This post is sponsored by Playtex Baby™ .

I’m a mom who believes in setting a foundation. I work with my husband to instill specific family values in our children + lovingly encourage healthy discussions about anything and everything. We are setting the foundation for them to become independent little beings. Although they are three very little kiddos right now, I know they are going to grow up some day. Call me crazy, but I want those teenagers of mine to talk to me.

Maven is naturally a conversationalist. (Just like her mama.) Sylvie is a chatter box, just trying to keep up with her sister’s complex language. And Rush, he coos and coos away because he wants his voice to be heard, too.

As a mom, I want their little voices to feel meaningful. I want my children to know they are heard and that their words are important. I want them to always feel open to talking with me, which is why we have developed a consistent routine of asking our children two important questions every single day.

 

 

At the dinner table:

Family dinner is just as important to us (when it’s feasible) as conversation. So marry the two together and we feel like we are doing something right as parents. ? The girls usually help get their plates, cups and utensils served up to the table.

Maven and Sylvie love their Playtex® Use 3 Way Plates and Playtex® Use 3 Way Bowls. I love them too because they are microwave safe + can be utilized as a covered plate or bowl for leftovers. We also have the Playtex® Infant Spoons for when Rush is ready to start solids, but these girls couldn’t wait for him. They’ve become the preferred spoon of choice for yogurt consumption – which occurs daily in our household.

Once they’re done sorting through their plates and possibly voicing their opinion on the dinner selection, we all sit down and pray + talk.

“What was your favorite part of the day?” we ask. And we all go around the table sharing exactly what that was. As the girls get older, this will evolve into their peak and pit – the best and worst parts of their day. By incorporating the lesser loved portions of their days, we can talk through overcoming challenges and seeing the light when things aren’t always the greatest or don’t always go as we would like them to.

I did try to ask Maven once what the worst part of her day was and she just wasn’t sure how to grasp that concept. So, for now, we celebrate the best parts – even if the answer is just “mommy”. Mark and I love to hear what they come up with and absolutely love that they ask us the question in return.

 

At bedtime:

“What are you thankful for today?” we ask. Practicing gratitude is something I do daily, and I want my children to grow up doing the same. As I put the girls to bed and we wind down with our normal nighttime routine, I make sure to ask them what they are thankful for. Sometimes they list people, sometimes they tell me an inanimate object (which can make me laugh, like “the fan”), but whatever it is, I know they are trying to communicate and do feel grateful (for something) in their hearts.

Practicing gratitude really feels like a refreshing way to end the day – especially if you’re a mama like me and have hard ones with your kids sometimes. All of us are then able to take a step back when the chaos is concluding to first discuss a major highlight amidst it all and then express our hearts thankfulness before we go to sleep.

It’s such a privilege to be the mother of my children. It’s also a great responsibility to raise them up to be the best they can be. I am confident these questions will facilitate healthy conversations for years to come and I look forward to all of the answers they will tell.

Thank you to Playtex Baby™ for allowing me to become a #PlaytexMom #ForBetterBeginnings.

 

XO