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.
Our morning was pretty rough until I said this one line (it's NOT what you're expecting)
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Father's Day morning was off to a rough start in our house... It was like each kid was taking turns having a hard time... which was then making me more stressed than usual because of the pressure of it to be a happy day for my husband. (Ugh, holidays can be so weird like that you know??) I had a picture in my head of how it was going to go and it was quickly disintegrating. Once everyone was semi-chill and together on the couch, I grabbed the "Dad Libs" I'd made for the Father's Day games and got words from everyone to fill in the blank. When I read this one line, we all lost it and I had tears pouring out of my eyes from laughing: For just a moment, I felt all the tension dissipate. It was like a reset button for all of us, but especially for ME! Was the rest of the day 100% perfect with no attitudes, meltdowns, or squabbles? I'll give you a hint: the answer to that is the same answer to this: Can my husband REALLY play the saxophone like that?? (ANSWER: That would be cool, but of course not.) But the truth is, before I grabbed the Father's Day games, I actually had the thought, "I don't even think playfulness can help right now, everyone is just so OFF!" - and while sometimes it's true, it's not the right tool for the moment, I have been proved wrong time and time again with that thought. It was the perfect amount of laughter to reset myself and move on, go with the flow, and have a mostly awesome day celebrating Steve. 🥰 My invitation for you this week: If you are feeling off, try looking for a silly moment where a quick family game or laugh could be possible. If you need inspiration, take a glance at my free play break bingo sheet! (If you don't have it, here it is: Play Break Bingo - PHP.pdf) Cheering you on always, Mia 💞 MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING: My all-time favorite improv games for family connection! Prompt-based games and easy, silly moment ideas (1500+ prompts and counting!) 11 core strategies for using play as a tool for more ease and joy in parenting. |
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.
Recently I shared one of our favorite ways to get in pajamas... I say, "Who wants to do an Abra-pajama?" and then the kids pose while I film them saying "Abra-pa..." in their normal clothes - then I pause the video - then they rush to get in PJs - then I resume the video once they're back in their original pose and they say "-JAMA!" And it's like a magic trick! (aka a "transition video") (here's the video if you want a little more explanation!) Lotttts of parents tried this with their kids...
I am historically very emotional person. A CRIER. No, no, no not THAT kind of "crier" Yes, THAT kind of crier. That's the one! But to be vulnerable with you, since taking medication for my anxiety, the tears don't come as often. I'm not complaining, per se, because I still feel my feelings, just not quite as heightened all the time... but it is a little weird when I feel like I need to cry but kind of... can't? Anyway, last Friday an unexpected spider-related incident happened that made me...
I have a new, wonderful friend named Jen. We met in person here in Nashville at our mutual friend Eli’s book tour stop (shout out @attachmentnerd and her awesome new book!!), and Jen and I had one of these moments: We bonded immediately over our love for improv, fart humor, being stepmoms, and just general jolly weirdness. A few days later, she texted me that she was having her weekly “inner child date” and was using my new “What Should We Doodle” app (part of the PHP app bundle). She then...