In the post about why I think it’s important to be happy as a mom, I wrote a little about this idea of choosing happiness in the face of negativity, and especially in the context of a messy world. As I mentioned in the original post, when I talk about choosing to be a happy mom… “I don’t mean a …
10 Things You Can Do Right Now To Be Happier
So you’ve decided you want to commit to being a happier mom. Want to be happier right this minute? Here are 10 things you can do right now to be happier. 10 Things you can do Right Now to be Happier Relax your shoulders. Unclench your jaw. Take a deep breath! (And another, and another. Slow.) Drink a glass of …
Top 5 Fathers Day Gifts
Happy June! Fathers Day is around the corner (in 2 weeks actually) and while you could wait for a week and a half an just Prime a gift then, some people like to cross things off their lists sooner rather than later. So, if you like not waiting until the last minute and if you’re looking for the best gift …
Why Be a Happy Mom?
Have you ever heard the quote, in the end, you’re the only one who can give your kids a happy mom who loves life? It’s actually a variation on a quote from the author Janene Wolsey Baadsgaard, writer of the book Grin & Share It: Raising a Family with a Sense of Humor. In the original quote, it’s phrased in …
Going from One to Two Kids
My second child is a few weeks away from turning one, which is so surreal because this has been the fastest and also craziest year of my life so far. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that going from one to two kids is life-changing (maybe not quite as much as going from no kids to …
You don’t have to text back right away!
Happiness Hack: You don’t have to text people back the second you get a text message. Ever since I became a much, much slower text-responder (motherhood, man), I’ve been thinking about how people tend to assign meaning to the amount of time that passes between their messaging you and your responding. It got me thinking about the ~rules~ around texting …
You can get out of bed when Mella turns green!
A few months ago, our 3 year old started climbing out of his bed in the mornings, and running into our room for a snuggle (or less excitingly, to turn on all the lights and demand we start the day immediately). This was fine, except slowly, that visit started to happen earlier. And earlier. and Earlier. Until eventually, it would …
Welcome to Happy Mom Guide
Being a mom is the greatest blessing and gift. But it can also be hard. Joy as a mom is also a natural part of being a mom, but being a HAPPY MOM, in an ongoing, active and intentional sort of way, can take effort! If you’re new here, first, you may want to read WHY it’s important to be …
Skincare as Self-Care
Since becoming a mom, my definition of self-care has changed. Before kids, self-care could involve entire days (or weekends) devoted to my interests or overall well-being — which might have taken the form of reading books, traveling, shopping, going out, gaming, or any number of fun (if occasionally mindless) activities. But after kids, while free time does still exist (as a …
Technology and Mindfulness
Does the ease and speed of modern technology decrease mindfulness? That is, does it inhibit us from communicating meaningfully and thoughtfully? Back in the day, when we had to write letters to friends who lived far away, or make infrequent long-distance phone calls to family in other countries, we likely put more thought and care into how (and what) we …