Parents spend 99% of time on forgettable things

Welcome to this week’s edition of Boardroom to Playroom! Today we’ll explore:

• The Power of “No” in Parenting: Reclaim your mental space by focusing on what truly matters

• Creating Magical Moments: Shift from mundane tasks to memorable moments with your kids

• 4th of July Family Connection: Do something fun this holiday week - FREE PRINTABLE!

Story time: Where are you tooth fairy?

With my first daughter, the tooth fairy was on top of her game. She showed up on time, every time, sprinkling her fairy dust on my daughter’s pillow.

Fast forward to kiddo #2, and the tooth fairy was burnt out. Brain fog and overwhelming tasks took over, and as a result, my second child had multiple nights questioning what happened to the tooth fairy. ("Uhh…she was too busy tonight…she got lost…she’s coming tomorrow!")

Working in a demanding role, my mind was elsewhere, and I was letting these moments of magic slip at home.

What could I have done differently?

Deep Dive: The Power of “No”

In Eve Rodsky’s book Fair Play, she discusses the importance of taking complete ownership of certain household tasks to ensure equitable distribution and free up mental load (read it if you haven’t). One of the key areas of responsibility is creating "Magic" – those special moments that inspire kids and leave a twinkle in their eyes.

Magic moments can include tooth fairy visits, birthday surprises, and special one-on-one dates with your kids. These moments are what your child will remember and cherish into adulthood.

The paradox is that we spend 99% of our time on mundane tasks that will never be remembered instead of this magical time.

How can you make more space for magic, even if you’re busy and can’t drop the ball on things like finances and doctor visits? Consider: 

1. Cut down: Do one less extracurricular activity per child or commit to one less social outing per month

2. Outsource: Use a virtual assistant to manage family appointments.  Use a personal styling service like Stately Men to cut down on your need to shop.

Now that you’ve made space:

Once you’ve made space, here are some great ways to weave in magical moments with your kids:

• Celebrate Wins: Take your kid out for ice cream when they hit a sports milestone

• Annual Trip: Take your kiddo on a weekend getaway and try something new

• Weekly Rituals: Take ownership of a weekly ritual—family movie night or Saturday morning donuts

• Cultural Exposure: Share a cultural event with a friend and their child

Reflect: What is one thing I did last week that I can and should take off my plate to make more space for magic?

Weekly Connection Moment

Celebrate the 4th together:

Ages 2-4: Sparkler Safe Fun: Use glow sticks to mimic the look of sparklers for safe 4th of July fun.

Ages 5-8: Relay Race: Organize a relay race that includes a festive element like carrying a small flag or balancing something red, white, or blue

Ages 9-12: History Hunt: We’ve created a July 4th History Hunt you can print and do at home together

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