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.
How one game set the tone for the week:
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I was feeling annoyed… or so I thought. It was “transition” night — my stepdaughter’s first night at our house after being with her mom for the week. It’s always a big adjustment for everyone — and the summer schedule is a particularly jarring shift. She was being short and seemed distant. I felt myself getting irritated. I asked myself, “What’s under this annoyance?” and quickly realized… … it was fear. Old insecurities were coming up. Guilt. Worrying she’ll always miss her mom more than enjoying time at our house. And under that fear is love. So then I asked myself... “What would playfulness look like right now?” “Wanna play a game?” I asked her. She lit up and said, “Sure! Like what?” We ended up making up a new, simple game together called, “What have you DONE!?” How we played: • We took turns asking, “What have you done?” using different accents or dramatic emotions. • We answered in the same tone or expression. • Responses varied from “I had a playdate” to “I ate a PB&J.” As we played, she inched closer to me on the couch. Before long, we were not only physically closer, but more emotionally connected through silliness and sharing moments from our week. Play is healing — this has been studied and proven. This is especially true when it comes to working through separation anxiety or trauma. And it’s been transformative for our family. This simple game helped both of us:
Invitation for the Week: Notice when you’re feeling annoyed and ask yourself what’s underneath. Curiosity alone can be powerful. As always, feel free to reply with your thoughts if any of this resonates! I love hearing from you. Love, Mia P.S. I’m now offering one-on-one support through my Personal Play Plan & Coaching service, where we work together to develop playful skills for connecting with your kids. Tap the button below for more info + a 5% discount as a thank-you for subscribing!
*Discounts available for stepparents and single parents; reply to this email if that’s you! ____________________________________ By the way... do you have my $5 guide, "From Tired to Playful?" It's packed with mindset tips and over 50 creative games for connection! |
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.
I posted a video on Instagram before I went to bed Sunday night and woke up to THOUSANDS of comments on it… As I briefly skimmed through, I started laughing so hard (but trying to stifle the laughter because all the kids — yes, ALL — were in our bed) I nudged Steve and pointed for him to read some too and we were both giggling so hard. The video was my stepdaughter and me playing one of our favorite games where we tell a story one word at a time (trading off each word) but we were making up a...
this is what me dropping the ball looks like today: Yep. Snuggling the kiddos who didn’t sleep well. Normally I work late at night when they’re asleep (and in any nook and cranny of the day I get) But baby girl couldn’t settle last night. So I planned for early this morning. I’d get up before everyone else, write this week’s email, edit and post content for the day to Instagram, and we’d be good! but nope! This morning, everyone is still on top me me. and I realize: it is a HUGE privilege to...
Hanukkah begins soon, and I wanted to share something special that I put together! A big thank you to Jen, a wonderful mom from our community, who gave me the nudge to create this and helped me review it too. My mother grew up celebrating Hanukkah and we honored the holiday when I was a child, while also celebrating Christmas from my dad’s side. Christmas traditions are what I know most naturally, but Hanukkah has always held a meaningful place in my family story. My grandfather fled...