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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Last week, my toddler pulled off the ultimate fridge raid. Read about the hilarious insanity.

Sometimes motherhood feels like a balancing act I’ll never master, holding one baby while my other cries, juggling a toddler, and carrying the weight of all the medical “what ifs.” Today I shared my story of parenting twins, managing postpartum anxiety and depression, and learning to show up for my little humans even when I feel stretched thin. The giggles, the cuddles, the small victories, they remind me why I keep going. You are not alone. The “what ifs” are real, the guil

Being the default parent means carrying the invisible to-do list, planning, remembering, and noticing everything that needs to be done, often without acknowledgment. It’s repacking the dishwasher, replacing the toilet paper roll, and managing the household’s mental load. This isn’t about “help,” it’s about true partnership and sharing the responsibility. This post features personal stories and practical tips for communicating with your partner to help balance the mental load.

Pool day=fun, cousins, Goldfish, and a tractor toy meltdown. Play builds skills, but leaving is the hardest splash of all.

Parenting twins is wild enough; add in medical unknowns, therapy appointments, and a history of infertility and loss, and the picture gets even more complicated. But as my mom always reminds me, God paints on a bigger canvas than what we see. This post is personal. It’s about grief and gratitude. It’s about the babies we lost and the ones we get to hold. It’s about trusting that even when we can’t see the full picture, it’s still being beautifully painted.

Hi, I’m Jolene! I’m a licensed counselor, a proud mom, a bonus mom, and someone who is wholeheartedly embracing the beautiful chaos that comes with raising a family. I'm also a wife to a man who is not only my best friend but also spends most moments testing my sanity. With a career centered around helping kids and families, I've had the privilege of guiding many through their challenges, but nothing has been more life-changing or rewarding than being a mom myself.