Mom’s Must Haves: A Sane Woman’s Guide to Raising a Large Family
Categories: Great Gift Ideas, Mom's Must Haves
Though billed as a book for people with many children, Mary Ostyn’s wonderful debut, A Sane Woman’s Guide to Raising a Large Family, is full of information that any parent can put to good use. The author — a mother of 10 who works from home — offers up tried and true tips for daily challenges like bedtime, school, making space, and assigning chores, and takes a look at bigger issues, like dismantling the Supermom myth and encouraging friendships between siblings, as well. Some of the passages are reminiscent of posts from her blog, Owlhaven, which makes the book feel like a chat with an old friend. Her straightforward, friendly writing style and her insightful, common-sense approach to parenting makes the book empowering and accessible — just the thing for readers who are wondering if there’s a better way to handle the day-to-day challenges of raising a family.$13 at Amazon.com
Enter to win a copy of A Sane Woman’s Guide to Raising a Large Family by leaving a comment on this post with your email address and your best parenting hack! YOu have until 11:59 p.m., EST, on Thursday, May 21, 2009; the winner will be drawn from all eligible comments on Friday, May 22, 2009.
(Open to US residents age 18 or older, one entry per person, void where prohibited.)
Thanks to all who entered! The contest is now over. Check the Affordable Luxuries blog for an announcement of the winner!
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Where you have everyone put their dirty laundry have 4 different bins. White, Blacks, Colors & towels!! Makes to so much easier than taking the time to seporate them when you have 2 seconds to actually put a load in the washer!!
Danielle Crown | May 15th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Take a digital picture of the kids before entering an amusement park in case they get lost mverno@roadrunner.com
susan varney | May 15th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Spend a day making meals to freeze for later!
Meredith Rogen | May 16th, 2009 at 4:08 am
Mine is getting everyone in the family to help me with the yard! My kids seem to want to do anything but chores so thats my hack!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
Carla Pullum | May 17th, 2009 at 9:30 am
picking out the cloths for school the night before!!
sara marcy | May 17th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I have toddlers so the best trick to surviving the day for me is to love on them as much as I can. Kisses and hugs everyday. It makes up for all the hard stuff :).
Renee | May 18th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Thank you for a great giveaway. Plan menus ahead and use a day a week to prepare it all for easy days through the week. Thank you!
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
beth shepherd | May 19th, 2009 at 9:06 am
I would love the chance to win, thanks.
Erma | May 20th, 2009 at 5:21 am
i got tired of cleaning everything myself, but i wanted things put back in their places when we cleaned. so i took a picture of the way things should look. now when the kids are straightening up, they can look at the pic to see how it should look when they are done!
jeanine | May 20th, 2009 at 6:27 am
I’ve got 7 kids and I honestly don’t have any tricks other than don’t sweat the small stuff. You really have to pick your battles with so many in the household. I would love to hear what kind of tips she has as its been one heck of a learning experience so far and if she can clue me in to a few things that I don’t know, it will be well worth the read!!
Amy Moore | May 20th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Teaching my kids how to stand on their own and that failure only happens when you don’t try!
venus m. | May 20th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I have a craft box filled with crayons, markers, paper, stickers, etc for each kid to keep them busy while I’m trying to make dinner or if I have an important phone call etc.
Jessica L. | May 21st, 2009 at 6:53 am
When you make a meal, make enough for leftovers to make into another meal. For example:
Make two meatloaves one night.. the next night cut one into cubes to serve with spaghetti.
Make chicken vegetable soup one night.. use chicken, veggies and broth to make chicken pot pies the next night.
Those are two of my time savers
Gianna | May 21st, 2009 at 2:29 pm
This looks like a great read
Miranda Allen | May 21st, 2009 at 3:03 pm