I’m a mom, stepmom, and theatre educator helping exhausted parents access their inner creative playfulness for more connection and joy. No messy crafts, complicated setups, or sensory bins here! Just simple, silly moments that bring your family back together through laughter. My short weekly emails share reflections from real life and a simple invitation you can try for yourself or with your kids.
Feel the burn, honey
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I recently got back into doing at-home dance workouts. Aside from walking, this is truly the only form of exercise I enjoy, and it’s been YEARS. Why do I love it so much? Because it’s fun, challenging in an enjoyable way, and brings back a big part of myself (the performer part)! But what I didn’t expect to happen was for it to become a new bonding activity for me and my 10yo stepdaughter! Surprisingly, she’s taken an interest in doing the dance workouts with me when she’s here, and I have to say it’s really sweet but mainly because it’s HILARIOUS. She takes none of it seriously and does the goofiest moves… while I do take it seriously but say the goofiest things like, “Oh I’m feelin the burn honeyyyy!” and “work it girl get buff!!” The heart of playfulness is taking yourself less seriously, even when you take the overall experience to heart. I’m grateful for this new way of connecting with her. My invitation for you this week: Find one little moment where you are able to take yourself less seriously - it doesn’t mean you don’t care about what you’re doing. Just bringing a little humor and lightness into it. Cheering you on always, Mia MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING: The best improv games for family connection! Prompt-based games and easy, silly moment ideas (1400+ prompts and counting!) 11 core strategies for using play as a tool for more ease and joy in parenting. |
Playful Heart Parenting
I’m a mom, stepmom, and theatre educator helping exhausted parents access their inner creative playfulness for more connection and joy. No messy crafts, complicated setups, or sensory bins here! Just simple, silly moments that bring your family back together through laughter. My short weekly emails share reflections from real life and a simple invitation you can try for yourself or with your kids.
Father's Day morning was off to a rough start in our house... It was like each kid was taking turns having a hard time... which was then making me more stressed than usual because of the pressure of it to be a happy day for my husband. (Ugh, holidays can be so weird like that you know??) I had a picture in my head of how it was going to go and it was quickly disintegrating. Once everyone was semi-chill and together on the couch, I grabbed the "Dad Libs" I'd made for the Father's Day games and...
Recently I shared one of our favorite ways to get in pajamas... I say, "Who wants to do an Abra-pajama?" and then the kids pose while I film them saying "Abra-pa..." in their normal clothes - then I pause the video - then they rush to get in PJs - then I resume the video once they're back in their original pose and they say "-JAMA!" And it's like a magic trick! (aka a "transition video") (here's the video if you want a little more explanation!) Lotttts of parents tried this with their kids...
I am historically very emotional person. A CRIER. No, no, no not THAT kind of "crier" Yes, THAT kind of crier. That's the one! But to be vulnerable with you, since taking medication for my anxiety, the tears don't come as often. I'm not complaining, per se, because I still feel my feelings, just not quite as heightened all the time... but it is a little weird when I feel like I need to cry but kind of... can't? Anyway, last Friday an unexpected spider-related incident happened that made me...