My blog exists to help moms (or dads, or grandparents, or caregivers, or anyone else who stumbled upon this blog) give their babies and toddlers the best chance at thriving and flourishing.
I’m a mom of two beautiful girls (one is just a few months, the other is a toddler), so I’m in the trenches with you! What I bring to the table is my background as a professional speech and language pathologist (SLP) who has worked with tons of families and their small children. Together we worked through a variety of common struggles (and successes) that plague just about every family with small children. I’m glad you’re here, hope you stay a while!
1. You can do this, mama!
Sometimes being a mom is rough because being a mom means you are balancing a whole bunch of things at the same time. You might be working full-time, part-time, or working to keep your head above water as you manage the house, your children, mealtime, and so many other important things. And I’m here to tell you: you’ve got this! It’s not always going to be easy, but you are capable. And when you feel like you aren’t, that’s okay because we all have those days! (Can I get an amen?!?)
Being a mom is a wild ride that includes the high points (first word, hearing them say “I love you”, and finally getting to the potty in time) and low points (feeling like your child will never start to _______, hearing them scream “NO” again, and missing the potty for the 439th time). But rest assured, we are in this together! There are a whole bunch of wonderful mamas out there who are making it work. And with a little help from a friend (me, I can be your friend) we can get through this!
2. You can teach your child(ren) through play!
I know everyone is eager to help their children be the best possible human, and that is a wonderful, albeit lofty, goal! You might have heard that you need to have your little one exclusively listening to Beethoven, or that you need a rigorous lineup of flashcards to get them ahead of the game…WRONG! And I’m so glad this is wrong because helping your child to learn, grow, and thrive will be so much more fun than worksheets and sonatas. (Don’t get me wrong, I dig some well-written music, but your toddler might not.) The best way for your child to learn is through play.
Let me say that again, the best way for your child to learn is through good, old-fashioned P-L-A-Y!
So put on your silly hat, talk in a funny voice, and don’t take yourself too seriously. Kids need to play to learn. Put away your baby physics books and get out bubbles, stuffed animals, and some toilet paper tubes, and let’s get to playing!
3. You can make your home language-rich.
You can take a few simple steps that will change your child’s world. You just have to know the right moves. I want to walk you through how to make your home ooze with language. (And no, I don’t mean just popping in a CD that promises to teach your little one French.) I mean things like “narrating” your day, reading books in a more engaging way, and giving your child space to respond. Check out my article here for some great tips to help you make your home rich with language.
As a nerdy SLP, I believe communication can unlock your child’s world. I LOVE to talk about, write about, and think about ways to help you help your kiddo! If your little one is behind in talking, check out my post here for great, practical tips on helping out a child who might be a late talker.
4. You and I can troubleshoot tough areas in your day.
Every mom and child has an area (or more like 274 areas) that is hard. It might be potty training or temper tantrums. It could be learning those first words, or following directions. You may just want your little sweetie to finally utter the beautiful word “mama” for the first time. I don’t know exactly what your current problem is, but I want to find out and I want to help!
It’s been so eye-opening to become a mother to two adorable little girls! Before now, I was working as an SLP for children aged birth to three years old. I would go into homes and help families with all of the issues above and more. The funny thing is, I did this before I had children, so I’m sure I gave some crazy, unattainable advice. But I’m hoping with my newfound insight as a mom AND a trained SLP that we can work together to work through all things kids.
5. You can read my weekly blog post to help you on your journey.
That’s right-I’m hoping to pump out a weekly blog post that will cover any number of topics that I outlined above, and plenty more that I haven’t even thought of yet. I’m sure my blog will be shaped by my own experiences and by questions or comments I get from you. So keep those comments and questions coming!
I can’t wait to get started and I can’t wait to learn and grow with you! (Let’s be honest, I’ll fail sometimes too, but that’s part of the journey!) So please, stop in and stay awhile. Watch as we traverse this crazy terrain that is parenthood.