• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
    • Meet Tara
    • Contact
    • Disclosure
    • Family Photography
    • PR & Advertising
    • Privacy Policy
  • CRAFT
    • Edible Food Crafts
    • Fabric Crafts
    • Home Decor
    • Kids
    • Papercrafts
    • Party DIY
    • Printables
    • SVG Cut Files
    • Wearables
  • PARTY
    • Baby
    • Birthday
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween / Fall
    • Mother’s Day
    • Patriotic / Summer
    • School / Grad
    • Sports
    • St Patricks Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Wedding
  • Home
    • Basement / Garage
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Entryway
    • Kitchen
    • Living Room
    • Office
    • Outdoors
  • LIFE
    • Blog Life
    • Favorite Products
    • Organization
    • Parenting
    • Travel
Spot of Tea Designs

Spot of Tea Designs

3rd Year of Parenting | Lessons Learned

in Lifestyle, Parenting

Another year down, and another set of parenting lessons came our way. Sure there were WAY MORE things learned but here are a few fun tidbits to amuse or inform you today. (And in case you need more chuckles, here are the things I learned year one and year two!)

3rd year #parenting lessons learned | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Plastic holiday buckets from the dollar store make great sick buckets. Brielle always seemed to pick up the latest bout of stomach virus at daycare every 6 months or so. It wasn’t until she was over 2 that she learned when sickness was coming and “spit” in a bucket. We had some of those plastic buckets left over from Easter or Halloween that worked out great for this concept! Grab extras and dispose of them once used for a long night!
  • Stuff kids with a big breakfast before a party. Even if you don’t feed your child a lot of sweets and treats when attending a party they will always find it (or grandma will give it to them)! To limit the amount of things they may want to eat, try to cram a healthy, filling breakfast or lunch in their bellies before attending so they aren’t grazing for sugar or snacks.
  • Kids are never too old start a bad habit. When Brielle transitioned to a new room at daycare, she met a 3 year old thumb sucker. At 2.5 she too began sucking her thumb during daytime hours even though she never did that as a baby! We’re currently working on breaking that habit since it was showing to start shifting her teeth!
Stay at home mom tips and tricks. get outside at least once a day #parenting #sahm | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Wear sneakers to the playground. They can stub their toe in sandals or get too much sand or mulch in shoes with lots of holes. Sneakers are best. In fact, packing sneakers in the car in summer is a great idea for any impromptu outdoor play sessions.
  • When doing your child’s laundry, always check the fitted/crib sheets for missing socks before putting in drawer. Whenever I go to change the sheets on the bed and put on a new fitted sheet, small baby socks always fly out of those hidden folds!
  • Don’t go to field trip destinations in June! In NJ school ends around the 3rd week of June. We mistakenly visited a local children’s museum this June which was completely filled with field trips which left Brielle and my niece very overwhelmed by the environment. We’ll save future visits for other months of the year, thanks!
  • Rompers make the best outfits to wear for doctor’s visits for babies, but not for potty training toddlers. How cute is the romper trend for toddlers? I was so into it and even bought a set for Brielle but before taking off the tag, I had an epiphany that it would be an AWFUL idea for potty training! Long dresses are already a struggle to remind her to hold them high when on the potty. Meanwhile that same week of the epiphany, I took Hailey to a doctor’s visit where she got shots in her legs. So much easier to have her in a romper and no need to take off pants for those shots!
  • Kids have a great memory. For Christmas, the elf brought up a snowman making kit to make a snowman on our white basement door. It was a fun activity that she enjoyed… and I completely forgot about. But every morning she’d talk about it when she first woke up, even though we never even walked by that door. The memory they have is amusing!
  • Kids take phrases literally. Because why wouldn’t they? It always makes me laugh when I use a common phrase and hear it through her ears. When I say I’m going to “hop in the shower” I didn’t realize it would confuse her as to why I was standing still! “Hold on” meaning give me a minute usually includes her grabbing onto me to literally hold on. Also saying “that’s right” was confusing when we began learning left from right this summer, so Derek and I have now adjusted our speech to say “that’s correct” when confirming something to be true.
  • Napkins cannot be plates. I often grab a napkin to use a makeshift “plate” (aka crumb catcher) when eating something like a brownie or cupcake but in a child’s eyes that paper materials is only for wiping your hands and face.
3rd year parentings lessons learned - kids love little things, like pockets | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Don’t glance over the little things. The littlest thing can be a big thing to a kid. Their innocence and amazement, even for the little things in life is still so charming at this young age. Example: EVERY time Brielle tries something on, she seems amazed there are pockets. “Look mom, pockets!” So now I try to buy her pants with pockets.
  • ¾ sleeves are confusing to toddlers. I love them as they are great transition shirts to wear between seasons. But to a toddler, they are annoying and Brielle was always complaining the sleeves were too short to cover her arms.
  • Leave their diaper on until you are absolutely ready to drop them in the tub for bathtime. This was a lesson Derek learned the hard way as he undressed Hailey in the bathroom but continued to fill the tub. Let’s just say there was a flood outside the tub as well as inside.

Share some of your nuggets of wisdom you’re learned in this adventure we call parenting!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit

Related

in Lifestyle, Parenting

Spotofteadesigns.com Signature Design showing ways to socially follow this DIY/Parenting blogSpotofteadesigns.com Signature showing how to follow on twitter. Username: spotofteadesignSOTD2019SignatureFollow4FacebookSpotofteadesigns.com Signature showing how to follow on pinterest. Username: spotofteadesignSpotofteadesigns.com Signature showing how to follow on instagram. Username: spotofteadesignsSpotofteadesigns.com Signature

Reader Interactions

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Meet Tara

You can probably find me in my craft room, in front of a computer or behind the camera lens.
LEARN MORE

EMAIL NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

Sign up and be the first to know about new posts filled with printables, svg cut file designs and gift ideas!

Privacy Policy

PATRIOTIC

DIY Patriotic Wall Hanging using OlyFun from @FairfieldWorld | spotofteadesigns.com
DIY Patriotic parade pom poms with OlyFun fabric from @FairfieldWorld | spotofteadesigns.com
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere SVG Can Colster gift idea | spotofteadesigns.com
2023 Summer Bucket List - plus last day of school gift basket idea | spotofteadesigns.com
Let's Get Lit Patriotic SVG cut file - make a cake topper, t-shirt or drink koozy with this design! | spotofteadesigns.com
Shop the Spot of Tea Designs Amazon Store front | spotofteadesigns.com

Amazon Associates Disclosure

Tara Nehil is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

LATEST GRAMS

What to know about @custompictureframes and their What to know about @custompictureframes and their custom pieces AD
▪️Frames are made in the USA
▪️They have TONS of frame and mat options of all different styles, colors and textures. The frame shown is Noir Classique with a double mat.
▪️They are mindful of shipping. I've received dozens of their frames and am always impressed with their careful packaging!
▪️A non glare acrylic front is where it's at! They're lightweight on the walls and provide UV protection while protecting your photos or art from dust.
.
.
.
#spotofteadesigns #gifted #custompictureframes #getcustomframed #pictureframes #homedecor #madeintheusa #supportlocal
❤🤍💙 . . . #spotofteadesigns #patriotic #re ❤🤍💙
.
.
.
#spotofteadesigns #patriotic #redwhiteblue #memorialday #craftersgonnacraft #makersgonnamake
Why make basic Rice Krispies Treats when you can m Why make basic Rice Krispies Treats when you can make watermelon shaped ones?! You just need a greased round container and some food coloring to dress up your dessert for summer. 
.
.
.
.
#spotofteadesigns #ricekrispies #nobake #summer #dessert #sugarhigh #nobakedessert #makersgonnamake #watermelon #marshmallows
Stars and Stripes Forever - FREE SVG cut file you Stars and Stripes Forever - FREE SVG cut file you can use on a shirt for the upcoming patriotic holidays or in your home as decor. 
.
Search "Stars and Stripes" on my blog for the link to this freebie!
.
.
#spotofteadesigns #sotdsvg #svgcutfile #siserna #patriotic #redwhiteandblue #starsandstripes #heatransfervinyl #cricutmade #cricutcreated #craftersgonnacraft #Makersgonnamake
ASMR provided by: spring 🏵 . Comment GLOVES if ASMR provided by: spring 🏵
.
Comment GLOVES if you have rose bushes and need these rose gardening gloves! They protect your arms so you don't get all scratched up when cutting your blooms. 
.
Also, leave a comment if you have those rose worms that eat the leaves and have a suggested solution to get rid of them! They don't seem to be affecting my blooms but eat holes in the leaves!
.
.
.
#spotofteadesigns #roses #gardening #amazonfind #rosegardening #makersgonnamake #backyard #asmr #spring #flowers #bouquet
DIY Patriotic Wall Hanging using OlyFun and PolyFi DIY Patriotic Wall Hanging using OlyFun and PolyFil from @fairfieldworld AD
.
See the full tutorial on my blog and remake it for any holiday or seasonal decor need!
.
.
.
.
#spotofteadesigns #olyfun #polyfil #patriotic #homedecor #fairfieldworld #starsandstripes #memorialday #july4th #redwhiteandblue #craftersgonnacraft #makersgonnamake
Follow on Instagram
2025 © Spot of Tea Designs
made by soulmuse