Don’t Forget: Brit + Co DIY Night at Hallmark Tomorrow!

As someone who hasn’t ever had a cavity (for real!), oral health is important to me and I want it to be important to her too. I get it though, it’s boring!

But we’ve recently tried Boka n-Ha Toothpaste, a fluoride-free, non-toxic toothpaste for adults and kids that actually tastes delicious. She literally is excited to brush her teeth now. She loves their new flavor Boka Strawberry Mango. There’s also Orange Cream and Watermelon Mint – yum! Now when I ask if she’s brushed her teeth, I’m becoming less surprised when the answer is a resounding yes.

(The n-Ha stands for nano hydroxyapatite, a natural mineral that’s great for gum health like removing plaque and avoiding tartar build up as well as enamel repair.) Use code BOKABRIT15 on both Amazon and Boka.com for 15 percent off!

Here are more ways I’ve given my kiddo Matilda a little more incentive to brush her teeth, her hair, and get to school bright eyed and ready for the day.

Create A Chalkboard Checklist

I found this removable chalkboard paper online and she enjoys checking the things off her list before we head out the door – it’s a good reminder for what needs to be done in the short time we have. It’s a great tool for kids learning to read too. Sometimes we’ll leave each other love or funny notes – a perfect way to start the day!

Use Timers

Shouting “we’re late!” doesn’t always inspire a good mood, and kids don’t always pay attention to clocks – like ever. We’ve started using timers to help Matilda give herself enough time to mentally prepare for the end of something, such as brushing her teeth (2 minutes experts recommend) or the end of the screen time. Small sand timers are timers kids can actually use themselves when brushing their teeth.

Keep It Positive

I’m not a fan of alarm clocks. I wake up pretty early on my own to start making breakfast and lunch. Our pup and I will go in for some cuddle time when it’s time to wake M up. It’s a way we love to bond before the day, and she wakes up happy vs. grumpy, 99% of the time. Occasionally, I'll bring out the “morning spider” and tickle her back as motivation to wake up.

Give Age-Appropriate Tasks

At 9, Matilda will make her own toast now and grab some frozen blueberries from the freezer. She’ll dress herself too, often setting out her clothes the night before, and brush her teeth without me actually asking – a small parenting win but I’ll take it!

Have a Backup Plan

Sometimes we wake up late or cuddle time goes on too long, and she’ll forget something like brushing her teeth. I use a pencil pouch as a toothbrushing kit so she can brush her teeth at school or in the car (nothing a little water bottle wouldn’t swish away). She can also eat breakfast in the car if totally necessary – we recently put a small trash bin in there to keep my “mom” car less of a food disaster!

Set Up A Go-Time Entryway

We put shoes, jackets, and backpacks in one place near the door. This is where everything goes after school so everyone’s ready to grab their things in the morning. It keeps clutter at bay in the rest of the house and chaos at bay when we’re trying to find our shoes in the morning.

Keep a Consistent Bedtime

Finally, we keep bedtime consistent even on weekends, so that she isn’t exhausted the next morning or always trying to catch up on sleep. This helps us stick to a consistent routine and make that 8:15 start time at school every time.

Morning rituals are important, but also it’s ok to slide once in a while. Extra cuddles are always worth a tardy sometimes. Good luck mamas with a new school year! Check out Boka for yourself too – the whole family will love it! Use code BOKABRIT15 on both Amazon and Boka.com for 15 percent off!

Photos by the author unless otherwise noted.

1. How is it running a business as a wife-and-husband team, with five children no less!

We capitalize on each other's strengths, and we help each other grow in our respective areas. I try to get comfortable with the things that he's good at and he tries to get comfortable with the paperwork – and the things that I'm a little bit more good at, and being aware of those responsibilities. So as long as we do that, things work out well.

2. What’s a recent small win for you and your business?

My husband recently learned how to repair a lot of different things. He paid attention to what the repairmen we hired to do the work were doing. Our top loaders, our most popular washing machine, takes a lot of wear and tear. They're not the easiest to maintain. My husband has learned how to fix them. That's a small win.

The second one, because I said I capitalize on his strengths and my strengths, is I've been much better about working with accounting software. I used Verizon Small Business resources to learn how to make our books easier.

3. Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

My husband and I both agree that the women who contract with us for our wash/dry/fold – who we were able to springboard with support from the Verizon grant program – have inspired us because they were homeless coming out of the pandemic. They were able to come into our establishment and start their own small business, and that's something that we are super proud of these women for, for taking the steps that they did to start their own small business.

4. What's a book, podcast, or resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

Before 2018, my husband bought this DVD set by Danny D'Angelo, the KING of Laundry, and we were able to learn about the business just from sitting down and listening to him. A few years later, my husband was on his podcast! He was really, really inspirational to us.

5. How has the Verizon Small Business program helped propel your business forward?

The free resources are always a benefit because you're not obligated to do anything other than taking the time to seek out information. We're just real people and I feel like Verizon is a partnership with us in small business, supporting us, and believing in us. We've been able to expand our business because Verizon gave us a shot to do that. And that's amazing.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Team J&S.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces.

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