As the new year starts and we set new goals, one of my bucket list items for 2017 is to encourage others even more. Especially moms. Nothing against dads (we love you, too!), but I just want to spend a little extra attention on the mamas.
I’ve been a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, a single mom, a mom trying to stretch every dollar I have to make ends meet, a multi-job mom…and through all those different phases of my life I look back and I am so thankful for those who encouraged me. Like a lot of us, I’ve experienced some really rough times in my life. It hasn’t always been easy.
I have been very blessed to have some amazing women in my life who have held my hand along the way. It’s the little things that really kept me going. I want every woman, every mama out there to feel like she has a friend when she needs it. I will fully admit to getting so busy most days that I go into tunnel vision and lose focus on the little ways we can show someone that we care.
Inspire, encourage and connect. These all are great ways to describe why we do what we do at 95.5 The FISH and some of the many reasons I love doing what I do every morning. So, this month at The FISH we’re bringing back the 30 Days of Positive Challenge. It’s a new challenge every day. But I want to send a special challenge out to moms, for moms. Let’s all work hard this year to cheer each other on and sprinkle in a little extra kindness in our actions each day.
Be the Coffee/Tea Fairy
At work, at playgroup, wherever you’re meeting a friend, surprise her with a cup of coffee. I had a girlfriend at work that would randomly drop off my favorite coffee in the afternoon and it made my day every time she did it. It’s been more than 10 years and I still talk about it. So simple, yet it made me feel so special.
Ding-Dong, Ditch (Mama Style)
Have you ever had this done to you? I have a teenage daughter, so we’ve experienced this once or twice. For those new to it, you ring the doorbell at someone’s house (ding-dong!), and then you run (ditch!). Except the fun part to this activity is you leave a present for mama, too. Maybe it’s a meal, maybe a dessert, a gift card, or something you know she needs. It’s a fun way to surprise and bring a smile to someone’s face.
Leave Coupons you Don’t Need at the Store
We all love to save money, right? This just happened to me recently — I was running in to buy some special gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate chip cookies, knowing they were gonna be a little pricey but worth it. I got to the aisle and found them with two $1 off coupons tucked in between them. I know it’s only $2, but it was such a nice gesture and I was so grateful to the person who left them.
Create a “Just Because” Moment
Send a text, write a letter, send a Facebook message “just because” to let someone know you are thinking about them.
Live Alert
Tell a random mama you see that they’re doing a good job. How many times have we walked by a mom and her kids and thought about saying something encouraging, but didn’t? Maybe it’s while you’re playing at a park, reading at the library, or at school. Wherever it is, don’t miss the good stuff going on right in front of you.
I still remember when a mom stopped me once about 15 years ago to tell me what a great job I was doing with my daughter. My daughter had sat by a student with special needs at school while they were sitting alone. This mom, whom I didn’t know, stopped me to tell me how awesome she thought it was that my daughter did that and that I had taught my daughter well. To this day, I don’t know who that woman was, but I’ll never forget her simple message. It encouraged me to keep teaching my girls to “live alert.” Thinking of others means not missing out on the moments that are right in front of us.
I’d love to hear how you’re planning to scatter kindness this year. It’s so cool when you call, email, or find me on Facebook or Twitter. I am so honored to hear from you, whether it’s the good, the not so good or the silly — really, it means more than you know.
