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.
What do you actually remember?
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I don’t remember many specific gifts I got for Christmas as a kid. The only one I really recall was “Sally Secrets”—a doll with stamps and stickers hidden inside (yeah, it was pretty cool). My husband remembers getting a “WrestleMania” wrestling ring… But what we both really cherish and remember is the feelings and the moments of joy we shared with family. One of my favorite traditions growing up was listening to the Nutcracker. We’d put on a whole living-room performance every year, roping friends into it. (I always played the Rat King) Dad filmed, and he’d sneak whoopee cushion sounds into the background. Our “bloopers reel” had us crying with laughter every single year. These are the kind of memories that have stuck with me into adulthood. What do you remember most? I asked my Instagram community this question, and the responses were heartwarming. My hunch was right. Most of us don’t remember the actual gifts (aside from one or two special ones). What we really remember is: 🎄 Togetherness — family dinners, cousins’ laughter, playing charades. For many, Christmas was the one day everyone prioritized joy... ...and quite a few made a point to say it’s the one day they could count on their parents being happy and having fun. I say this with so much compassion and zero judgment: I think we all hope our kids remember us as joyful and fun for more than just one day a year. Prioritize joy this season That’s why I created “Laughing All the Way,” a playful advent calendar packed with easy, silly prompts to help you make magical memories this December — without adding to your stress (and hopefully reducing it!) 💡 Takes 10 minutes or less each day Let’s be accountability partners for connection and joy this season! 👉 Tap here to grab Laughing All the Way for the price of a fancy holiday latte Warm hugs, ☃️ P.S. I’d love to hear about your favorite holiday memories! It’s so fun to read them, and it’s also a great way to reflect on what made those moments so special. Just hit reply. ❤️ P.P.S. I'll be sending a few reminders about this before the month is up, but you can opt out of them by tapping here! |
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...