I got back from a walk the other day and saw a bunch of stuff set up in the front yard. “We’re playing arcade games. Pay up!” said my stepdaughter who was “working the ticket booth.” My husband leaned over, handing me two quarters saying, “They only take real money.” We laughed that the kids were the ones sitting and watching the grownups playing. I managed to win four tickets by bouncing a ball into a bucket! When my stepdaughter told me to pick out a prize, I selected a pink football. But...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I don’t remember many specific gifts I got for Christmas as a kid. The only one I really recall was “Sally Secrets”—a doll with stamps and stickers hidden inside (yeah, it was pretty cool). My husband remembers getting a “WrestleMania” wrestling ring… But what we both really cherish and remember is the feelings and the moments of joy we shared with family. One of my favorite traditions growing up was listening to the Nutcracker. We’d put on a whole living-room performance every year, roping...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
“Yeah. Not doing that.” That was a comment I got on a recent reel where my play therapist pal and I showed playful ways for overstimulated parents to reset. I’m used to the haters coming out, especially when a video goes viral, but there was something about this comment that made me feel kind of sad. I took it to say, “I’m too cool for that. You look stupid.” Now, I’m a theatre person. I’m really comfortable being and looking silly. But I also know all too well the pressure we can feel to...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dinner on Friday was tense and grumpy. It was “transition day” for my stepdaughter, her first day back at our house after being at her mom’s. This day is always tough—big feelings as she adjusts to a new atmosphere and we shift from being parents of two to three. There was whining, complaining, and attitude… and my husband and I, after a long week, were definitely over it. I wanted to lecture, but I knew we really just needed to laugh. So, I suggested, “20 Questions. I’m thinking of...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
I usually send these emails on Tuesday mornings, but yesterday, I felt I needed to give my son some extra playtime.Things have been pretty chaotic here. Baby girl is still struggling (though improving!), but she screams in her car seat and stroller, so even mental health walks are far from relaxing these days. My son’s understandably got cabin fever, and as for me—postpartum anxiety (and maybe a bit of depression) has been kicking my butt. I’m getting the help I need and feeling hopeful, but...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
On Friday, I felt like a total failure. A friend invited us to the park, and I thought, “Yes, we need this.” I’ve been having a lot of guilt over not being outside enough with my son (it’s been hard to do that for a number of reasons). The story in my head was: This is your chance to redeem yourself and be a better mom. That narrative inside my head is exactly why the following events were such a blow to my confidence and self-worth: My son was so excited, asking me all day when we’d leave....
2 months ago • 2 min read
I got this message yesterday on Instagram: “Your videos are always so amazing. It seems like you have endless patience. How do you have the capacity at the end of a long day to still be silly? I find myself wanting it to move quickly and them just do what they need to so we can get to bedtime.” I’m going to be completely honest… I’m not a patient person by nature. I can lose my patience easily. I usually want things to move faster. I often start eating my food before I even get to the table...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Things have been rough around here. My baby girl has been very unhappy, and it’s been heartbreaking and stressful. On top of that, my husband’s been working seven-day weeks, and my almost-threenager has been having big feelings about it all. There’s been a lot of screaming from both kiddos. (And I, myself, may have stepped into another room yesterday to scream) I haven’t felt playful. I’ve been stressed and worried. And with that, the guilt creeps in—telling me it’s my fault my son is...
3 months ago • 2 min read
There’s a big debate on social media about independent play vs. interactive play. “Play is the work of children. It’s not our job to play with our kids!” I see it all the time—hundreds of parents (who struggle with playfulness) jumping in and shouting, “Yes! THANK YOU! I hate playing, and now I don’t have to!” You might be surprised to hear this… …I don’t totally disagree. Despite what it might look like on my Instagram, I’m not playing with my kids all day. Most of the time, they’re playing...
4 months ago • 1 min read