With tears now gone, I have no signal to the outside
That I am drowning on the inside
Breathing normal but my beats are skipping
No one can see that my heart is ripping
Feeling alone but I’m surrounded
My mind keeps drifting, I can’t stay grounded
Guess I’ll stay here for a while
Imagining your smile
I can feel your hugs and your warmth around me
Millions of people down here yet you’ve found me
I’ll stay in my thoughts as long as I need
Pretending I’m present since no one can see
Looks like I’m here but I’m with grief…
If you have lost someone you love while pregnant or during your journey of motherhood, please know that are not alone. You are allowed to feel sadness, loneliness, pain, anger, and any emotion that comes with your grief and still be a great mother to your babies. Allow yourself to be human even when it feels like you must be a superhero. Grief can feel very lonely so try to make sure you have a good support system or at least one person you can talk to when your to overwhelmed. You’re doing a great job, take one day at a time and everything is going to be okay. You got this mama!
Once your little one is done with all the soft foods and is ready for the big stuff it can get a little overwhelming trying to figure out the foods you want to introduce them to and finding easy ways to give them the nutrition they need. One of my favorite parts of the day is snack time because its honestly the least overwhelming part of mealtime for me. It’s fun to put together different combinations and it’s fun to learn what your little one loves and absolutely hates. I am a mom that likes to keep things simple in the kitchen and I like to find the easiest and fastest snacks I can, so I wanted to share some of my 2-year old’s favorite snack combinations.
Easy snack ideas that you can mix with others and make all your own combinations
Sliced bananas on toast with peanut butter and blueberries
Fruity breakfast bar and a glass of milk
Honey nut cheerios and bananas
Yogurt and mixed fruit with oats
Apple cinnamon or brown sugar oatmeal
Grilled cheese with tomatoes
Crackers and hummus
Avocado toast with sliced tomatoes
Pizza lunchables
Veggie sticks
Goldfish and peach slices
A cheese stick, sliced pears and wheat crackers
Sliced cucumbers, cheese stick, tomatoes, sliced avocado, black olives and crackers
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich and sliced pears
Sliced apples, sliced grapes, and grilled cheese
Little bites blue berry muffins and sliced bananas
Sliced pita bread, hummus, and sliced apples
Veggie stick chips and grilled cheese
Cheeze it crackers and mixed fruit
Ritz bits cheese crackers and sliced apples
Sliced cucumber, sliced avocado and sliced imitation crab meat
Snack time shouldn’t feel like a job or be a pain allow yourself to have fun with it. I try not to get so caught up in what I think goes together and just make sure I’m giving my toddler healthy and fun snacks that I know she will eat and enjoy. Don’t feel bad if some of it ends up on the floor, in your toddler’s hair or hidden somewhere. Your little one will eat what they like and get the nutrients they need to grow beautifully. Have fun mixing in the kitchen!
Fall is here and it is truly one of my favorite seasons of the year. I love the weather change, the colorful leaves, and the smell of pumpkin spice in the air. Now that I have children, I want to get them on board with me with enjoying the seasons changing and looking forward to the different activities we can do together each season. I have a list of activities I plan to do with my little ones this fall and wanted to share to get you all in the fall spirit as well.
Fall paper crafts
My 2-year-old daughter Marley and I have already started our fall crafts and she is loving every bit of it. At first, I wasn’t sure how many crafts we could do together with her being so young, but these little people can really surprise you once you give them the opportunity to be creative. She has been asking me almost every day to do a new fall craft and honestly it doesn’t take much as long you have construction paper, glue, crayons, scissors, paint random items around the house like paper plates and toilet tissue rolls and you can get as creative as you wish together. If you need inspiration head over to any social media app and look for fun ideas to do together.
Go on a leaf hunt
The weather will start to get a little chillier but bundle up the kiddies and head outside for a leaf hunt. Get a basket or something to hold the leaves in and let your kids have fun collecting all the pretty colors they see. They will enjoy picking out their favorite leaves and collecting them.
Use fall leaves for crafts
If you decide to go out and collect some leaves you can use the leaves in different fall crafts by gluing them or stringing them onto different ideas. The kids will enjoy seeing the leaves they picked out displayed different ways and hanging them up will add to your fall home décor.
Jump in a pile of leaves
A very simple but fun thing to do for kids that they seem to love so much is raking the leaves together and letting them jump inside. They will love the sound the leaves make and enjoy throwing all the leaves up in the air. It’s a fun way to let them run out some energy and make a mess that you won’t have to immediately clean up.
Go apple picking
Living in upstate NY does have its perks when fall comes around because we have apple orchards to visit, if you don’t have one very close make a mini trip or adventure out of it. The kids will enjoy picking out their own apples and trying all the different flavors. The orchards also have delicious treats like apple donuts and fresh apple cider for your whole family to enjoy.
Go to a pumpkin patch
Visiting a pumpkin patch will be so much fun for the kiddies and really the whole family. You guys can pick out your favorite pumpkins and enjoy all the fun activities they will have to offer. They usually have hayrides, corn mazes and little games for the kids.
Bake fall treats
I must be honest my most favorite thing about fall is all the delicious fall themed treats. All the apple flavor, pumpkin flavor, cinnamon, and ginger it just makes me so happy. If you pick apples or pumpkins or even just purchase them from your local grocery store you can have a lot of fun baking treats with and for your kids. Social media has so many ideas to get creative with it. You can include them in on the decorating, like decorating pies, candy apples, cookies, smores and brownies and then sit down and eat your fun creations together.
Decorate pumpkins
Once you have your favorite pumpkins that you have picked either from the store or the pumpkin patch you and the kids can add silly faces or paint them and just be as creative as you wish with your pumpkins. You can also carve them into all different shapes and characters.
Make fall themed sensory items
Sensory items are a great way to help your child explore with sorting, touching, shaking, pouring and it helps them with their motor skills. Parents have been getting very creative with sensory play and you can even make it themed to whatever you like. Grabbing different items that remind you of fall and adding them to bins or bottles for them to learn and play with will be fun and help keep them entertained for a little while.
Rent a cabin
Finding a beautiful scenic cabin for your family during the fall time will be a nice way to get away, spend quality time together and enjoy some games, movie nights and fun fall foods.
Go Camping
Honestly camping is not my thing, but tents are. I love a good tent, so I plan to have camping themed nights right in the middle of my living room or on my back porch. During summer my daughter and I loved hanging out in our tent right in our back yard during the day. If you love to camp fall is an amazing time of the year to sit around a big fire, make smores and enjoy time with your kids and family.
Go on a scavenger hunt
The windy days of fall tend to push a lot of nature items all over the yards, take your little ones outside to hunt for pinecones, twigs, leaves, worms, watch birdies really whatever your littles are into!
Go fall shopping
Shopping for fall is one of my favorites because of all the layers there’s beanies, scarves, boots, booties, jackets, just so many options. It is one of the best times of year to me to get creative with layers and have fun matching all the colors. You get to purchase items that can transition to winter as well so you get double the seasonal shopping and more excuse to purchase things.
Hopefully this list gets you into the fall spirit and has you pumped to enjoy activities with your little ones this season! Have fun, tap into your creative side, make memories that will last and have a great fall!
Your little one or all your little ones are finally taking a nap! I don’t even think I can express in words the feeling of oh thank goodness a mom feels when her kiddies are napping peacefully. From the moment a mama wakes up to the moment she goes to sleep she is constantly doing something for her children, prepping something for her children or doing something with her children and for working mamas before their shift and after their shift they are most likely in mommy mode. Mommy mode is pretty much a full-time job. Before you have a kid one of the main sayings you hear is make sure you sleep when the baby sleeps, so that you try to catch up on at least some of the rest you’re missing but honestly many of us do not sleep during that time and use the kids napping as a way to get things done. Now that I have two children, I have learned very quickly that there are honestly just not enough hours in the day to get all the things I would want to get done so if I am not exhausted, I see it as a good time to be productive or not so productive, however I feel that day. Here ‘s a list of a few things I do and I’m sure a lot of other moms do when we have the free time.
Take a shower
Believe it or not moms miss showers. I know sounds gross but when you have little ones especially, sometimes you just don’t feel like a shower goes over other needs or things that you need to get done. If you have a small baby, you don’t want to leave them unattended and if you have a toddler and a little one your to terrified to leave them alone together. Sometimes you can be so busy cleaning, cooking scheduling appointments or chasing around your kids that you totally forget to shower. When those kids finally rest their eyes it’s the perfect time to grab your favorite soaps and bath or shower aroma therapy items and just enjoy a nice warm shower. Even it’s for a few short minutes it can really boost your mood and make you feel a lot better during the day.
Go to the bathroom
When you have kids, privacy becomes a thing of the past most of the time and most of the time when you go to the bathroom you have visitors. You don’t get to just handle your business in peace or it can be interrupted by a loud noise, cry or a little person asking you a million questions the whole time. So yep, mamas do use nap time to poo, sorry not sorry.
Eat snacks
I have so many treats that I just don’t want to share sometimes but I always end up sharing. Well, when my 2-year-old is napping that is my chance to raid the kitchen and eat ice cream, chips anything I can enjoy in peace. Something about little greedy fingers not reaching for my snack just makes it taste so much better.
Watch TV or YouTube
My TV is mostly on fun educational shows and animated dancing shows all day so much that I can hear it when it’s not even playing so when I get the chance to turn it off and watch something with real humans it is such a treat. I use nap time to binge any shows I need to catch up on or look for stuff on YouTube to watch and enjoy.
Check social media apps
I love scrolling social media and cracking up at mom videos and internet news and drama when I get a moment of free time. It’s nice to be able to hear it and focus on the jokes. I also respond to any messages from friends or check the funny videos they sent me that I didn’t get chance to see yet.
Clean the house
When the kids are napping, I find this as a good time to sweep and mop the floors, do the dishes, do some organizing and just tidy up a bit. Kids are masters of making a mess in under 5 minutes and if you don’t try to tackle the messes daily things can really pile up. Whenever I try to organize stuff while my toddler is present most of the time, she is undoing whatever I’m doing, so I just give in and do something else.
Schedule appointments and pay bills
Once the house is quiet it gives me a chance make some calls without having to shh my toddler so it’s a great opportunity to handle any business. It can get frustrating trying to talk on the phone and baby is screaming or when you’re trying to use your laptop and your kiddie is trying to sit on your lap.
Hobbies
Pulling out any hobbies you have when you have some alone time is so good for your mental health. I usually am blogging while the kids are napping. Its hard to fit in the things that you love to do that are just for you when your so focused on your little ones, but it is so important to find or make the time.
Watches the kids sleep
I must say I am guilty of pulling out my phone and snapping pics and videos of my little ones resting peacefully. I swear it is one of the most precious moments and so sometimes you can catch yourself just staring at them with a big goofy smile on your face because your just so happy they are okay and that they are yours.
Do nothing at all
After being so productive all day and after being pulled so many directions in the day sometimes it’s nice to just do nothing. To literally just sit there in peace, thankful for peace and silence or just thankful for everything.
Drink coffee or wine
A nice coffee made just the way you love it or a nice, chilled glass of wine when you have quiet time can be amazing. Anything that you love to have, have it when the kids are resting it is beautiful.
Sleep too
If you are tired and you just want to nap too, take your nap, and enjoy it. Some days I am just to burnt out to do anything besides lay down and take a nap too. Being a mommy who is sleep deprived is rough and it just doesn’t help you be the best you can be for you or your kiddies. Take your opportunities to rest when you need to and don’t feel guilty about it at all.
Being a mom is one of the hardest jobs on the planet some days. Sometimes your just tired and you want to just curl up on the couch and watch an uninterrupted movie or you just want to take a long nap or long shower, but you can’t because your baby is screaming from a tooth coming in or your toddler is jumping all over you because they want your undivided attention. Some days it’s simply just overwhelming and you may feel yourself wanting to cry.
When you’re a mom everyday isn’t picture perfect, everyday isn’t crafts day or a trip to the zoo. Some days are just filled with mess after mess to clean, tantrum after tantrum to tend to and chores after chores. On those rough days when your exhausted its good to take a moment for yourself and say some affirmations, give yourself a pep talk and remind yourself that you’re doing an amazing job simply because you’re trying. Affirmations are one of the most powerful tools because they don’t take a lot of time and effort it just takes saying it enough so that you truly begin to believe the positive things you’re saying. I wanted to share a few affirmations to help you when you’re overwhelmed. I also want you to know that feeling overwhelmed is totally normal and you’re not alone at all.
I don’t have to be a perfect mom, there is no such thing.
I am doing the best I can, and my kids think I am more than enough.
I was chosen to be my kids’ mom for a reason, and I have all I need within to meet their needs.
I have a supportive group of people in my life that I can ask for help if I need it.
Every part of mom life is not easy, and it doesn’t have to be.
It’s okay to feel any of the feelings I feel today whether they are good or bad.
I am grateful to be a mommy.
I am strong and I am patient with myself and with my children.
I will focus on the parts of today that bring me joy no matter how big or small.
I will do something for myself today and not just for my family.
I deserve a break, and to have a nice rest to be a better me tomorrow.
I am providing a home for my children that is a safe space filled with happiness, love and understanding.
I will not compare myself to other moms I see on social media or to other moms I know.
I will not set expectations for the day to high.
Taking care of myself is the first step to being able to take care of my children.
One bad day does not define who I am as a mother or make me a bad mom.
Even during the most chaotic moments in my home there is so much love here.
I am choosing to be happy and spread happiness to my children.
It is okay for my kids to see that I have other emotions besides happiness sometimes.
My children know how much I love them.
I am a mommy but that is not all I am.
I will be present with my children and appreciate the time we share.
I am doing an amazing job taking care of my kids.
I don’t have to have all the answers just because I’m a mom.
I am growing and evolving as a mom every day.
I will only speak positively about myself.
I am setting an amazing example for my children.
My children are blessed to have such a loving and devoted mother.
I am the only one who can give my children a happy mom.
Any challenges I face are making me a stronger and wiser mother.
I have a very positive impact on my children’s life.
Feeling overwhelmed sometimes shows that I am only human and that I don’t have to do it all, all the time.
My children will appreciate the effort I put into raising them.
I am not the only mom who needs or wishes for help sometimes.
Acknowledging my overwhelm is the first step towards change and seeking help.
If you are unsure of what it means to feel overwhelmed it’s when you just feel defeated completely, like you are drowning in whatever life, or the day has brought you. It is not a fun feeling and a lot of moms honestly feel overwhelmed and defeated a lot if they are not nurturing themselves, if they are taking on too much in one day or week, not getting the help they need or the rest they need to be the best versions of themselves for their children. You could feel completely fine and then out of nowhere the burn out just consumes you. In that moment that is when it is helpful to find a safe and private space and say your affirmations. You can say them with your eyes full of tears or with a big smile, it does not matter. You can say them in your bathroom, in the shower, lying in bed, your car, your closet, anywhere.
Affirmations help to change any negative thinking patterns we may be having, and they can really help us see our situations from a different perspective. Choosing affirmations that resonate with you and your situation gives you this new belief system that you can basically just pull out of your pocket whenever you want as a simple reminder that you are worthy of positive thinking and a positive life. They are a simple way to keep us encouraged and to help us get over self- sabotaging. It’s very easy to get caught up in what we think we should be like as a mom or what we think we are lacking especially when we are overwhelmed with all our mommy duties.
Let this post today remind you that you are doing an amazing job as a mommy and feel free to use as many of these affirmations as you need, as often as you need to help pull yourself out of the overwhelm you are feeling. You are not alone in your feelings, and you deserve your me time to say your affirmations.
Working from home with a toddler under three can sometimes leave you trying to figure out ways to keep them entertained so they can be happy, and you can focus on your work. They have such busy minds and watching you use your headset and talk on the phone can get a little boring for them after a while. They are learning every day and finding ways to help them develop their skills while still enjoying themselves is very important. I have let my daughter pretend she’s typing with me or pretend she’s taking calls, I’ve even bought her, her own toy laptop so she can feel like she’s helping mommy but there have been times when I just needed her to be in her own little space enjoying herself so I can focus on my job without risking any errors with my job. Here is a list of 15 things you can easily do at home to help keep your toddler busy and help your workday go a little bit smoother.
1.Coloring
You can purchase crayons, markers, coloring books and blank sheet books and let your child’s imagination run wild. Chances are they won’t be coloring in the lines but that won’t matter at all, they will enjoy running the colors all over the pages and it can keep them entertained for a quite a while especially if you encourage them to keep going and let them know how nice of a job they are doing. You can let them hang their colorful masterpieces all around the house and color with them as well.
2. Stickers
Stickers are not only one of the best rewards when your little one does something to celebrate, they are also a fun activity to give them to stick on whatever they want. If they have a bucket that they put their toys in or a bookcase or really anything, you can give them a few pages of stickers to put wherever they like. They may also enjoy putting the stickers all over themselves or you.
3. Painting
Give your toddler a few fun colors a few brushes and some painter paper and let them have a blast. You can check Pinterest for fun ideas to do, where they can use their fingers or toes or get ideas on how to incorporate other craft items that will add texture and more creativity to their masterpieces as well.
4. Bubbles
Pull out the bubble machine and your toddler will love trying to catch the bubbles and run through them. If they aren’t ready to dip and blow the bubbles yet themselves, they will still enjoy seeing the bubbles and watching them pop all over.
5. Create a water station or purchase a water table
You can fill empty containers, cups or bowls with water that they can pour back and forth into a big storage bin, or you can purchase a water table that is made to fill with water and comes with different toys they can scoop the water with. If your little one loves to splash water this can keep them entertained for quite a while. The water table can also be used with play sand or crushed cereal if you would prefer them not to splash to much when in the house.
6. Puzzles
There are many puzzles that you can purchase that let you know what age they are made for, and you can show your little one where the pieces go and encourage them to follow your lead. This is a great opportunity to teach them shapes, animals and colors.
7. Encourage them to clean
It may sound a little funny to ask your toddler to pick up after themselves, clean the floor or wipe the wall but some of them surprisingly find it enjoyable. Give them a broom, sing the cleanup song and they might enjoy feeling like a grown up for a little while. You can also grab their toy bin and encourage them to get all their toys in the bin before their time runs out.
8. Imaginary games with cardboard boxes or storage bins
Children have such great imagination that you can pretend a cardboard box, or storage bin is anything. It could be a bus, a train a fort, whatever you and your little one can imagine. The both of you can even draw things on the boxes or bins to help make them come to life more.
9. Play dress up
Your toddler might enjoy dressing up as a princess, a superhero or even dress up as you. You can get them all types of costumes to dress up as whenever they want. You can also purchase different props or look for ideas to make props out of things you already have in your home. Playing dress up is not just for Halloween. If your little one likes to try on your shoes or clothes, they will have fun running around the house as you.
10. Plastic cup stacking
You can get a bag of plastic cups from your local dollar store and encourage your little one to stack them as high as they can then knock them over and do it over and over again. They will have fun seeing how high they can stack and have fun finding ways to knock them down.
11. Balloons
You can blow up a few balloons that you let float around on the floor or you can have some balloons with strings that float to the ceiling. Your toddler will enjoy picking up the balloons and throwing them all around the room, shouting out the different colors and chasing them as they fall or if they are up high, they will enjoy pulling them down and hitting them.
12. Educational television shows
The television can be very helpful when you’re working from home, and you need a very fast way to entertain your little one while you work on your tasks. You can find fun and educational shows for them to watch that teach them nursery rhymes, numbers, animals, letters or even sign language. You can monitor their screen time and encourage them to learn by engaging with them as they watch.
13. Let them dump the toys
It may be a bit of a mess for you to clean up or for your toddler to pick up but allowing them to have a free for all and pick whatever they would like to play with whenever they get bored of one toy will be helpful for you, so you don’t have to keep looking for the next fun thing. They move on quickly so having it all in front of them will help keep them entertained.
14. Make a sensory bin
A sensory bin is a plastic bin that you can fill with different materials to help stimulate your toddlers’ senses. It helps to really stimulate their sense of touch and keep them entertained. You can search sensory bins on Pinterest to get a ton of great ideas to help keep them entertained for hours. You can also have a lot of fun being creative with these yourself and have them prepped the night before to pull out while you’re working.
15. Get a tent or make a fake one
Alot of toddlers love to hide or have a space that they feel is just for them. Purchasing a fun tent in a theme they enjoy will give them a fun place to crawl into and play with their toys or read their books. If you don’t want to purchase one you can also try to create one with pillows and sheets. Remember they have the tent for just in case they like to play hide and seek because chances are they will be tucked away in there giggling waiting for you to find them.
Valentine’s day is a beautiful day filled with sharing how you feel about your loved ones. Giving them big or small reminders to let them know that they are special to you and that you love them. One way that I love to express my love is through quotes. Sometimes you just can’t think of the perfect words to say to get out exactly how you feel about someone but thankfully many people have created beautiful quotes that can do it for you. You can share quotes in cards either store bought or handmade, send them in text messages, write them on sticky notes or attach them to flowers or gifts. You can share them with the ones you love any way you like. Here is a list of quotes you could use this Valentine’s Day to spread the love.
1. “Where all a little weird, and life is a little weird, and when we find someone, whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness- and call it love-true- love.” -Robert Fulghum
2. “Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.” Paulo Coelho
3. “I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you.” Ben Folds
4. “All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” -Charles M Shulz
5. “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”-Audrey Hepburn
6. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” -Lao Tzu
7. “Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will.”– Elaine Davis
8. “There are never enough I love you’s.” -Lenny Bruce
9. “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps, fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” -Maya Angelou
10. “Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.” -Zora Hurston
11. “Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.”-Antoine De Saint-Exupery
12. “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” -Paulo Coelho
13. “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”-Robert A. Heinlein
14. “To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved, that’s everything.”-T. Tolis
15. “If I know what love is, its because of you.” – Herman Hesse
16. “You are my sun, my moon and all of my stars.”– E.E Cummings
17. “True love stories never have endings.” Richard Bach
18. “In a world full of temporary things, you are a perpetual feeling.”– Sanober Khan
19. “She knew she loved him when home went from being a place to being a person.” -E Leventhal
20. “If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus one day, so I never have to live without you.”-Ernest H. Shepard
21. “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more. That plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.” -Nichols Sparks
22. “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever.”-Alfred Lord Tennyson
23. “We are most alive when we’re in love.” -John Updike
24. “There is no remedy for love, but to love more.” -Thoreau
25. “My heart is, and always will be yours.”– Jane Austen
26. “I love you without knowing how, or when or where. I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; so, I love you because I know no other way than this.”-Pablo Neruda
27. “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” -Hellen Keller
28.”One love, one heart.”-Bob Marley
29. “Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” -Ursula K Le Guin
30. “Valentines is just another day to truly love like there is no tomorrow.”– Roy A. Ngansop
Once you become a mom it is very easy to get so lost in motherhood that you don’t even recognize yourself anymore. You become super busy making sure your kid doesn’t need anything and one day you walk past the mirror and your like “Wow who is that?’’ You might have on a large graphic-tee your hair in a messy bun and even a stain on your shirt from when your kid splashed their drink on you at breakfast. It can be so easy to set our needs aside and not think about the things that once made us feel confident and happy with ourselves. Don’t worry you are still in there. The woman from before children is still in there and even though you are getting by day to day and making things happen for you and your family, the little things that bring you joy and confidence outside of all that are just as important. You deserve to feel confident and be proud of yourself. Being a mommy is apart of who you are of course but that’s not the only thing that makes you, you. If you’re struggling to think of ways to boost your self-esteem or haven’t even thought of it lately here is a list of things you can do to start working on boosting your self-esteem and bring yourself back to putting your needs as a priority.
1. Take care of your body
Make sure you are eating healthy foods, drinking your water, and getting the proper sleep that you need. If you are taking care of your body it is going to make you feel better and give you the energy you need to be motivated to do more things for yourself. When your preparing breakfast for your little one, take a banana for yourself too or drop it into a smoothie with some frozen fruit and milk or juice. You can drink your smoothie and prep breakfast for your kid at the same time. When you run to the kitchen to grab a snack for your kid grab a glass of water for yourself. You can even put a sticky note near the sink or on the fridge to remind you to drink your water. If getting all the sleep you need doesn’t seem like an option right now ask for help, if you have any help at all try to arrange ways to get some help so you can take a quick nap when you need to.
2. Practice positive self-talk
We can sometimes forget how powerful our words can be and how we can start to believe negative things that we say about ourselves. Anytime you catch yourself saying something negative about who you are as person or how you are as a mother or saying negative things about the way you look, make sure to stop yourself. Train yourself to be done with negative self-talk and only speak positively about yourself.
3. Challenge yourself to learn something new
As moms there is usually always something that we saw when we were scrolling on social media that we wish we could do. Find a post you recently liked where the person was doing something interesting to you and look it up and learn how to do it. It could be learning a new recipe, learning how to sew, craft or anything you think you might enjoy figuring out. Once you learn it, celebrate your new technique by rewarding yourself with something small. It always feels good to add on a new talent or skill and it makes us feel good about ourselves.
4. Read self-help books
Find a good self-help book that you can either listen to in your ears or read when you find some time alone. Self-help books can really help you with boosting your self- esteem. Take notes while you read if you can and try to write down any key take a way’s that you know you want to work harder on. You can also join book clubs to stay up to date with the best self-help books that are helping others.
5. Say your affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements we say to ourselves every day to take away self- sabotage. You can create these affirmations your self and have them cater to exactly what you feel you need to know and believe, or you can find them online. Try to say your affirmations every day either in the morning or at night or both if you have the time. Use them to uplift and motivate yourself as often as you need. For example, you can say statements like “I am exactly the mother my kids need me to be.” Or “Ï will make myself a priority.”
6. Take a little extra time on your appearance
I know as moms we often feel like there just isn’t enough time to focus on our appearance when we have so many other things to do or other humans to get ready, but it is okay to make the time for yourself too. If you like wearing mascara put on the mascara, if you feel beautiful when you wear your hair down brush it out and wear it down. Make the time to do those little things that make you feel good about your looks, you deserve to feel good. If you must put your mascara on while your little one is in their highchair having a snack, do it. Make the time to care about your appearance its going to help you feel better about yourself all day, we all want to feel beautiful.
7. Play your favorite songs and dance around the house
If you love music play some songs that usually put you in a good mood and dance around. You can play them while you’re doing your tasks around the house or while you’re playing with your little one. Whenever you feel the need. Music is a great mood booster, and it will be fun to let your hair down and have some fun dancing.
8. Keep in touch with your girl squad and mommy friends
Make sure to always have a few friends close to you that love you and support you. It’s good to have friends that you can talk to about any insecurities you might be having that will help to uplift you and remind you that you’re amazing. Try to make a few good friends that are moms as well who may understand your feelings and might have a few tips on how they overcome certain situations. Don’t feel pressured to follow all advice your given but It will feel good to have people around that want to help you with the same things they are going through.
9. Let go of anyone negative in your life
If there is anyone in your life that has a negative attitude all the time or enjoys being negative with you, you should let them go. When you are working on boosting your self- esteem your not going to need people who don’t see it as important or who are going to distract you from the work your trying to do on yourself.
10. Get cute and take some selfies
Taking a moment to do your makeup or put on a cute outfit is already a step towards feeling good but you can also take some selfies to help as well. You can share them with your spouse or your friends and enjoy the compliments or you can keep them for yourself just as a reminder that you are beautiful. You are always beautiful but seeing your self dolled up is a great confidence booster.
11. Schedule a day for pampering yourself
Let your spouse watch your little one or drop them off at grandmas and take a day to just focus on you. You could get a manicure and pedicure, change your hair, go to your favorite coffee spot, go shopping at your favorite retailer, go to the spa, anything that is going to make you feel good. Use the day to enjoy just being you. Say yes to yourself all day.
12. Meditate
Meditation can help you to let go of any stress you’re having about your appearance and help you to refocus on the great things about yourself. It helps to put you in a better head space so you can be less likely to think negatively. You can find the time to meditate when your little one is napping.
13. Make time for your hobbies
Any hobbies that you may have put off since becoming a parent gradually start to ease them back into your life. The things that excite you are important, and you deserve to still enjoy them. You may not have the whole day to focus on it like before, but you can still find a way to make time for things that are important to you. You are going to feel good when you are doing things you love.
14. Write down positive things you love about yourself
If you’re ever feeling down about yourself grab a pen and just write down a few things you love about yourself or write about some things you are happy you over came in your life. You can even write these things on sticky notes and put them somewhere as a reminder. Having that visual list in front of you with all these positive things will uplift and encourage you to keep moving forward.
15. Celebrate small wins
When you realize that you made yourself a priority and did something for you, acknowledge it and celebrate it. Feeling so positively about doing nice things for yourself or making time for yourself will encourage you to keep doing it.
16. Get a confidence coach
There are great people out there that are educated and dedicated to helping people get their confidence back. You could hire a confidence coach once a month or a few times a week that will give you the tools you need to stay grounded, get to the bottom of your feelings and help you live a life with more confidence.
17. Don’t compare yourself to others
It is so easy to feel unhappy when you are comparing yourself to other people. You can’t look at what people are showing you on social media or go off what you assume about their lives and let that make you feel less than other people. You must focus on your life and want to change things about yourself because they are truly what you want, not because you’re trying to be like anyone else. It is nothing wrong with being inspired by other moms and women but make sure your only inspired and not feeling like you must replicate anything.
18. Remember that no one is perfect
No one on this earth is perfect. We are all uniquely made, we all make mistakes, and we all have self-doubts sometimes. Never think you must be perfect or look perfect. You just need to be happy with you and confident being you.
19. Hold your head up high
On the days where you are thinking or talking negatively about yourself, and nothing is seeming to boost your confidence choose happiness and hold your head high anyways. Some days you may not feel 100 percent and that is okay, but you do not have to hold your head down and dwell on it. The more opportunities you take to choose happiness in your day the more chances you will have to turn your mindset and your day around.
20. Join groups on social media or groups in your community
Find mom groups in your community or on the web that want to bring people together that need uplifting and encouragement. It can help you to see that you’re not the only mom who may be needing a boost of confidence and give you a chance to connect with people that are dealing with your same situation. Sometimes a stranger can relate to you on something more than someone that you have known for years. The more people you have supporting you the better.
The moment I knew I was having my daughter one thing I got really excited about was starting her book collection. I knew I wanted her to have a ton of books that would inspire her and encourage her with pictures of kids that looked just like her. I knew I wanted her to have a collection of books about the amazing black women and men who came before her to teach her about her history and black history in general. The self-esteem and self confidence of our beautiful children is so important, and we should start working on it even when they are just tiny humans. Here is a list of our favorite books that helped jump start our daughters book collection for black children.
Inspires young people to keep going even when they are being underestimated. It helps your child see put downs or untrue opinions by others as motivation instead of making them want to quit.
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Inspires youth to make promises to themselves and work hard to keep them. It really highlights the value of working hard in school to help kids achieve their dreams.
Teaches children that they are just the way are for a reason. Inspires youth to accept everything about themselves because God made them perfect just, the way they are.
Shares stories about black women who made history giving your daughter women that she can look at as role models and inspiration. Shows your daughter that whatever dream she has it can be reached.
Encourages children to enjoy exploring everything around them and uses the beauty and playfulness of nature to show they have those same qualities within themselves.
These are just a few books to add to your beautiful brown girls book collection and the way they highlight self-acceptance and being proud of differences can really help to change how a child takes how others may treat them about their identity. My hope is that reading these books with my daughter will give her a tougher skin because she will be so proud of who she is and what she knows she can become. So proud that she will share her knowledge about what she learns on these pages with her peers with confidence.
So happy more people like you are learning the importance of teaching our children about diversity and self-love while they are young so they can grow up knowing that despite their differences they can achieve whatever they wish.
Affirmations are positive statements you to say yourself any time of day to change any negative self-talk or self-sabotage that you may be doing. Affirmations have changed my life and have really helped me to believe in myself and my capabilities and now that I am a mommy, I want to use them to boost the self confidence of my children as well. Just the way adults deal with challenges about our self-identity and self-doubts, children do too and could also use affirmations to give them the boost they need to succeed and conquer their worries or fears. I wanted to share a list of affirmations that I will teach my children to help them on their journeys.
I am loved and cared for
I am smart and have amazing abilities
I am safe and protected
I am allowed to have big dreams
I will get better at whatever I put in work for every single day
I am a leader
I will choose my own attitude
I am brave and strong
I am important
I am unique
I will always believe in myself
I will always respect myself
I will work hard
I am a positive light
I am unstoppable when I do my best
I am equal to my peers
I am a good person
I will find solutions to my problems and If I can’t, I will ask for help
I will learn from my mistakes
I will always love my self
I will always work to be better
I am well mannered
I am generous
I am empathetic
I have a good heart
I will have a bright future
I am enough
I can do things that seem hard
I belong on this world
I am resilient
I am in control of my life
I can achieve any goals I set
I can control my mood and my reactions
I am grateful for my life
I can stand up for myself
I can stand up for what is right
I can respect the opinions of other people
I am worthy
I am powerful
I will speak kindly
I will practice getting better if I need to
I am thankful for everything that I have
I can make a difference
I am perfect just the way I am
Having a list of affirmations like this is going to be so helpful to motivate and encourage my children to be great and believe in themselves. Any challenges they face I want them to know that they can still speak positively about them selves and overcome any obstacles that come their way. We will make it routine to speak positively about our selves every day out loud at least once a day. They can express any troubles, fears, or worries they may have, and we will go over this list together so that they can speak it out loud and learn to believe every single positive word on this page.
When choosing to use affirmations the most important part of it is believing what you are saying. If I can get my children to believe these things about themselves it can help them have the confidence, they need to succeed at anything and go out into the world as good human beings.
That is the goal for me to raise amazing children who believe in their abilities and will live as good examples to help encourage others around them to feel the same as well.
Use this list as often as you need with your children as well, we got this mama we will raise incredible humans!
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