Fall has arrived! The weather has finally transitioned from scorching Texas heat to cooler weather and less daylight. With the shift into the seasons, activities for your kids need to shift too! 

If you are stuck on what activities to do with your child(ren) this autumn, check out the list below!

1. Pumpkin Patch. Here in Texas, pumpkin patch season is usually the entire month of October. However, in other states across the U.S., pumpkin patch season lasts until Thanksgiving. Check your local area for any pumpkin patches. You can take cute photos with the pumpkins, take your child(ren) on a hayride, explore a corn maze, or possibly see some farm animals!

2. Pumpkin carving. This activity is not subjected to just Halloween. Pumpkins are the fall fruit that extends throughout the entire season! You can find carving tools and stencils on Amazon, Target, or Walmart. (If you have a Michael’s in your area, they have these supplies as well!).

3. Autumn Leaves Collecting. This was my favorite activity growing up. Every year, my mom would take me and my siblings around our backyard (and neighborhood) to find the prettiest fall leaves. Once we collected our favorite leaves, we would glue them on construction paper, laminate them, and hang them on the fridge. This activity is the perfect amount of quality time and arts and crafts for kids of all ages.

4. Cookie decorating. The majority of kids LOVE cookies. I know my little does! This activity is so much fun, especially for toddlers. You can purchase refrigerated cookies, buy cookie mix, or make them from scratch. Get some holiday-themed frosting (Pilsbury ALWAYS has this with sprinkles) and let your kiddo(s) go to town with decorating! Allow your child(ren) to be as creative as they like and then after admiring their work, let them eat their art.

5. Hand turkeys. This is a classic. All you need is construction paper, scissors, crayons/markers, and glue. You can also purchase googly eyes and feathers at your local craft store. Have your child trace their hand and cut it out. Please assist with younger kids that are not able to use scissors. Then, cut out legs, feet, hats, or anything you would like to use to decorate your turkey. 

These activities are perfect for the season and encourage lots of creativity for children of all ages. If you have any other ideas, feel free to comment!

Genuinely,

Gabby

We often speak on the joys of motherhood. But why don’t we speak about the loneliness of motherhood? I have felt lonely before. However, when I became a mother, that loneliness hits differently. There is so much that goes into the mental space of being a mom. Ultimately, we dedicate our time to our children because they need us. Some of us (myself included)  lose ourselves in the routine of motherhood. We are no longer seen as the person we were before our kids came about. We’re either (your child/children’s name here) mom or (your partner/spouse’s) wife/girlfriend/partner. Friendships take a toll too. The communication between you and your kidless friends is very different.  You’re not invited to events as much because you now have to find the time and a babysitter just so you can hang out. If you’re in your 20s like me, you see your friends still hitting the clubs, dancing, Sunday Fundaying, getting lit; but you’re at home, watching from behind your phone screen with Cocomelon playing on the TV. The most action you get with an invite could be a playdate, birthday party, or some other kid-friendly event. And sure, there are mom groups but sometimes those aren’t even giving you what you need. 

There has always been a MAJOR push from society to dedicate your life, as a mom, to your children. Forget the person you were prior to that. It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s not about you. It’s always about the kids. Always. I mean, they didn’t necessarily ask to be here. But what about mom? What about how she feels every day? What if she wants more human interaction with adults? I was someone before my daughter was even thought of. I had (still do) dreams and aspirations. But if we express all of this, what is the feedback we receive? “YoU cHosE tHis!” “You knew it was going to be hard.” “You had a choice.” And while those things can be true, it can also be true that this shit is demanding and lowkey taxing on my mental health. 

How do we deal? Who can we really confide in without judgment? How do we get back to our dreams and aspirations without being as present as we usually are with our children? I’m gonna be honest. I just take it one day at a time. Literally. A lot of the time, I cry in the shower, with the door locked, and my daughter pounding on the door wanting to show me something that I don’t want to see at the moment. I pray and beg God to just give more hours in the day. I take time to journal. If I have quiet time while Avery is sleeping, I do something that I want to do: catch up on a tv show, listen to my favorite album WITHOUT the censoring, think of content for this site. Just SOMETHING so that I can feel normal. 

When I made this blog, this was a gift to myself because I had been so lost. I was stumbling around, trying to find my place in the world as a new mom in my 20s. This is my way of expressing the truth. My hope is that someday a community of mothers can feel safe in this space that I not only created for myself, but also for them. 

If you are feeling the weight of loneliness in this motherhood journey, always know that my comments are open. This is a safe space. 

Take care of yourselves and be gentle.

Genuinely,

Gabby 

I haven’t been a mother for very long, but I have gained some wisdom within these three short years. Motherhood is a melting pot of a journey. There are good days, excellent days, terrible days, and horrendous days. But each day, there is a lesson. Every single day is a learning experience. Children can be the best and the worst. And that’s okay! Sure, we want our children to be the most perfect little angels. But honey that is not the reality. Again, that is okay. 

To bring a sense of calm and community in mothering, I asked a few mothers for some advice they acquired in their years of being a mom. Here is some reassuring advice for mothers.

1. “Don’t feel bad about taking time for yourself. Happy mom, happy baby.
2. “Enjoy every moment; time moves fast.”
3. “Create structure.”
4. “Pouring into yourself is equally as important as pouring into your child.”
5. “Follow your heart and intuition! Your baby will trust you if you trust yourself.”
6. “Live in the moment! They pass you by otherwise.”
7. “Protect your peace.”
8. “Proverbs 3:5. Once you affirm and believe that, know you’ve got this!”
9. “No one else’s view of you matters but your child’s.”
10. “It’s okay to apologize to your child(ren).”

I have to say that these words of wisdom definitely meant so much to me from other women that walking through motherhood. I also have a few to pass along!

• Take all the pictures and the videos. And print the pictures!
• Always be attentive in how you react to your circumstances. 
• Be gentle with both yourself and your child(ren). You are both learning from each other.
• It does not matter what your kids eat. As long as they are fed! 
• Every moment is special. 
• Your baby loves you regardless of your failures. They love YOU.

Some of this advice really resonates with me as a mother. I remember what it was like when everything was so new. The experience was definitely nothing that I expected it to be. Hell, it still isn’t! But I can say that it’s a journey worth taking.

I hope that you take away some of this advice and remember that you are doing an exceptionally excellent job in being a mother.

Genuinely,

Gabby

Are you tight on money or short on time? Then this is the perfect budget-friendly way to make a Valentine’s Day gift for your toddler(s)!

What You’ll Need

• gift bags (you can find solid Valentine’s Day colors at Dollar Tree; they come in a set of 3)
• Candy (Target, Walmart, Kroger, and pretty much any grocery store almost always has BOGO on themed candy. OR you can just buy regular candy without the Valentine’s Day theme. Also, if you have food stamps, candy counts as food!)
• Markers/crayons (use the kids’!)
• Construction paper (use the kids’ or you can purchase some at Dollar Tree)
• Stickers (Dollar Tree)
• Optional: Stuffed animals/toys (again…. Dollar Tree!)
• Optional: decorative shred (Dollar Tree)
• Scissors

How to Make

First, decorate the bags. Write your child’s name on it. I chose to decorate the bags with cute stickers.

Second, put the candy in the bags. I had about four bags of candy that I purchased and just evenly spread it out in each bag.

Third, use the construction paper to make little cards with sweet Valentine’s Day messages. If you’re feeling really crafty, cut the cards into little hearts. Once finished, just drop it in the bag.

*These next two steps are optional*

Add a toy in each bag and then top it off with the decorative shred.

Now you’re ready to pass this out to your little tot(s)! It’s super simple and very cheap. My daughter and her group of friends really enjoyed their bags. This is perfect for your child’s class Valentine’s Day parties or just a sweet little gift to make your little one(s) feel special! Happy Valentine’s Day!