Practice Gratitude

Ever feel like your house is a circus and you’re the only one without a costume? Practicing gratitude is like finding a clean mug in the dishwasher—unexpected, oddly thrilling, and just enough to keep you going. If you’ve ever thought, ‘Hey, at least no one drew on the dog today,’ you’re already halfway there. Let’s turn surviving into thriving (or at least into ‘not crying in the laundry room’).

Gratitude isn’t just for Instagram captions—it rewires your brain, boosting mood and resilience for both you and your tiny humans. Regular gratitude practice can lower stress, improve sleep (ha!), and help you savor the small wins, like when your toddler finally eats something green. Kids learn by watching, so your ‘thanks for not coloring on the walls today’ moments become their model for optimism.

How to do it

  1. Start small—there’s no need for a fancy leather-bound gratitude journal (unless that’s your thing).

  2. Each evening, name one good thing that happened. It can be something simple, like “the baby only screamed for 30 minutes.”

  3. Choose how you want to express it:

    • Say it out loud
    • Write it on a sticky note
    • Share it at dinner

  4. Involve your kids by asking what made them happy today. Be prepared for answers like “butter.”

  5. Keep it real and keep it light. The goal is to notice the good things, not to be perfect.

Tips:

  • Consistency matters more than formality.
  • Celebrate small wins.
  • Make it a shared family moment if you can.
  • Don’t worry about making it profound—just honest.

After you pour your morning coffee (or tea, or whatever keeps you upright).

Jot down one thing you’re grateful for—yes, ‘coffee’ counts.
Do a tiny fist pump or say ‘still got it!’ to yourself.
Put a notepad and pen near your coffee maker or toothbrush.

When your phone buzzes at bedtime.

Say out loud one thing that didn’t completely implode today.
Smile and mentally high-five yourself for surviving.
Set a daily reminder on your phone with a gratitude prompt.

Right after dinner, before the cleanup tornado begins.

Write one good thing from the day and drop it in the jar.
Shake the jar and listen to the happy paper rustle (it’s the sound of progress!).
Place a gratitude jar and scraps of paper on the kitchen counter.