Hey there! I’m Joy…Mom, OT and Crafty Lady

Ever have a day when dry shampoo was your best friend and mac & cheese passed for a food group? Been there! And yet, even on the days when we feel like we’re just not measuring up as a mom and have zero energy left to nurture, we want our kids to continue to learn and grow and THRIVE!

You want to limit screen time but struggle to find other things that will engage our children (and allow us to just have one minute to throw in a load of laundry or work on that business proposal!). It can take so much energy to plan hands-on creative experiences, but we know that it’s crucial to developmental. After all, kids learn best when they are engaging all of their senses. Most craft sites present projects that require time consuming prep and a PhD in Craftology in order to complete an activity. NOT HERE. I want this to be doable! I pledge not produce crafts on this blog that are beautiful to look at but that no one will ever make. These projects are for doing, not just observing while adults do the heavy lifting!

My biggest joy in life has been being mom to 2 amazing boys, now young men. And when I look back over their childhood, I think to myself “Wow, you were an amazing mom! You deserve some sort of parade or something to honor all of your outstanding achievements!” HA! Of course I don’t think that (most moms don’t) Instead, I beat myself up about all of the ways that I failed and didn’t do the things that I really wanted to do with them. Time just gets away from you, and life is hectic. More often my thoughts about their childhood are “Well, I hope the therapy bills aren’t too high.” (Truth) With time does come a little bit of wisdom, though, and I have figured out a way to at least help busy moms whittle out a little time to do some of the more important things, like crafting memories with your family.

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I talk with parents every week who are concerned that their kids will not be ready for kindergarten or whose kids are struggling in school in other ways. So, I started this blog to try to answer some of those questions. (And now that my own kids are practically grown I actually have some free moments in the day…Yes, some day you will get that much needed rest too…promise.)

Here you’ll find simple and seasonal craft ideas, with my OT tips for promoting much needed skills needed for success in school (and life), included in each post. Even better, each craft is completed using items from the same master list of basic craft supplies which are economical and easily stored in one bag (or box, cupboard, cart, whatever suits your fancy). Keep your bag stocked with the recommended basics, just like a pantry. Check out the “Fill Your Bag” page for the list of supplies you will need. A lot of them you probably already have on hand. Let me do all of the leg work and take the hassle out of setting up an invitation to play. If you prefer, use the Amazon links to make it even easier to gather your items (How did we all survive before there was PRIME?)

Here are a few personal tidbits you should know about me… *I’m a Broadway fanatic that has never seen a show on Broadway *I have spent every day with other people’s preschoolers, which is both rewarding and exhausting *My almost grown children are both very creative and artistic in their own ways (ask me about it, and I’ll talk your ear off all day!) *I get my creative genes from my dad, and my gift of gab from my mom (thanks, folks!!!) *Even if I do work out every day, I promise that you’ll never have to watch! *My husband is the sexiest man on the planet…nough said! *Some of my favorite people are my pets (Zelda, Link, and Pudding) *It is my dream to buy a fixer upper and restore it to beauty (some day) *I’ve never successfully applied eye liner (I guess there’s always tomorrow)