Sprinkling Kindness Like Confetti: Why It Matters & How We Do It (Plus Our Fave Freezer Treat!)

Hiiiiii my people! How are we all doing today? I wanted to sit down and just chat with you guys about something that's been on my heart a lot lately. And honestly, it's something I think about pretty much every single day, especially now that I'm a mom to three little humans who are just soaking up everything around them. We're talking about kindness. Like, real, genuine, from-the-heart kindness. Because let's be real, the world can feel a little heavy sometimes, and I truly believe that if we all just tried to sprinkle a little more kindness around, it would make such a huge difference. For ourselves, for our families, and for everyone we meet.

I mean, think about it. When someone is genuinely kind to you, doesn't it just make your whole day? Even if it's just a smile, a compliment, or someone holding a door open. Those little moments, they add up. And as a mom, I feel this huge responsibility to not just *tell* my girls to be kind, but to actually *show* them. To live it, breathe it, and make it a central part of our family's vibe. It's not always easy, ngl. We're all human, we have our moments, but the intention is always there. So I wanted to share some of the ways we try to keep kindness at the front of our minds in the Beeston house, and I'd love love love to hear your ideas too, because we can always learn from each other, right?! :)

It Starts at Home: Modeling Kindness for Our Little Ones

Okay, so this is probably the biggest one, and it's something my own mom taught me without even realizing it, I think. She was a single mom, raising me and my brother, and she worked so hard but always had time for everyone. She was just so giving and thoughtful. I grew up seeing her always helping others, always being the first to offer a hand or a kind word. And that just stuck with me. Now, with Stella, Ozzy, and baby Cherry, I see how much they watch everything Tanner and I do. Like, everything. They're little sponges!

So for us, modeling kindness means a few things. It means how Tanner and I talk to each other – even when we're tired or stressed, we try to be respectful and loving. It means how we talk to them, obviously, using gentle words and listening when they're upset. It means how we talk about other people, always trying to find the good, even if someone frustrates us. I'm not perfect, nobody is, but I try to be really mindful of the energy I'm putting out there in front of them. If they see us being patient, being generous, being understanding, then hopefully, that's what they'll learn to be too. It’s like planting little kindness seeds, you know? And then watching them grow into amazing, compassionate humans. That's the dream, anyway! :)

Making Kindness a Daily Habit, Not a Big Event

Sometimes I think we overthink kindness, like it has to be this huge grand gesture. And those are amazing, don't get me wrong! But for us, it's more about the little, everyday things. It's making it a habit, like brushing your teeth or saying 'please' and 'thank you'.

• Helping each other out: This is a big one with three kids. Stella helping Ozzy get dressed, Ozzy helping me pick up toys, Tanner helping me with dinner when I'm swamped. It's all about teamwork and looking out for each other.
• Sharing: Oh my gosh, the sharing battles, am I right?! Hahah. But we talk about it constantly. 'How would you feel if someone didn't share with you?' It's a work in progress, but we celebrate every little win.
• Compliments: We try to encourage the girls to give genuine compliments. 'I love your drawing, Stella!' or 'Ozzy, you're so good at running!' And Tanner and I do it too, for each other and for them. It just brightens everyone's day.
• Saying sorry (and meaning it): This is huge. And it's not just for the kids. If I mess up, I apologize sincerely. It teaches them that it's okay to make mistakes, but it's important to own them and try to make things right.
• Random acts of kindness: Sometimes it's as simple as letting someone go ahead of us in line at the grocery store, or leaving a nice note for the mailman. We try to point these things out to the girls when we see them, or when we do them. It shows them how easy it is to make someone smile.

Empathy & Understanding: Talking About Feelings

This is probably the hardest part, but also the most important for developing true kindness. It's teaching them to put themselves in someone else's shoes. With little kids, that's a big concept, but we start small.

When Stella or Ozzy are upset, instead of just saying 'stop crying,' we try to say, 'I see you're feeling sad/frustrated/angry. What happened? How can I help?' And then, when they see someone else upset, we can connect it. 'Remember how you felt when you lost your favorite toy? Maybe your friend feels like that now.' We read a lot of books that talk about feelings too, which helps them understand different emotions. It's all about building that emotional vocabulary and linking it to how others might be feeling. It's a slow burn, but I really believe it's how they learn to truly care about others.

Giving Back & Connecting with Our Community

Kindness isn't just for our immediate family, right? It's about how we interact with the wider world. We're still figuring out the best ways to do this with little ones, but we try to find opportunities to give back and connect.

• Donating old toys and clothes: When we do a big clean-out, we talk about how these toys will go to other kids who might not have as many. It helps them understand that not everyone has the same things, and it feels good to share.
• Helping neighbors: Sometimes it's just bringing over a plate of cookies or offering to help with a small task. It shows them the importance of community and looking out for the people around you.
• Supporting causes: As they get older, I want to involve them more in choosing causes to support, whether it's collecting food for a food bank or participating in a charity walk. It's about showing them that they can make a difference, even if they're small.

And speaking of giving back, I have to give a huge shoutout to JonnyPops here. Not just because they're literally the best pops in the world (we always have them in our freezer, no joke, the girls go wild for them!), but because they're all about spreading kindness too. They have this whole 'World Kindness Day' movement, and I just love that a company is so dedicated to something so important. Their pops even have kind messages on the sticks, which is just the cutest thing ever. It's a little reminder with every delicious bite! We straight up eat these everyday we love them over here!!

You can actually join their Kindness Movement at www.jonnypops.com/worldkindnessday. It's such a cool initiative, and it just shows how even a simple treat can be a vehicle for something bigger and more meaningful. It's a sweet way to remind us all to be a little kinder, every day.

Being Kind to Ourselves (and Each Other!)

Okay, last but not least, sometimes the hardest person to be kind to is ourselves, am I right? Especially as moms, we can be so hard on ourselves. But I'm learning that if I'm not kind to myself, it's really hard to pour into others. So that means giving myself grace when I mess up, taking a moment to breathe when things get crazy, and allowing myself to enjoy the little things, like a yummy JonnyPop on a hot day. It's also about Tanner and I being kind to each other, supporting each other, and lifting each other up. When our cup is full, it's so much easier to share that kindness with our girls and with the world.

So yeah, that's a little peek into how we try to cultivate kindness here at the Beeston house. It's a journey, not a destination, and we're always learning and growing. But I truly believe that if we all just commit to sprinkling a little more kindness around, we can make the world a brighter, happier place for everyone. And honestly, isn't that what we all want for our kids? A world full of love and understanding? I think so. :,)

Now, tell me, what are YOUR favorite ways to teach and practice kindness? I'm always looking for new ideas! Drop them in the comments below, I can't wait to read them all! Love you guys!! ❤