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.
The trend I can’t jump on
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There’s a social media trend going around where people say: “I used to be cool but now I say things like…” And then they share something wholesome or weird or very parent-y But… I never used to be “cool.” At least, I sure didn’t *feel* like it! Not “popular” Goofy and quirky when I felt safe On stage in the school musicals And as a theatre performer in adulthood. In theatre, goofiness, creativity, and general weirdness are celebrated — it’s why I loved teaching theatre to middle schoolers 🙌 But in Nashville as a singer-songwriter I felt pressure to be cool To be edgy To present a version of myself that wasn’t fully me (only partly me) (I don’t miss that aspect!!) As a parent, it took time to find my groove… But now I see how much my weirdness, my playfulness, my creativity have helped shaped the atmosphere of our home. It has strengthened my relationship with my stepdaughter It has made toddlerhood lighter It’s already impacting how I parent my baby girl and she was born into a house full of laughter and weirdness and fun. 🥹 It took me a longgggg time to learn this, but “be yourself” really is dang good advice. So here’s my little weekly invitation for you: Reflect on something unique about yourself! Maybe it’s something you felt self-conscious about in your younger years… Maybe it’s something you’re just starting to appreciate now… Bonus points if it’s something that has actually come in handy as a parent! Cheering you on always, Mia P.S. Do you relate to the never feeling “cool” thing? I feel like there must be so many of us right? Did the “cool” people even feel cool? What even IS “cool?” 🤔😆😎🆒 (you can actually reply I’d love to know your thoughts) P.P.S. For anyone who already has Little Moments for Big Laughs… I just dropped a bunch of new fun “little moment” prompts into the generator! Let me know if you spot em! 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!) program that helps you tap into your own creativity and playfulness — even when you're running on empty. What participants are calling the “missing piece” in their parenting puzzle. |
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.
There’s this trend on social media, maybe you’ve seen it - short videos saying… “I’m bored. Tell me your wildest hack for ___. I don’t mean basic, I mean unhinged.” Honestly though some of those comment sections have some really interesting tips! But what I get hung up on is like… You’re “BORED??” Adults get bored? I don’t! I don’t have the time or space to be bored. I wish I could be bored! I don’t think parents even remember what it feels like to be bored. Right? Maybe… and I’m literally...
“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...
“This room is driving me CRAZY!” I huffed as I pushed a couch to the other side of the room while holding a clingy baby on my hip The living room was crammed with stuff, the furniture so oddly arranged that walking wasn’t even possible. “Why is it driving you crazy? It’s just a room!” My 3yo… The voice of innocence… and wisdom!! All I could do was laugh. Because he was RIGHT! It reminded me of a song that Leah S., one of the parents in the first round of Activate Play Mode, made up. The...