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 didn't feel like being playful Friday night... But it realllly helped.
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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 something… start guessing!” (It was a pumpkin, if you’re curious.) My stepdaughter went next and was thinking of “Christmas tree." I got it right away and we laughed, shocked that we were on the same wavelength. My husband’s turn was tricky -- he was thinking of “Thanksgiving dinner” and we couldn't get it for the longest time. We teased him about how hard it was. Then my three-year-old, who’d never played, wanted a turn. This is where it got really hilarious: He bounced with excitement as we asked if it was food, a toy, anything we could think of. Every answer was a mischievous “Noooo…!” and we were all giggling. Finally, my husband guessed, “Are you thinking of NOTHING?” “YES!!!!” my son shouted, thrilled. 😂 We were all laughing hysterically at this point and the night was soooo much smoother from there on out. I hadn’t wanted to play at first. Honestly, I felt like staying frustrated. But I knew play could turn things around, and it did. My invitation to you this week: When things feel tense, see if you can flip the switch to playful with a simple game. And if you can’t, that’s okay too. We’re all doing our best. Love, P.S. Something fun is coming for the holidays—stay tuned! ❄️ P.P.S. I’m gearing up to refresh a lot of my business offerings! My $5 guide, From Tired to Playful, will likely be retired by mid-November—so grab it while it’s here. 😉 Tap here to get yours! |
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.
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...
For November, I drew a cute turkey on the chalkboard pantry door and wrote “Grateful For…” and we each added things throughout the month. Come December, I felt a little sad to wipe it away. Then I thought, “Wait! Maybe we can just do a different theme each month!” So I drew a snowman and wrote “Snow Silly” and decided to write down silly things that happen that make us laugh! (Very on brand, I know). The first thing was me kissing our dog Nike under the mistletoe (because it was making my son...
I was telling my therapist yesterday how TIRED I’ve been. Yes, I have a teething 1yo and a 4yo who occasionally karate-kicks in our one big family bed. But overall I actually sleep pretty decently compared to many moms I know… So of course my inner critic jumps in with “Why are you so tired? You shouldn’t be. You’re not healthy enough. Not active enough. Not drinking enough water. You’re lazy.” That’s all normal negative self talk, right? But here’s the weird thing. THEN, I have a critical...