This post is brought to you by a Healthy Slice partner.
Every time I sit down to write, I tell myself I won’t mention how packed our schedule has been lately. Don’t do it, Brittany. But really, aren’t things nuts right now? I know it’s not just me. Everyone is doing the same balancing dance I am, so I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I’m craving a slow down.
Honestly, I can tell the girls are too. We don’t wear “over scheduled” well and it shows in increased whining and sass. From all three of us. Though we are so close to the point when we can ease into summer, we aren’t quite there yet, so I am mandating some mental health moments to help get us through.
That’s one of my favorite things about being mom- having the choice to make adjustments as we need them. And we needed it. Lucky for me, the clouds darkened in the afternoon and I felt it was God’s way of telling me, yeah girl, take that break.
Once I saw the first raindrop fall, I called the girls together and declared it a snuggle day.
The moment the words hit their ears, they both lit up. Getting to be the one to create that look on their faces never gets old. They ran to get jammies and then straight to the bathtub. By now we all know the routine.
Early baths, brush hair, cover the couch, pop the corn, commence movie watching snuggle fest. Popcorn has become so intricately tied to our snuggle days that when I pop it any other time, they’ll run straight to get jammies. My sweet little Pavlov pups.
We love popcorn around here. I’ve played with the idea of getting an air popper but I don’t think my cabinets can hold even one more gadget. I pop in stove top sometimes, but it’s tough to beat the convenience of microwave popcorn for when you just don’t want to wash another pot and the previews are already rolling.
Since we are popcorn purists (just butter and salt, please), we thoroughly enjoy JOLLY TIME Pop Cornβs new microwave butter popcorn, Simply Popped.
It is made with just four simple ingredients: butter, sea salt, non-GMO popcorn and oil.
It pops up perfectly in my microwave in just two minutes and tastes just like stove top. Though we love it simply because it tastes fresh and airy, it’s actually a healthy snack too. It’s gluten-free, rich in fiber and whole grains with only 35 calories per cup.
But like I said, what matters most? Tasty!
Recently when Hailey was asked at school what her favorite thing to do with mom was, snuggling on the couch was her answer.
It warms my mama heart to think that these snuggle days may be memories that they hold onto for years to come, just like sock fights and backwards dinners from my own childhood.
And though there are always things needed to be done, I’ve realized that it’s just that: there are always things that are going to be needed to be done. So instead of taking off to the office, I throw on my super sexy mom robe and indulge in a little popcorn eating and movie watching too, with one girl tucked under each arm.
I’m looking forward to the slower pace of summer and hopefully a few stormy afternoons too. Just to make sure we’re covered, the pantry is stocked with JOLLY TIME Simply Popped and Netflix is loaded and ready.
How do you slow things down when the craziness of your schedule feels like too much?
What special traditions are you creating with your kids?
Do you have any that you remember from your own childhood?
JOHN J STATHAS says
Awww, cute snuggly pics with the kids. I remember our snuggly days on the big sectional couch. Special keeper memories. Think I’ll have to try that popcorn and snuggle with your Mom! π
Brittany Dixon says
That couch is legendary! Most comfortable pit there ever was π
I also have good memories of snuggling as fam and watching Roseanne! Good times…
Melissa says
Where did you get their bunny nightgowns? My 5 year old is obsessed with bunnies! She would love one.
Brittany Dixon says
My mother in law got them for the girls! They were at Gymboree around Easter time π
Heather says
We are big fans of snuggles on the couch with a movie… or with a picnic. The kids love to spread out a blanket and have an impromptu picnic in the living room while we watch a movie. I love the rainy season for that reason – there’s no better time to slow down and cuddle!
Laura says
Lovely post and pictures! We actually lead very unstructured lives. Other than our jobs, we do not have much of anything on the schedule, and I prefer to keep it this way. I realize this might change some when our boys are in grade school but at the same time I don’t want things to get so scheduled that we don’t have time to relax (such as drink coffee for one or two hours weekend mornings) and go on hikes, weekend trips, or hang out doing nothing other than collecting rocks and worms in the backyard.
Brittany Dixon says
I love that kind of flexibility and actually think I need to pull back some to allow more time for those more relaxed activities. I tend to get over excited about lessons (TENNIS!? yes! SWIM?! definitely!) and then before I know it, our days are just too full.
Jenn says
Would love a post about this! It is soooo hard!! I feel torn about putting them in everything and nothing. They want to do it all (baseball, football, soccer, gymnastics, swim, karate ) and it is so hard to make it work, and then I feel guilty because there are other kids who do a sport constantly and are so great at it and if I dont do the same for my kids they will be behind! My son 6, has been in swim lessons since he was 2.5, more for safety reasons. Now we have put him on swim team which he semi loves, but the meets are early mornings and he isnt big on that. I pulled him from swim lessons to play tball, but now I regret that and want to put him back in swim, because I see the advances of the other kids who stayed in swim! But with 3 kids in baseball, it was going to be too hard on all of us to keep the swim lessons. I would sign him up for lessons tomorrow if the hubs would agree. He is trying to bring me back to reality and says that we need the summer off and can start lessons back up next fall or even spring. Anyways Im rambling, because that is what my brain is doing! Haha! But would love to hear your thoughts on managing it all!
Laura says
Jenn, I may have a different perspective since my kids are younger (1 and almost 4), but for me it helps to not compare what my kids know and do with what other kids know and do. Who is to say one sport or activity or skill is overall better than any other? My 3 year old has never had any formal lessons, but he enjoys running after tennis balls with his own racket when I try to play with my husband, or learning how to swim a little bit better when we are on vacation and have access to a pool, or pick up cross country skiing holding hands with mom and dad. And his hiking skills and outdoor “grit” are way impressive. We considered briefly joining a soccer team since we can walk to the fields but frankly the cost was outrageous, it would commit our weekend mornings, and it is way more relaxing to head out after dinner when the mood strikes us and mess around on the soccer fields as a family. Most kids are not going to grow up to be Olympians, or even to go to college on a sports scholarship. I personally do not worry about whether my kids are keeping up with their peers’ sports skills. I really feel my role right now as a mother of young kids is to foster their love of general activity and the outdoors.
Stephanie says
This is awesome <3 My daughter had a mild fever on Thursday and honestly I was a little annoyed but relished the chance to leave work, pick her up from daycare and snuggle together on the couch while we watched a little Doc McStuffins and then she fell asleep. We both needed that!
You're so right that there will simply ALWAYS be things that need to get done. We can stress constantly or just embrace the chaos of things gone undone.
Brittany Dixon says
Oh my goodness, she fell asleep with you? That’s my favorite and rarely happens anymore! It’s definitely a silver lining to a sick day. Glad you got some good snuggles in! <3
Laura says
Love buttery popcorn! I have been known to buy the big bags already popped and add extra butter…
We like being busy and getting out but also love the flexibility that comes with homeschooling and the fact that we can have days where we do nothing but watch movies and cuddle on the couch. Trolls is the current favourite over here. Baking is another fun thing we like to do when we have slow days at home.
Brittany Dixon says
I might have asked before, but what ages are your children? I’m hoping to do more baking together when we officially start homeschool in the fall! Apple pie here we come π
Laura says
5 and a half and 9 months.
Molly says
Hi Brittany,
Love the couch, sentiment, and snuggles but I hate to ask you to PLEASE put a warning about popcorn somewhere upfront in your post for young children. As a pediatrician, I cringed a little bit because popcorn is a HUGE choking hazards and I have seen lives devastated in the blink of an eye. The AAP officially does not recommend popcorn or other high risk foods until 4 and I know your youngest is 3. This is in no way meant as criticism but more warning because not everyone realizes this. Here is a nice link from HealthyChildren.org about the choking risks: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Choking-Prevention.aspx Again, I understand this was a sweet post and it is sponsored but maybe you can addend to mention it for parents who often follow your suggestions with younger ones? Thanks!
Brittany Dixon says
Hi Molly,
I welcome input like this and appreciate your kind way of sharing the info. I clicked over to read the list of hazardous foods and am guilty on almost all accounts (hot dogs, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, chunks of cheese, sticky candy, raw vegetables- oh my). We do have a one piece at a time rule that I do my best to make everyone adhere too while eating popcorn, but we do enjoy eating it on the regular.
I appreciate the link and your input (I have several doctor friends and they always say how hard it is to be pregnant/parent because they’ve see really tough situations in their training and experience) and will definitely leave your link up for anyone interested in reading more about it. Thank you!
Coleen says
you can also just throw a tablespoon of popcorn in a paper lunch bag, put it in the microwave on the popcorn setting and have the same result for a fraction of the cost. I only mention this as you are all about saving $$$ these days. And it’s pretty cool to watch. But I get you have to do these sponsored posts.
Brittany Dixon says
Yes- great suggestions! I’ve done that before too and it works brilliantly! Though sometimes I just want the butter and salt already in there and I really do love the taste of Simply Popped – not too salty like others I have tried.
Brittany Dixon says
Hi Coleen,
I also wanted to share what JOLLYTIME mentioned to me about the brown paper bags. I actually never knew this myself until they sent the info my way, but it totally makes sense! …–>
Popping with a brown bag in the microwave isn’t a good idea since the paper bag is not food grade paper and recycled so you donβt know whatβs in it and itβs a huge fire hazard in the microwave. If you’d like to pop kernels in the microwave, there are microwave-safe dishes you can purchase at your local WalMart or Target.
Amanda says
I love a good couch day! I also love popcorn, so sounds like a perfect combo!
Liz T says
Love that step and Ill take it as a tip – cover the couch! I never have thought to do that but definitely see it’s a good idea!!
Sherry Stathas says
You and David ar making so many warm memories for your girls that will last a life time! It’s funny what sticks in a child’s mind (sock fights and backwards dinners–building houses with pine straw, forts with every pillow and blanket in the house:)) And you have it all “on a blog” or “in the cloud” for you and the girls to enjoy down the road! So special!!