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.
I turned 39 yesterday. Here’s what I’m taking with me into my last year of my 30s… …and what I’d like to leave behind! TAKING WITH ME (Or prioritizing if I’ve let it slip lately) • Games at mealtimes (Plot Twist is still a hit with my son!) • Being my authentic, comfy, messy self online • Laughing more with my husband (not just with the kids) • Trying at least one silly little thing a day (lately I’ve been pulling from my own Little Moments collection) • Telling my kids how much I love...
My fam was in town this past weekend. My sweet son turned four(!!) and my mom, sis, and dad flew out to celebrate. We packed a lot in and while sometimes quick visits like this can feel stressful, this was a great weekend full of moments that helped everyone laugh and loosen up so I want to share them with you now! 1- Name That (Minion) Tune We sang songs like the minions from “despicable me” and it’s literally so fun for all ages (even grandpa played) - tip, just sing the syllables...
The other night, I caught myself thinking something that wasn’t true. It had been one of those tricky days. The older two were bickering. My son was being too rough with the baby (my biggest trigger). I lost my temper. But then dinner shifted everything. Just me and the kids, waiting for my husband, connecting through my favorite way: collaborative storytelling. (We each tell a few sentences, then say “popcorn!” to pass it on.) That night’s story was called Nigel and the Beast 😂 Quick...