This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX. We’ve been a Netflix member since 2003. All thoughts and opinions and parenting techniques are my own.

As I mentioned earlier this week, David has been traveling quite a bit for work. While he is gone, the boys and I are left largely on our own. We meet with friends sometimes. We eventually fall into a groove.

However, that first day on our own can be a little….long. So we always, always have early movie night. It’s like our own little version of the early bird special. We chow down on popcorn and fruit and fire up some Netflix. It’s great because Netflix streams through our Wii (and iPad, iPhone and many other devices already in our home. Installation was crazy simple.) We can pick out a family friendly movie and relax into our daddy-free routine. In a pinch during the day, we can also watch a variety of kids TV shows. We’ve been on a big Sesame Street and Jake and the Neverland Pirates kick both of which are featured on Netflix (much to the relief of those around us when we’re in public).

Early movie night includes brother cuddles

Anyway, this past early movie night proceeded as it typically does. The movie was punctuated by frequent runs to the playroom and spilled popcorn galore. However, the most important part of the night came when a friend on Twitter suggested that we have early movie WEEK whenever David travels. This shocked me. I’ve always been embarrassed by early movie night. We typically do lot of things when David is gone: baseball, swim lessons, errands, story time at the library, trips to the Children’s Museum. But I’d always believed I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO ADMIT TO THE TV (sidebar: my kids watch a lot of TV.) So when a seasoned mother encouraged me to watch movies all week? I did a happy dance (sidebar: we did not watch movie all week) since I realized that I am the world’s best mother. No, no, that’s not it. I jest.

Netflix via iPad is so easy

I was thrilled to remember that I can give myself a break sometimes. Know who’s hard on themselves? This girl. I run a small business while keeping two small children from killing themselves AND educate them AND make all their meals, do all the dishes, wash all the laundry, make all our plans…and I don’t do a single one of those things perfectly. In fact, I even wash laundry wrong. Seriously, I do not see the point of washing things on warm. I started doing it because I don’t want to ruin things but I have never seen a difference if I just wash everything on cold. Serious. But I don’t like being the lazy ass who can’t just get on board so I started washing my laundry “right”. What was my point? Oh, right, I’m not perfect. Not at one SINGLE thing. Not one! So it’s really important for me to get these reminders that I can give myself a break sometimes. Honestly, it’s probably pretty important that we all take a break together sometimes. Thank goodness Netflix can help me with that.

So new rule: Early movie night, every week. Just you watch me. (Actually, please don’t watch me, that would be creepy.)

Seems like daddy learned this lesson a long time ago.

What are you watching on TV with your family? Netflix has family favorites from Disney, Disney Jr., Hasbro, Cartoon Network and Dreamworks that are available to stream anytime, anywhere.

And streaming is easier than you think! Download the free app on your iPad, click on the Netflix app on any gaming device, go to the website on your computer – and you’re in business. Check it out here!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX. Again, all thoughts and opinions and parenting techniques are my own.