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 keep learning this lesson... can you relate?
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I'm at my worst as a parent when I feel pressured to do things a certain way. For example: I lost touch with my silly side when I became a stepmom because I felt pressure to maintain strict routines and discipline. It wasn’t until I embraced my own style that I found my playfulness again. I relearned that lesson again while potty training my son this past month. I confidently went for the popular three-day method that had worked well for my stepdaughter. I committed to playfulness along the way, keeping things silly and fun. Yet on day five, I was googling “potty training broke me.” Despite his progress, we were both emotionally drained. The all-or-nothing approach just wasn’t working for us. I called my husband, sobbing, “I need to take a step back." Defeated, I bought some pull-ups, despite ALL the advice against it... But, by “giving up," I feel like I succeeded. Now, we're taking it easy with more freedom and flexibility, and he's making progress at his own pace. We're all happier and much less stressed. Here’s the beauty about incorporating *playfulness* into potty training: Three-day method? Playfulness will help. Taking it slow and easy? Playfulness will help. If potty training is in your future, download this FREE list of my favorite 11 creative, silly ideas: If you’re past that stage, think about something you can “bless and release,” as Susie of @busytoddler says! Did potty training go as you expected? Have you ever felt pressured to do something a certain way? Reply and let me know. I love hearing from you! Love, Mia P.S. I’m excited to share that I landed my first "sponsored" IG post with a brand I love, featuring this playful potty resource. I wanted to send it to you first as a thanks for staying in touch. Future collaborations like this will help me continue offering free, valuable content. Your engagement on the upcoming post will be more appreciated than you know! 🙏🏽 P.P.S. I'm experimenting with sending short, weekly emails to keep in touch. I’ll still be posting on Instagram but focusing more here to ensure you see my content. Thanks for sticking around! |
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.
Surprise! I've just made a brand new play resource: "Turkey Day Play!" It's a printable Thanksgiving-themed resource full of prompt-based games for laughter and connection. If you don't have the apps or advent calendar, this will give you a good idea of what's inside -- and if you do have them, you'll love this "gravy-flavored" version! DOWNLOAD, PRINT, AND PLAY: Turkey Day Play.pdf *perfect for family get-togethers and fun even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving! If you try these out, I'd...
The other night, my stepdaughter was telling me about a cheerleading game they played called Little Sally Walker. It's a silly dancing game I used to play with my theatre students. She said that when it was her turn, she “couldn’t think of what to do” so she just gave a shy little disco finger while everyone else was being sassy and shaking their hips... I told her I understood. It’s hard to feel that pressure in the moment. I can totally remember what that feels like. Then I asked, “What if...
You know what hits me right in the gut when it pops up in my feed? Those reels about waking up at 80 and wishing for just one more day with your kids as littles. It’s not a gut-punch because it’s wrong. It’s a gut-punch because it’s true. And it physically hurts my stomach to think I might not be soaking it up enough right now. It’s the same ache I feel when someone says, “Enjoy it, it flies by.” Even as I type this, I’m lying between my sleeping 4-year-old and 1-year-old. Not petting their...