How To Get By Without A Yaya: A #ParentingNerd Tip
by Go Jackie Go
To hire or not to hire a yaya? This is one of the things parents-to-be need to decide on as soon as their little one arrives. The advantage of living here in the Philippines is that we can hire an extra pair of hands to help us take care of our family. This is most suitable for working moms, moms who have more than one child, or first time moms who feel overwhelmed with the change that’s about to happen. The role of a yaya or nanny is focused on taking care of the child, while the mom tends to her own chores as homemaker -- cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry, and running errands. To hire or not to hire a yaya is a personal choice that each household needs to consider. But for those of you who have decided to do away with hiring a nanny for your child, here are eight tips to get you by:
1. Learn To Prioritize. Spread your chores throughout the week. List and enumerate your chores according to importance. If cooking is your priority, you can do it on Mondays. Do cleaning on Tuesdays, laundry on Wednesdays, and so on.
2. Plan Your Weekly Menu. If cooking is too overwhelming for you, cook once or twice a day. Cook by batches and freeze those you plan to eat days after. For your little one, you can prepare easy-to-make meals like cereals. As long as you serve the correct amount, you can ensure that your child gets the proper nutrition. It’s a quick-and-easy way of protecting your child from the risks of micronutrient deficiencies without the added stress.
3. Schedule Your Errands. If you can, set a day for a trip to the grocery, bank, doctor’s visit, and other things you need to accomplish. A day dedicated for errands is more efficient than going out everyday. Think of the effort and the traffic that you have to put up with when you do these errands on different days.
4. Power Nap. When your child is taking a nap, go ahead and join in! Lack of sleep, as what most parents experience, makes it hard for you to function properly. A power nap can recharge you and give you enough energy to get through the rest of the day. Your chores can wait, so go ahead and indulge in some quick sleep.
5. Go For Quality Time. Homemaking and motherhood can make a mom resort to multitasking. While this is the way to get things done, don’t forget to spend good quality time with your child. Do things enthusiastically by focusing your attention on your child during bonding times. This makes baby-led activities more fun especially when the child picks up the encouraging energy of his parents during play time.
6. Get Help When You Can. You can opt to hire a cleaning lady and let her do the household chores so you can focus on taking care of your child. Not a fan of cooking? Order take out, or have it delivered. Consider anything that can lighten your load, so you can enjoy being a parent.
7. Schedule Some Me-Time. Take time to take care of yourself. A pick-me-up pamper time to get your nails done, a 30-minute back massage, or a coffee date with yourself can do wonders for your wellbeing. Ask your spouse or mom/ mom-in-law if he or she can watch your little one for an hour or two. You can also do a mini me-time at home. Take a five-minute bathroom break, a quick shower, some quiet time for reading, or indulge by watching your favorite TV show. Me-time doesn’t have to be extravagant -- just enough to take your mind off the things you need to accomplish, recharge, and enjoy some time for yourself.
8. Relax and Enjoy. Motherhood is a journey. If you’re too caught up with the things you need to do everyday, you’ll miss out on consciously living and loving. So go ahead and enjoy your journey. Relax. Celebrate the moments you get to spend with your little one as these won’t happen again. Make moments and create memories. The dirty laundry can always wait, but kids won’t be kids forever.
DISCLAIMER:
CERELAC is not suitable as a breast milk substitute.
Infants six months onwards should be given fresh, indigenous, and natural foods, in combination with continued breastfeeding.
CERELAC is a solid food for kids aged 6 months onwards. Opinions and experiences expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s.
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