Surviving the Witching Hours
As a mom to two toddlers, the challenges are constantly changing. The one thing that is consistent is my perpetual search for sanity...particularly between the hours of 4 PM and 7 PM. I know I am in good company with this struggle. I, and most of my fellow mamas-to-toddlers, find ourselves alone with our cranky creatures, counting the minutes until bedtime. This time of day during the summer in NYC can feel extra painful--walking past cafés where beautiful people enjoy cocktails al fresco (don't you guys have jobs!?), as our children alternate between obnoxious hyperactivity and excruciating tantrums, flailing in the stroller. They're tired; we're tired of them. It's all just fantastic. After endless days of trial and error, I've come up with a few solutions to help me through these critical hours. These tips are nothing fancy, and I'm certainly no expert on parenting. I just thought I'd share some tricks that have helped me cope, that have kept me from harming myself and my children in this period of desperation (I'm exaggerating...sorta).
I must preface by saying that I absolutely refuse to go to the playground or community playroom in our building during the witching hours (yes, hourS, it is never just one hour of witching and bitching). I despise any situation where I am surrounded by screaming children. It gives me severe anxiety. I no longer have guilt about my aversion to the playground because I know it is in everyone's best interest if I avoid any extracurricular stressers. The goal is not to morph into ScaryMom.com, afterall. With that said, here are my five tips for surviving 4 PM-7 PM with the rugrats. And I know what you're thinking, but relax, drinking heavily is not one of them.
1. Karaoke Strolls
This is at the top of my list because it not only helps pass my least favorite time of day with the kids, but it also takes care of my least favorite activity: cardio. Pushing the double stroller is no joke, but it doesn't actually feel like exercise in the way the treadmill does. My kids will no longer comply with quietly enjoying the city or East River views as we do our 4-mile strolls. Those moments of peace are long gone. So, I've spent hours teaching them all the camp songs I remember and all of my favorite Disney songs. Sometimes I'll even play them on my phone as we sing. We take turns choosing a song and before we know it, it's 5:30 PM. Only an hour and a half to go...
2. Early Dinners Out
The last thing any mama wants to deal with after finally getting the kids to bed is cleaning up a giant mess of partially eaten food. My kids also drive me crazy with dinners at home--they are generally better behaved and less particular about what they'll eat when we're out. Going to dinner at 4:30 or 5 felt ridiculous initially, but having basically an entire restaurant to ourselves has huge perks. The girls can be loud and wander around without bothering anyone except the staff. Sometimes I'll eat too, but usually I'll enjoy an iced tea or glass of wine and bask in the glory of leaving the mess of dinner outside our home.
3. Ice Cream Adventure
When my resentment of being stuck in the city with the kids and a husband I rarely see got the best of me last summer, I got the idea to indulge in an ice cream crawl. Every week, the girls and I tried a different one of the most talked about ice cream spots in NYC. And...I'm not going to lie...on some nights this was dinner. Whatever it takes, right? We will be resuming these adventures immediately. It's not only a great way to pass the time, but it's also a fun way to explore different neighborhoods in the city. Check out some of our favorites from last summer here. We are open to suggestions for new places to hit, so please let us know your favorites!
4. Pizza and Movie Night at Home
For the days when I'm completely exhausted, this is the only answer. We have finally hit the milestone where my younger daughter, Juliet, can sit through an entire movie if she is tired enough from the day. I love showing my girls the Disney classics that I grew up watching. They are obsessed with Belle right now and watch both the animated and new version of Beauty & the Beast on repeat. We get the pizza slices cut in half so they are the perfect size. I try to reserve this night for once a week, so they think it is a special treat. I don't want to risk them getting bored of chilling on the couch.
5. Salon Savetsky
This activity begins with a long bubble bath. The girls love to blow bubbles and the bath is the only place in our apartment I'll allow them to do so, so there's generally a lot of that happening. Sometimes I'll get in the bath, too, but usually not. I always play music--whatever I love that I want to brainwash them into loving. The Dixie Chicks is always a hit. Then we paint our nails and do our hair. Stella loves when I blowdry her hair, and Juliet thinks it's hilarious to watch the hair blow like crazy--easily amused I guess, and I'm happy about it. Somehow I always end up with my hair in a rat's nest by the end of it all, but as long as I've made it to 7 PM, I don't care if I'm bald.
And that's all I have for now. Please feel free to share your tips with me. I'd love to hear them! Cheers to survival this summer, mamas!
Photography: Lisa Richov, Makeup: Stephanie Sokol, Hair: Glamsquad
Girls' Looks: Zara outfits, Stella Mara shoes, J Crew purses and crown
My Look:
