Image from Fisher-Price
Allow me to introduce you to the ultimate family-friendly potty, which we affectionately call “The Froggy” in our household.
The Froggy allows for single-handed emptying. The contours of the blue bowl pour its contents cleanly. Rinsing is simple, since the bowl fits under the faucet of the bathroom sink. The boy shield is built in. It has a small “footprint,” easily fitting into our tiny bathroom, yet it can just as easily be transported to any room in the house. And it’s FUN to sit on a froggy with handles. At least the kids tell me so.
This is just one recent discovery that has turned a point of stress into a point of ease for me.
Sometimes we learn of inventions like these from other mothers who can share their testimonials, and sometimes we find them serendipitously (Target aisle, $12.99). Either way, when we find a gem, we know it–some stress in our life is significantly reduced–and we want other mothers to share in our discoveries as well!
What recent discoveries have helped to lighten your mothering load?
I know I just posted the question, but I already want to share another recent discovery that I love: The Playaway. This is a small mp3 player that has the audio recording of one book on it. You can probably order them through your public library for just about any book. You provide the AAA battery and the earbuds.
The thing that makes it so great is that it is small (thick credit card size), lightweight, and so very portable (comes with a lanyard). Once the kids are in bed, I can listen to my book continuously while I do the dishes, go downstairs to throw in a load of laundry, go in my room to fold clothes, and clean the bathroom. In short, I actually look forward to doing some of my evening chores now because it gives me a chance to advance in my book!
I’m using the Playaway to “read” some classic juvenile literature that I just never read before. I’ve finished The Secret Garden, I’m in the middle of Little Women, and I think Anne of Green Gables will be next!
What a great question, Shawna! I’ll add in a reminder to the moms who read this: please make sure these are legitimate suggestions you have regarding things that work for you–this isn’t a place to advertise products you sell, okay?
The first invention that came to mind is one that I never got the chance to use. It’s a baby spoon that has a big handle you fill up with baby food, and then all you have to do is “squeeze and feed.” No more dipping into jars while you’re grocery shopping…because you need one hand to push the cart or hold the baby’s arms down, right? I wish I’d had this when I was spooning baby food to my little ones!
Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/Boon-Squirt-Baby-Dispensing-Spoon/dp/B001IJYNMI
Right–for the record, I get no kick-backs on Froggy potties or Playaways!
Dude — I am getting this.
thank you!
I had to add one more…the Shark. For 8 years, I swept the kitchen floor every night (sometimes 5 times a day). I’d put things into little piles before I picked them up with the dustpan, and one of my children would ALWAYS run through the piles. Now I use the Shark, my children use the Shark, and I am in heaven. Love it. Totally worth the money.
You can find it in the vacuum aisle wherever they sell vacuums. Hope you love it!