Hey, I’m Jolene. I’m a wife. I’m a mom to a toddler boy (turning 3 in May) and twin toddler girls (1 year olds). I also get to be a bonus mom to an awesome pre-teen (who’s 12 in 2 months). He is with us during long breaks from school now that both our household and his mom’s have moved out of Alaska. We have two dogs, one mischievous and one who firmly believes he’s actually a cat. Life at our house is loud. Creative. A little chaotic. And completely joy-filled. And that’s ex

Just your daily reminder that motherhood is a wild, beautiful mess... and sometimes your shower turns into a toddler-led car wash. Today on the blog: * Me folding laundry while singing and dancing like my sanity depends on it * My toddler joyfully unfolding every piece of it * Bottles, blowouts, and yelling for my husband (who was secretly being a hero…outside...and couldn’t hear me) * A solo shower attempt interrupted by a horrified toddler yelling “MAMA WHY?!”

Ever sprinted through your house at 3 AM, covered in baby poop, while being chased by a very confused dog? No? Just me? In my latest post, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at one particularly glamorous middle-of-the-night blowout, complete with ghost theories, mood lighting, and a feral raccoon. If you’ve ever had a parenting moment that felt like a chaotic comedy sketch…this one’s for you.

Clyde is sweet, enthusiastic… and a little bit chaotic. Raggedy Clyde follows a day in the life of a dog whose big heart sometimes moves faster than his thinking brain. This charming story creates natural opportunities to explore social cues, impulse control, and empathy with kids.

Softball was never just about softball. And really, no sport is. Sports are classrooms. The dirt on the field and the squeak of gym floors are chalkboards where lessons about resilience, humility, teamwork, and respect get written every day. But here’s the thing: the kids aren’t the only ones doing the writing. The adults, parents in the stands, and coaches on the sidelines are drafting some of the most important lines.

Our babies deserve a world where kindness and respect matter, and it starts with the way we raise them today.

With humor and heart, The Heart Break offers a playful take on love while teaching meaningful lessons about friendship, self-worth, and connection. As Cupid learns that love doesn’t need tricks or force, children are reminded that real connection feels natural, kind, and safe, making this a thoughtful Valentine’s read with lasting social-emotional impact.

Wash day becomes a moment of imagination, connection, and self-love in I Don’t Want to Wash My Hair, Mama. Through Xoey’s experience, this affirming story gently explores big feelings, body autonomy, and identity, reminding children that they are beautiful exactly as they are and that even hard moments can be met with care and creativity.

Sometimes getting stuck is part of growing. In Sometimes I Get Stuck, young readers explore what it means to feel stuck physically, emotionally, and mentally, and discover gentle, practical ways to move forward. This heartfelt story offers relatable moments, playful illustrations, and meaningful social-emotional lessons about problem-solving, self-talk, and hope.

A book review on One of a Kind Creatures, written and illustrated by Tasos Georgiou. This is a powerful and thoughtful story about belonging, differences, and discovering strength in what makes us unique. This story introduces us to three very different animal friends, each struggling to fit into a world that expects them to be something they are not. Includes thoughts from a mom-counselor and strategies for expanding on social-emotional learning.

A children's book review: Sunsets & Sardines: A Story of Unconditional Love, written by Heidi Elle and illustrated by Daniel Wlodarski This story follows Sally, a sweet and determined girl whose deep love for sardines leads her on an adventure with her two loyal friends, Boris the Bat and Goat. As the trio sets out on their quest to find sardines, Sally experiences moments of frustration, disappointment, and excitement. When things don’t go quite as planned, she’s faced with

A children's book review of Dandelion Magic. Dandelion Magic is whimsical, imaginative, and quietly powerful. It follows a young boy who discovers that blowing dandelion seeds can spark incredible adventures, pirates, sea monsters, and even super grandmas. But when things go awry, and the boy is in trouble, he has to slow down and focus before making his final wish on the dandelion seeds.

As a counselor and a parent, days like this are a powerful reminder of a few important truths: behavior is communication, connection comes before correction, parents are allowed to be touched out, and repair matters more than perfection.

Dramatic play (also called pretend or imaginative play) is one of the most natural and powerful ways children make sense of their world. And while it might look like “just playing,” there is so much meaningful work happening beneath the surface. Learn more in this post.

In this children's book review, I share Finnikan's Big Move. Finnikan’s Big Move is a gentle, reassuring story that normalizes the wide range of emotions children experience during big transitions. Fear, sadness, excitement, uncertainty, and hope all show up in realistic and age-appropriate ways. Rather than rushing Finnikan through these feelings, the story allows space for them, which is exactly what many children need when facing change.

Balancing multiple children means someone has to wait sometimes. It means a child might stay upset longer than we want while we attend to another need. That doesn’t mean we failed. It means we’re human. Emotional regulation isn’t about preventing every meltdown. It’s about repair. It’s about coming back together once we can.

I Don’t Wanna Be a Dino follows Dougie as he tries to be anything other than himself, only to learn that who he is truly matters. With bright, engaging illustrations and a heartfelt message, this story gently introduces self-acceptance, strengths, and confidence for kids ages 3–7. A wonderful read-aloud that opens the door to meaningful social-emotional conversations.

Set in the sweet community of Harmony Lane, Ready… Set… Frog! and Let’s Work Smarter explore balance, teamwork, and problem-solving in kid-friendly ways. These warm, beautifully illustrated stories help young children learn about helping others, working together, and finding what works best, at home, in classrooms, and beyond.

There’s something magical about October, the crisp air, the smell of cinnamon candles, the promise of cozy sweaters and pumpkin everything. But if you’re a parent, you also know this truth: October is the month when every single weekend seems booked solid with something. Fall festivals. Pumpkin patches. Costume parades. School spirit weeks. Trunk-or-treats. Neighborhood hayrides. Apple picking. Pumpkin carving. Bonfires. Fundraisers. Oh, and don’t forget the family phot

Re-Introducing Me + Guided by Giggles  It’s been a while since I’ve really shared the “why” behind Guided by Giggles, so I thought it was time for a re-introduction for those of you who’ve been around and an introduction for those of you who are new.