I am so, so excited about today. Today Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters!
Have you seen Rachel before? She’s kind of hard to miss these days. She’s been popping up in my Facebook feed and she’s all over Pinterest. Her latest big hit The Bully Too Close to Home went viral in December and hit a lot of parents right were they needed it. The great thing about Rachel is she’s honest and candid. Her stories cut right to the heart of the matter. (And having tissues near by when you read anything signed Rachel Macy Stafford is a good idea… just sayin.)
The other day she posted something that I just haven’t been able to get out of my mind…
I want to read your words before they are kept under lock and key—for your eyes only.
I want to watch you laugh and be silly before I am no longer your favorite audience.
I want to admire your choice in color combination and accessories before my opinion on fashion is politely ignored.
I want to listen to your nighttime secrets before the bedroom door shuts, and I’m standing outside listening to your favorite song drift out from beneath the crack.
I want to look into your eyes and ask, “What’s on your mind?” before I am no longer privy to your hopes, dreams, worries and fears.
I want to say yes before your invitations are reserved for people your own age.
I want to know you,
Listen to you,
Love you,
Before things change, and you’re not my little girl anymore.
(Read the rest on The Hands Free Revolution Facebook Page.)
Doesn’t she just have the perfect way to remind you what really matters? I was offered a complementary copy of Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters!
Then a funny thing happened. Another copy showed up at my door! I immediately thought of you. Wouldn’t a giveaway be the perfect way to celebrate!?!? I want to make sure the winner gets their copy ASAP, so this giveaway is a super short one. (That means less competition hee hee.)
Hands Free Book Club
Alissa at CreativewithKids.com is doing something awesome! She’s hosting a parenting book group starting with Hands Free Mama.
“Have you ever read something about parenting and instead of feeling good, you wind up feeling tired and weighed down by one more should? That’s your Should Mama (or Papa) talking! We’ve met the Should Mama before, and this is not her book group. We’re not going to be beating ourselves up. We’ll learn together and take what works for us and leave the rest.”
I love it!!! Signed up for the emails this morning. Get your copy of Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters!
GIVEAWAY
Congratulations to Kim! This giveaway is closed. I used Random.org to pick the winner.
Pick up your copy of Hands Free Mama here —> Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters!
This quick giveaway is easy! I just want to know what moments you are soaking up right now. What wonderful thing do you get to be a part of… what is your reason for wanting to be a Hands Free Mama? Leave me a comment. Only one entry per person. Giveaway ends Wednesday January 8, 2014. Winner must live in US. Winner will be chosen at random.
That message I shared above immediately made me think of Little M and her notes. There are notes everywhere in our house and on every note there are always two names. MOM and DAD. I’ve already thought about loving this moment, knowing that it will pass quickly. Knowing that we will be on the tip of her tongue for only a short while. So I will hold tight to this moment and really, really feel it. How about you? What moment do you need to grasp?
My dear, dear friend. Looks at the beautiful words you have written about my book & my writings. You are someone I admire greatly in all areas of life, so to have your support & endorsement means the world. Because of your talents in SO many areas, I called on you to help me. And you have blown me away. Thank you for taking a little bit of the load that comes with blogging/publishing so I can do what my heart yearns to do–write and be a present wife & mother.
You are very easy to promote my friend! Thank you for the opportunity. It’s a honor to be one of the many helping you share your story!
I think the moment came when my 18 month old went to hit my phone out of my hand when browsing facebook :/ pretty strong wake up call that my son who cant speak gets I should be playing with him and not losing myswlf in facebook. Thats exactly what has been happening lately, losing myself in the “phone” world. So this year along with my eat right and workout resolution, putting down my phone is on the priority one too:). I lived without not to long ago and can easily LIVE without it now… Thanks for sharing.
I love that whenever my 3 year old hears the shower turn off she RUNS to hand me my towel before I put my wet feet on the mat. “Here, Mama.”
Trying to achieve a balance of work and home, and not doing well at either. The other night I decided to play a game of spot it with my son before bed. It was great!
The way she asks to be tickled and snuggled in bed at night. The stories she tells me with such poetic and dramatic flair that leave us reduced to a fit of giggles. her love notes that say “I love Momi”. Her handwriting. Her pictures. Her singing in the car. <3
I have many moments with my eldest son that I’m glad I didn’t miss. Our movie nights, Lego time, game day…When he was a baby/infant I was extremely addicted to online games and sadly spent more time playing the game than with my son. I realized what I was doing before it was too late and stopped. I want to be a hands free mom because my life and memories should be filled with my children and their happiness, not random “mental occupation” found online and in the digital world.
I have three little boys and I am really enjoying this stage we are at right now, but I am always trying to be better at enjoying them to the fullest, it is so ridiculously easy to get distracted these days! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love it when my son cuddles up to me and tells me about his car/plane/house that he will make.have when he grows up! And when my daughters ask me to tell them stories about when I was little…
As a working Mom, I am trying hard to balance work, home, and my blogging hobby. The words you share really speak to me, especially since I have an only child. I want to enjoy her as much as I can while I am still her “best Mom in the whole wide world”.
I love that Grace still calls me Mama and wants me to rock her and sing to her at bedtime.
I’m trying to soak up every minute I can while my kids still stay home over hanging out with their friends. They grew up so fast and I feel like I missed it all!
Would love a copy of this book. The technology world is too much sometimes and after three losses i have my angel baby Juliana one year oct 23rd. I need to be more present for her and my son who is six.
When I wake my four year old up in the morning she says “snuggle with me mommy” how can I resist? Someday she will grumble when I walk in. I love it. No matter how much time we have I crawl into bed with her.
while the gap wasn’t intentional, I like the 5 year separation between my 2 boys. one goes to bed at 7 (baby), the other at 8 (5 year old). I like being able to give the 5 year old his own time before bed. we do the standard ‘read books’ but also like to give into his requests for whatever activity, whether he wants to play sorry or doodle dice-the dishes can wait. on the other hand, the 6 month old wakes up around 5 am, no matter what I try. I’ve given up trying to change it, and spend an hour cuddling, talking to him, playing with him, before the rest of the house wakes up around 6 to start getting ready. even though I am sleepy, I am starting to love that time.
Being a hands free mama is something I struggle with daily…and naturally so as a blogger and online business owner, there is always that push and pull and someone telling us you NEED to be on this site, and make sure you connect on this site, and Oh! don’t forget to comment and comment back and answer emails….it’s suffocating and I long to be that mama again where we spend every sunny afternoon playing at the park, the beach, enjoying museums, and each others company. Well, over the Christmas break I have been doing just that, especially this last week, laughing and playing on the playgrounds, riding scooter and bikes, and just living!
That is a wonderful question! I soak up so much it’s hard to pin-point. I love the way my eldest son tells me about the details of his day. I love the way my little guy still has those belly laughs that make me laugh so hard too. I love their innocence. Being a mom is such a blessing.
Because they are growing up way too fast and I don’t want to miss the little things!
My 5 yo son (my oldest of three) actually wrote me a message that said, “When your done will you play with me? ” and gave it to me at the computer. Talk about conviction! My children are funny and silly, but I have a hard time getting silly with them. I need to start over.
I love to soak in her imagination when she tells stories or plays pretend. She’s only 2 and I can’t wait to see what she’ll come up with next. A revealing moment for me is when she said clear as a bell “Mommy, turn it off please?” when I was surfing on my phone.