Quick, honest reflections on parenting, playfulness, and finding more joy in everyday family life, each with one simple idea to try. Browse the latest reads below, and subscribe to never miss one in your inbox each Tuesday.
A little "Eye of the Tiger" shifted everything.
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You'll never catch me running... unless a bee is chasing me. But the other night, as I was finishing up a sweaty walk, pushing my 4yo and 2yo in the double stroller... UPHILL... ...in 90 degree Tennessee humidity that felt like 200 degrees... My husband Steve pulled up next to us as he was getting home from work. "Run, Mommy, run!" my son squealed. "Let's race Daddy home!!!!" (we were at the bottom of the hill still and our house is at the top). I tossed my head back and laughed, thinking: But then I heard a familiar “dun... dun-dun-dun... dun-dun-DUN” ... yes, the iconic opening riff of "Eye of the Tiger." Suddenly, trying to outrun him up the hill felt like a fun challenge and I went for it with all my might. I didn't even know he was filming but he was, so I even have video proof (maybe I'll even get brave and post it this week!?) Did I make it all the way up the hill? Definitely not. Did I almost pass out? Definitely yes. But I gave it my all—and it was actually a fun moment! Now, I'm not sharing this for you to shower me with praise for exercising, although I WILL accept it if you want... I'm sharing it because it was yet again another reminder for me that: When we inject a little fun into an otherwise SLOG, it can change the energy completely, making something we don't want to do suddenly seem appealing. See where I'm going with this? Yep... our kids. Tasks, routines, transitions, challenges in general that seem to become a power struggle every time. So here's my little invitation for you this week: Try turning on some motivational music (can't go wrong with "Eye of the Tiger") and make something a fun family challenge. Maybe it's challenging the whole fam to pick up the living room before the songs over
Worst case scenario, you get some eye rolls. Best case... you actually get some stuff done AND have fun at the same time (yes, even YOU!) Cheering you on always, Mia P.S. When it comes to using play for ease with tasks, routines, transitions, and everyday parenting challenges, I've got you covered with the Activate Play Mode private podcast and parent community! Click HERE to learn all about it and join us. MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING: 💞 THE PLAYFUL HEART COLLECTION: |
The Playful Heart Journel
Quick, honest reflections on parenting, playfulness, and finding more joy in everyday family life, each with one simple idea to try. Browse the latest reads below, and subscribe to never miss one in your inbox each Tuesday.
My creative brain has been pretty ZAPPED.For the past couple weeks, I’ve been doing a LOT of solo parenting while my husband’s work schedule has been demanding — and I’ve been cramming my own work into all the nooks and crannies. Waking up at 5am. Working after bedtime. Answering messages between wiping butts and fetching snacks. 😂 Me and my giant mug of coffee, LOCKING IN So I’ve actually been relying on my own Silly Moments apps more than usual — because I want to be present and have fun...
My 10yo stepdaughter was feeling too nervous to eat breakfast before school. School-related anxiety is a thing we’ve been navigating for about two years now, and it ebbs and flows. Reasoning with her and telling her she had to eat was only making her cry and resist more. So I said how about we play a game to help your mind move through this? And if you can, eat some while we play? I was grateful she instantly agreed… we’ve done this before and she knows it helps. She chose “word ball” - a...
Did your teachers in school ever do the classic “If you can hear my voice, clap once…” thing? As a theatre educator, I did similar calls for students to pay attention but tried to mix things up to keep it more fun and less robotic… Like, “If you can hear my voice… put your finger on your nose stand on one foot Stick out your tongue Do the Macarena Say, “Well butter my biscuits!” Then my students would be like ☝️ Now at home with my son, I use the exact same strategy when it seems like he's...