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30 Ways to Be a Happier Mom

May 15, 2018 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Parenting. It’s both the sweetest and hardest job in the world.

There isn’t a day when I don’t love my children – all four of them. But there are definitely days when I feel a little burned out on the routine of it.

There is so much giving involved in parenting that you can start to feel all given out, in a way. After all, there are only so many pieces of us moms available.

30 Ways to Be A Happier Mom

On days when I’m in need of some parenting pick-me-ups, I like to read suggestions from fellow moms who “get it”. And that’s why I’ve rounded up these 30 ways to be a happier mom to share with those of you who are feeling a little burned out too.

I hope these give you a little parenting inspiration! And, if you’re feeling burned out on homeschooling, read what I do when homeschooling feels like too much.

Feeling a little burned out as a mom? Try these tips for happy mamas to put some joy back into parenting!

Images c/o: bst2012 and pixelheadphoto / depositphotos

30 Ways to Be a Happier Mom

1. Five Ways to Show Love to Your Defiant Child – Look! We’re Learning!

2. How to See Beauty in the Mess of Parenting – What’s Up Fagans

3. 11 Tips for Being a Good Mom – Little Sprouts Learning

4. How to Teach Preschoolers to Cooperate – Days with Grey

5. How to Encourage Autonomy in Kids – Mosswood Connections

6. 2 Family Rules to Become a Better Parent – Coffee and Carpools

7. How to Listen to Your Inner Voice As a Mom – Mama Instincts

8. Why You are the Perfect Mom for Your Kids – The Soccer Mom Blog

9. How to Run an Efficient Home – Empowered Single Moms

10. How to Be a More Patient Mom – The Moments at Home

11. What to Do When Your Tween Shuts You Out – Look! We’re Learning!

12. 7 Ways to Be a More Peaceful Mom – Kid Minds

13. 7 Powerful Ways to Turn a Parenting Day Around – Little Sprouts Learning

14. How to Raise Siblings Who Get Along – Mama Smiles

15. 5 Steps to a Positive Bedtime Routine for Kids – Kiddy Charts

16. How to Inspire a Culture of Family Togetherness – Kara Carrero

17. 10 Ways to Spend Quality Time with Your Child – Fireflies and Mudpies

18. How to Give Kids Quality Time – Sloely

19. How to Reset When Family Travel Goes Wrong – Bambini Travel

20. How to Overcome Mommy Anger – What’s Up Fagans

21. How to Slow Down Parenting In a Sped-Up World – Look! We’re Learning!

22. How to Reclaim the Joy of Motherhood – Kori at Home

23. How to Manage Time with the Kids – Simple Everyday Mom

24. How to Stop Yelling – Parenting from the Heart

25. 7 Habits of Good Enough Parents – Sloely

26. 15 Ways to Be a Fun Mom When You’re Stressed – The Moments at Home

27. How to Become a Parenting Team – Bambini Travel

28. How to Grow as a Mother – Fireflies and Mudpies

29. Tips for Parenting with Compassion – Kori at Home

30. How to Discipline Without Getting Angry – What’s Up Fagans

Did you like these ways to be a happier mom? Don’t miss these other parenting tips!

Everything around us moves so quickly it can be hard to parent mindfully. But it's possible! Here's how to parent with intention, no matter how hectic our lives become.

Is your tween refusing to talk with you It's frustrating, isn't it Here's what to do when your tween shuts you out.

Struggling to get your child with ADHD on a consistent schedule Try these tips for creating an ADHD daily routine for kids!

Get more parenting pointers on my Parenting with Joy Pinterest board!

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: moms, parenting, parenting support, parenting tips

My Daughter’s Hair is None of Your Business

December 14, 2015 by Selena Robinson 16 Comments

In the past week and a half, I have been approached by three separate women about the exact same topic: my daughter’s hair.

I have a three-year-old little girl. And, apparently, three is the age when little girls should start getting their hair “done”, meaning fashioned into some type of ornate style.

I don’t do that.

Furthermore, I do not understand when or how it became acceptable to approach a parent (generally a mom) and tell her she needs to “do” her daughter’s hair.

For the record, most people probably don’t this to other parents. But if you’re the kind of person who does, here’s a newsflash: My daughter’s hair is NONE of your business.

My Daughter's Hair is None of Your Business

My Daughter’s Hair is None of Your Business

My three-year-old daughter, my 11-year-old daughter, and I all wear our hair in its natural state. We don’t use any types of relaxers, lye products, flat irons, or anything that changes the texture of our hair.

It’s not that I think these things are bad or wrong somehow. We just choose not to use them.

This means that our hair rarely ever looks “neat”. But it’s always clean, moisturized, and detangled.

Short Afro

This is what my three-year-old’s hair looks like on a typical day. For a special event last spring, I tried adding braids, ponytails, barrettes, etc to “do” her hair. Here’s what happened:

  • She screamed and fidgeted the entire time – making a 10-minute task into an hour-long ordeal
  • She rubbed the back of her hair against the car seat the entire time we were driving
  • She sat in her chair at the event and ran her hands through her hair
  • She laid down and took a nap halfway through
  • She ran around with her older brothers for an hour afterward

The hairstyle that I painstakingly created lasted a total of 14 minutes (give or take) before it began to devolve into a frizzy mess.

Afterward, I realized: It’s just not worth it to “do” her hair at this age. At least not for me. Honestly, we’re talking about a three-year-old child here. I guarantee you that having her hair done is verrry low on her list of priorities.

And I pretty much took the same approach with my tween until she decided she wanted to do something in particular with her hair.

Natural Hair

You know what IS worth it at this age?

  • Teaching my girls to value themselves – as people, not mannequins
  • Letting them be free to play and explore anything, not feeling like they can’t move for fear of “messing up” their hair
  • Showing them how to appreciate the inner qualities of people, instead of superficially admiring a physical trait

And I will not apologize for refusing to think of getting their hair “done” as anywhere close to a priority in their lives.

My Girls and Their Natural Hair

I want to raise happy, confident young women who love living, no matter what kind of hair they were born with. And I think my husband and I are on the right track.

So if you want to give me a box of barrettes, a card for a local salon, or ask me why I don’t “do” their hair, expect me to respond by telling you that my daughter’s hair is none of your business.

Because it’s not.

Have you ever had someone imply that you should do “more” with your daughter’s hair? Did you feel bad or guilty? Did you get angry? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!

For more posts about parenting, follow my Parenting with Joy board on Pinterest!

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Filed Under: Family Life, Parenting Tagged With: girls, hairstyles, moms, natural hair, parenting

Hi! I'm Selena, a teacher and a veteran homeschool mom to four. I'm so glad you're here!
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