• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Many Little Joys

  • Shop
  • Parenthood
  • Crafts & Activities
  • Food
  • About
  • Disclosure
You are here: Home / Archives for motherhood

motherhood

Our Newest Little Joy: Birth Story

Every birth story is so unique, and I find it fascinating to hear the details of how people bring their babies into the world. Here’s the story of how we welcomed our newest little joy.

I’ve been absent around here for the past week, but that’s because big things have been happening at home…or one big little thing, I suppose. Much to my surprise, we welcomed our newest son into the world on Tuesday afternoon, a week and a half before his due date. We’re all healthy and recovering well at home now, so I thought I would share our whirlwind story with you all. Feel free to skip it if personal details and squishy baby pictures aren’t your thing. …

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

When you wonder if you’re a good mom…

If you’ve ever questioned whether you are a good mom, remember this one simple piece of advice I was given recently by an experienced mom…If you've ever questioned whether you are a "good" mom, remember this one simple piece of advice I was given recently by an experienced mom...Do you ever question yourself in motherhood? Do you ever wonder if you were really, truly cut out for this task?

I do. All too often….

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

The day that naptime died: transitioning to quiet time

Naptime is precious time for moms…but eventually kids outgrow it. Here’s how we’ve transitioned to quiet time instead and saved everyone’s sanity. Naptime is precious time for moms...but eventually kids outgrow it. Here's how we've transitioned to quiet time instead and saved everyone's sanity.

Note: This post includes affiliate links to products I have used and loved, but as always feel free to shop around for the best deals. See my disclosure to learn more.

It was ten o’clock on a Sunday night. My husband and I had been struggling for TWO hours to get our boys (ages 3 and 5) to go to sleep, and we were both at our wits’ end. Sadly, this wasn’t a rare occurrence in our house at the time. For the past month and a half, this had been the story more evenings than not, and we had reached a breaking point. …

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Life lessons from the sandbox & my purpose in mothering

Do you ever find yourself wondering WHY you do all the daily tasks that keep you busy as a mom? Here’s what I learned about my purpose in mothering…all while digging in the sandbox.You you ever find yourself wondering WHY you do all the things you do as a mom? Here's what I learned about my purpose in mothering...all while digging in the sandbox. On summer evenings, I love to take my boys outside to play after dinner. The heat of the day starts to subside, and once the sun dips below the roof line of the house, we can venture outdoors without melting. For that little time before bed, we can kick a ball around, check the fruits of our little garden, and dig in the sandbox in our shady backyard. …

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

What my four-year-old taught me about making friends

Somewhere between age three and thirty, we complicate the process of making friends. Here’s what my four-year-old is teaching me about reaching out to others.
Somewhere between age three and thirty, we complicate the process of making friends. Here's what my four-year-old is teaching me about reaching out to others.

This morning I was at the park with my two little boys. It was one of the first really warm, sunny days of the year, and I was thrilled. So we packed up a picnic, and headed to the park for lunch….

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Motherhood is hard…and that’s okay

Motherhood is hard…and that’s okay. The most important things in life always are.Motherhood is hard...and that's okay. All the worthwhile things in life are.Dear fellow overwhelmed mommas,

Has anyone admitted the truth to you?… Motherhood is HARD.

We knew that before we started down this road though, right? Or did we? People told us about the sleepless nights and the blowouts, about the tantrums and the never ending requests for more snacks. But we didn’t really know, did we?…

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Letting go of perfectionism: understanding opportunity cost in motherhood

Moms have to do it all…or do they? When we understand the full cost of the choices we make, we are able to let go of perfectionism and better utilize our time and energy to focus on what matters most in life.
Moms have to do it all...or do they? When we understand the full cost of the choices we make, we are able to let go of perfectionism and better utilize our time and energy to focus on what matters most in life.I am a perfectionist by nature. I like things neat and organized, and I abhor clutter. I even eat my Skittles in reverse rainbow order for goodness sake (I know, I’m weird).

In many ways, my perfectionism has served me well in life. I was always a good student in school, I had a successful career as a teacher, and I have a box of certificates and plaques for countless hours spent trying to produce the best possible work in any situation….

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

The Many Little Joys of October

Happy Halloween, my friends!

little-joys-of-october-cover

Disclaimer: This post is unsponsored (just sharing things I love); however, it does include affiliate links to the products mentioned. As always, feel free to shop around for the best deal! See my disclosure for more info.

Little Man is thrilled that he has preschool on Halloween so he gets to wear his costume and go trick-or-treating at school. We also get to go trick-or-treating at Daddy’s work (my boys think it’s the coolest thing ever to visit Dad’s office), and then more trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. By the end of the day, I’m sure we’ll have far more candy than we know what to do with.

What are your plans for the holiday? Or have you been so busy celebrating all month long that you’re ready to be done?…

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Things we forget when we grow up

In a world that seems to make our little ones grow up so quickly and pushes all of us to be high-achievers, my kids are a constant reminder to me to remain childlike regardless of my age.

things-we-forget-when-we-grow-up-cover “Grow up, already!” I sometimes plead inside my head to my children on a long, hard day.

I don’t really want my kids to grow up yet…at least not all the way. But sometimes it seems like it would be nice to have them grow up just a little…just enough to be able to tie their own shoes and get their own drinks of water without leaving puddles on my kitchen floor.

Other times–when I’m not too sleep-deprived or exhausted from refereeing sibling rivalry wars all day–I see my children for more than the messes, the fights, and the constant need of something from me. In those moments, I see them for…

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Motherhood Uncropped

In a virtual world of “Pinterest perfection,” let’s remember to celebrate the beauty of the everyday, imperfect realities of life and motherhood, even when they don’t seem particularly share-worthy.In a virtual world of "Pinterest perfection," let's remember to celebrate the beauty of the everyday, imperfect realities of life and motherhood, even when they don't seem particularly share-worthy.I have a love/hate relationship with the Internet. With technology in general, really, but especially with the Internet and all of the images on social media that bombard us every day. I love all the things I can look up quickly to answer my four-year-old’s questions about things like “What is a water tower for?” (In case you’re now wondering, here’s the answer.)

I love that I can get ideas for teaching my kids preschool, cute Halloween costumes, and limitless recipes. I love that I’ve learned how to refinish furniture, start a blog, and get my whites truly white again….

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
« Previous Page
Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Let’s be friends…

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework