😎 The Little Things That Make My Kids Think I’m Fun (For Now)

The other day, my kid told me I was “actually fun.” A compliment? For moi? I’ll take it.

Most of motherhood feels like reminding people to put their shoes on, drink water, and stop climbing things they shouldn’t be climbing. But every once in a while, there are these small moments where your kids look at you like you’re kind of fun to be around.

Today, let me share the things I do that seem to earn me the right to brag that I give off slightly cool mom energy. If these can work for you, great. We all need some SCM energy in our lives... at least until the kids decide we're uncool again.

I Say Yes to Small Things More Often Than Big Ones

I don’t say yes to everything. If I'm being honest, I say NO a lot more often than I'd like. But I try to say yes to the small things that don’t actually matter that much.

Like:

• popsicles before dinner
• an extra 10 minutes before bedtime
• watching one more show
• wearing pajamas all weekend

These are the things my kids remember.

I Let Lunch/Snacks Feel Like an Event

There is something about food that instantly makes kids happy. So sometimes I lean into it.

For example, instead of just handing them something, I’ll:

• put snacks in a fun container or use fun toothpicks
• bring them outside and call it a “snack picnic”
• cut pizza or sandwiches into a fun shape (I use these cutters to make both shapes and also sometimes DIY uncrustables)
• instead of one big snack, do a little bit of everything and put it in this rotating snack platter

It’s the same food… just slightly more fun. Sure I have to do a biiit more cleaning up. But remember, it's not every day, it's not all the time. Slightly Cool Mom Energy, everyone.

I Keep a Few “Surprise” Things on Hand

This is my biggest tip for school-aged kiddos: keep a bucket in your pantry of knick knacks. You know the little toys or gizmos they get in a goodie bag, fast food kids meal, or get from the dentist? I save all of them and put them in my bucket (mine's an old trick or treating pumpkin bucket, nothing fancy).

Just small, random items that feel new and exciting.

Things like:

• stickers
• a slap bracelet
• a coloring activity
• a fidget toy (these are some I keep in my pantry - they work great as party favors, too)
• a bouncy ball

Kids don't always remember to play with these little knick knacks when they get it, or they'll forget about it. Pulling something out of the bucket unexpectedly instantly changes the mood, and even if it's short - they get such JOY from playing.

I Try to Make the Mundane Into Something Special

While I don't do this every day, I try to make everyday boring activities into something fun.

For example, when I want my daughter to get dressed for school but she's reallyyy pushing the "10 more minutes" card, I let her know that we're going to have a fashion show. Where does the fashion show take place? Oh, in the hallway that leads to the garage.

Your kids hate bath time? I make bath time into a pick-your-own story time, where I let them pick nouns and verbs to make silly stories that have them giggling, forgetting about how much they hate soap in their face.

I Lower the Bar (A Lot)

This might be the most important one. Being a “fun mom” doesn’t mean doing everything right. It just means showing up in small ways that feel good.

Some days that looks like:

• laughing more
• saying yes once when I normally wouldn’t
• taking a break from being strict

And some days? Let's be honest. It doesn’t happen at all. But the small moments still add up and for now, every once in a while, my kids think I’m fun.

*fist pump* Yes for SCM energy.