Parenting is a marathon, not a sprint. One of my survival strategies is to create an arsenal of crowd-pleasing, easy meals that I can whip up on tired and chaotic nights. Think one-pan wonder meals or slow cooker stews - anything that's simple to prepare but packed with flavour. On days when I'm too worn out to even cook, having a few go-to recipes up my sleeve ensures the kids are fed and happy without adding extra stress.
Another trick is to keep an activity box for rainy days or last-minute playdates. I fill it with age-appropriate arts and crafts supplies, board games, and fun books, which keeps them engaged and occupied when I need some time to focus on other things. The key is to rotate the goodies every few weeks to maintain the excitement and mystery of what's inside!