, that’s not going to change for a while. Virtual school is a challenge even with training, but mass training staff has proven too much for many school districts. So far, virtual schooling has been a disappointment for many.

Homeschooling During COVID19 is on the rise.

In the meantime, homeschool enrollment across the United States continues to rise. Parents have watched their peers homeschooling for several decades now. It’s starting to sink in among the general public that homeschooling is neither fringe, nor weird, nor ineffective. In fact, homeschool education has proven to be just the opposite. More mainstream than ever, homeschooled students are excelling in colleges and in their social lives in spite of the prejudices faced in the past.

So why is now a good time to try homeschooling?

Homeschoolers Face Less Prejudice During COVID19

Well, let’s start with prejudice. With so many new homeschool families in the United States, prejudice from friends and neighbors is becoming a thing of the past. In most cases, you can begin homeschooling today with the support of your family and friends because they’ve been experiencing Covid19 school and have been wondering about homeschooling themselves. Now’s your chance for a no-judgment beginning.

homeschool at zoo

You Can Start Homeschooling Slowly During COVID19

Another great reason to start homeschooling during COVID19, you can take a “soft start”, and still know that your child is getting more than they were last week in virtual school. Now, I know that many local schools are doing okay with virtual school, but not all. And furthermore, I am aware that many teachers are working like crazy to figure this thing out. I get it.

Why You Should Try Homeschooling During COVID19

But, I also know first hand the power of having one-on-one time to teach your kids, reading and writing, and arithmetic. Life can’t stop during COVID19 and neither should education. With homeschooling, you can make the next year count in a big way.

Homeschooling During COVID19 will Save You Time.

Homeschooling is going to save you time. You’ve already realized that keeping your child focused on a screen, and on track with assignments is way harder than it should be. You may be working from home, or managing your child’s virtual school experience after a long day at work. Either way, homeschooling will help. What takes eight hours a day in public school will only take about three hours a day at home (for elementary school).

Why You Should Try Homeschooling During COVID19

You and your child can spend less time in front of a screen and more time experiencing life together. Taking walks, exploring parks, cooking, and playing games are all great ways to spend time at home after school work is done.

Experience Incredible Homeschool Support during the pandemic.

Support for homeschooling is off the charts right now. If you choose to start homeschooling during the pandemic, you are going to find that local homeschool support groups, homeschool publishers, and homeschool organizations across the country are ramped up to help you. You can find local, state, and national social media groups to help with any homeschool challenge you face, from legal requirements to special needs homeschooling. The homeschool support atmosphere has always been incredible and has only gotten better as so many new families join the movement.

Provide Your Kids with a COVID19 Emotional Safety Net through Homeschooling

Homeschooling provides many opportunities for you to reassure your kids that everything is going to be okay. As kids see COVID19 dragging on and on, they cannot help but worry. Kids might not be communicating their fears, but fear is there lurking. One of my kids spent most of the morning frustrated and sad today. He was unable to really explain why everything was just so hard. The emotions of pandemic life were getting to him. Instead of having to sit in front of a screen visible to his friends with tears running down his cheeks, he was able to sit next to me on the couch and talk it out.

hiking for homeschool

We were able to take breaks – long breaks – and give him room to breathe and process emotions. We aren’t going to get around to his science lesson today until after supper, and you know what? That’s okay because as the homeschool mom I set the pace. And today the pace was all about dealing with big emotions because progress can come later. Reassurance for his precious worried heart is more important in the long run.

As many families across the United States are learning, homeschooling is a great way to manage the education of your kids during this pandemic.

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Children’s Books Every Child Should Read

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Children’s books are extremely important. They impart wisdom and knowledge and promote a love for stories and reading. Reading to your kids is just as important, and some of these books are best read allowed. Many of them make excellent bedtime stories. Most of the children’s books below are classics, although some are nearly forgotten. Each of these books is a must buy, in my opinion, for every child, though some are difficult to come by.

Children's Books Every Child Should Read

Mother Goose

The great introductory book for all children is Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes. They notoriously make no sense and sometimes don’t even make a proper rhyme. This collection contains especially beautiful artwork featuring creative reimaginings of the original context or subject of each poem. It also makes for a storytime session that you can lengthen or shorten to suit your interests.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This is one compact bit of learning material for a child and it’s beautifully told. Metamorphosis, counting, says of the week, and nutrition is all covered in one very simple narrative. The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other books by Eric Carle are imagination fueled and full of fun for the youngest book lovers.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Oh, what a fun way to learn the alphabet. Not just the letters, but their shapes, too. This book works brilliantly to entertain little ones when read aloud with plenty of excitement. Especially when it comes to reciting the title.

Goodnight Moon

No nursery should be without this book. It’s a wonderful way to lull your little ones to sleep. Not only is the story very calming, but it teaches kids a good way to soothe themselves by naming and saying good night to all the things around them.

This classic crack up of a story is so relatable and a lot of fun for kids to see what this mouse gets into next. It’s a really good introduction to association, logic, and chains of reasoning, besides being absolutely hilarious.

Sam and the Firefly

This wholesome story about a pair of new friends has a lot of good in it. It teaches much about play and morality. What’s fun for Gus is not what’s good for others and becomes downright dangerous. Sam tries to stop Gus from doing bad things, but he’s unsuccessful. Gus has to learn the error of his ways, and Sam rescues him in time to become a hero. It’s a simple story, but good, and in the meantime, it teaches a bit about spelling and opposites.

Never Play Music Right Next to The Zoo

This is an enjoyable book creatively authored by the actor John Lithgow. It’s all about a boy who gets bored at a concert which just so happens to be right next to the city zoo. A dream sequence unfolds of animals escaping and taking over the orchestra.

Where the Wild Things Are

Every child has the capacity to be king of all wild things. The journey of Max is so wonderful because it’s all about kids learning to gain control of themselves. When they are wild, they become isolated, and they must work through what they are feeling, but then when they come back home, they’ll find (like Max) that their supper is waiting for them (and it will still be hot).

Out of the Nursery, Into the Night

This lovely book of illustrations has some poems to it. They are nicely matched together, and the whole book makes a lovely bedtime story. Each poem and illustration features a particularly unique teddy bear come to life the way they are in a child’s mind.

The Rabbit Listened

This is another wonderful tale about a small boy who must deal with emotions. In this case, the child has great potential as a builder with blocks, but his grand vision is destroyed. In the aftermath of the tumbled down blocks, the boy is met by several animals who tell him how he ought to feel. When their advice fails, they give up on him. All except one rabbit, who is willing to listen while the boy deals with his feelings in his own time.

King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub

This one will make you kid laugh, and again, it’s got such wonderful illustrations. In this story a page must get King Bidgood out of the bathtub, but he is having no luck. The king tries to do everything from the tub from battling ships to a masquerade ball.

Daniel O’Rourke: An Irish Tale

This surreal picture book tells of a young man who has an evening out at a party and then falls asleep under a Pooka tower. The Pooka visits on him a strange adventure with details tied to the events of the night. Is Daniel dreaming?

Jumanji

Another strange adventure. This book features a mysterious board game with mystical powers. Whoever plays the game, gets sucked into its reality and its reality spills out of the box in the form of dangerous vines, stampeding rhinos, and a mad hunter. The players must complete the game for everything to return to normal—life before pause buttons.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

This book says it all. It’s maybe not the best for children with a lot of anxiety, although maybe they can relate. It’s all about everything that can go wrong and does. It also explores the idea that maybe people have it better somewhere else, which of course, they don’t.

Aesop’s Favorites

A collection of Aesop’s Fables. These short, interesting narratives make excellent digestible pellets of wisdom that kids can understand. Like Mother Goose Rhymes, it is a sort of introduction, but to broader concepts rather than just silly nonsensical rhymes (really, some of the rhymes are even just the same word).

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is an excellent return to nonsense, once a child can understand what nonsense is. It’s a great children’s book, but it’s one that kids of all ages, even adults, can study to their heart’s content.

Saint George and the Dragon

The story of Saint George and the Dragon is very popular in Western Europe. It’s an archetypal story full of themes and characters used throughout the ages. This version of the story is ornate and very classically illustrated, which lends a nice touch to the 13th-century tale of the dragon-slaying knight.

Gulliver’s Travels

This classic children’s book may slip below your radar, but it’s a remarkable adventure that bears some similarities to Alice in Wonderland. Allusions to both stories appear in very early cartoons by Walt Disney. Gulliver’s Travels maintained popularity over the decades until the box office flop starring Jack Black. However, the original story, rife with satire, still sparks the imagination.

Charlotte’s Web

This childhood favorite is a must. The story is such a great way to explore themes of friendship and sacrifice. Fun fact, Charlotte’s Web was banned in Kansas as recently as 2006.

The Secret Garden

This children’s story offers a more robust narrative with themes of renewal and redemption. The lives of a group of children begin to grow and flourish in the presence of the garden, leading to healing and reconciliation, particularly between father and son.

Wind in the Willows

This classic tale is yet another must-own for children. The novel is perfect for bedtime stories, which is precisely how the adventures within it were originally intended to be read. This book features the notorious Mr. Toad as well as his friends Mole, Rat, and Badger.

Story of King Arthur

The story of King Arthur should be timeless, and it should be read aloud to every child. This version of the stories of King Arthur is for just that. The book goes beyond the Sword and the Stone to give the full reach of the legend.

Treasure Island

This swashbuckling Adventure brilliantly tells of the adventures and dangers of pirate life through the eyes of Jim Hawkins. The coming of age tale is single-handedly responsible for how we have come to view pirates in the present day. Originally published as a serial in a children’s magazine, this 19th-century classic still has everything for young readers.

The Jungle Book

Another 19th century coming of age story, the Jungle Book tells the extravagant tale of a boy raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by a bear and a panther. There is a lot of insight to be found in this valuable piece of children’s literature.

Beatrix Potter Ultimate Collection

Children’s books frequently become a series of excellent stories. If they are not all compiled in one volume, they tend to make up a collection of full-fledged books. The Peter Rabbit books are one such collection, and you can get them all right here.

Mary Poppins Set

Mary Poppins also came as a set of books, which you can own as a collection. There are four books in all, including Mary Poppins Comes Back, Mary Poppins Opens the Door, and Mary Poppins in the Park.

Hans Christian Anderson’s Complete Fairy Tales

There are so many children’s stories by Hans Christian Anderson. The Little Mermaid, The Ice Queen, Thumbelina, and The Emperor’s New Clothes are just a small sampling. Why not own them all in one complete volume?

The Chronicles of Narnia

This set is more than the sum of its parts. You can’t buy just one of these books. They all go together. However, each story does stand alone. Many of the stories feature different children, though they are connected to each other in the big picture.

The Chronicles of Prydain

Another excellent fantasy series. The Black Cauldron is the best known of the set, but the whole grouping of Prydain stories is gripping and imaginative. The last book in the series “The High King” earned a Newbery Award.

Harry Potter Box Set

Every Harry Potter book could have been on this list separately, but it makes more sense to count them all together here. Especially since you can buy them all together, here.

Work at Home Mom Summer Survival Guide

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Are you a mom who works from home? Wondering how on earth you’re going to get any work done with the kids at home all summer? Believe it or not you can actually keep your business going this summer, even with the kids at home. Check out our work at home mom summer survival guide!

work from home summer survival

Be Flexible

How willing or able are you to adjust your normal work at home day to meet the ever-changing demands of tireless children? It can be done!

Adjust your day to take account of everyone being home. If you’re a night owl, work late, after the kids are in bed. If you’re not, start setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier each day and starting work before everyone gets up. After two weeks you’ll be up a whole 3 hours earlier than usual and will get tons of work done before the day even starts.

Combine this with getting slack with kids bedtimes and you could get more time in the morning before they wake up. Then you can be free for most of the day to play with them, do crafts or hang out in the backyard.

Military Planning = Key To Survival

Draw up a schedule that shows when you have help over the summer, whether from your partner, family or a babysitter. If your work demands that you are available at certain times carve those out first when you set your schedule. Try to get your help to cover those hours, or plan meetings for the times you do have someone available.

Schedule in your work time, then schedule in time for fun. Make a daily nature walk a part of your routine, or a daily family pool time, whatever you know your kids will love. Print the schedule out with color-coded time blocks so the kids can see at a glance when your work time ends and the fun time begins.

work from home summer survival

Say Yes to Help

Playdate? Yes. Local youth program? Yes. Grandma helping out? Yes.

Say yes to everything. It doesn’t mean you’re neglecting your kids. Say that again: It doesn’t mean you’re neglecting your kids.

If your business and your sanity are going to survive a summer with kids at home you need to have time to get work done. Grabbing whatever help you can and putting family time or mom time into the schedule too means everyone gets what they want.

And a happy mom bringing in some bucks is going to be a better playmate than a grumpy one who can’t work and is struggling to pay the bills.

Separate Work and Home

If you have a home office and can shut the door on work and walk away, great. If not, make sure your downtime with your kids is screen-free. Put your phone in another room on silent, put your laptop away.

Having a mom playing while keeping half an eye on a screen is no fun at all, so make the break and be in either work mode or kids mode, never both at the same time.

work from home summer survival

Get Your Supplies Together

Hit the Dollar Store or Target and get together a great crafts basket. Add some different types of paper and card stock or some scrapbooks and let older kids loose. Some glitter, pompoms and a glue stick will keep them entertained for ages.

Add some old magazines, fabric scraps and a pile of junk form your recycling bin. Then issue some challenges: build a robot, the most beautiful bird or their dream bedroom for example. They’ll love it and you have guaranteed peace for an hour or two.

Be Realistic

Finally, cut yourself some slack. Come to terms with the fact that you may not be as productive during the summer and schedule your work to make the best possible use of your time.

You can easily catch up in September, and you’ll have some precious family memories to look back on when you do. Time with your kids will pass all too soon, and summer vacation is just one part of your WAHM life.

Hopefully this work at home summer survival guide will only be needed this year (and maybe next). But we will get through it together!

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Hamilton Obsessed Kids? Other Kid Friendly Musicals

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When I heard that Hamilton was going to be released on Disney+, I was ecstatic. I’ve been a fan of musicals for a long time, and I was thrilled to be able to share something as awe-inspiring as Hamilton with my kids. The first time I watched Hamilton, I just couldn’t take my eyes away. 

Saw Hamilton what's next

By and large, musicals seem to be one of those things. Either you love them, or you hate them. The thing is, Hamilton seemed to break that barrier for a lot of people. Hamilton is funny, it’s edgy, and it uses modern and masterful language in a way that makes people think. I think that’s part of the reason it’s been so prevalent in our culture. If you think about it, Hamilton has caused an entire generation to fall in love with musical theater.

What musicals should your kids watch next?

If you want to build that kind of love of theater with your kids, then Hamilton is, of course, a great place to start. But there are other musicals that can help them build that relationship with musical theater. I’ve put together a list of some of my other kid friendly musicals that are some of my favorites.

Into the Woods

This was one of my earliest introductions to musical theater. The first time I watched Into The Woods, it was a bootleg VHS copy of the Broadway production that my English teacher put in to keep us occupied the week before the holiday break. The dialogue was rich and listening to Bernadette Peters sing made me believe that some people were born with natural gifts. She is amazing. While there has been a major Hollywood movie made of Into the Woods, the Broadway production is available on Amazon Prime’s BroadwayHD. It’s far better than the movie. The cast is exceptional and the production values are incredible. There is some adult humor, but it’s definitely a musical for kids.

The Wiz Live

I was never really a Wizard of Oz girl. My mother liked to watch it every year on TV. If anything, it gave me a healthy phobia of tornados! But The Wiz is a whole different ballgame. I highly suggest the NBC theatrical version that aired in 2015, starring Queen Latifah, Shanice Williams, and Mary J. Blige. The original version, available on Amazon, has a few mistakes, like pyro going off at the wrong time; however, this is a great way to prepare your kids for the realities of going to see a musical in an actual theatre setting!

Annie

Annie was one of the first musicals I ever saw live. When I was really angry at my mom, I would sing “It’s the Hard Knock Life” when I was doing chores. You can guess how that went over! I did love the show, though. While it’s a little dark, it’s another great kid friendly musical.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

This biblically inspired musical has been very popular since I was young. The Donny Osmond version, long considered the standard, is available on Broadway HD. This Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber production is still popular after all this time because the production values are top-notch and the cast is fabulous.

Mary Poppins

Really, who doesn’t love Mary Poppins? I think everyone has a memory of being home sick from school and watching Mary Poppins while sitting on the couch sipping Ginger Ale and eating saltine crackers. Older kids are definitely going to think it’s a little hokey, but it’s perfect for younger kids.

Cats

As with Into the Woods, stick to the theatrical production available on Amazon Prime’s Broadway HD and skip the movie version. Cats was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and was based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. It’s one of the most popular Broadway productions of all time, with more than 7,000 productions.

The King and I

The King and I is another historical musical. Although the lyrics are not quite as edgy as Hamilton, the story is quite interesting. The musical is drawn from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who worked as a governess (more like a teacher than a nanny) to the children of King Mongkut) of Thailand (which was called Siam at the time). While it’s not as historically accurate as Hamilton, it’s an interesting look at a different time in history.

Newsies The Broadway Musical

This one is based on a movie, which was based on a real-life event that happened in 1899. Newsies is a great musical to watch if you’re studying history, so it’s perfect for distance learning or homeschooling. The stage version on Amazon was filmed in Hollywood, so you may recognize some of the faces, including Christian Bale!

The great thing about Disney+ streaming Hamilton is that this is such a great time to introduce your children to an entirely new genre of entertainment using a style of music and art that is familiar to them! Take advantage of that and use this time to help them develop a love of something that may just last a lifetime!

Tell me — what other kid friendly musicals would you recommend?

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