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.
Secretly a beaver?!
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Well, last night was… a doozy of an evening with the kids. Everything felt too intense to be playful. I even said out loud to my 9-year-old stepdaughter, “I don’t feel very Playful Heart Parenting right now.” And the truth is playfulness wouldn’t have even been appropriate given everything that was going on and how heightened the emotions were all around. Later, after things had settled, my son said something silly that turned into a hilarious misheard moment where my stepdaughter blurted out, “Wait.. my teacher is secretly a beaver?!” It didn’t make sense and it didnt have to. We all laughed, even my husband over speakerphone. I almost didn’t let myself laugh. I was still carrying the weight of the evening. But I did. I laughed as I chopped bell peppers. And then I cried a little later after my finger got smushed and it was the last straw. Both helped. Both were needed. This morning we did tongue twisters at breakfast (“Unique New York” and “Toy Boat” five times fast) … It was silly and simple and enough to reset the tone of our day. I took a breath and told myself, “Even if today goes south like yesterday, we are having this moment right now and that counts.” I share all this because I’ll never stop reminding you (and myself): The playful ideas I share aren’t meant to be used 24/7. They’re for moments. And sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is give ourselves permission to not be playful, until a little spark shows up again… and then we can choose to lean in (even if our brain doesn’t want to) So here’s my little invitation for you this week: Let levity sneak in. You deserve that breath of lightness. And if you need a concrete idea to kick off some laughter, feel free to steal that tongue twister idea! Cheering you on always, Mia 💞 MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING: LITTLE MOMENTS FOR BIG LAUGHS: Quick and easy, random, silly ideas for connection through laughter – just for the sake of fun! A bingeable (and actually fun!) course that helps you tap into your own creativity and playfulness — even when you're running on empty. With practical strategies you can use right away to feel more present, lighthearted, and connected. |
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.
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“I know the truth.” That’s the mantra I’ve developed over the last few years. When I started Playful Heart Parenting I thought I’d have to grow “thicker skin” to deal with criticism on the internet. It felt like part of the deal. No way around it. What I didn’t know yet is that the criticism would sometimes bleed into my real, non-internet life too, from people who know me personally. But guess what? Two and a half years later, I have not grown thicker skin. Criticism still stings. It still...
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