Parenting a Highly Sensitive Child? Get One of These!
*For your convenience, this post includes affiliate links to products useful for the HSK community. They cost you nothing more to buy, but I get a small commission.*
My crock-pot is one of the best things I have ever bought. And I am saying that with my ‘mother of highly sensitive children’ hat on. Really. Bear with me. It totally saves the day when kids come home with a full bucket from school. It makes a huge difference to my day if I don’t have to prepare dinner from scratch once my children come home from school.
Full Buckets After School
Most parents of highly sensitive children (HSC) will tell you that those few hours after school are the toughest of the day. HSCs are exhausted from their day in busy classrooms and an overstimulating environment. I have three HSCs and on most school days I am walking on egg shells with them. They need my help. My children need me to be on hand to remind them how to empty their buckets.
On top of that, they often need me with them to stop them from bickering, arguing and taking their overwhelming day out on each other.
I learnt the hard way that stepping away into the kitchen to make dinner paves the way for bucket spillage that is hard on everyone, not least me. After all preventing a spill is easier than mopping it up…..
This Helps Me Enormously!
And so this simple piece of equipment can make all the difference: A SLOW COOKER (or a crock-pot). I get everything ready whilst the boys are in school and then put the slow cooker on. It’s not just easy and convenient – it’s healthy too. When we need dinner it’s there and I can be wholly present for my children when they come in – at a time they need me most.
A slow cooker is a great tool for those days when you know your child will need your help. You can use the free Happy Sensitive Kids bucket activity to help you plan ahead so you know when getting everything ready in advance will really pay off.
(For recipe ideas check out my Pinterest board or treat yourself to a slow cooker recipe book).
Over To You
What tools do you use to help you be fully present for your children when they come home with full buckets?
I agree! Definitely an excellent idea to have nothing to prepare in the evening. On my very organized days I even lay the table. I find the less movements I have to do, the calmer they are. If I get distracted, which is so easy, I “lose” them.
I will look at the cookbook with interest, thank you!
That’s a good way to put it – the less movement, the calmer they stay. Definitely giving them full attention helps! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. ?
I have been thinking about buying one, for a similar reason as you. Although we homeschool we have some days where the kids are busy with activities late and we all get home exhausted and then to face cooking is just the last staw.
Exactly- it’s so much easier to think about dinner in the morning than at the end of thday when you are soooo done!!