TUESDAY'S TIP KATE GOSSELIN STYLE

Okay, so I'm not sure how many of you are aware of the loveliness that is TLC, otherwise known as The Learning Channel, but it is one of my very favorite cable channels. Yep, it's right up there with The Food Network, and HGTV. On a side note, last night as I was flipping through the channels, on The History Channel, another goodie, honestly, I kid you not, was a TV show titled The History of Dung. Needless to say I passed it up. But is that awesome or what? Okay, back to my post.


Okay, so TLC. Don't you just love this channel? It has such wonderful shows as L.A. Ink, Miami Ink, and What Not To Wear. But in my opinion, the best show on TLC, that for some reason I seem to be obsessed with lately, is the awesome show Jon & Kate Plus Eight. Have you seen it? It's all about this cute couple Jon & Kate Gosselin, who after they got married and tried to get pregnant, found out they were having some difficulty achieving that goal. So they went to a fertility specialist and ended up with twins. Those girls are Maddy & Cara (age 8). Then they decided to go back one more time, and ended up with sextuplets. Alexis, Aaden, Collin, Leah, Hannah, & Joel. (age 4). The show Chronicles their lives. How they deal with two sets of multiples on a daily basis. And I know it sounds kinda boring, but there is just something about it that is so wonderful. I'm not sure if it is the relatable relationship between Jon & Kate, or the chaos of all those kids, but something about it is just, well, addicting. Maybe it is because it makes my life seem really manageable or something.




One reason for the show's success is Kate. That is her with Hannah one of the sextuplets. And she is just hilarious. She is completely Obsessive Compulsive. She seriously mops her floor 4 times a day. And hates mess, and believes that paint is the devil. And frankly, she just cracks me up. The things she does just seem ridiculous, but then again, I'd probably do some weird stuff two if I had twins and sextuplets.


So, because it is Tuesday, and therefore tip day, I decided to give a little tip courtesy of Kate for all my mommy bloggers out there. And you can bet that raising twins and sextuplets has given her a great viewpoint on motherhood. So here are Kate's 8 tips on parenting. Enjoy!


Tips For a Smooth Household


by Kate Gosselin


Tip #1 Organize As a mother of sextuplets and twins, one of the best methods for keeping a family organized is lists! No one has the memory of an elephant! Keep a constant running list of "To Dos" and then cross things off as they are completed! My to-do lists consists of meals for the week, which loads of laundry need to be done, and which parts of the house needs attention. Lists will keep you and your family organized.


Tip #2 Shop on a BudgetShopping for a family of 10 means planning ahead and staying on a budget. The good news is that you can have healthy, home cooked delicious (even organic!) meals for a large family. Look for sales! Watch the sale papers and take advantage of store promotions, coupons and rainchecks. Keep a constant running list of things that are on sale and that you need at the store from week to week. This will avoid buying things that you don't need. It's also good to stock up on items that you use a lot of and that are on sale!


Tip #3 Prepare for Outings Plan ahead! If outings are well thought out in advance, it will allow for a better time for all! Always take plenty of drinks, snacks, clothing and supplies. Make a mental plan of how the day will unfold and then adjust it as necessary!


Tip #4 Count Your Blessings On days that your role as mom seems mundane and pointless and repetitive(we all have those), remember to count your blessings! Take a moment, see all that is positive in your life and the life of your children and it will give you that boost that you need!


Tip #5 Promote Safety Talk about different scenarios and what is safe and acceptable and what is not safe and what they should not do in different situations! Remind them to come to YOU as a parent if they hear something that they don't understand, think that is bad or don't know what it means. You want to position yourself as their resource person to keep conversation lines open. This needs to start at a very young age.


Tip #6 Provide Order A schedule will help everyone in the family. It removes the guesswork and a lot of frustration. It allows the things that need to get done to get done because life becomes somewhat predictable.


Tip #7 Reward Your Children Reward them for their helpfulness and kindness—if only with your words, this will mean a lot to them. They want your approval!


Tip #8 Make Housework a Family Affair Especially in a large family, involving all of the kids in the housework, chores, cooking, cleaning etc. This helps to provide family unity, and a sense of belonging. It also teaches kids to develop a strong work ethic. And encourage Dad to get involved—n our situation,much of what a successful mom is able to accomplish, is due to a very present and helpful dad!



Oh, and this is for my friend Brianne, who is currently prego with twins. Here is a link with an article all about raising multiples. I found it super informative and really helpful. You probably know all this stuff already, but check it out if you want.


Hope you are all having a fabuloso Tuesday!