10 Secrets of Great Moms

By Lindsey Palmer

REDBOOK knows that moms know. So the life-tested parenting advice here comes straight from the mouths of the experts — you!

1. Gather Helping Hands

“Enlist everyone you can to help you. Just because you’re a mother, that doesn’t mean you have to be Wonder Woman. When my daughter was born, I called my sister crying. Hearing how overwhelmed I was, she came in all the way from Alaska and helped me set up a schedule, which was such a lifesaver! It takes a village to raise a child, especially a newborn, and you’re a better mother for asking for the assistance that you need.”
—Trisha Idoni, 43, mother to Mallory, 8; Pensacola, FL

2. Help Homework Happen

As soon as my kids get home from school, I set them up for homework time, with each child at his or her own station in the kitchen so that they don’t mix up their papers. Then I find something to do in the vicinity so that I’m nearby for help if they need it, but not hovering over them. It’s a routine we stick to, so the kids know what’s expected of them every day.”
—Karen Schiff Freeman, 37, mother to Rebecca, 12, Jarrett, 9, and Lexi, 6; Solon, OH

3. Put Nightmares to Bed

“When your child has nightmares, here’s how to ward off ‘monsters’: Use a battery-operated handheld fan to chase them away, and fill a spray bottle with ‘Go-Away Monster Spray.’ Then lie in bed with your child and ask him what he’d like to dream about, suggesting pleasant things like sharing an ice cream cone or building a sand castle on the beach. This worked with my son, and now he sleeps through the night.”
—Lisa Keddy, 43, mother to Nicholas, 6; Ocean, NJ

4. Win the Sweets War

“I serve my kids whatever I plan to feed them for dinner, including a small portion of dessert, all together on those plastic sectioned character plates (Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob are their favorites). Each area has chicken, rice, salad, and a Popsicle, or something similar. I don’t bug them to eat the veggies before the treat, so even if they have dessert first, it’s small enough that they don’t fill up — therefore they always move on to eat a nice amount of dinner. It works like a charm.”
—Emily Becker, 39, mother to Jonathan, 11, and Madelyn, 4; Belmont, CA

5. Get Feelings Out There, Good and Bad

“When I had a cranky child on my hands, I’d swoop her into my lap and say, “It’s time to complain, so let’s complain together. Oh, I feel so angry, or hurt, or sad,’ hugging her the whole time and letting her be cranky. After a while, she felt soothed and ready to move on. Also, she learned to put words to her feelings.”
—Nancy Feingold, 57, mother to Seth, 26, Lindsey, 24, and Adam, 22; Newton, MA