The playdate started out fine. My daughter was five, and we’d invited her new friend from kindergarten over for the afternoon. I’d prepped snacks, set out toys, and honestly thought it would be two hours of easy parallel play while I caught up on laundry. But within ten minutes, I heard crying. Then yelling. Then […]
Social Skills that Kids Need (And How I Teach Them Daily) Read More »
Here’s the truth: When my oldest started refusing anything green and lived on chicken nuggets for three solid months, I panicked. I stood in the supplement aisle at Target, holding a tub of kids’ protein powder, convinced I was failing at keeping my child nourished. Then I texted my pediatrician in full mom-crisis mode. Her
I was doing everything right. Or so I thought. I packed the lunches, drove to every practice, helped with homework until my eyes crossed, and made sure bedtime happened with a routine that would make any parenting book proud. But my middle kiddo? She was pulling away. More attitude, fewer cuddles, and this general sense
Simple Way to Speak Your Child’s Love Language Read More »
Three years ago, I was that mom crying in my car after another epic toddler meltdown in Target. My daughter had thrown herself on the floor because I wouldn’t buy the pink cereal, and I felt like every other parent was judging me while I tried to wrestle a screaming two-year-old into her car seat.
Best Parenting Podcasts That Actually Changed My Life Read More »
I’ll never forget the moment my seven-year-old daughter looked up at me with tears streaming down her face and whispered, “Why don’t you like me the way I am?” My heart stopped. I had no idea that my frustrated comments—things I thought were motivating her—were actually breaking her spirit piece by piece. That night changed
Things We Should Never Say To A Child (I Said #3 Daily) Read More »
I was rushing around trying to get my 4-year-old ready for preschool when she looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said, “Mama, I’m not smart enough for big kid school.” My heart absolutely broke. Where was this coming from? That moment made me realize how much our little ones absorb—not just
Affirmations for Kids: The Simple Trick That Changed My Daughter’s Self-Talk (And Mine!) Read More »
I’ll never forget the afternoon I stood in my kitchen, staring at the pile of dishes while my toddler screamed because I gave her the wrong color cup. I’d been up since 5 a.m., hadn’t showered in two days, and the only thing I’d eaten was a handful of Goldfish crackers I found in the
How to Be a Good Mother Without Losing Yourself Read More »
“Mama, can we make cookies?” These five words instantly transported me back to my childhood, standing on a chair next to my grandmother, flour dusting everything within a three-foot radius. Fast-forward to today, and I’m the one wiping sticky fingerprints off the counter while my 5-year-old proudly shows off the “perfect” cookies that look more
Easy Cookie Recipes for Kids: The Sweet Memories We’re Making One Batch at a Time Read More »
I’ll never forget the day I saw it happen right in front of me. We were in the checkout line at Target, and a little girl—maybe four years old—was losing it over a candy bar. Full meltdown mode. Screaming, crying, the whole nine yards. I braced myself for the yelling or the frantic negotiating I’d
How to Set Boundaries Without Dismissing Your Kid’s Feelings Read More »
Picture this: It’s 3 PM on a beautiful Saturday, and I’m desperately trying to pry my 6-year-old away from his iPad. “Let’s go for a nature walk!” I suggest cheerfully. The response? A dramatic eye roll and a very theatrical “That’s SO boring, Mom.” Sound familiar? I was stuck in this exact cycle until I
Nature Scavenger Hunt for Kids (The Guide That Saves Sanity) Read More »
