mama inspiration

Motherhood- Do you need some Mama Inspiration today?

September 17, 2017 by Courtney 1 Comment

Hey there! I’m so glad you are here Mama!

Motherhood is amazing and messy.

But, I love every minute of it! (Even when I don’t!)

Embrace your Motherhood journey because it shouldn’t be compared to another!

Motherhood is an adventure every single day. And, I love to have a little Mama Inspiration with my coffee 🙂 Don’t you?

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I have always had an issue with myself and with Motherhood.

The issue is that I care too much about what people may or may not think of me and how I am raising my children.

No matter how hard I try to shift the thought somehow it is still there.

It does feel like a risk when you put yourself out there for people to see.

BUT it also shouldn’t be. We are who we are. That is a wonderful and beautiful thing. Especially in Motherhood.

I told my 4-year-old to be herself when she was worried about starting pre-k. I know if she is herself, she will make friends and everyone will love her. I was right. I must remind myself sometimes too.

Being a mom is about our own journey in motherhood.

It shouldn’t be the same as another.

I know I sometimes get snagged up in stressing over what I see everyone else doing as a mom. I worry regarding why I can’t be so perfect like them. I have to bring myself back down to earth and remember that I am a good mom already.

As I know you are too. We may just need a little Mama Inspiration to get us thinking clearly again.

The season we are in will not last long and before we know it this too shall pass. We have to find contentment where we are in Motherhood. Then develop a plan on the things we want to change in the way we parent.

Try this Free Printable On Weekly Reflection for Mom.

Just Sign Up for the Simply Happy Mama Newsletter to get it now!

I know all moms go through the doubts of motherhood. But, we shouldn’t.

The worrying if we are doing things right and if our kids are even listening when we talk. I WORRY ALL THE TIME.

The truth is, if we are trying to raise our children the way we feel is right and loving them with all we have there’s no way to go wrong.

We just may need reassuring sometimes and someone to remind us that we are doing Motherhood right.

So here I am to remind YOU.

Motherhood is a journey that is not meant to be the same for anyone.

That’s the amazing part about it. We all are the mothers we are.

And that is ok.

It is a risk to be seen as we are.

A risk worth taking every day.

Or take a look at these:

Any tips for the worrying mama? I would love to hear some 🙂

Positive Parenting- Why it is Important to LISTEN to your Child

August 14, 2017 by Courtney Leave a Comment

Positive Parenting

There are many definitions for Positive Parenting and I just want to say that I want to practice Positive Parenting. I also want to make it clear that I am NOT a perfect parent. I make mistakes daily and I try to learn from them.

This post is about Communication with your child and why It is important. I hope you enjoy the read 🙂

Communicating with our children can be a difficult task at times. We feel like they’re not listening to us; they feel like we’re not listening to them. Good listening and communications skills are essential to parenting. Your child’s feelings, views, and opinions have worth, and you should make sure you take the time to sit down and listen openly and discuss them honestly. Now, with that said I also know that not ALL of their thoughts and feelings can be discussed because we only have 24 hours in each day. Right, Mama? But, I do believe that as parents we can pick out those important feelings, and opinions each day and have a “teaching moment” with our children.

By being sensitive to our child’s feelings and emotions we are showing them love and understanding. And, allowing them to express themselves openly and honestly without fear of repercussion from us is key to creating a great communication relationship. By reacting negatively to our child’s feelings, we send our child the message that their feelings and opinions don’t matter. But by responding and asking questions about why our child feels that way, it opens a dialog that allows us to discuss their feelings further and allows you a better understanding of where they’re coming from. Responding also gives you an opportunity to work out a solution or a plan of action with your child that perhaps they would not have come up with on their own. Your child will also appreciate the fact that maybe you do indeed understand how they feel.

It’s crucial in these situations to give your child your full and undivided attention. Put down your newspaper, stop doing dishes, or turn off the television so you can hear the full situation and make eye contact with your child. Keep calm, be interested, and afterward offer potential solutions to the problem.

Don’t discourage your child from feeling upset, angry, or frustrated. Our initial instinct may be to say or do something to steer our child away from it, but this can be a detrimental tactic. Again, listen to your child, ask questions to find out why they are feeling that way, and then offer potential solutions to alleviate the bad feeling.

Just as we do, our children have feelings and experience difficult situations. By actively listening and participating with our child as they talk about it, it demonstrates to them that we do care, we want to help and we have similar experiences of our own that they can learn from.

Here are a few books about communication and listening.

How to get things done each day

November 1, 2016 by Courtney Leave a Comment

How to get things done each day

This post has affiliate links. This simply means sometimes I recommend a product or service, and if you choose to purchase that product or service via my recommendation, I will get a small referral commission. Of course, this is at no extra cost to you but it does help keep Simply Happy Mama. I truly appreciate your support in this way. Thank you.

I have a to-do list a mile long. REALLY. I. DO.

And you know, life happens.
Every day responsibilities. Cleaning Home. Making dinner. Feeding family. All of them. Washing clothes. Bathing kids. Getting Kids to SLEEP.

You know the day in day out stuff.

Sometimes I feel so motivated. (You know, that tiny minute when you wake up?)

Then a few hours later not so much.

A to-do list is great. But, it doesn’t always get followed. But, I try.

(There is a free printable to-do list for each day at the bottom of this post.)

I am a huge lover of Amazon. It makes shopping so much easier. But that topic is for another day.

Here is how I try to get things done each day.

I mentally prepare myself for the next day when I lay down for bed at night. You know, to give myself a pep talk.

I use a planner. Writing things down helps this Mom get things done!

I try to wake up before the kids to get my coffee and get my mind right. This doesn’t always happen because I sleep in the middle of a 4-year-old and a 15-month-old. And that is a long story I’m sure you don’t have time for.

I need to get dressed each day. I could stay in a t-shirt and yoga pants all day but I feel better when I’m dressed and can get things accomplished.

I set specific times for things that do not have a time. You know if there isn’t a specific time I can just keep pushing it back. No. Not the mindset I need to have.

I schedule mentally a relax time spot in my day. Usually, it’s just a nice hot cup of coffee and I am happy with that.

I mentally prepare the kids the best I can. I let my kids know what things I need to get done each day so they know what to expect. Maybe this causes fewer breakdowns? Probably not but it can’t hurt anything either.

I push myself. I really have to. I have to tell myself I NEED to get things accomplished.

I have to let go of the idea perfection. I am not anywhere close to having my ducks in a row.

I am just trying to make it through each day with the essentials accomplished. And I think that is ok for the season of life I am in right now. It is also ok for you too.

I am trying to come up with a self-care routine for myself. I feel I need it. Any suggestions mamas?

Good Luck with your To-Do List Today!

Here is a FREE Printable To-Do List for Each Day You Can Try! All 7 days Included!

Download Here -> Daily To-Do List

Mama Inspiration for the busy and tired :)

October 27, 2016 by Courtney Leave a Comment

Mama Inspiration

So, I have been watching a lot of the Disney channel lately. And if I’m being totally honest it’s been without children.

Anyway. this is from The Princess and the Frog.. and like always I think of motherhood when I come across a good quote.

I guess because that’s the season of life I am in right now. Hard Amazing Motherhood.

When you become a mom everyone always attempts to advise you how your life will change forever.

You know it is true. But, you really don’t realize the extent of it until it happens.

Being a parent is so many things. So many emotions.

And you really don’t know how children will change your life and who you are. You have all these parenting techniques you want to use and then you find yourself just winging it for the most part. AND THAT IS OK.

I will say wholeheartedly my girls are the best thing I never knew I needed. They make me feel complete. I feel content.

My girls are high energy smart little humans. They can make me truly feel all the emotions. They make my heart happy and can drive me crazy all in the same minute. But, I love it.

This world today is so busy. It makes me feel as if everything is going by so fast.

They make me slow down. And that is what I need.

More Mama Inspiration here & here

Mama Inspiration to get you through to bedtime

September 6, 2016 by Courtney 1 Comment

It is no mystery that our children’s attitude feeds off of ours. Here is a little Mama Inspiration to get you through to bedtime.

I will confess that I see it often with my own kids.

I am not a perfect mother. I do try every day to be better than I was yesterday.

Mama Inspiration to get you through to bedtime — Mama Inspiration

You know those bad days when you can’t wait for bedtime? When the kids are wild and you are so exhausted you can’t hold your eyes open?

I ~~hate~~ those days. (And that word.) But I have them often.

I’m sure every mom has them. and I am also sure every mom has many more good days to outnumber those bad days.

My point here is that I have noticed that when I respond with my tired and mean mom attitude my kids in return react with the same.

I think I just need a small dose of encouragement to make that moment go away and save us all.

I want to soak up every moment I can with my girls. I would love for the moments to all to be happy.

I know that doesn’t happen unless I change the way I think and react.

It’s alright to have bad days.

I believe that is what makes the good days even better. 🙂

More Mama Inspiration -> HERE & HERE

I would love to hear from you!

Mama Inspiration to get you through to bedtime.

Mama Inspiration for the Amazing Moms!

August 13, 2016 by Courtney 2 Comments

Mama Inspiration for the Amazing Moms!

Life with kids is tough.

It starts with this beautiful and oh so perfect tiny baby in your arms and then the challenges never end. When you finally put a frustrating phase behind you or find a good solution for the newest problem, something else just comes along.

It’s a never-ending cycle that can steal your joy if you let it. ( I so let it..)

But don’t let it steal your joy.

The funny thing about children is that as much frustration as they bring to your life, they also bring that much more happiness.

Those big long-lashed eyes staring at you when you’re so sleep deprived that you think you can’t possibly go on.. those little arms hugging your leg when you feel like you just can’t take another tantrum.. the sound of laughter when you’re feeling like a failure.. the sweet warmth of a hug when you’re feeling lonely.. the sweetest dance party when you’re feeling sad.

Those precious little people who give you headaches and keep you up at night and often make you doubt your sanity also adore you and love you more than anything.

So when those crazy moments come, take a good long look at those sweet faces and try to shift your focus. Sit back and listen to the sounds of laughter, or of footsteps running up and down your hall and be thankful. I have to remind myself to do this often and I think that’s ok.

You’ve been given one of the most amazing gifts in the world. The gift of motherhood. Embrace it. It’s your journey and no one else’s.

Take a step back and see your life for what it is a messy, chaotic, crazy, and oh so beautiful thing. (I tell myself this often.)

In the difficult moments find the beauty and cling to it. And then grab the nearest kid and give them the biggest hug and kiss ever.