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'm a Goof Golly Nut Face
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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 laugh so hard when I pretended to spit out a mouthful of fur each time) When my stepdaughter got home from school, she said, “What’s this?” and I explained. She instantly took the chalk marker and wrote “Goof Golly Nut Face.” At first I thought it was just something she was making up on the spot to be silly... ...but then she said "Nope. This morning in the car, Dad said, ‘I’m a goof-golly-nut-face!’” Steve just giggled and said, “I don’t know, I was so tired and I was just trying to be funny.” Well, from there, it became a catch phrase… then a jingle (a catchy one, too!! Wish I could sing in this email)… Then while I was braiding my stepdaughter’s hair before bed she and I were envisioning a whole commercial for a nut butter company with kids eating a PB+J and peanut butter all over their face, singing the song… kind of like “I’m a Toys R Us kid” (are you with me?? 😂) And in that moment, I was reminded of how the tiniest, off-the-cuff silly moments can sometimes lead to lasting inside jokes that evolve and become core memories. Like, I can totally imagine us saying, “Oh you’re such a goof-golly-nutface” when we’re old!! So my invitation for you this week: Throw out some kind of silly catch phrase that makes no sense and if it makes your family go, "HUH??" then you’ve hit the right level of weird! And speaking of tiny moments, I have a few exciting updates, so please read below if you’d like to hear ‘em! Cheering you on always, Mia Announcements! ⬇️ 1. Big App Update I finally figured out how to put all my apps into one tidy, cute Playful Heart App Hub. If you’ve already purchased one of the previous bundles, you should have an email from me about this. If you don't see it, let me know! This new bundle includes eight apps in one place: all my prompt-based games plus the Little Moments collection with silly, low-lift ideas to make life more fun without extra time or effort. I tallied everything up this weekend and there are 1,432 prompts so far... And counting!! Proudly, from my weird brain -- NOT AI. 💞 I keep adding new ones whenever inspiration strikes. You’ll also get a printable PDF with 340 prompts in easy print-and-cut card decks for a screen-free option in the car, at dinner, or anywhere you want a quick little reset. If you want a tour of exactly what it looks like inside, tap HERE. (P.S. You can also gift this to someone!) 2. Podcast Feature I was honored to be featured on Dr. Gila’s podcast, Single Parenting with Connection (Not Perfection). The episode is called “Being Playful When You’re Running on Fumes” and even though the show is aimed at single parents, most of what we cover applies to anyone who’s exhausted and trying their best! Tap HERE to listen. 3. Advent Calendar If you’re playing the games from “Laughing All the Way,” I hope you’re loving them! And if you meant to grab these for some holiday silliness and connection, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy them. Pick your favorites, draw them from a hat, bring them out at a gathering! Tap HERE to learn more and grab it. MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING: Playful strategies for navigating everyday parenting challenges and reducing power struggles. |
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 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...
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...