A Restful Night

Watching this old video of Eamonn feels especially emotional now that my fourth—and last—baby is starting school.

Even then, he wanted the space to figure it out for himself. But every few steps, he would turn around, look for my reassurance, and smile so proudly when he realized he could do it.

I think that’s one of the hardest parts of motherhood: knowing when to help and when to step back back enough to let them try.

We want to protect them. We want to make the climb easier. We want to make things easy.

But so much growth happens when we give them the room to discover things themselves and to practice getting comfortable with new experiences.

What they need from us changes as they grow. They may not need us to do it for them—but they still need to know we’re there.

As Eamonn takes this next big step, I hope he feels just as capable confident and proud as he did climbing those stairs. And I hope that every once in a while, he still looks back with a big smile o find me watching.

He’s ready. But Am I? Probably not!

Share with a mom who is dropping their baby at school and please tell me I’m not the only parent who finds these milestones harder than their child does.

Every single time we travel, before we walk into the airport, I take a picture of my kids.

And not because I want to document the cute travel outfits.

I want a current photo of exactly what each of them is wearing that day.

God forbid one of my kids ever got separated from us in a crowded airport, I don’t want to have to remember whether Declan was wearing the blue shirt or the green one. I want to be able to immediately pull up a photo.

It’s a tiny thing that takes 10 seconds and gives this mom of four a little extra peace of mind.

And because I’ve logged enough airport time with four kids to learn a few things, here are a few BONUS rules I swear by:

1️⃣ Bring the travel stroller, even if your youngest is a preschooler. Airports are big, travel days are long, and sometimes everyone benefits from having one child contained.

2️⃣ All electronics go in ONE carry-on. iPads, headphones, chargers. One place. Always.

3️⃣ TSA PreCheck + CLEAR. Anything that reduces our time standing in a line is a yes from me.

4️⃣ Preview the game plan in the car. Where we’re going, what happens when we arrive, who stays with whom, and what I expect from everyone.

5️⃣Snacks. More snacks. And then throw in a few more snacks just in case. I do not rely on the airport. I do not rely on the airline. I rely on my own aggressively overpacked snack bag.

And my most important rule rule: lower your expectations.Traveling with four kids is never exactly relaxing, but a little preparation makes the chaos a lot more manageable.

What’s the ONE thing you always do when traveling with your kids? Drop it below—I’m always looking for another good travel hack.

You won’t catch me interrupting this dance party... because I know one late night won’t ruin sleep.

I think summer can make parents feel like they’re constantly choosing between making memories and protecting sleep.

But here’s what I want you to remember: a strong sleep foundation is meant to give you flexibility, not take it away!

The goal is not to have a child who ALWAYS goes to bed at the exact same minute every night (they aren’t robots and neither are we). The goal is to build healthy sleep habits that are strong enough to handle real life, and real fun.

So stay for the extra song.
Stay for the neighborhood party.
Stay while your kids dance as the sun goes down.

If bedtime ends up a little later than usual, that’s okay. Let your child catch up with a little extra sleep if they need it, then simply return to your normal routine the next day. One late night doesn’t undo reliable healthy sleep habits.

And one more thing... if your kids are dancing like nobody’s watching, hit record. ❤️

SAVE this for the next time you’re wondering if you should leave early for bedtime... and remember: consistency over time matters far more than one late night.
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▫️Summer sleep schedule for kids ▫️Westchester Sleep Consultant ▫️A Restful Night