Create a little kindness for fellow moms with Kindness Kits

There’s a certain ache spreading over social media these days.

For several years, there’s been “Mommy Wars” chatter and the “Mom Enough?” question hanging like a thundercloud over our heads.

And then there’s the “real stuff” of everyday life that finds each of us by turns: winter colds, temper tantrums, no-nap days, isolation, unexpected loss…

For some reason I can’t dissect, moms everywhere are feeling intense pressure in their parenting from many sides. Instead of supporting each other, moms and society is so often tearing each other down.

One time, an employee at Trader Joes had some kind words for me, and I felt perhaps-somewhat-disproportionally grateful (although you can never be too grateful), just that he’d recognized the effort I’d put in to get the kids out to the store.

Wouldn’t it be great if 2015 could be the year we put a different spin on motherhood?

If we could celebrate, support, recognize, embrace, and enjoy motherhood in all facets?

A new group, Spin Kindness, contacted me recently, asking me to become a Kindness Agent and help them spread a little cheer and kindness to parents I meet in my daily life. They provided a delightful collection of packaging and gift items to share. And simply asked me to hand out these gifts to bless a fellow mom on her way.

I started thinking about who should get these little care packages… I call them Kindness Kits…

Let me tell you, there’s a whole roster of moms that can use support:

The mom with a newborn
The mom stuck in the house for days with sick children
The mom who’s experienced a miscarraige, and
The mom who struggles with infertility
The mom with elderly parents to care for
The mom who’s just had surgery
The mom who’s newly pregnant
The mom who works from home, and
The mom who goes to work each day, and
The mom who homeschools, and
The mom who holds back tears as she waves the bus down the road
The mom who goes it alone
The mom who doesn’t know what she’ll feed her kids tonight,
The mom who feels guilty for being too tired to play
The mom whose kids are growing up
The mom who’s just lost a mom (or dad)
The mom who’s trying to maintain order at a restaurant with her kids
The mom who needs a break, and
The mom who just wants childhood to go on forever…

I am sure we can all recognize ourselves somewhere on that list. Maybe multiple places. The point is, we’re all facing some kind of struggle at the same time as we’re trying to be great moms.

Instead of criticizing a parent who does things differently, how about asking, “Can you tell me more about that?” or asking if they need help or prayer, or a meal or a babysitter.

I have had a lot of fun spotting moms to share a Kindness Kit with, and hope it has brightened their day!

Perhaps you could put together a few Kindness Kits to encourage a mom and her kids on their way? The boys and I had fun surprising moms with these goodies! And along the way, I think I am teaching them how to value and respect the work moms do.

Create Kindness Kits for fellow moms by including some of these items:

• Water bottles
• Mini coloring books and crayons
• Stickers
• Granola bars
• Small toys like tops, yoyos, or baby items like linking rings, etc
• Coupons for baby items
• Boogie Wipes packets
• An inspiring quote on a pretty card
• A little note from you!

I’d also encourage you to sign up to become a Kindess Agent too!

There’s a mom near you who needs your support today. I hope you find her! I so enjoyed sharing these Kindness Kits, I’m already planning to create a bagful more to stash in the car and hand out as I find moms around me!

Tell me about a time someone did a kind act for you as  a mom. Or tell me something you like to do for other moms!

This post was created as part of my participation in the Spin Kindness / Boogie Wipes campaign. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.