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Creative...maybe crazy mom hacks
171 Plays10 months ago
From changing the Netflix language so your toddler thinks the show is broken, to strategically unscrewing the crib so the baby thinks they’re still being held—this week, we’re diving into the brilliantly unhinged world of TikTok mom hacks.
We’re talking hacks that toe the line between genius and chaos, and honestly? We’re not mad about it. Whether you're in survival mode or just love a little creative parenting rebellion, this one’s for you.
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to the Park Mom Podcast. We do need to get a jingle going. Should we try one right now? One, two, three. Welcome to the Park Mom Podcast.
00:00:11
Speaker
Welcome, guys. soulful. That was so soulful. We're drinking water tonight. We don't have our swig. We don't have our fizz. We have nothing. We have water because we're health girls. Wait, should we do an actual intro? Yeah, let's do it.
00:00:23
Speaker
I'll still include that. Okay.
00:00:27
Speaker
yeah Let's roll. hi welcome to the park moms podcast where your host haley and back up this is the place where we laugh and chat about the chaotic bliss of raising young kids so whether you're about to take a hot mom walk or start a little of laundry let's get deappin let's get to it um ready to record my pants are unbuttoned fully you i don't know if you can tell but they're fully unbuttoned when we were practic like practicing the video making sure it was recording and stuff She's like getting her pants on button. I'm like, you know what? That's like honestly much more comfy. I don't think I've ever worn jeans during the podcast. No. You've never worn jeans because you came straight from being a park mom. That's why. Yeah, we had soccer games tonight for our kids.
00:01:04
Speaker
Let's just start there. Should we start there? How's soccer going?
Soccer and Parenting Dreams
00:01:07
Speaker
So I think I need to find a therapist because the fact, the anger, and I said this to you and Sam at the game, I don't ever want to project onto my children that they need to like be good at something or be a certain way.
00:01:21
Speaker
Yeah. But when they're playing soccer, so i don't I don't know if I've mentioned this, but i played competitively soccer. It was my life, like my whole life until I was 18 and came to college. it Were you going to play in college? Yes. Was that a goal of yours?
00:01:35
Speaker
It was, and I had a few places I could have played, but they were all in California, and my parents didn't want me to stay in California. They said, we need you to go to another state. Specifically, they wanted me to go to The school that I went to because it was a religious school and I needed Jesus.
00:01:53
Speaker
Yeah. Did it work? let's Just kidding. That's a whole other podcast. I wasn't going to go off on that. Anyways. They had a good soccer team though, right? BYU. Yes, but BYU primarily, um what's the word? Scouts from Utah. So there's there's this whole political thing. Also in California, all of the clubs play.
00:02:11
Speaker
You don't know i have to include this the podcast. but No, I don't hear. I'm curious. In California, all of the clubs play on Sunday. And then here, a lot of them don't. I was not allowed to play on Sunday. so I was like on an ODP team. Do you know what that is? No. It's like an Olympic development team. And they said like, sorry, you can't be on the team anymore because my parents wouldn't let me play on Sunday. like, anyways, it's a long story. I could have played in California. I didn't. But soccer was like...
00:02:35
Speaker
My passion, my identity, my everything. And then my husband also played competitive soccer. So when we're dating- didn't know that. That's awesome. Yes. No, he's- Did you guys play intramurals? No, because- No, we did once. did once.
00:02:47
Speaker
But we weren't married for very long when we were still in college. But um he played goalie or keeper and he was very, very good. So when we're dating, we're like, but when we get married, we're going these little soccer stars. Like they're going to be so good because we were so good and like yeah it was a big part of our lives.
00:03:03
Speaker
And so now we're finally we're finally here. And my I will girls let you know, Hayley's kids there are only five and four. Kate, but the prodigies – and I'm not saying we are prodigies, but like when you're good at soccer, it kind of like shows right away. Blair even four yet actually?
00:03:19
Speaker
No, she's only three story. Yeah, she's only three. Yeah. So basically they shouldn't be pros at this age. But for
Managing Expectations in Sports
00:03:24
Speaker
some reason when I'm watching them, so I coach – and I have a bone to pick with you. Okay. Because you forced me into coaching our older kids' soccer team. She was like, oh Haley, like you'll be so good at it. You played soccer.
00:03:36
Speaker
um What I realized is I don't want to be on the field chasing the kids and trying to wrangle them while you guys are hanging out on the sidelines having fun. Yeah. I guess that was talking pretty much a bad move.
00:03:47
Speaker
So now I'm left out of having the fun part of soccer and I have to blow a whistle. Do you know how dumb I felt blowing the whistle on Saturday? I was literally didn't want blow it. Did kind of love it a little bit though? No, I thought I would love it, but I felt so cringy blowing the whistle. I was like – because it feels like everyone looks at you when you blow the whistle and I was just – the soccer game was kind of nuts. Yeah. was kind of nuts.
00:04:07
Speaker
But anyways, I need to find therapy because when my girls didn't show the same, like, excitement and passion, and I've been chill about it. Like, I wasn't trying to push it on them, but I just thought in my mind, like, they'd get out there and it would all just, like, in their blood. Yes.
00:04:22
Speaker
They'd be really good. And so far, that hasn't been the case. So I need a chill. Yeah. I agree. And i it's kind of funny. I agree that you need to chill. No, just kidding. No, you do. You can't do that. I do think, like...
00:04:35
Speaker
This is Elsie, your five-year-old's first year, but like I do feel especially like especially the three and four-year-olds, they seriously don't do not have a care in the world. They're putting in the wrong goal. They're picking up the ball. They're not listening. like It's just basically to get some exposure.
Motivating Kids with Rewards
00:04:49
Speaker
But when your competitive mama bear comes out, you're like, okay, you got go. And actually, they are kind of – Blair was a superstar. Yeah, she was trying. She was really trying to me. But then she got so tired and just wanted to sit on my mom's lap. It's lot.
00:05:03
Speaker
Honestly, being a soccer mom is crazy. It's also just so interesting how like natural it is to want your kids to be good at things. I was listening to the parents, including myself, um all sitting on the sideline being like all their kids like, you'll get ice cream after if you get a goal.
00:05:17
Speaker
You can get a slushie, anything you want. and the kids like, I don't care. Like, whatever. I'm not motivated by that. That's what my dad would do. So that's how I got my first phone. Every goal was $20. And sometimes if like the game was tied, he would up it. Oh my your leg right to me. So what was your position? were scoring goals. usually write mid.
00:05:35
Speaker
Don't even know what that means. But – You have the opportunity to score goals. Some people don't score goals, right? Some people are like the back yeah people. Yeah. I mean, usually the goalie's not from the other team isn't scoring goals. Okay, but there's like defense. No, defense can score goals sometimes too. It depends.
00:05:48
Speaker
But not usually. Usually it's midfield. Goal scorer. was out there scoring goals. You can actually look at my soccer stats. Okay. Guys, check her out. Don't. Haley Winnick. This is cringy. And now I honestly don't think I can play.
00:06:01
Speaker
Like ah someone asked me to be in a league and I'm like, No, I can't. I can't. I think it would come out in you. You would have like a competitive nature. I feel like you would be so – like you would force yourself to be good but i think I'd be frustrated because like in my mind I would still know all the moves and like the passes and everything and I would go to do them. But my body, my like three what children – Wouldn't follow? My post three children body would not be able to follow and I would just like get frustrated and then I would spiral.
00:06:26
Speaker
I'm even going church ball though. Like it's like none of those guys are really good at basketball. They're so competitive. It's like more extreme than the NBA. That's true. Maybe I just need to get like little soccer league. No. I do not. Count me out. I'm not good at sports. Okay.
00:06:39
Speaker
What are your
Parenting Intrinsically Motivated Kids
00:06:40
Speaker
feelings on soccer? I was just going to say, it was just funny hearing all the parents. And it kind of leads me to this next top talking point is how to motivate your kids. Like the example of giving them ice cream to score a goal.
00:06:53
Speaker
My middle child right now like is the most intrinsically motivated kid. That's amazing. truly amazing No, it's not. Oh, like intrinsically like – He wants to do whatever he wants to I thought meant – Does it intrinsically mean like naturally motivated?
00:07:09
Speaker
It means naturally – It's motivated, yes. And like actually I was talking to my mom about this. I always vent her. She's like honestly you want an intrinsically motivated kid but they're very hard to parent because punishments don't work, rewards don't work, yelling, nothing. That's that's them.
00:07:23
Speaker
The only thing – The only thing that works is it has to be like what they want and their idea. So you have to make things their idea. Yeah, which is hard to do. And like even if we're like, let us help you like or we'll tear them on a lot and be like, come on, let's go.
00:07:38
Speaker
still doesn't work. Like it has to be like that's actually true. I think that's a middle child thing because that's exactly how Blair is. If she has an idea in her head, she's going to do it. And like I try to punish. yeah as I try to punish or like say you can't do this. And it literally does action right again. It has no effect. Yeah. Yeah.
00:07:55
Speaker
No effect. I think it's just because my middle child's ears don't work. Like truly, someone posted on Instagram the other day and they're like, um does anyone know where can buy new ears for my children? And I was like, please send links if you find them because I feel this the same way. Like those things are just for decoration. Yeah.
00:08:11
Speaker
<unk>s I think it's just because they're in their own world and they truly just want to do what they want. And that's what my mom was saying. She's like, honestly, it's the best type. Like, they're going to naturally be successful with what they want to be successful with. like when they say that kid's either going to be in prison or run a corporation. Yeah.
Humorous Parenting Anecdotes
00:08:26
Speaker
Like, but he doesn't care about peer pressure. Like, um even like his other brother tries to motivate him do stuff and he doesn't do it. The only actual thing that does motivate him is like fun or being funny. Like, if you're like really jokey with him, some reason he'll like that and he'll like – Or if you make things a game. Does he like that?
00:08:42
Speaker
no No? It's just about being funny. Yeah. Funny. Like, yeah. If you, like, make him laugh. It's hilarious. So if you have any tips for intrinsically motivated kids, I'm trying to figure that one out. Someone write a book on that, please.
00:08:54
Speaker
I feel like – do you think it might be an age thing too? They're both three. I feel like – Yeah, no. Three, i feel like for the first time, they're figuring out what they want to do and that they can do what they want to do without your help.
00:09:05
Speaker
Whereas I feel like when they get more to like five, because our older ones are five, they do want to please you a little bit more. Like today, i was having a little bit of a meltdown. It was just like – It was a crazy time of day.
00:09:18
Speaker
There was a lot going on. My one-year-old had the water flosser and was spraying all of the mirrors in our house with the water flosser. know what
Challenges of Sleep and Parenting
00:09:25
Speaker
water flosser is? Yeah, My other daughter was like climbing up into a window. that it was a lot.
00:09:31
Speaker
And my five-year-old comes in and she's like, mom, what can I do for you? And I was like, no. Will you get me – was like, will get me Windex and a paper towel so I can, like, clean the mirrors? Because it was literally everywhere. And I knew it would, like – if I didn't clean it right then, it would bother me.
00:09:43
Speaker
And so i was cleaning it up. And then she brings it And I was like, thank you so much, s sweetie. And she goes, just know I'm always here for you. Oh, that is so sweet. And honestly – she didn't used to be that way. I feel like that just kind of happened where she wants to, like, help me and please me. And she sees – They, like, three-year-olds only see themselves.
00:09:58
Speaker
They see themselves and they see what they want. Whereas I feel like when they get a little bit older, like, she saw that I was stressed and that I was struggling and she was like, I should help my mom. Yeah. It's actually kind of sweet. It's, like, a really sweet almost kind of scary face, too, because, like, just think – She's noticing. They're noticing. And, like, I think they feel the pressure, too, to like, I guess make sure that you're happy. like Yeah. Which I don't want her to feel that way. it, like – mad or frustrated he's like but I just love you so much mom yeah and like really turn on the sweetness and he's smart he's doing it for a reason but it also makes me feel like hey also does Coles never do this if Blair's in trouble trouble like if Blair's in trouble Elsie will be like mom I love you so much oh yeah and like try to like beat the peacemaker but like also be like well look at how good I'm being like Blair's being bad but like mom I love you yeah like I know you're mad at Blair but like I'm good look at me
00:10:50
Speaker
Oh my gosh. parent to Parenting kids is crazy. I asked my parents today at dinner because I was just with them like an hour ago and I was like, was it this hard for you guys? And they were like, yeah. And my mom's like, do you understand me more now? And I was like, yeah. You do get a greater appreciation and I think like you also realize that Everyone has really good intentions, but like we're all kind of – like our parents probably screwed us up. We're probably going to screw our kids up in some regard. Like we're to try our best. And the fact that we're trying to do our best is the only thing we can do. We're going to read the books. Start again tomorrow. Take a deep breath.
00:11:22
Speaker
I'm going to try to be a more calm mom tomorrow. That's my only goal. Okay, wait. i actually do need to ask you another question mom-related. Yeah. i mean this is the Park Moms podcast. This is the Park Moms podcast.
00:11:33
Speaker
We are important. Yeah. You were saying the other
Debate: Never Sleep, Eat, or Exercise Again?
00:11:37
Speaker
day that Graham hasn't been sleeping. And I just want to talk about like why is sleep the like the hardest part about being a mom?
00:11:44
Speaker
Like – It the hardest part. It is so hard. Like I don't know when people say like, oh, my baby still hasn't slept through the night and it's been two years. Yeah. Which like I feel for you. I am so sorry. what Like my kids will wake up once a night or like – Once – it's not every night.
00:12:03
Speaker
Like, they're yeah they're they're not great, but they're not, like, waking up four times a night like I know some two-year-olds are. I, like – I'm like, how? How are you functioning? No, you can't function. takes such toll. It takes such a toll. I mean, I feel like it's toll. It takes such a toll.
00:12:16
Speaker
It takes such a toll. Like, the newborn phase is so hard. and then like they're sleeping through the night and then it's like sleep regression, sleep regression, up in the night, throwing up. Now they're having night tears. Like yeah you just think it's going easier and doesn't. And like the reason why it's so hard is because you can't function without sleep. And then when your kid's not sleeping, it's just like,
00:12:33
Speaker
How am I living? No, i I think it was like a week ago where none of my kids were sleeping and I was truly unwell. yeah You asked me, we were at the gym and you're like, how are you doing? And I said, you don't want to know. And then I continued to vent for the next 45 minutes during our workout. And I was like, well, I'm sorry. I'm such a downer. We all need our hours. you just need like get it out.
00:12:52
Speaker
No, women need more than that. Did you know that? I saw that on TikTok. Is that true? Well, if it was on TikTok, it's true. No, but they've all the sleep studies they've done have primarily been on men. And they're realizing that women, especially, because I'm a scientist, remember, don't take anything we say as fact, okay?
00:13:09
Speaker
Don't take anything we say. Fact check us. Yeah, fact check us. But i my understanding is that during different menstrual phases, you actually need more sleep. Oh, really? So how much sleep do we need? i'm I think 12 hours.
00:13:20
Speaker
Well, there is no way. If you're a mom and you get 12 hours of sleep, write it because I do not believe you. Yeah. No, it's true. How? How? You have to be going to bed when your kids go to bed. My kids don't even sleep 12 hours. Yeah, There'd be no way. That's not possible. Ain't no way. Ain't no way. Ain't no way. Okay. Actually, here's a good question for you.
00:13:40
Speaker
If you could have the option – To still stay – like to be extremely healthy and you'll never have to sleep again. you would never have – these are the three choices. Never have to sleep again, never have to eat again, or never have to exercise again. Like those are the three things you would never have to do, but like your health would be optimal as if you were like – Those are my three favorite things.
00:14:01
Speaker
ki wait like you literally like what it's like you would you would feel like you got eight hours of sleep but you would never have to like you'd get all the eight hours back but the feeling of like
Creative Parenting Hacks from TikTok
00:14:11
Speaker
waking up knowing you've slept good you would never have that no you wouldn't but you would never have the feeling probably the same thing oh never bad working out can be fun like hiking or like i don't ever want to run again in my life but like i would soccer Don't bring him back to soccer. I can't.
00:14:30
Speaker
but Okay, and then eating. What would you do? Oh, eating and then eating is like the most joyful part of life. um I probably would do also not sleeping because I'm like, then you get eight hours back. the It's the most effective. Yeah, get so much done.
00:14:41
Speaker
Wait, is everyone around me not sleeping too or is it like quiet and I'm able to just like – for I think it's just you. It's just you. Okay, then definitely the sleep. and But you feel like – or maybe it's like the scenario is like you can sleep however many hours and you feel like you're eight hours of sleep. Your body functions like it has eight hours of sleep.
00:14:58
Speaker
100% that one. Yeah. Is that one we eat? And the eating would be like you never have to like worry about eating healthy, but your body functions like you eat very healthy. So you eat junk food, but you're healthy.
00:15:09
Speaker
I don't know. I'm making this up as hell. All right. This is getting too convoluted. This is too convoluted. So jumping into the really juicy part of our episode, tonight we're going to be talking about, will say, creative, maybe borderline crazy mom hacks. Yep.
00:15:27
Speaker
The things we're doing that are getting our kids to sleep, making them eat their dinners, whatever we're trying to motivate them to do, how crazy are we getting? And this is actually a trend on TikTok and the comments have me rolling. They are hilarious. I have to say, moms are the most creative persons.
00:15:46
Speaker
Moms are the most creative persons. What time is it? It's 9 o'clock. It's past my bedtime. Moms are the most creative people on the planet. Truly. last week when I said contestants. The contestants. Oh, my gosh. Oh, gosh. We'll go to speech therapy one day.
00:16:01
Speaker
One day. So I'm going to read the ones we have written in, and then we're going to just read some comments off yeah some of the TikToks because they are so funny. These are the ones that people submitted through Instagram. so Yes. Always keep submitting.
00:16:12
Speaker
Okay. If my toddler doesn't want to go somewhere, i tell him it's his birthday party and I bring candles. I even bring a lighter and light the candles. Is this Lindsay? yeah
00:16:24
Speaker
Yes. Well, I go to the gym and she'll say that it's someone's birthday party there. Like he's going to a birthday party. This is genius. This is top tier parenting. Like, I'm sorry. I don't know how she came up with this, but I'm obsessed.
00:16:35
Speaker
It is absolutely the best idea ever. And like how motivating, how easy, like literally just bring a candle, light it. Like how simple is that? She was just like, okay, like we're here at the birthday party. And it was like the gym daycare. He was like so happy.
00:16:48
Speaker
Well, and kids are obsessed with birthdays. birthday parties. They love birthdays. Yeah. And they love candles. Do you know what? You're actually not even lying to him. You're just romanticizing the everyday, which is actually if such a beautiful- It probably someone's birthday at the gym.
00:17:02
Speaker
Someone's birthday somewhere. I actually, this is like, I saw this on ah TikTok too. You like, every time your kid's- freaking out and you need them like take a deep breath you hold your hand like this and you have them blow it like a candle and like see how you're breathing them and like it gets them like starting to you that to me when i'm having panic attacks you're freaking out hey blow the candle i always say blow the candles off i'm gonna try that they like they like it okay that's not that on hinch but okay ah All right. Sock party. They get a coin for every pair of socks they match.
00:17:31
Speaker
Best 18 cents I spent last week. Yeah. No, my parents used to do this with me. I remember doing this and I've tried to do with my kids and they are like, screw you. I don't want to do this. Do they not understand the value of a coin? I feel like growing up, we knew we had to pay with money.
00:17:45
Speaker
Inflation, the amount of allowance you have to give kids these days, like you can't give them coins because I feel like the whole thing is like, okay, you can earn money and then you can go to the dollar store and buy something. Like, I don't know. Inflation is ruining the way that we're bribing kids.
00:17:59
Speaker
It's true. its Inflation is ruining – I don't care about, you know, like the stock market. I don't care about groceries. yeah Allowance for the kids. Yeah. I do feel like the coin – are probably enough motivation for my kids just because they love shiny things. So I'm like, but I think it'd be worth a try. Growing up, we did dinner. We called it pennies, and we loved it. We'd sit at dinner. If we had good manners, we'd earn a penny during dinner. And like we saved it up for a trip to go to Mexico, which, yeah, the pennies did nothing. But it was like very motivating as a kid.
00:18:32
Speaker
We had our best manners on. Try it. Okay. Chat GPT for bedtime stories. Then let chat GPT read them. Oh, yeah. I've heard of this. Wait. Did Camden put that in?
00:18:42
Speaker
Yeah. He actually did. That's my husband. Did you really do that? Wait. I was like, wait. Hold on. Thanks for writing in, Camden. I like how you're reading it. Like, it's completely anonymous. We're saying that it's anonymous, and I'm like, was that this person? was Well, these people are your husband and your cousin. Yeah. And I don't think Lindsay – would hate. She'd like be happy. Yeah.
00:19:01
Speaker
No, we do this every single night. So our kids have like stuffed animals they're obsessed with. And so Camden will be like, okay, chat GPT, write a story about their stuffed animals are berry and cowie. It's a bear and a cow. Yeah. And he describes what the stuffed animals look like.
00:19:16
Speaker
And then he's like, write a story about them going skiing. And it will be like a very intricate, cool story. And then it will send a little picture of berry and cowie skiing. And the kids are obsessed. Yeah. Wait, that is so cute. And then it reads it out loud?
00:19:29
Speaker
No, we read it out loud. I think I can read it out loud, but he usually reads I was going say, because voice creepy. Probably. he usually reads it out loud. Okay, those are the write-ins. So let's go to the TikTok. Okay, perfect.
00:19:42
Speaker
Is there a theme or is it just like random? They're so random. I think I'm just going to read the top ones, but I do have to say one that my mom reminded me of tonight when I told her we were doing this episode is that my mom's, my dad's mom used to tell him that if you don't sleep with the lights off, that you won't grow.
00:19:58
Speaker
So like you have to sleep in the dark if you want to get taller. And he to this day believes that. Yeah, so he's like, I'm getting taller every night. Well, I think now at the age of like 52 or 3, he like knows he's not getting taller.
00:20:10
Speaker
But it's still ingrained in him. and Like he truly believed that growing up. Like, oh, if I want to be tall, I have to sleep with the lights off. That's hilarious. So his mom was a genius. No nightlight. Okay, this is the first one. These are so funny. I'm sorry. When my son isn't taking a nap, I switch the language of the movie and tell him he can't understand them because he's tired.
00:20:30
Speaker
Okay, I saw this one. It is so good. so we're basically, she's gaslighting her children to be like, sorry, you're really losing it. yeah What, like they're just fully losing it because they suddenly can't understand. exactly. that That's exactly what she's doing.
00:20:45
Speaker
That is so funny. do feel like that would work though. um Yeah, no, it would work. But also, like, I feel like as a kid that would freak me out. Like, i can you imagine a kid feeling like you don't know how to speak English anymore or, like, you don't understand language? don't like you be able to, like, comprehend it the way you're thinking as a kid. You'd probably like, oh, that makes sense, mom. Yeah. but We tell our kids that if they watch too much TV, their brain will melt. Yeah.
00:21:11
Speaker
And so like if they start to forget something they're like oh, I can't think of it. i can't remember. we're like, it's because you watch too much TV? Like we got to watch less TV? We do that parenting hack too. Like it's basically, we always say like if you're eating, if you're watching too much, I would say it's not good for your brain. My mom used to tell us that if we watched too much TV, one of our eyes would get bigger than the other. Did you believe that?
00:21:29
Speaker
Yeah. Like I would look in the mirror and be like, oh my gosh, that one's slightly bigger. Which like I think people naturally have one eye that's a little bigger. From TV. From TV. Honestly, I kind of believe that one.
00:21:40
Speaker
Makes sense. Oh, gosh. Okay. Okay, next one. I told my toddler his ears turned red when he says something that isn't true. Now he always covers his ears when he tells a lie. That's funny because you know when he's lying.
00:21:52
Speaker
oh that's smart. It's like the trend on TikTok where you're like, if they're asleep, they won't... Did you know I thought that was real? What? Are you kidding?
00:22:02
Speaker
thought that was weird. And so I tried it with the kids and was like, what? You're getting... and I am dying. You actually thought they'd keep their hand up if they were asleep?
00:22:17
Speaker
Did you see this? And he was like, Haley, that's not real. The point is to like mess with them. Well, i I got that afterwards. I just saw one video and i was like, there was this video of this kid. what They were so
Nostalgia and Recurring School Dreams
00:22:31
Speaker
asleep that their hand stayed up. And he was like, Haley.
00:22:36
Speaker
As I promise, I'm smarter than I act sometimes. Okay. We tell our son if he's good, he doesn't have to go to school for two whole days this week, the weekend. Okay. That is genius.
00:22:47
Speaker
That is straight genius. But also, then your kid won't like school. I feel like school isn't a punishment for kids. Like, well, I only have one in school, but she likes going to school. Yeah. I think, like, I feel like when they get older, at least for me, like, I remember getting more annoyed of school the older I got.
00:23:02
Speaker
Same. And it was more like, not that I actually hated it. It was just more like school. Wait, I actually always loved going to school. I didn't love the school part, like the learning part, but the social part.
00:23:12
Speaker
Like, yapping with my friends. But if your mom could like come pick you up at like noon and you could be out of class for the rest the day, you totally would, right? No. Really? I wanted to be where everything was happening. I wanted to be and the – does that surprise you?
00:23:25
Speaker
I just love leaving school. Oh, no. No. Like on my birthday, i always had the option to not go to school and I'm like, no, that's everyone – the tension is going to be on me for an entire day. Like I
Introducing Video Games to Kids
00:23:36
Speaker
have to go.
00:23:36
Speaker
you ever have dreams – this a little bit of a tangent – that you're back in school? I have dreams that I'm back in seminary, which if you know, you know. Early morning seminary. I have dreams that I'm like late or that I haven't gone all year.
00:23:50
Speaker
And I'm not going to graduate seminary, which that's a very niche thing. If you know, you know, I'm not going to explain it. Yeah. I have same – Same dreams, not about that, but about graduating that I never finished my credits at high school. I was done with college and they made me go back to high school as an adult and finish. And it was in like, I still like, it's like a recurring dream, but it's also kids.
00:24:11
Speaker
I don't know if have kids in the dream or not, but it's like so stressful and I'm trying to get back into the classes. Like how many more credits do i have to take? And I can't get into the class. And so I just ended up not getting a degree. Which doesn't sound that bad, but in the dream it feels very intense. It feels like the end of the world. oh my gosh. Okay, this one I'm going to try this week.
00:24:29
Speaker
Okay. I put Mario Kart on YouTube and give him a controller that doesn't work. So it's like other people playing. Yeah. My problem with YouTube is I don't know what video's next. Yeah. And that's – Yeah. And so if I'm going like go upstairs and like fold laundry, I can't just like leave them in front of it by themselves. You also could just put the computers on and then the controllers. You can put a like thing on the controller that makes them auto drive.
00:24:53
Speaker
We use that all the time and it helps them stay on the track. We don't own a single video game controller or console at Really? oh so you just you would use fake. What would you have them use tomorrow? yeah I would like find some controllers on at the thrift store that don't work.
00:25:08
Speaker
Oh, interesting. mean See, we actually have a Switch. We don't
Innovative Napping Strategies
00:25:13
Speaker
have anything. Honestly, i wouldn't introduce it until... Yeah, not really. I don't think actually. What's like the cool um video game?
00:25:21
Speaker
box right now? I feel like for kids, a Switch. What's a Switch? Switch is like... actually don't never mind. Anyway. We don't to get into this. I feel like otherwise Xbox... Because like, kids still... I don't know if kids still like this, but they like Fortnite for a long time.
00:25:38
Speaker
You've heard of Fortnite, right? Yeah. I like... I've never played it, but I've heard of it. I... Yeah, Camden's not a big video gamer, and by big video gamer, I've never seen him play a video game in our nine-year relationship.
00:25:49
Speaker
So I, like, don't know much about video games. I'll fight you over We can play some Switch. Perfect. Girls' name. Yeah. Okay, I pay my four-year-old $1 to take naps sometimes. Hey. I'm going to do this.
00:26:01
Speaker
I'm going to do this because ah few weeks ago, and by a few weeks actually I mean like probably four months ago, is when my older two just stopped napping. Yeah. even stopped doing quiet time. And I don't know why. I've been in like the thick of like very little kids for so long, like babies and toddlers.
00:26:18
Speaker
I never thought of a point of them not napping. Yeah. You have to entertain them all day. Yeah. There's no break. You don't break. Like for me, it
Humor in Discipline and Tantrums
00:26:25
Speaker
used to be like, I'm going to, that's true. But it was always like, okay, I need to fill my day till nap time.
00:26:30
Speaker
Yeah. Now there are no naps. Yeah. There is no break. There is no Do the would motivate them? Maybe like, see, I'm telling you, my kids are high rollers. Like they'd be like, I'd be like, Elsie, I'll give you dollar. And she'd be like, try five. Do you have cash on hand?
00:26:44
Speaker
No. Okay. I do think – okay. Now that I'm thinking through this realistically, I think we need to go get cash because if they got a physical dollar and got to put it somewhere, I think that wouldn't be more motivating. And honestly, I'd pay ton bucks to make my kids nap a day.
00:26:57
Speaker
No, seriously. Yeah. To get just an hour? Yeah. Or two hours? that's the That's money well spent. That's money. Tax-free? Tax-free. So try it. Let us know what happens. But I would go get some cash because I do think like a lot of reward has to be tangible. Yeah, I think so.
00:27:14
Speaker
I don't think it'll work for my intrinsically motivated, but it will work for my reward motivated. Becca, you want to read one? Yeah. I put myself in timeout. Sorry, mommy was not kind and got loud, so she needs a five-minute timeout.
00:27:25
Speaker
Don't talk to me because I need to find my calm. How do you get them to enforce it? Like how do you get them to actually leave you alone though? I think like if you make them be alone for a break, then like they'll make you be alone for break. Because I'll that. be like needs a break.
00:27:38
Speaker
Like mom needs a second. And they are like – No, you can't say mom needs a second. You need to say like in trouble. Like you're you're in – yeah, you're going time out. Okay. I'm going to try this one. I'll report back. Report back.
00:27:49
Speaker
Okay. This is so funny. I'll pretend to scream and run away from something scary when he's having a bad tantrum. He runs after me and forgets what he was tripping about. Okay. Oh my gosh. But you I think it's funny to scare kids and you don't think it's funny.
00:28:04
Speaker
I don't like being scared myself. Okay. Parents, tell me the most random unhinged things you've done to help your child sleep better. Don't tell me training or co-sleeping. I want weird. So this is one like specific to yeah sleep.
00:28:18
Speaker
And actually, one of these is my friend, so it like, showed up first. With my first, we used to unscrew the front of the crib, take it apart so I could kneel down and roll into his mattress and off my arm. Then every single night, we'd put the crib back together. Every night.
00:28:33
Speaker
It had to have been... The Ikea crib because that one is easier so put on. Yeah.
Sleep Solutions for Kids
00:28:40
Speaker
But still. No. That is crazy. Like have to get. ah Again, back to the sleep thing.
00:28:45
Speaker
Whatever it takes. You'll do anything. Whatever it takes. Like driving around in your car to get your baby to fall asleep. Like you'll do whatever it takes. My son would only nap to audiobooks read by Barack Obama. Ain't no lullabies, just that calming man's voice.
00:28:59
Speaker
Stop. Yeah. He's going to find out someday that that was a former president and be like, that's – like, he has no idea. He's going to hear that voice be like, how calming.
00:29:09
Speaker
Okay. I've heard this one actually before. She loved hair so much, kept pulling mine. So when I tried to get her to sleep, we'd give her hair extensions. She'd hold them like a head bar teddy bear every night.
00:29:20
Speaker
This was a girl on TikTok. Yeah. She lives in Utah. This isn't that same one, but I've seen this before. Oh. Some kids get obsessed with the texture of hair. Interesting.
00:29:30
Speaker
None of my kids have done that. Have they had like things they're obsessed with to sleep with though? No, my kids all have a blanket that they sleep with, but they they're not like, oh, we have to have this blanket to sleep with. Okay, wait, this one's good.
00:29:42
Speaker
scared. Slowly recited the lyrics to Britney Spears' Lucky, not singing, just speaking them in a monotone voice. She's so lucky. No, you're singing. She's a star.
00:29:53
Speaker
She's so lucky. She's a star. But she'll cry, cry, cry when she's lonely. If there's nothing. It's hard not to sing it. If there's nothing missing in my life, then why?
00:30:08
Speaker
I know there's tears coming night. Not my dog barking because he loves our singing. That song was the first song I ever did a music video in my head too. Like in my room. Yes. Like I'm in a music video.
00:30:22
Speaker
Were you a Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera girlie? Britney Spears. But I ah remember of my parents said I couldn't really listen to Britney Spears, but I loved her. I felt like I was, like, so cool because everyone was obsessed with Britney, and I'm like, well, actually, I like Christina Aguilera. What does she even sing, Christina Aguilera? They were, like, both popular at the same time when we were, like, in elementary school.
00:30:40
Speaker
Yeah. I loved Britney Spears. Loved Hilary Duff. Loved her. Her Metamorphosis album. I was going to say, was it the Butterfly album? Yes. Yeah. I was obsessed with her. Oh, my gosh. That is what I'm playing tomorrow in my car. And then I also loved – do remember Destiny's Child? Yes.
00:30:57
Speaker
Do I remember Destiny's Child? Beyonce? Like, yes. Yeah. Loved. You and I also randomly loved. Who? The Dixie Chicks. Oh. Loved Dixie Chicks. Traveling soldier? Did I even know what war was? Did i even know what a soldier was? Absolutely not. But was I the girl under the bleachers crying about her fallen soldier?
00:31:15
Speaker
A hundred percent. A hundred percent. And it's hilarious because I saw this TikTok trend and it's like kids today, they normally they're like listening to Bluey in the car. I'm like, boo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo. Yeah. You know, the little Bluey tune.
00:31:27
Speaker
And then it's like us as a kid, like listening to Traveling Soldier. Coming down like a traveling soldier. Look at us singing. Like life was just so serious. There was no kid music for us. you know what's so funny? As I listened to that song today.
00:31:41
Speaker
What? the car. why How random. Because I was listening to the chicks. You still listen to the Dixie Chicks? Yeah, 100%. Oh, my gosh. I went to their concert like a year ago. Really? Wait, Dixie Chicks will forever and like has forever and will forever be cool.
00:31:56
Speaker
Wow. I think we see it differently because you're from Morgan, Utah. I have some strong nostalgia for the Dixie Chicks. Would I listen to them and turn them onto the car?
00:32:07
Speaker
In the car? Absolutely not. you wouldn't? No. There's not like any – like I wouldn't listen to Hilary Dove. I wouldn't listen to Destiny's Child. I wouldn't listen to Britney Spears. throwback. I live in the throwbacks. I love a throwback from like high school.
00:32:21
Speaker
There's something in nose. Shorty got low, low, low, You're going to have to a compilation of all our songs. Move your like cyclone. And you make me want to do it all night long. Going hard. That reminds me of party buses. We got a party bus for our eighth grade graduation. Yeah. If that just like shows you what it was like growing up in California, that's all I have to say.
00:32:42
Speaker
Yeah. Eighth grade graduation, a party bus. That's crazy. crazy that would never happen and then ninth grade they used to have lingerie party buses i was never allowed to go which at first wait in ninth grade lingerie party bus buses no like ninth and tenth grade there was it was the thing to do like party buses and all the girls would wear lingerie and my parents wouldn't let me go and i was like you guys are so uncool now that i'm a parent i'm like i wanted to do that but yeah party buses were a big thing in california like what do you do at the party grinded make out oh oh it i thought my mind was all girls no it was boys the boys weren't wearing lingerie the boys were in normal clothes the girls were in lingerie i'll find pictures insane um i like asked my parents if i could go and they're like of course not like that is really crazy no kids in california are built different oh my gosh they grew up way too fast they do okay
00:33:37
Speaker
It's weird. Like two more of these. Hold on. Okay. Let's do a couple more because I need some, I need notes. I need some things to try. So far I'm going to try the dollar for napping and I'm going to try, what was the other good one we liked?
00:33:52
Speaker
I'm not going to do the TV thing because I really feel feel like that's just going give them dementia or something. I'm serious. um I can't remember the other one that you said you were going to do. What was the one you just said? The Mario Kart? I'll have listen.
00:34:05
Speaker
Did you already that I'm going to try the Mario Kart thing. Okay. um My two-year-old recently started insisting dad put the blanket on his own head while putting him to sleep. So now my husband just has to put him to bed, sit under the blanket, and stay in his room.
00:34:17
Speaker
Do you know what? This is the point where you say, I'm the parent. You're the
Parenting Philosophies and Sleep Training
00:34:21
Speaker
kid. I'm not putting a blanket on my head. You can cry it out. Yeah. That that might be a hot take, but I think if they're above two – And they're healthy and they're like, they have everything they need.
00:34:35
Speaker
You just like let them cry for a little bit until they put themselves to sleep. I might get canceled for this, but. You're a cried out parent then, aren't you? I am a cried out parent. I'm also a cry-it-out parent. I was like, and you are too, right?
00:34:48
Speaker
You are too. I like, I'm very much respect like the co-sleeping. Like i I get it. Actually, I'm going to tell this story. is My sister-in-law who is absolutely like,
00:34:59
Speaker
my hero like I look up to her in so many ways for parenting she's very like Montessori style like all of her kids like still kind of sleep with her she's just like the most intentional parent and I genuinely love her and look up to her so much but we were at a family trip and I like was kind of letting Jack cry I was with him in the room the whole time didn't leave him like I was yeah there for him but I like he's not used to falling asleep in a bed with us and so like I was letting him like kind of cry himself to sleep in the pack and play and he hadn't slept in a pack and play since I don't even know if he actually had ever stop in a pack and play before. So it was like very hard for him to adjust to. Yeah.
00:35:34
Speaker
And after he finally fell asleep, he screamed, like screamed for like an hour. i went down and like started hanging out with all my siblings and stuff. And she was just, I was telling her, I'm like, it's so interesting how kids have like different cries. Like they have the cry when they're like super tired, they're super hungry, they're mad, whatever.
00:35:51
Speaker
Honestly, I just can't relate because I've never really let my kids cry. And I was like, oh my gosh. You're like, well, feel terrible. I felt so bad. And it's honestly, genuinely true. Like, she's so good at like... She just does it a different way, which is yeah honestly wonderful for her. But like, I just could not relate.
00:36:06
Speaker
I think that we all parent differently. And the kids that we have are meant to be our kids because they need that kind of parenting. And that's what I tell myself all the time. Like, my kids weren't meant to have a parent that let them cry it out or not... My parents...
00:36:23
Speaker
It is late. I need to go home. My kids and their personalities, I truly believe if they have had a parent that just like did gentle parenting and like never let them cry, i don't think it'd be good for them.
00:36:35
Speaker
I don't think like that's the kind of parenting they need. And I think that's why they're my kids. And I do let them cry it out. And I am like a little stricter with the things they can do and what they like need to do. And I'm trying to like make them tough.
00:36:46
Speaker
I'm also, like, a good loving mom. But for the most part, – was do feel like you're actually still, like, very easygoing. Like, you're not a helicopter parent at all. You're very, like – That's nice. You aren't. But I do, like – You have boundaries on certain things. I have boundaries. I have, like, pretty strict boundaries. Especially things, like, you – that makes sure you a better mom. Like, sleep, I feel like is one that you're good about. Like, you're good about, like, exercising.
00:37:08
Speaker
I try to be. Sleep, exercise, But then there's some kids that need a gentler parent. Yeah. Truly. I think that, like, their spirits and their personalities are born needing that. Well, it's also, like, they're going to grow up and be different, too. Like, it's just, like, we're all different family units, and, like, they're going to be different humans. Also, this is fact. This is just, like,
Conclusion and Community Wisdom
00:37:25
Speaker
parenting parenting beliefs.
00:37:27
Speaker
I will say to circle up on that thought, though, I do think there's a lot to learn from everybody. Like, that is the cool thing. Like, I love looking at all my siblings and, like, their kids and how different we all, like, approach life quite differently on how parent our kids and it works for all of us like it totally still works and like I learn a ton from each of them even though it's different than how I do it yeah it's good you can take notes and you can always learn something take note and you can always try to do better and honestly these mom hacks like I'm inspired I'm is there anything you do that you can think of I try to think of something and I could not think of anything do you I guess the chat GPT one chat GPT but that's not unhinged or crazy
00:38:04
Speaker
Um, like we do the classic things, like telling our kids like something spicy or like, oh, I do tell them that coffee makes them throw up. Smart. So they'll always like want to drink my coffee. And I'm like, no, kids can't have coffee. It will make them throw up.
00:38:20
Speaker
And they're like, yeah, that makes sense. I definitely say it with like treats. And that's not even like a, that's not even a lie. That's like true. I'm like, yeah you listen to your body because if you get sick, it's because you eat too much. It's like whatever. My kids are just like, kicker mommy, I just ate too much candy today. No, my kids do that too. Like my tummy hurts. I had too much sweet.
00:38:35
Speaker
This actually a great one to end on because this theme of the podcast has also been like singing for us. I sung her all too well every night, the 10 minute version. That is iconic.
00:38:47
Speaker
and That's not crazy or unhinged. That's actually just smart. Yeah, you have a good voice. And I did want to say as the final comment, not me reading this, hoping to find something weird that will work for my baby.
00:38:58
Speaker
Like we said, we're all in together. We're all trying these crazy hacks. Hopefully these inspired you because I'm inspired. I truly am. Yeah. let's let's We should keep writing down the hacks we do. Yeah. Comment if you have any because we all need to share the love. Yeah.
00:39:12
Speaker
Because we're all in this together. the other one we're going to continue to do. Yes. That first one we read. The party. That is so solid. Lindsay, you're genius. Okay, guys. Thanks so much for listening to this week's episode. Hopefully you got inspired by some of the things that we talked about and we're all just gaslighting our children.
00:39:25
Speaker
Yep. it ah Hop on, listen to the creative and maybe crazy hacks. Have a great night. See you guys.