KelseWhatElse

What happened to home: Parent doesn't see a tripping hazard because they are drinking a bottle of water. How that is translated to the teacher: well.... Let's just say it is a bit of a different story. I can only imagine the tales that preschool teachers, daycare workers, and elementary school teachers hear from home. In fact, please share with us something that you've heard a kid say in school, or something that your kid has said to their teacher 😅 . . . #kelsewhatelse #momhumor #parentinghumor #momfail #preschooler #thingskidssay #midwestmom #kansascityinfluencer

What happened to home: Parent is just trying to avoid the inevitable meltdown when the child wants to sleep with every toy in the house. How that is translated to the teacher: well.... Let's just say it is a bit of a different story. I can only imagine the tales that preschool teachers, daycare workers, and elementary school teachers hear from home. I was absolutely dying reading all of the hilarious stories on the last post. In fact, please share MORE. Tell us something that you've heard a kid say in school, or something that your kid has said to their teacher 😅 . . . #kelsewhatelse #momhumor #parentinghumor #momfail #preschooler #thingskidssay #midwestmom #kansascityinfluencer

UPDATE! 2 million of you came alongside me to hate on the design of the columns in my home. But I'm happy to report that we may have a solution for these 2001 McMansion columns! The ugly columns in my house currently have a solution. If you're standing at just the right angle, you can't even see the one blocking the pathway from the living room to the kitchen! . . . #kelsewhatelse #houserenovation #housereno #mcmansion #midwesternmom

What happened to home: Parent expresses their full-ness over dinner. How that is translated to the teacher: well.... Let's just say it is a bit of a different story. I can only imagine the tales that preschool teachers, daycare workers, and elementary school teachers hear from home. Reading all of your hilarious stories on the last 2 posts have been the highlight of my week. So again! Tell us something that you've heard a kid say in school, or something that your kid has said to their teacher 😅 . . . #kelsewhatelse #momhumor #parentinghumor #momfail #preschooler #thingskidssay #midwestmom #kansascityinfluencer

This might seem obvious to beach locals, but for those of us who did not grow up near the beach and also live very far away from the beach, "backwards beach days" is a new idea! I used to hate taking my small children to the beach. Taking a baby and a toddler to the beach might seem like an easy day out for many people, not for me. All of the gear, all of the sweat, all of the sand, the crowds, and then trying to go out to eat later when your kids are exhausted and overstimulated and all of the restaurants are crowded. There were just so many things that I didn't like about it. Until one day when it occurred to me that I could just do the beach the way I want to do it and I came up with a plan that avoided all the things I didn't like about going to the beach with small children while keeping all the things that I loved about it. This might seem silly to people who live near the beach, but for those of us who live 15 hours from it and have to dedicate an entire vacation to it, it almost seems sacrilegious to not wake up and immediately go to the beach. It feels like you're missing out on the whole purpose of your vacation. So I had to remind myself that the purpose of my vacation, is to have a vacation! So I need to do it the way that is best for our family. And for small kids, it makes a lot of sense to just do the day backwards to what most people do for a beach day. I know depending on what beach you go to, a night time visit may not be the best idea. Tides and waves work differently in different places, but where we go in Florida it's the perfect time to visit for us. Backwards Beach days have truly saved the beach vacation for us. . . . . . #kelsewhatelse #backwardsbeachdays

You might leave the restaurant, but the restaurant never leaves you. Now I might be a parent serving up pb&j's and chicken nuggets, but in some corner of my brain, I forgot to bring the marinara sauce to table 43, I need to roll more silverware, and the six top in the corner needs five Shirley temples and six chicken parmesans. . . . . . #kelsewhatelse #momhumor #restaurantlife #serverlife #midwestmom #kansascityinfluencer

My hometown of Branson, Missouri offers so much for vacationing families! [Hosted] Branson is a town nestled in the beautiful Ozark mountains that is built for families and built for fun! I actually didn't realize growing up that other towns didn't have theme parks, dinner theaters, and musical shows around every corner (for real, until I was like 9). I get asked what tips I have for families visiting Branson, Missouri on vacation, so here is one of our 5-day Branson family-friendly itineraries! If your family is planning to travel to Branson for vacation and if you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer them in the comments! Day 1: -Play games, explore movie sets, and fly over the US on FlyRide at Beyond the Lens! -Grab dinner and while experiencing Mel’s Hard Luck Diner’s famous singing servers! Day 2: -Follow the story of the Titanic and its passengers (and see real artifacts!) at the Titanic Museum! -Sail Table Rock Lake and enjoy dinner and a show aboard the Showboat Branson Belle! Day 3: -Zipline, slide, and climb to new heights at Fritz’s Adventures! - Grab your boots and get ready to dig into a plate of food while watching the horses and cowboys gallop to victory at Dolly Parton’s Stampede! Day 4: Explore Shepherd of the Hills expansive outdoor property with tons of family-friendly activities. Grab a meal and dessert on property! Day 5: Spend the day at Silver Dollar City Theme Park! See the local craftsmen at work, eat delicious food, and ride your heart out on all of the rides! Make sure to try their newly revamped ride, Fire in the Hole! #kelsewhatelse #explorebranson #travelwithkids #silverdollarcity #midwesttravel #missouristravel #kansascitywithkids #familytraveltips @Explore Branson @Silver Dollar City

My then 2-year-old (He's five now) said something to a playground bully a couple years ago that has become kind of an uplifting mantra in my head. Anytime I'm feeling insecure, afraid to take the next step, like I'm not smart enough, strong enough, good enough to do something. I think about the absolute confidence that my 2-year-old had on the playground that day and I try to channel that. My 2-year-old may not have known what he was being called, but he knew who he was to his core. So it didn't matter what they were saying about him, he knew that he was a pirate and that is all that mattered. We did go on to throw him a pirate themed birthday party for his third birthday 🦜 . . . . #kelsewhatelse #momtip #noimapirate #midwestmom #thingskidssay #kansascityinfluencer

This is the most ridiculous doctor's note I have ever received. And I absolutely kept it so that we can laugh at it for years and years. You would not believe the mortification that I felt when I read what I had submitted to my local County office as an excuse to get out of jury duty. I didn't even think to read the note. I just forwarded it on, I'm sure while I was actively juggling a baby with my other hand! I learned my lesson and I will always double-check people's work before I submit it to a government office that could hold me accountable for perjury 😬 My son's pediatrician office was confused and mortified that they sent that note over. The best we can guess is that the doctor (not my son's pediatrician but another doctor in the office) who sent the note, was multitasking at the time and typed it out without double-checking what she sent. Whoops Makes for a funny story! I was cackling over that note (after I got it all straightened out with the government!) for weeks. . . . #kelsewhatelse #juryduty #momhumor #kansascityinfluencer #midwesternmom

I can't believe I didn't think to use this phrase as we have been navigating time travel invention meltdowns over the past couple months. Our invention box is one of our most beloved activities in this home, but what we didn't expect to happen is for my 5-year-old to be so frustrated by the fact that he cannot invent things that have not been invented by actual scientists yet (Time travel, shrink rays, etc) We're at the point in his brain development where he understands logic, but some things are still beyond his understanding. We tried to explain to him that he's just not ready to build a time machine, but without a general understanding of how time and space works, he just wasn't getting it. That's when I remembered one of the best teaching tricks, take something that they DO know- And apply it to what they DON'T know. So, "It's just like". Example: You can't only drink chocolate milk and not eat any food. What your kid understands, is that chocolate milk feels like it is filling their belly just like food does. They understand that amount of logic, but not enough logic to understand the intricacies of nutrition. " Would we just feed the dog only water but not food? No? Why not? Water would make his belly feel full for a little while so why do we need to feed him food? Ah yes- because the dog would get sick. If we just gave him water, his body would be hungry because not all of his body's needs are being met by just the water." "So JUST LIKE We have to feed the dog food and water because his body needs both to keep him healthy, your body needs more than just chocolate milk even if it's making your belly feel full. And JUST LIKE How only feeding the dog water, will make the dog sick, only feeding your body chocolate milk will make your body sick. So we need to make sure we eat some other foods along with the chocolate milk you love." 💡 #kelsewhatelse #momtips #workingrocks #parentingmagicphrase #parentingtips #midwesternmom #kansascityinfluencer

Today I hit the jackpot while I was shopping, and it is all because someone else didn't. It's relatively easy for me to find tops in-store but bottoms that fit and seem to actually be made for my plus-sized body, are few and far between. (I will say that Old Navy is one of the more size-inclusive stores which is why I shop there, but it still doesn't have everything in my size- because they typically order less stock of it for the store) When I found this skirt and it fit, I found myself thinking about the other plus-size woman out there who, knowing the store wouldn't carry her size, ordered this skirt online without being able to try it on, waited with hope for it to be delivered, didn't end up liking it, and then had to drive it back to the store to return it to a place that does not even have a section for it. And because she did all of that, just to be ut that day, I was able to leave the store with a skirt that was actually in my size. I owe the confidence I felt in the dressing room that day, to her. So just a reminder to those who have to order special sizes (Plus Size, Tall, Petite, XXSmall) online, just to have to return them when they don't fit, you might be making someone's day by putting clothing in their size, in the store. Thank you. . . . . #kelsewhatelse #plussize #midwesternmom #plussizehaul #plussizefashion #kansascity

This is a story about human goodness on this beautiful March 1st! 10 years ago I was gifted a plant that I thought surely would die because while I try, I know I am a bad plant parent. But it lived, and it kept living, and eventually I decided that it would be best for the plant if I give it to someone who would truly take care of it and ever since then, Planty's new mom has sent me video and picture updates his life and it is the most adorable thing ever. Thank you @happybabyfox for loving Planty so well! . . . . #kelsewhatelse #heartwarming #goodhuman #badplantmom #kansascity #midwestmom