1. 'Fresh Pink Water'
Jay is all about Pedialyte—hydrating, a little sweet, and it comes in a nice bright pink. But Pedialyte on repeat? Not so budget-friendly. So, I came up with a little hack: alternating Pedialyte with Propel packets. The only problem? Propel doesn’t turn the water pink. So now, every morning, I add a tiny drop of red food coloring to his water. Let’s just say my aunt looked pretty baffled the first time she heard him request his “fresh pink water.” But it’s harmless, keeps him happy and hydrated, so a drop of food coloring it is.
2. Snacks for Two (Jay & Sheila)
Snack time at our house has evolved into a full production. It’s not just Jay asking for food—there’s Sheila, Jay’s imaginary friend, who seems to get hungry every time he does. I think Sheila is a dog, but it’s honestly anyone’s guess. Sheila has also inspired a growing crew of friends: Milo and Copper (my nanny’s real-life dogs, often “with us in spirit”), Lala Crocodile (an old DVD cover from a Redbox outside CVS that recently disappeared, much to Jay’s confusion), and let’s not forget “Lala,” the pig from his new favorite book Pigs Make Me Sneeze! (Thanks to co-founder Pauline for Amazon-ing us a jackpot of a book).
3. The ‘Perfect’ Playlist for Bath Time
Most families wind down before bed. Ours? Not so much. Jay has a specific bath time playlist: the Hedgehog song, the Gorilla song, and the Piggy song—always in that order. You’d think these would be soft lullabies, but no—the Hedgehog song is straight-up heavy metal, featuring a winning chorus of “I don’t need anyone else (yeah, yeah), I live my life for myself (yeah, yeah), I can’t stand a thing that you say (yeah, yeah), I’m not listening anyway!”
It's a full-on dance party in the tub, complete with splashing, singing, and some questionable dance moves from me and Alex (with some giggles and an occasional side-eye from Eli). It’s our ritual.
So yes, my parenting “hacks” may seem a little out there to an outsider (my aunt included). But they keep Jay entertained, hydrated, and smiling—and sometimes, that’s all the sanity I need.
At least with Livi, I look like I’ve got it all together… even when life with a toddler says otherwise. You too can fake it till you make it with our Livi Gel Manicure System.
Color Pictured: That's A Secret I'll Never Tell