What are your plans for the weekend?
What are you up to this weekend? It’s supposed to be dry and not freezing cold, so I imagine at least a portion of each day will be spent…
What are you up to this weekend? It’s supposed to be dry and not freezing cold, so I imagine at least a portion of each day will be spent outside with the kids digging in the backyard mud pit/garden box in our much beloved rain suits.
Their boots are always coated in mud, so I recently decided to get Dino Boy a second pair to make rainy preschool mornings easier. Not wanting to drop $25 on new boots, I stopped in Once Upon A Child with both kids in tow. We walked out 30 minutes later with no rain boots (none in his size!) in hand, but $25 in new-to-us toys. Ooops. Lesson learned — shop solo! — and new boots ordered.
Here are a few fun things that caught my eye this week…
Do you have a hobby? Before kids, I used to have a whole room in our old house for my sewing machines and fabrics. Now, I’m just happy if I can squeeze in a craft a few minutes at a time here and there. Lately, I’ve been playing around with air dry clay. It’s so cheap to make that it’s practically free. Which feels very low pressure, a lovely thing. I make a batch and then store in a baggie, and pull some out when I have a few minutes here and there. I paint when the kids are having quiet time or playing nicely together. I borrowed a few books from the library to get some inspiration. It feels really nice to do something that’s just for fun! and that’s easy on the budget.
If you have an iPhone, it might be a good idea to turn on this new safety feature. So much of our lives are on our phones now, so it’s better to be safe than sorry!
I took the kids to Ikea solo yesterday, which would have been overwhelming just to think about when they were younger. We ate lunch and I did the shopping that I needed to do. Made me a little weepy thinking about those first few months when I was a new mom to two under 2 and how hard it was to get out the door just to take a walk around the block. All of us often ended up in tears. Wish I could go back and give myself a hug and say some day this will be easier.
What are you watching right now? We just finished Jury Duty, and oh my! was it delightfully funny. You may not be completely sold after the first episode, so give it a chance. Just thinking about the chair pants will send me into fits of giggles. It was surprisingly heartwarming. On Wednesdays, I ask my Instagram pals what they’re watching and they recommended: Reacher, True Detective, Beef, No Offence, Schitt’s Creek, and The Crown.
I think I’m at an age where advice like this just makes me LOL
I’m making a double batch of these bars this morning. Dropping half off — plus waffles, bacon, and some other snacks — to a mom from Dino Boy’s preschool who gave birth last week.
I started Demon Copperhead this week, and holy heck. The writing is so good, but I just know it’s going to break my heart. My Instagram pals also recommended: The Blonde Identity, Big Little Lies, Beach Read, The Two Lives of Lydia Byrd, Technically Yours, and The Other Mothers.
I’m still mourning that someone bought this dress before I did.
I think I’m going to do this for our Valentine’s this year — how cute!
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Hello, January!
Are you feeling reflective as we head into the New Year, but not where to start? I’m feeling like I could use a little help, too. Here’s your free guide for reflecting, dreaming, and planning out the first month of the year.
Are you feeling reflective as we head into the New Year, but not where to start? Here’s your free downloadable guide for reflecting, dreaming, and planning out the first month of the year.
As we head into a new month and a new year, I could use a little help goal setting and figuring out how I would like to feel at the end of January. I created this guide for myself, but thought it might be helpful for you, too, so wanted to share. I’ve included a calendar of things I’d like to accomplish each day. I included a blank calendar in case my routine doesn’t work for you and you want to create one for yourself.
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Four Fun Things
Play-Doh has quickly become my after nap and quiet time savior. Dino Boy usually plays with it for nearly an hour while Sunshine Girl finishes her nap. Then they’ll usually work together for about 30 minutes before things start going sideways and we move on. Our once colorful collection of Play-Doh has become a now yucky gray, so it might be time to stock up on some new containers or maybe try to make my own? Now that my kids are entertained, it’s time to share with you four fun things…
Play-Doh has quickly become my after nap and quiet time savior. Dino Boy usually plays with it for nearly an hour while Sunshine Girl finishes her nap. Then they’ll usually work together for about 30 minutes before things start going sideways and we move on. Our once colorful collection of Play-Doh has become a now yucky gray, so it might be time to stock up on some new containers or maybe try to make my own? Now that my kids are entertained, it’s time to share with you four fun things…
If you’re in need of a little escapism, how delightful does Aunt Dora’s cottage look? I can just imagine cozying up with a cup of hot tea before taking a meandering walk down to the water. There are so many beautiful details like the beam in the kitchen window and the dutch door. Such a dreamy home!
Want to keep the blues away? According to this article from NPR, sleeping, eating well, getting some exercise, and spending time with friends are among some of the best things you can do. It’s a good reminder that while sleep is out of my control at this stage of life with toddlers, there are many things I can do to help feel my best. It may be time to revisit this book on getting outside with kids even when the weather is crap, because I’m certainly a happier person when I get a daily walk in.
When I was using the restroom in the public library the other day, their bathroom reading caught my eye. It reminded me of the newsletter that we used to have in my sorority house announcing upcoming events and other tidbits to keep everyone on the same page. I’m bookmarking this for when my kids become teens and life is a little busier. How helpful would it be to print out a little family newsletter/calendar and stick in your bathrooms?!
Speaking of the future, I loved this article about turning 50 and how the author’s family life revolves around their porch. The comments are quite something, though. A mix of angry readers and sage elders sharing their wisdom.
That’s what’s on my mind lately. How about you?
Feeling Seen As A Mom
Yesterday as I was running errand, I noticed something so delightful to me as a mom of toddlers…
Yesterday as I was running errands, I noticed something so delightful to me as a mom of toddlers: a step stool in a public restroom of Target. It may sound silly, but it helped me feel so seen as a mother. I appreciated not having to awkwardly hold up a wriggly child while they wash their hands.
It got me thinking about other times that I’ve felt seen as a mom.
The time that a complete stranger held up an umbrella to keep me dry while I got my toddler and newborn unloaded from the car during one of my first solo outings as a mom of two.
Or when I look at these beautiful paintings by Mary Cassatt. Swap out the clothing and hair styles, and it would look like modern motherhood. The push-pull of adoring your children and needing a break. The toddler attitude. Some things are just timeless.
Or just about any poem in this well worn and coffee- and breastmilk-stained book by Kate Baer. I always give a copy to friends when I find out that they’re expecting their first. It’s like a warm hug from a wise friend.
When have you felt seen as a mother?
That’s Not My Job! Little Kids and Chores
Dino Boy, age 3, has recently started telling me, “That’s not my job!” when I ask him for help with…
Dino Boy, age 3, has recently started telling me, “That’s not my job!” when I ask him for help with small tasks around the house. Like taking his plate to the sink after a meal or picking up the mess that he helped create. I know that this is part of normal toddler pushback. I remember my sweet niece telling me that her legs weren’t working when she was Dino Boy’s age and I’d ask for help.
Dino Boy helped hang this towel up in the bathroom.
All of this has me thinking about kids and chores. It’s often faster and easier and certainly less frustrating to do things myself. But I want to raise capable kids who are more conscientious housemates (sorry, old roomies!) and partners than I was and still can be.
Children who do chores have higher self-esteem and may be better equipped to deal with frustration. All good things, obviously.
For now, I ask Dino Boy to clear his plate from the table and either place in the sink or dishwasher. I ask for help sorting laundry (find your undies and put them away and put the washcloths on the counter in the bathroom). And I also have him “help” with putting fresh sheets on his bed. We don’t have set jobs, but I’m wondering if we should.
Sunshine Girl, age 1.5, is at that delightful age when she will enthusiastically help with anything. Just maybe not skillfully. So she wipes down the table. And helps put laundry in the dryer.
So how do you deal with chores and little kids? A chore chart? Do you give an allowance or rewards or are chores just part of their daily responsibilities?
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My Ordinary Life: Kayla, Creator of SJB Steal the Joy Back
Meet Kayla — a stay at home mama of five kiddos and creator of SJB Steal the Joy Back. A community for mamas where you’re seen and heard.
I’m Kayla — a stay at home mama of five kiddos and creator of SJB Steal the Joy Back. A community for mamas where you’re seen and heard. I focus on de-stigmatizing maternal mental health and empowering mamas to find joy even in the chaos (you can imagine the chaos I live in daily with all these kids🤣).
What is an ordinary moment in your life that you never take for granted?
Good conversations and laughter. After my step-father who raised me passed away from stomach cancer 3 days after he told us how bad it had gotten, I know that even the simplest conversations mean everything.
On a lighter note, I love to laugh and my hubby is like my best friend. We just crack up at the simplest things and then, when it’s not even funny anymore, our laughter has been so contagious we just keep going. I LOVE to make my kiddos laugh too!
What is the kindest thing that someone has done for you?
There have been so many random acts of kindness in my life. One time I was at the dollar store to grab a few items. The man who was paying in front of me dropped a dollar bill. I picked it up and let him know he hadn’t seen it fall. It was my turn and the cashier started to ring my items up. I thought he was just slowly putting the cash away as he grabbed his bags, but he really paid for all my stuff. Little did he know, I was a broke college kid working as a waitress using my credit card for those items.
What is the best part of the stage of life that you’re in?
Right now I’m in my “raising my babies” era after officially closing my “having babies” era. We have five kiddos all together so we made the decision that our fifth would be our last baby. It’s just the best to soak in every moment with him. I know how fast time flies so it’s just bittersweet. He just turned 5 months old and he’s just the happiest baby I’ve ever had.
What is the best thing under $100 that you’ve purchased that has made a positive impact on your life?
Easily “Real Self-Care” by Pooja Lakshmin. She talks about how self care is really about doing the work for your inner self rather than just getting your nails done or taking five minutes to yourself. I’m a huge advocate of therapy and I’ve been through it myself, so I love what the book focuses on and it really had a positive impact on my life!
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Ok.. Ok… don’t make fun, but i’m always down to watch some Kardashians! The new seasons on Hulu are great. In the am before the kiddos wake up or the pm when they’ve all gone to sleep, I like to slip in an episode here and there.
What do you hope that your children remember about you?
I want them to remember I was always there. I want them to remember how much I love(d) them. And most importantly, I want them to remember mama tried her best, even on the bad days.
Mood Boosting Playlists for Families
While I’m a big fan of keeping it real, sometimes you have to fake it before you make it. And by that, I mean doing all that you can to manage your mood. Below are some of my favorite playlists for battling the grumps, taming a toddler, or having a killer family dance party — click on the photo to get playing!
Favorite playlists by moods
