thetamom had a great post called I’ve-a-chotchkie-drawer-and-I-know-how-to-use-it last week. Brilliant. We all need a Chotchkie drawer for those llloooonnnggg rainy days when your kids go insane and your house feels the size of a shoe box.
You think rainy days are bad? Try a uber-long Minnesota winter with 30 below temps on for size. It’s a miracle I am not in the loony bin yet. And it’s only January.
It doesn’t help that sometimes, Kids are like sharks. They smell blood (as in your blood pressure RISING) they kick it up a notch. They can be as relentless in their quest to fight with each other every 4 seconds, empty every drawer in the house, and repeat the phrase “MomMomMomMomMom” with the repetition and frequency of Morse Code.
“Distraction is Key!” (that was my best Super Nanny voice. Like it?) and I get that. But sometimes a Mommy just runs out of ideas. Or that three hours of sleep starts catching up to you shortly after nap time (theirs, not yours) and it’s all you can do to muster up the brain power to make a piece of toast.
Like Heather at thetamom posted, we all could use a Chotchie drawer. A “stash” of cheap toys, old costumes, crayons, activities etc. Stuff that, when your kids are trapped inside and you’re broke as hell, you can be “Magic Mommy” and whip this stuff out for at least a few hours of occupied play. I stash mine in Rubbermaid Totes in my basement. Who ever invented Rubbermaid Totes, I salute you. The range of “stuff” those things hold is mind boggling. Plus you don’t have to actually SEE the crap, thus your basement looks somewhat tidier.
Bonus.
Ok, I digress. Back to toys, rainy rains, and impending insanity. I personally love anything “tub toy”. Why? Because the second they find a new tub toy, they want to take a bath.
Ha! It’s like a “two-fer”. They play and you get clean kids. Double HA!
Stand back. Do not be blinded by my awesomeness. 
This was essential for our family too when our children were younger. Now I have two teenagers whose entertainment expectations are higher, and it’s harder for them to “move” in a small house when you’re not into playing dress-up or making tents or those kind of things any more. Fortunately they like to read, so we have a stash of books, and lately I’ve been getting them on our exercise bike just to get them to move their muscles. I don’t like video games and such, but I’m seriously considering getting a Wii just for the winter months to get them moving more. They’re not out of shape or anything, but the cooped-ups on cold winter days do drive you insane.
Thanks so much for the awesome shout out Frantic Mommy!
And I agree, if it’s something that can be functional as a tub toy, too…then that is the BEST!!!
I’ve got a chotchskie (hard to spell!) drawer in our house; actually, it’s got a lot of the stuff that used to be in the junk drawer in my parents house growing up, that my mom made me take with me when I got married… bubbles from 1986, anyone?
~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom
Ah yes I salute the rubber made inventor as well! My house would be total chaos without them. But I like the idea of a secret bin in the basement for the crazy I don’t know what to do days. I was having one of those yesterday.
You’re right! They are like sharks! Little predators.
Yes, my kids are at that age that when they smell blood they go in for the kill,lol.
Love Rubbermaid. It stores many useful and useless items around my house
Eeek! I’m blinded! You can always do what I used to do (two of my three are the dreaded teenagers now . .just wait!) and set them in front of the “babysitter” otherwise known as Teletubbies, Barney, Dora, or you can always get them starting to play Grand Theft Auto an early age. It will help them perfect their colorful language and sex drive in their teen years.
What a great idea! I’ll have to try that on our next rainy day.
I am liking this!!
I need more tub toys.
I need to read her post. Thanks for pointing me her way.
I am going to pass this tip onto my daughters since my babies are past this stage and they have their own babies!
I’ve read through a few of your posts now, and I love your outlook on life. Too funny! Sounds like you and I share a lot in common- CRAZYNESS in our days and a lack of sleep. You have a new follower!
LOL….thats a mommy who is awesome! Getting that two-fer in without them knowing! I applaud you my SITSah! (hmm think I like exclamation points?)