WFMW-My Favorite Parenting Tool

If I had to choose one parenting tool to use from birth throughout school, I know exactly what it would be:

A nursery monitor.

Oh, sure, it's helpful when you relinquish that new baby to her own bed. It's a great aid for listening to your toddler during nap time while they don't nap.

But I enjoy using the baby monitor long after my kids are babies. 

I leave the receiver turned on in my room all the time. (And you don't have to spend a fortune to get a decent monitor! Mine was a hand-me-down from a friend and is at least 8 years old! It's just an average brand from WalMart). 

My three children's rooms are upstairs and the monitor picks up every argument, every secret plan to toss stuffed animals over the balcony, and every grumpy complaint muttered under the breath of the 'tween in the house. 

But most importantly, it picks up the quiet. The stillness of a toddler getting into her sister's lipstick or the sneakiness of a boy experimenting with model airplane glue. 

And sometimes, I hear my kids playing nicely together. It's music to my ears.

I have stopped catastrophes in mid-crisis. And I owe it all to a couple of 9 volt batteries.  I laughed to myself when I read this month's Family Fun magazine when a parent sent in this idea for monitoring outdoor fun with a baby monitor as well!

I plan on stocking up on batteries during the teen years.

P.S. My kids are fully aware of the monitor on my bathroom counter. I don't consider this act "spying" on them at all! I would never hide it in their rooms to be secretive....

Nursery monitors work for me!

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14. Hillary @ The Other Mama (Perfect Teacher Gifts)
15. Raise Them Up (Making Birthday Hoop - Lah)
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17. Cents To Get Debt Free (Fresh Flour)
18. Angie @ M.L.B (Visual Cues to Help Homeschoolers)
19. Robin ~ PENSIEVE (Chocolate Eclair Dessert!)
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21. Saving & Giving (Recipes for Whats On - Hand)
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23. Kate @ Stolen Moments (Top 10 freezer recipes)
24. Make Your Own Organic Body Scrub
25. A Simple Walk (crazy pajama night)
26. Katie (The Eating Shirt)
27. The Happy Housewife ~ Daily Message Board
28. momstheword (FAMILY VALUES)
29. Frugal Curriculum Creating @HomeGrownMommy.com
30. Holly@Homebody (reusable WetJet cloths)
31. exhale. return to center. organizing my creativity
32. ElizabethG (Being Green at School)
33. Green Baby Guide (Best Baby Dishes)
34. Kayren (Sticky Kitchen Scissors No More!)
35. Christian Frugal Mama (Before Motherhood)
36. Miller Mix (preserving tomatoes)
37. Cheryl (cheap framed art)
38. How To Be A More Patient Mom - Secret Life of Kat
39. This Side of Eternity (Cut Unnecessary Spending)
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84. The Prudent Pantry - Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
85. Graduation cup cakes
86. Tea Parties&Baseball Games (cleaning ceramic range
87. Inside The White Picket Fence (Teaching to Braid)
88. Annie Kate (Barbequed Zucchini and Zucchini Chips)
89. BC (Beautiful Life)
90. Molly Green (taking medicine)
91. Heathers Hodgepodge (Displaying Kid Art)
92. Making Dinner Rolls of Uniform Size
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95. Brilliant Moms (composting)
96. Mommy of Twin Toddlers Sanity Saver ~ Room Time
97. Moneywise Moms (Gifting with Free Samples)
98. Jolanthe {Gutter Bookshelves}
99. Baileys Leaf (Sunprint Kits)
100. sarah at i blame mom (scrapbooking)
101. Tips for HEALTHY school lunch packing part one
102. Christi {Jealous Hands}
103. Penny Raine ~ a clean home
104. Bake at 350 {BEST food coloring pens}
105. KLee - Getaway with the girls!
106. Alicia - making friends after a move
107. Sandra - making friends as the pastors wife
108. Teri Lynne - Quiet Time Routine
109. Kama - Favorite Bible Study Book
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120. Buffie @ Never Quite Perfect (To Do Lists)
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122. Paula@Organizing Tips (Back - to - School Routines Now)
123. MamaHall (baby wipes)
124. Condo Blues (Make Nontoxic Blowing Bubble Mix)
125. Listening to FREE Podcasts While Doing Chores
126. Jaime @ APlaceOutWest - A princess birthday party
127. Superchikk (Keep The Carseat Cool)
128. The most obvious beauty tip!
129. The Meanest Momma (Cheap & Easy Dryer Sheets)
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142. Mommy Tried It (Babywearing for Chores)
143. Infarrantly Creative : Cereal Box Crafts
144. Sara (creativity with leftovers)
145. Titus 2 Homemaker (first aid tip)
146. The 5am Club
147. Kelly @ In Everything (Our Easy Sunday meal)
148. GiBee : Sandwich Ideas for Peanut Allergies
149. Jennie @ Tuffet - Clean Drains Happy Kids!
150. SoHelpMeKath : EASY daily Bible reading!
151. Keeping the Castle (save time on cooking)
152. Songbirdtiff - Cheap...I mean FRUGAL accessories
153. Michelle @ Saving Some Green (Shopping List)
154. Girls in White Dresses / Pumpkin and Squash Bugs 101
155. TidyMom (Big Back to School Tip & Ideas)
156. April (Best time to visit zoo)
157. Christine (help for frizzy or out of control hair)
158. FishMama @ LifeasMOM (Easy Salsa Verde Beef)
159. Amy - Photo Organization
160. Eden (FHE Schedule)
161. Missy @ missysthrifty (uses for Vinegar)
162. Schwartz (3 / 50 Project)
163. The Eclectic Dabbler
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166. Amber (Hanging baby clothes)
167. Cyndi @ One Day More (Dont Wake Mommy)
168. Sonshine (freezing meals for elderly)
169. Jen@Cage free Monkeys (Homemade Artisan Bread Easy)
170. Mr. & Mrs. (Free Chocolate!)
171. Niffer @ Munchkinland (kids AM / PM checklists)
172. Kristi_runwatch (homeschool room on the cheap!)
173. Setting Up & Harvesting Your Own Worm Compost Bin
174. Jill @ MoneySavinDiva (Make your own door wreath!)
175. angelina save the produce!!
176. Jill @ MoneySavinDiva (wrong link above!)
177. Kristine (Beach Survival Tips)
178. Pages by Heather (Waste Less Pear!)
179. Tricia@NorCalMom (Gift Box=Budget Friendly Gifts)
180. Jen @ Whats Shakin? {best anti - frizz spray!}
181. Kendra Neal@familymgrkendra (Drinks on the Go)
182. My Girl Anni - Easy Toddler Entertainment
183. Diann @ The Thrifty Groove (Haircare tips)
184. Bloom Where Youre Planted! music in school
185. Beth @ Not a Bow in Sight (Keeping Romance Alive)
186. MOMMIE OF 4 MUNCHKINS - SCHEDULING
187. Amy @ Buffaloes - Wedding shower centerpiece
188. Camian Academy (VHS Tape and DVD Lists)
189. Carrie (sleeping with a toddler)
190. Diary of the Makeup obsessed!
191. Donna - Catch All Notebook
192. Cheap Glassware
193. Diary of the makeup obsessed!
194. Motherhood Moments (Toddler Art Cart)
195. Frugalhome Quickie Cleaning for Tall Outside Windo
196. EEEEMommy (Best Bra Ever)
197. The Peterson Family
198. Janie Out of Debt Rule #2
199. Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary (Idea cards)
200. Knitted in the Womb (Menu Planning - SAVE MONEY)
201. Amyswandering (Printable Student Planners)
202. Make good use of hallway space! TheClarkChronicl es
203. Lizz @ Yes and So is My Heart (The Messy Ministry)
204. Homescholing for His glory
205. Brandi (home made cilantro salsa)
206. Susan Heim on Parenting : Preparing 4 Kindergarten
207. The Elmers Glue Crew Recycling Program
208. Grammar School for Bloggers : Dollars and Cents
209. Self - Serve Snacks! by The Momma Bird
210. rainberryblue - Eating Clean
211. GroovieMom - Get Kids Out The Door Faster
212. Keeping the Castle (bedwetting aid)
213. Lauren @ Home with Olivia (Sams Club Deals)
214. Trixie @ FarmHomeLife (Freezer & Pantry Meal Ideas
215. Mama Manifesto {turning trash into toys}
216. PreK tips for moms!
217. One Green Mumma - help mummy chart
218. PeacefulHome (download our schedule)
219. DLTK Crafts for Kids Site
220. Alyssa @ A Lovely Refuge (Resting Well)
221. kids on the grow (lesson plans)

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