This may not apply to all mothers across the board but I believe at least one of these scenarios will resonate with you—if you are a mother of a preschooler.
As one such mum, there are three instances on a weekday in which I call ‘hurricane hour’:
- Early in the morning before they are shipped off to school
- Later in the day during their afternoon activities
- Just before bedtime
Weekday: 7AM
After the alarm clocks are silenced and the “It’s time to brush your teeth” and “Let’s comb your hair” instructions are done, with the occasional “Your pants are inside out, dear“, the hurry to ensure they get their breakfast down, bags carried the right way up and belted onto their car seat ensues.
Stress, noise level and the need to be alert peak at this hour, only to decline when they are safe in their respective preschools.
During this rush hour, most of the time, I won’t have time to prepare a full breakfast spread.
And the problem with this is that they get hungry real quick. I’ve had their preschool teacher tell me that they are already hungry even before their morning tea break.
If you are going to suggest that I prepare a full-spread breakfast for my beloved the night before, I can begin to tell you that it is possible.
But I would be tethering towards a ‘no-life balance’, not a ‘work-life balance’—working mothers can vouch for me.
It is more than a handful to juggle work, home and two young children.
However, what I discovered was feeding them with a multigrain drink does the trick.
As grains take longer to digest, hence keeping them feeling full for longer—at least until their break time.
Weekday: 4PM to 5PM
Another crucial timestamp during the weekday is that period when the children have awakened from their afternoon nap and they act like they are famished.
At this juncture, I need to make wise choices.
I could easily cook up something easy like instant noodles because by this time, I am prepping dinner or finishing the odds and ends of work for the day—but if I do, well, there goes their dinner.
By the time the main meal is served, they’d be shoving down three tablespoons of their food before, “Mummyyy, I don’t want“.
Therefore, no. Bad idea.
Again, I find that one of the best solutions that will aid this dilemma is milk with multigrain.
It is easy to prep in just under a minute and I know it is a nutritious option that will keep them full until dinner time.
Weekday: 8PM
Do your children procrastinate when bedtime comes around?
I sincerely hope I am not the only mum who experiences this.
Unlike the bustle of the morning, the nagging of the evening comes and suddenly, I feel like a mother of snails as they hurl excuses from inside their invisible shells to me like: (1) “I want to drink more water“, (2) “I need to go toilet” (because they drank too much water), (3) “I cannot find my soft toy” but most of the time they would still like a cup of milk as a routine to wind down before bedtime stories… and finally, dreamland.
What works (most nights) is a nice warm cup of milk with multigrain as a supper snack is a great way to end the day with something comforting yet nutritious for the kids.
It’ll also keep them satisfied and have a good sleep without waking up feeling hungry in the middle of the night!
Have You Heard of Fernleaf Multigrain+ Milk Powder?
Listen up, mummies!
Yes, I’ve been hinting (maybe not) about how I keep the kids nourished with an ‘instant’ but nutritious drink almost 3 times a day and therefore, I’d like to introduce to you the Fernleaf Multigrain+ formulated milk powder for children.
I feel I have an affiliation with Fernleaf milk as I too drank it when I was a wee little child.
Now, as a grown adult, the affinity stays and that is why I trust the brand.
On top of that, I see that they now have products that cater to what I and my children need. Convenience for me and nutrition for my kids.
Fernleaf Multigrain+ formulated milk powder for children contains 3 types of fine grains: corn, wheat and rice made perfect in a pool of milk that originates from New Zealand (produced by grass-fed cows in New Zealand).
The milk contains 5 times the DHA from their previous formulation and 100% calcium.
Not only that, it is high in protein, contains inulin fibre and 18 important nutrients that our growing child needs.
Give it a try and you may start to feel the difference!
Get your child the Fernleaf Multigrain+ Milk Powder here.
For more information, visit Fernleaf’s official website or Facebook page.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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