From August through January, life is action-packed: we’re on the go from back-to-school through the holidays, and we enter the new year with high aspirations. And then, in the face of that long stretch between mid-January and spring break, things get back to normal – really normal. It can be a relief to return to familiar rhythms, but how can we do that without slipping into autopilot and missing out on special moments with our kids?

As the buzz of the new year fades into the comfort—and, sometimes, monotony—of our daily parenting routines without vacations and holidays to break them up, it’s a great opportunity to get intentional about what really matters to us, and to create those small simple moments of connection that are so important for family bonding (even if it means easing up on some of those loftier resolutions). In this special episode of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah share our own memories and experiences of what can make a long stretch of “real life” both frustrating and special, and offer tips on how moms can connect with their kids and care for themselves by giving themselves permission to embrace the small and simple moments that add up to a meaningful life with kids.

About Our Sponsor

We’ve partnered with the Milk: Love What’s Real campaign on this special episode about celebrating real moments with our kids. When we look back over some of those simple, special moments we’ve shared with our kids, milk has played a big part. From cocoa to cereal, sippy cups to afternoon tea, we love the memories and moments of connection that have been made sweeter by milk.

Learn more about the Milk: Love What’s Real Campaign at milklife.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, or follow the hashtag #lovewhatsreal on social media.

About Our Guest

Dr. Sheryl Ziegler is a psychologist in private practice, and the author of Mommy Burnout: How to Reclaim Your Life and Raise Healthier Children in the Process. Find her at her website, drsherylziegler.com.

Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:
We mentioned our recent episode about habits
We also mentioned our episode about playing board games with kids
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