momskillz-mommy-shorts-2

Last week, I asked everyone to brag about their #Momskillz for the chance to win an iPad Mini and a myCharge Hub 6000. Reading through all the comments and looking at the pictures of cakes, costumes, hair styles, lunchbox notes, etc., it really hit me how rare it is to see moms gloating about their accomplishments and expertise.

There were funny submissions, practical submissions, ridiculously talented submissions and incredibly poignant ones. Going through them was a roller coaster of emotions which you will understand once you read through 35 of my favorite submissions below.

If you haven’t entered yet, I’m still taking submissions up through December 5th, when I will announce the winners. Full details at the bottom of the post. FYI- You must enter your email address to win. Also, just because you didn’t see your entry in this post, doesn’t mean you won’t see it in the next one!

Ready for the roller coaster?

The Mom Who Out-Braided Me

Lindsay: Styling my daughter’s hair before school despite having four other kids (all boys) to get ready!

10395843_10152936173780757_7486659145217045779_n

The mom with quick hands

Jen: I am REALLY good at catching my son’s sippy cup. I know the exact moment he will release it and have mastered catching it before it hits the ground and spills water all over the frickin floor! I can’t lie – I’m proud of this. It works in restaurants, the grandparents’ house, anywhere really – I am the BEST sippy cup spill preventer ever.

The Mom Who Could Swaddle a Wild Animal

Talia: My swaddling skillz are unreal. I learned at the hospital a few hours postpartum from an obnoxious nurse and just got so good at it. I do it neatly, tightly and quickly. Wiggly, fussy babies do not get in my way. Not only have I proven extremely successful at swaddling my own (three) children, I have also honed my experience by swaddling my friends’ children, even those babies that have been deemed “unswaddleable” by their parents. But as my husband says – how you gonna monetize that?

10689835_10204390372471681_3200674921868013286_n

The Mom who reinvented the lyrics to let it go

Nicole: My best Mom Skill is the ability to craft a song on the fly for any situation. Need to sing about trimming nails? Putting shoes on? Poop? No subject is off limits. To get my daughter to eat veggies (to the tune of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”)…

Do you want to eat some broccoli?

Do you want to take a bite?

You know that broccoli’s really good for you,

it helps you poo,

and makes you feel alright…”

Or from last night, a cautionary tale about germs (to the tune of “Let It Go”):

That was grooooooooss…

That was grooooooooss…

Don’t lick my face anymoooooooore.

I got a million of ‘em.

The Mom who can make cool stuff with boxes

Lena: I’m queen of box crafts! These were for my son’s 2nd birthday— clearly a cars theme.

10665718_10104525038967453_5051851548827707984_n-1

The Mom Who Crochets Matching Hats

Ashley: I crochet adorable matching hats for my girls AND get them to cooperate for pictures almost every day.

10393907_837904422920921_7497722859249251924_n

THE MOM WHO CAN MAKE DINNER WITH NOTHING BUT KETCHUP PACKETS AND BISCUITS

Tanya: I’m the MacGyver of making dinner for my three crotch fruit with limited time and ingredients. I’ve whipped up culinary masterpieces with only a can of pork n’ beans, two hot dogs, and some stale Doritos. I’ve dazzled the family with a can of biscuits and some damned ketchup packets. Raman Noodles and bologna became Zombie Spaghetti – BOOM. The world has enough fancy cookbooks…what it needs now is one that can help a mom feed their brood with just a stick of butter and a jar of sweet pickles.

The Mom Who Makes Last Minute Halloween Costumes Look like she has been working on them for months

Karen: I am a mad costume-maker. I procrastinate and usually end up finishing them at 3am on Halloween, just in time for them to show off at school.

10636062_10152782625815586_8714710383668026371_n

The Mom Who Can Carry Groceries and Children at Once

Kim: This morning I brought in six bags of groceries all while holding my three-month-old in his car seat and holding my two-year-old’s hand. Two trips? Ain’t nobody got time for that. If only I was talented enough to snap a selfie.

The Mom Who Can Carve the Shit out of a Pumpkin

Carrie: I drew that shit free hand, and the kids carved them out!

1479546_10202841718676846_1504035025003640679_n

The Mom Who says it with frosting

Jamie: I can make any birthday cake upon request. I know they aren’t spectacular in the world of cakes, but they are spectacular to my kids and that is what means the most!

1510543_10152856192239044_1787240687835970670_n

The Mom Who Is her daughter’s hero

Lorie: Seven years ago, when I was 25 years old and single, I brought home a little girl who I met at the hospital I work at. She was going to be a “short-term foster child” who had been essentially abandoned, and had severe medical needs. It was unclear how long she would live. Three years, three months, and nineteen days of “short-term” loving later, I was finally able to adopt her. She continues to have many medical issues, but one of her biggest wishes is to be free from lines and tubes like any other kid. So each night, my mom skills include feeding tube feeds, subcutaneous infusions, eight medications, monitoring her oxygen needs, and coordinating her care among her seven doctors and specialists by email. I do this each night, overnight, so that every day she can appear just like every other kid.

10393787_10204070175767457_4356194541609729730_n

The Mom who never loses her shit

Joey: Patience is a virtue I do not have, but I have gotten pretty damn good at holding it together in the face of my kiddo. I am a single mom to a very adult-acting, sassy and headstrong 7 year-old girl. When I’m late for work and she insists on switching her lunch from her Minnie Mouse lunchbox to her Frozen one, I DO NOT LOSE MY SHIT. When we are at Grammy’s and I’ve said, “no” and then Grammy says “yes” and my daughter gives me the “Ha! I win!” look, I DO NOT LOSE MY SHIT. When I am holding up the drop off line because her reading folder is not in front of her daily folder and the people behind me are hating me and I know I am late, I DO NOT LOSE MY SHIT. When she tells the guy at Walgreen’s to “hurry and scan everything cause my mom has to work at the bar where she doesn’t wear pants!!”, I DO NOT LOSE MY SHIT. For the record, it was in reference to the Flashdance costume I wore for Halloween. I bartend at a normal bar where any other day I do, indeed, wear pants.

The Mom who Makes a Big Deal about the Holidays

Carolyn: I suck at packing lunches, washing socks and cooking… But I’m awesome at holidays!

1511174_10203745331766313_3358019373737268528_n

The Mom Who Makes Everyone Look Happy in Photos

Michelle: I’m really good at making it look like we are having a blast via photo— in reality, we are a hot mess!

10522560_10205428500737615_8275128561202991110_n

The Mom Who Can Breastfeed on a Conference Call

Kate: I’m a work from home mom and most people don’t even know I have three kids. I can make them ‘disappear’ by handling all their needs on mute and still participating in my job. When I had to, I could pound out an email while breastfeeding that was timely and concise. I don’t have time for Pinterest or making beds, but I’m a badass.

10687091_350247781810841_1468619207882994925_n

THE MOM WHO CLEANS UP PUKE WITHOUT PUKING HERSELF AWARD

Ginny: I am the best mom at cleaning up puke! I can even swoop in and catch it with my bare hands before it hits the carpet, without puking myself! While cleaning up the stairs one Christmas Eve, my husband complimented me as he was holding back from heaving himself, “Now I know why I married you. I could not be doing that.”

The Mom Who’s Still awesome after all these years

Crysta: Every day, I draw a comic of my kid on his napkin in his lunchbox. I call them Cadenstrips. He is 10-years-old and my 6th child, and a full 6 years younger than the ‘used-to-be-the-baby’. I’ve been a mom for really long time.

1907885_10204601931835616_5425891468701458935_n

The Mom who inspires us all

Julie: My fifteen month old baby girl has a genetic condition which has, among other things, caused her to be developmentally delayed and requires her to be fed through a feeding tube. I am the master of coordinating all her appointments and therapies, and of taking care of the feeding tube site. I know exactly how and when to make up a solution to prevent the delicate tissue surrounding the tube from getting inflamed. Even though I’m a nurse, I never thought I would be up to the challenge of having a child with special needs. Well, I am, and for the first time, I’m bragging about it! Thanks for the opportunity to give myself a pat on the back!

The Mom who always has an answer for “why?”

Jessica: I am a master of the “why game.” The “why game” is that oh so obnoxious game toddlers love to play when everything you tell them is followed by “why?” For example: “Can you bring me your shoes?” “Why?” “Because we’re going outside” “Why?” “Because you asked if we could.” “Why?” “Because you wanted to ride your bike.” You get the idea. My record is 23 responses before succumbing to the infamous, “because I said so.” I challenge anyone to beat it.

The Mom Who Rocks the Bento Box

Ahn T: I make awesome Bento Boxes. Really that is the only thing I am good at. 

Screen Shot 2014-11-14 at 9.28.08 AM

The Mom Who Knows How to Stretch a Conversation

Teresa: I can carry on a conversation with my girls about any topic, for a ridiculous amount of time. Such gems as, what a stuffed animal is going to be when he grows up, what clouds feel like, what if fish walked, etc etc. Husband calls it patience, I don’t think I’d go that far!

The Mom Who Rocks Pancakes

Sadiaani: I always get my kids excited to eat breakfast.

10784941_817186775010438_198663586_n

The Mom Who satisfies her kid’s cat obsession without getting an actual cat

Michelle: I’m totally awesome at feeding our two year old’s kitty obsession even though my husband is allergic and she can never have a real cat.

10649621_10100743964681243_6101111247516873850_n

The Mom who rocks the Sex talk

Kathleen: I have completely mastered the art of having the sex talk with my kids. I’m completely nonchalant about it, not at all uncomfortable or embarrassed. I explain at the level that’s appropriate to them, answering the questions asked. I make it clear that none of it is dirty or shameful, that this is just one aspect of the human experience, and I’m happy to help them understand it, just like anything else. If they change the subject and move on, I’m cool with that; if they have additional questions, I’ll sit and answer until they’re done.

The Mom Who Moonlights as the Airplane Whisperer

Krystal: I am really good at flying cross country with my two little ones! It all begins with the planning and scheduling of the flight. I always take meals and naps and time change into account. I also pack just the right entertainment and snacks. I work the magic of the rhythmic white noise to lull my girls to sleep! Every flight we get off the plane and one after another, people tell me how amazing my kids are! They are amazing, of course, but I kinda had something to do with that!

10730828_10152592003507739_1175872967561377854_n

THE MOM WHO PUTS ON A BRAVE FACE AWARD

Joy: I am the best at getting out of bed, making breakfast, reading to, smiling, laughing and playing with my 17mo son and showing him that mommy can still smile and love her little man even though we just lost our second baby boy (34 weeks old) two weeks ago and I’m recovering from the c-section. I am the best (and so is my husband) at still being able to laugh with our little boy even though our hearts are broken, and we can show that to him, too.

The Mom Who Rocks a Pinterest-worthy Dessert table

Jessica: I’m freaking awesome at making desserts from scratch, replicating fancy candy table themes for their birthday parties!

1505230_10205148036043143_2978193987507061846_n

The Mom who is the best at snacks

Becky: I am the best snack mom. For Girl Scouts, I provide grapes, mini-pretzels and assorted juice boxes (100% juice with no added sugars of course). For snack time to be a success, there must be no fighting. Each snack baggie has the same exact number of mini pretzels. Each baggie of grapes has the same number of green and purple seedless, washed and plucked from the stem. The grapes and pretzels are in separate baggies so the moisture from the grapes doesn’t make the pretzels soggy. I also include napkins. We have a troop of 30 girls. So that’s 30 little bags of pretzels. 30 little bags of mixed grapes. 30 juice boxes and napkins.

The Mom Tells Her Daughter She Can Do Anything

Jessica: My oldest daughter, Sophia is 6 years-old. I stay home with her to do virtual public charter school. Sophia suffers from severe migraines and has Sensory Processing Disorder which makes life difficult for her in many ways. She also suffers from pretty bad anxiety. She hates to fail and hates to try when she thinks she may make a mistake. Her favorite phrases are, “I can’t!” “I won’t!” “I’ll never learn this!” One day I was so sick of hearing those phrases, I grabbed her school markers. On one hand I wrote “I CAN!” and on the other “I WILL!” It helped her realize how often she says negative phrases. I guess my mom skillz are teaching my daughter she can and will do anything as long as she thinks she can.

10354457_305658426298917_119153351_n

The Mom who can untangle things

Mishee: I’m the best at untangling things. My 12 year-old son literally bragged for a good twenty minutes to his siblings, friends and anyone else who would listen about how good I am at untangling things. I was able to untangle 5 YoYos, 3 extra YoYo strings, a Lord of the rings necklace, and a pair of expensive headphones that somehow got all tangled together. And I accomplished this amazing feat in the amount of time it took him to take a shower. He was absolutely amazed since he had tried and failed first.

The Mom who lets her kids be themselves

Shaynah: If there is one thing I am good at, it is letting my kids be themselves. I don’t try to change them, I don’t get embarrassed by them. I let them embrace childhood and be unique – even in public! Costumes and weirdness on the daily over here!

10802418_596908010436310_1692544293_n

The Mom Who Makes Lemonade out of lemons

Peacelovencoffee: I can turn ripped jeans into monster jeans!

1688109_661739497220680_1944496599_n

THE MOM WHO Tells the most creative LIES

Andrea: I have mad skills when it comes to creative fibbing to quickly diffuse a potential melt down. The one of which I am most proud— My husband, father-in-law, and I took my newly potty trained two-year-old daughter to see Shrek Live. As we were driving there, she had a poop blowout. Poop in tights— horrific. I took her to the bathroom and cleaned her up but there was no salvaging her undies. As she saw me tossing her brand new Minnie undies in the garbage, she FREAKED out. I thought fast and said “Oh honey, that’s not the garbage!! That’s the laundry service. They’ll wash them and send them back to us!!” She bought it, calmed down, and we enjoyed the show. The whole thing was made even more hilarious when she told the bathroom attendant on the way out “Thanks for washing my undies for me! That is very nice of you.”

THE MOM WHO CAN PATTERN DESIGN ELSA’S DRESS

Monica: I suck at many things, but I can pattern-design and sew a mean Elsa costume.

Disney-Frozen-Handmade-Queen-Elsa-Costume-874x1024

Lastly, I am including a quote from a non-mom who reads this blog….

The Daughter who wants to nominate her mom

Faith: I’m not a mom personally, (just a college student who adores this blog!) but I have the most amazing mom who has now raised five very successful, driven children, and trust me, we did not always leave the house with our teeth brushed. Now that we are adults we recognize all the work our mother put into raising us and we get to brag FOR her all the time! So you amazing moms deserve to brag, because I know I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for my mama!

Still want to enter? Brag about your best mom skill for the chance to win an ipad mini and a mycharge hub 6000.

my-charge-prize1-480x303-1

The myCharge Hub 6000 is a portable charger with built-in cables and connectors for smartphones, tablets, e-readers or whatever device your little rugrat is choosing to drain the battery out of that day. You can get up to 27 hours of additional talk time, as well as integrated, quick-charge wall prongs.

my-charge-hub-6000-480x235

I will also give ten runner-ups a myCharge hot pink Razor Plus. The Razor Plus is super light, ultra-thin and delivers 13 hours of additional talk time for your smartphone.

mycharge razor

I’ll be picking my favorite entries (both written and photo entries) and then judges (to be determined) will pick the winners.

TO ENTER, YOU MUST COMPLETE THREE EASY STEPS:

1) Describe your mom skill in the comments below or post photo proof on the Mommy Shorts Facebook page or on Instagram with the hashtag #momskillz. Your description can as short or as long as you like. Something general or an isolated story of which you are particularly proud. If you enter through Instagram, you must follow and tag both @mommyshorts and@mycharge

2) Share this post in some way— like it on facebook, tweet it, pin it, etc.

3) Sign up for the myCharge newsletter using the email entry form below.

You can read the full rules here.

Good luck!