Parenting Hack #2: The 5 Minute Rule

This one is a lifesaver.

I didn’t really know exhaustion until I’d experienced parenting multiple kids.

Here’s the scenario:

You have spent most of the day away from home, running errands and possibly also doing something more fun like a trip to the park.

Sounds simple. Sounds manageable?
Add a couple kids.

Now you’ve not only done those otherwise simple enjoyable tasks, you’ve also buckled and unbuckled car seats 15 times, settled sibling disputes over anything and everything, gone to three different grocery stores in search of the best deals, the right cereal and the non-cardboard tasting gluten free bread. You’ve changed diapers, wiped bottoms and made about six frantic trips to the washroom with a toddler in tow. You’ve lost grocery lists, strained to hear the news on the radio and finally resorted to a “who can be the quietest” competition.

Your head is aching, your mind is spinning, and your patience is waning. Worst of all you still need to make dinner and get these little people to bed!

Enter: “ The 5 Minute Rule”.

Here’s how it works. You say, “We're all going into the house, when we get there I will set the timer and no one is allowed to ask me anything for 5 minutes.” That’s it. This allows you to get in a better frame of mind, pop a Tylenol, and make a plan. Often my kids will go off to play and forget about their urgent questions and demands.

Sometimes I even get 10 minutes.