Maren | NYC Mom (@maydroubay)

#ad Holiday shopping research, but make it a field trip! 🎄🎁 I took my three older kids on a little NYC adventure and gave them a very important assignment: help me decide what deserves a spot on our family’s holiday gift guide this year. First up was @Nex Playground , and let’s just say my three very enthusiastic reviewers took their jobs seriously. 😂 As a mom of five living in a Brooklyn apartment, I’m always looking for gifts that encourage my kids to move, play, and have fun together. Especially with another New York winter right around the corner! I think we may have found a winner for this year’s list. You can shop Nex Playground at nexplayground.com! #playthatmovesyou #activeplay #NexHoliday

#ad Cold weather means a LOT more time inside with five kids! 😂 So we grabbed some blankets, built ourselves a fort, and brought @Hasbro Games Operation inside with us. ❤️ I love having games we can pull out that get everyone gathered around, laughing, taking turns and actually having fun together — especially when NYC weather keeps us home. And apparently hearing that Operation buzzer is just as funny the 50th time. 😂 #HasbroGames

The most epic adventure. 🌆🥲🎞️ Thanks for joining us on this wild ride. We ❤️ NY! And we are incredibly GRATEFUL to call this place our home. 🫶🏻 Follow along for another year of NYC life as a family of 7! #nycfamily #newyorkcity #nyc #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcitykids

ONE YEAR down without our big backyard, and about 500 memories we NEVER could have made on that patch of grass. ✌️🤷‍♀️ #newyorkcity The month we moved to NYC I was EATEN ALIVE in my comment sections for taking my kids away from their home & yard in the suburbs. I can definitely say that those commenters were wrong. Sorry not sorry! #nycfamily #nyc #newyorkcitykids #citylife

I can’t believe how much moving to Brooklyn has improved my mental health. Everyday feels full and colorful and extraordinary. I love it here! It makes me emo. Full Day-in-the-Life as a Brooklyn mom of FIVE! What did you think? 💕🥲🫶🏻 #nycfamily #newyorkcity #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcitykids #brooklynmom

I never imagined that a few months after having a baby, I would end up hospitalized for nearly a week and leave with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. I had a new baby at home who couldn’t be with me in the hospital, a husband trying to care for both of us while still needing to work, and absolutely no idea what our lives were going to look like next. That experience taught me something I think we sometimes forget: paid family leave isn’t just about having a baby. It’s about the moments when life changes overnight—a serious diagnosis, a sick spouse, an aging parent, a new baby—and your family needs you. No one should have to choose between showing up for someone they love and keeping the paycheck their family depends on. That’s why I’m grateful Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has spent more than a decade fighting for paid leave and is now working across the aisle on the bipartisan More Paid Leave for More Americans Act, helping more states give families the protections New Yorkers already have. Taking care of your family shouldn’t be a partisan issue. I hope Congress can come together to make paid family leave a reality for more American families. ❤️ #PaidFamilyLeave #PaidLeave #FamilyLeave

Something that’s been on my mind lately as a mom, and I’ve seen the effects of it in my kids. It’s hard to let go- especially when you consider yourself a Type-A, Perfectionist, Helicopter, {insert like descriptions} mom! This entire year since moving to the city has been a giant lesson in LETTING GO. And I feel like my relationship with my kids & happiness in raising them has only grown. What do you think of the things I shared? Do you agree or disagree with them, and what would you add to the list? How do you help your kids develop confidence & independence? #motherhood #parenting #raisingconfidentkids #nycmom #citykids

#Ad Turns out Hungry Hungry Hippos is a pretty accurate description of my kids at 5pm. 😂🦛 That little window between school and dinner can be one of my favorite parts of the day—especially when we put everything else down and just PLAY together. A few rounds of @Hasbro Games Hungry Hungry Hippos, a whole lot of laughing, and then it’s time to feed the actual hungry hippos. 🤍 It’s the simplest things that somehow end up being the sweetest family moments. #Hasbro #HungryHungryHippos #familygamenight

#ad One of those nights I already know I’m going to miss. 🥹 With 5 kids, it feels like I’m always trying to find meaningful ways to get them off of screens and having fun together! So tonight I pulled out Candy Land and we put the screens away! We spent one of our last slow summer nights piled together on the living room floor. 🍭 There was sibling competition, a few VERY dramatic reactions 😂 and the usual chaos that comes with doing literally anything as a family with 5 kids. But these simple nights at home always end up being the ones I want to remember most. ❤️ Sometimes all it takes is pulling out a @Hasbro Games game to turn a regular night into a memory. #HasbroGames

Don’t mind me, just sitting in a quiet apartment crying today. Kindergarten! Am I right? 😭 #kindergarten #momlife #mama #motherhood #milestones

We love NYC!! 🗽✨ One year ago this was something we dreamed about doing. Hope you love this real life vlog of our first time visiting the Statue of Liberty!! We packed snacks, grabbed our favorite @good2growdrinks bottles, hopped on a ferry, and checked another NYC adventure off the list. The limited-edition BIGGER bottles are part of good2grow’s Stars, Stripes & Sights Sweepstakes, where one lucky winner can score a trip for 4 to an iconic U.S. destination worth up to $5,000. Find the bottles in stores, scan them into the good2grow app, and start collecting. The kids are determined to find all four monuments now. 😂 Learn more at good2growOnTheRoad.com and in the link in my bio! #good2growpartner #good2grow #StarsStripesAndSightsSweepstakes #NYCFamily #FamilyAdventure

#DiscountContactsPartner Anyone else spend all their time making appointments for everyone else… but somehow keep putting off your own? 😅 Since moving to New York, I realized that ordering my own contacts kept getting pushed to the bottom of my list. Classic mom move. 🙃 I finally crossed it off thanks to @Discount Contacts I was able to use my existing prescription and order my brand-name contact lenses in just a few minutes—without adding another errand to my week. Honestly, I wish I had done it sooner. If you’ve been putting it off too, you can shop brand-name contact lenses for less at DiscountContacts.com ✨ New customers save 30% off their first order. ✨ Evergreen: Get 25% off any order of $150 Taking care of everyone else is important… but don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. 💙

The best gift we’ve ever given them is each other. 😭💕 I wasn’t sure what a 5-year gap between sisters would look like when we found out we were having a second daughter, but it has turned out to be the most magical age gap EVER- and I am so excited to see how it continues to blossom throughout their life! Rosie is about to be TWO, and I just can’t believe it. #sisters #5yearagegap #nycfamily #sisterlove❤️ #newyorkcitykids

#Febreze_Partner 5 kids. 1 NYC apartment. 1 bathroom… you do the math. 😵‍💫 One thing about living in a family of seven in a small apartment is that our bathroom gets a lot of use. 😅 I’ve been partnering with @Febreze and the Febreze Bathroom has been such an easy addition because it’s specifically made to fight tough bathroom odors 24/7. Just flip it to activate! No outlets, batteries, or hassle, and it keeps working for up to 45 days. It’s one of those little things that makes walking into our one shared bathroom a whole lot more pleasant. 🙌 Tap the link in my bio to shop yours! #Febreze #BathroomFreshness #FebrezeBathroom

NYC Mama of 5 FULL Day-in-the-Life! 🫶🏻🌆 Haven’t done one of these in a while, and it was fun to make this. My husband had back to back meetings, so it was ALL me on mom duty, and I had so many “pinch me” moments with my kids on this day: •Cartwheels in Central Park! •Playing games in the Subway station! •Enjoying incredible sushi!! We used to talk about moving to New York “someday” and I can’t believe this is our forever with these cuties! Could you ever see yourself living in NYC? Tell me below!! Xoxo! #nycfamily #newyorkcity #newyorkcitylife #citylife #newyorkmom

Can you believe it started raining?! ☔️😆 This is what happens when a theatre kid (me) marries a videographer (him) and we are left to our own devices for our anniversary weekend in the city with a new @oliviarodrigo album out. NBD. 😅❤️‍🔥 just average mom & dad stuff. Happy 11th Anniversary to the LOML!! @dallindroubay Thanks for humoring me, love. 🙈 #stupidsong #oliviarodrigo #newyorkcity #nyc #romcom

#BISSELLpartner Can I reset my NYC apartment in less than an hour?! Let’s go! Living in a small space as a family of 7 means things get messy SO much faster, but it also means -with the right tools, I can reset my apartment quickly! I’ve been completely obsessing over the @BISSELL Clean PowerClean DualBrush because it tackles everything from crumbs to tracked-in dirt in ONE pass, and the FurFinder headlights help me spot all the things I’d otherwise miss. Plus, the included tools make it easy to clean furniture, corners, and other hard-to-reach spots! My favorite tool is the FurFinder upholstery tool. It gets so much dirt out of my couch! I don’t know how I ever lived without it. The battery lasts for 50 minutes, so I don’t even have to stop to charge it! Check out the BISSELL PowerClean DualBrush during the current promotion at Target for 44% off! Just tap the link in my bio! #PowerCleanDualBrush

Day in the life! Watch for magic!! 🥹🌊 Like, how did we not realize that there’s a gorgeous ocean just a quick train ride away?! 🤯 {PS. For those wondering about the amazing bedspreads featured here, they are from @Beddys and they were a life-changing find for me! The kids can just make their beds by zipping them up! 🤯 From now til June 14, code MAREN will give you 25% off site-wide, so check them out!} #nycfamily #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcitykids #nyc #coneyisland

No car, no problem! 🤯🚕 I never thought I’d be able to replace my mini-van when I moved to NYC with 5 kids, but finding the right stroller changed everything! In NYC, your stroller truly IS your vehicle- and I’ve been on the hunt for the best one. I get asked all the time, how I navigate life without a vehicle, and this is how! The @Joolz dot has everything: •One-hand fold & easy carry for getting on and off the subway! 🚇 •Compact & lightweight for storing in my apartment and sticking in the trunk of a taxi! 🚖 •Lots of hidden storage & a storage pouch for all of our essentials! 🍼 •Smooth & easy navigation for all of those sidewalk bumps, restaurants, and parks! 🍽️ •Plus- it’s cute! ☺️ You can tap the link in this reel, or in my bio to grab the perfect travel/city stroller! #myjoolz #joolzdot #nycfamily #nycmom #joolzusa

Am I the only mom feeling this way at the end of the year?! Like, please don’t break up with me! 😭😂❤️‍🩹 As a former homeschool mom, I am feeling emotionally DUPED right now!! THANK YOU, TEACHERS!! 😭❤️ Share this with, or tag, teacher you love! #summerbreak #teachers #homeschoolmom #schoolmom #nycmom

Just a millennial mom out here raising my kids like it’s 1998, and trying to remember everything. 😭😭 Nothing like a week me at the lake to make you feel emo! We will be returning to the Finger Lakes (Lamoka Lake) ASAP! And hopefully every year! Thank you for hosting us, @Lake.com🌊 Stay Near the Water #nostalgia #millennialparenting #millennialmom #childhood #citykids

Our “extraordinary, ordinary life” 🥹✨ (Who else loves the quote at the end as much as I do?) I truly cannot believe this is our everyday. I am SO grateful that I made the right decision and got the @mimaUSA Miro stroller. The one-hand fold, removable mesh seat, storage basket & sleek leather design all fit seamlessly into our NYC lifestyle. Visit the link in my bio to try it out for yourself! #nycmom #nycliving #nycfamily #nyckids #centralpark

It’s Max’s city, and we’re all just livin in it. #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcity #nycfamily #newyorkcitykids #citykids

Come with us as we spend a typical afternoon as a family of 7 living in Brooklyn! {Yes there are days where I don’t get myself ready until after 3 PM 🫣 Anyone else?} •Emmie has been attending @tutuschoolparkslope_ for a couple of months now and, we are THRILLED with the experience. I had to share. 🩰 •Tutu School is a storybook-inspired ballet studio focusing on children between the ages of 6 months to 8 years old!! Tutu School offers weekly classes, dance recitals, camp, birthday parties and more! 🌸 •Your first class is FREE with an additional 50% of your next month with code “MAREN” when you sign up!! 😱 #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcity #nycfamily #newyorkcitykids #newyorkmom

I love taking my kids on one-on-one dates! 🤍 It’s such a small thing, but it means everything to them- and me! We surprised our two oldest boys with a movie night they have been not-so-patiently waiting for… and their facial expressions say it all. 😭 #bublypartner They felt so special at The Super Mario Galaxy Movie special screening! 🍿 From the themed Bubly mocktails & custom merch, to the wild 4D experience… everything at Regal completely blew us away! You won’t want to miss seeing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie with your kids -now playing at Regal! 🍿 @bubly water @Regal @The Super Mario Galaxy Movie #BublyPartner #supermariogalaxymovie

Our family is ALWAYS on the lookout for Magic! ✨ If you’ve been here a while, you KNOW how thrilled our family was to experience a small taste of Cool KIDS’ SUMMER from @waltdisneyworld right in the heart of our own city! 🥲 Mickey ice cream bars, giant Mickey sunglasses, and just enough magic to remind us how special a Walt Disney World vacation is. ✨ We are now officially dreaming of experiencing the real thing this summer! If this was just the preview, I can only imagine how magical Cool KIDS’ SUMMER will be at Walt Disney World this year! The best news is… that YOU could see it for yourself by entering for a chance to win a Walt Disney World vacation! Just visit the link in my bio! ⬆️ SEE you there! 😎☀️ NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends 4/10/26 at 11:59pm ET. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., who are 18+ at time of entry. Limit 1 entry per person per day. Visit https://coolkidssummersweepstakes.disneyexperiences.com/?CMP=SOC-DPFY26Q1DIENT0048for Official Rules including details on how to enter, eligibility requirements, odds of winning, prize description and limitations. Void where prohibited. #posted #C#CoolKidSummerWaltDisneyWorld

“I know who I am” 😭🩷 One of those moments where you realize you might be doing at least one thing right as a parent. Speak love into your babies! 🫶🏻 #daughters #citykids #momwin #parenting #internationalwomensday

Come spend an exciting afternoon with me: a New York City mom of 5!!! 🥰❤️🌆 The new line of #mymario Little People figurines were an instant hit with Max! As you can see, they are the perfect toy to bring along on all of our city stops! I was honored to meet with @Nintendo of America and view their new line of Mario products. We are HUGE Nintendo fans in our family, and love how family-oriented their brand is. Sharing pieces of our NYC life makes me so happy! Thanks for watching! 🚕 #newyorkcity #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcitykids #citylife

FOUR MONTHS of our crazy new trash snow life! ❄️ PS. Hey @Whitney Leavitt wanna be mom friends?! 😚 We devoured our Beehive Meals and promptly ordered more! So dang easy & yummy: Use code: MAREN to get $10 off your first order of @Beehive Meals to survive a snow-pocalypse near you!! #newyorkcity #brooklynmom #newyorkcitylife #nycfamily #newyorkcitykids

FULL day in the life from this week, as a mom of five in NYC! 💕 Putting this together made me smile so much because there are so many small moments in here that really capture why I love NYC so much. It’s such a magical place to raise kids, even when we are freezing our behinds off in January! ❄️🥲🫶🏻🗽 #newyorkcity #brooklynmom #newyorkcitylife #nyc #nycfamily @hello.sitter is the app we tried out for childcare and it was amazing! Will definitely be using it again! @therainbownyc - Mimi has quickly become a sweet friend of ours. This play space is absolutely worth a visit!