There is something incredibly freeing about realizing the only important moment is right now. To think that the negatives of yesterday can stay there, that any mistakes you made before can be learned from and moved past. “Blink your eyes, and the world you see next did not exist when you closed them.” There is a … More “The Perfect Moment is Now.”
This is one of my all-time favorite preschool/toddler activities. They think it’s silly and it’s a great tool to help them identify and discuss feelings. It’s really simple. Take pictures of your kiddo making different faces for the different emotions. You may have to demonstrate what you’re looking for and that’s totally okay. Easy ones … More The Emotions Book
A while ago, I came across a really interesting article on actress Gina Rodriguez and her sisters. In a rags to riches storyline, they talked about how even though the family didn’t always had it easy, there was this strong mantra (courtesy of her father) that they repeated at the start of every day- “Today … More “I can and I will.”
So this is one of the easiest activities we do that actually holds Ava’s attention for a long time. I found this metal piggy bank in Target’s dollar section in the front of the store (one of my favorite places for quick grab activities). We have a coin jar (where all the random coins go … More Small Motor Coins
I remember this moment so vividly. Ava was one month old and was going to have a weigh-in at the doctor appointment to see if she had gotten back up to birth weight. They told us if she didn’t make it, she would have to have surgery. Ava’s birth weight was 5 lbs 12 oz, … More Two Years Ago
This week, we decided it was time for Ava to move from crib to big girl bed! She is getting close to the high limit for the crib, and honestly I just kinda knew it was time. I was watching her on the monitor and it just hit me – let’s do this NOW. I’m … More Ava’s Big Girl Bed
This is one of my favorite spur-of-the-moment ideas I’ve had. I think I’d seen this done before but never tried it myself. I was shopping at the Dollar Tree (one of my favorite places to get kid stuff) and saw some floral foam bricks and some fake flowers so I just went for it. In hindsight, … More Play Flower Garden Activity
I got to prep a Fourth of July sensory table for Ava this weekend. I picked up some red, white and blue glass mosaic stones from a craft store, then printed and laminated some clip art. I like to try to add words in there to help develop literacy skills. Ava played with the glass … More Fourth of July Sensory Bin
Today was all about magnet play. I found these magnetic wands on Amazon- did you know they are really for bingo? These colorful chips have a metal ring around the edge so you can use the wands to pick up the pieces easily after bingo games. I’ve only seen them in classrooms before, so it … More Magnet Play
When I was 14, I started my struggle with depression. It was ugly and dark and constantly felt like a weight I couldn’t get out from underneath. I hated myself and the world at the same time. I lashed out at the people around me, while simultaneously smothering them with neediness. I knew things weren’t … More Thoughts on Positivity
Noticing the Happy 