Today I want to share with you something that is close to my heart… (and a fun giveaway at the bottom of this post)! This post is sponsored by Minute Maid and is part of their amazing #doingood program. Read on to learn more.
I love being a mom even though it has been one of the toughest things I have ever done, or ever will do. Do you ever wonder if you are #doingood as a parent? Do you wonder if the time and energy you put into parenting every minute of every day is worth it? Do you find yourself worrying whether your kids are going to turn out okay, despite the fact that you are an imperfect parent? Do you wonder if you are doing enough?
I don’t know about you, but I have often felt the pressure to be the perfect parent. There are many days that I am left feeling inadequate and overwhelmed. There are some days where I feel like my best just may not be good enough. I am going to bet that most…if not all of you…parents have had similar thoughts and feelings.
Today I want to share with you three different ways to use journaling in your parenting. Each idea can be a great way to stay connected to your feelings and to your children, depending on the stage of parenting (or grand-parenting) you are in. Journal writing has a way of putting your thoughts, concerns and worries into proper prospective and can be a great way to help you understand just how good of a job you are actually doing.
The three ways to keep a Parenting Journal are as follows:
- New Baby Journals
- Parent/Child Question Journals or Grandparent/Child Journals
- Personal Question Journals
I have always loved journaling. When I was younger I spent a lot of time doodling and writing in my journals. In college, I wrote lengthy entries about my everyday life. When I got married, my journal writing suffered a bit due to a busy work and school schedule, and I got out of the habit of writing.
New Baby Journals
When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, the first thing I bought was a journal. I immediately began filling it with all the thoughts and feelings that began swelling within me. I continued to write in this journal throughout the first few years of this child’s life. I filled it with milestones, funny things they said and did, and shared stories about them hoping that someday they would enjoy reading about themselves.
I did this with each of my 5 children and their Baby Journals have become a priceless treasure for all of us. Each child has a very personal journal full of my thoughts and feelings about each of them. As the kids got old enough to write themselves, I turned the journals over to them to continue writing their own story.
Parent/Child Question Journals
When my kids were older, I started a shared journal for each of them. In these journals we would write questions back and forth to one another. It has been such a great way to get to know each child individually and to really gain an understanding and an insight into their minds. I feel like kids are willing to be more open to the good and the bad when they have these journals. It becomes a non-threatening way for them to share their feelings. We are able to talk about things that might be more difficult to discuss. These Question Journals have become a great way to stay connected to each child!
Click here to download a list of 50 Questions to Ask Your Child
Personal Question Journals
This third type of journaling is something new that I just started in my own parenting journey. I wanted a way to get myself back to my own personal journal writing. Since my youngest baby is 9, I haven’t had a new baby to write for in several years, and I was out of the habit of writing in my own journal. I started a list of questions (writing prompts) that are great at producing some great thought provoking things to write about. Questions that help you reflect on all the great things I have and am doing as a parent. I have felt so much gratitude for this family of mine and writing in my journal this way has given me a great perspective and insight into my parenting journey.
You can put the writing prompts into a jar and pull out a new one to write about each time you sit down to write in your journal, or you can pick and choose which ones you feel like writing about. I like to print the question out on glue it (or print it on sticker paper) right into my journal. Or if you are creative, you can write the question in some fun journaling script to make it yours!
Click here to download a list of 30 Parenting Journal Questions
Click here to download the 30 Parenting Journal Questions to add to a Journal Jar
Click here to download the Parenting Journal Jar Labels
Whatever stage you are in your parenting, journaling is a great way to document the great and not so great moments in your family. Journaling can also be a great way to grow closer and stay connected as a family!
To help you celebrate your own parenting (or grand-parenting) journey, I am giving away a fun pack to help you celebrate #doingood within your own family.
The fun pack includes:
- $300 Visa gift card
- 2 Minute Maid #doingood Journals (one for your family and one to give away to someone you think is #doingood)
- Canvas Print of a Family Photo (which you will submit to me if you are chosen)
Enter the Minute Maid #doingood Contest by completing each step below:
- Create a new custom pinboard on Pinterest and name it: Minute Maid #doingoodcontest
- Pin ideas and inspiration to celebrate and recognize great parenting and family moments for the holiday season. Each pin must include the #doingoodcontest hashtag in the pin description.
- Copy your unique pinboard URL and paste the link into a comment on this blog post below with the hashtag #doingoodcontest and your email address so we can contact you if you win. (*To grab your pinboard URL simply open your inboard and then copy the link in your browser bar. Paste that link in a comment here on this post).
See my very own Minute Maid #doingoodcontest Board as an example for yours here.
*Sweepstakes ends on Thursday, December 8 at 12:01 am MST. One winner will receive a $300 Visa Card, 2 Journals, and a Canvas Print of your submitted photo. Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the USA to enter. Entrant must complete all of the steps above to be chosen. Winner will be notified via email. Winners will be announced on the post, not on Facebook. The winners must respond within 24 hours of receiving the email or a new winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary.
**This prize was provided by Minute Maid, however, Minute Maid is not a sponsor, administrator or connected in any other way with this contest. You are not required to promote Minute Maid or the products from The Coca-Cola Company for a chance to win, but if you do, you need to use the #doingoodcontest hashtag or otherwise disclose that you are posting those photos as part of a contest entry.
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Deidre Hopkins says
Such a great giveaway!
https://www.pinterest.com/dshopkins/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/ #DoingGoodContest
hopkins091011(at)gmail(dot)com
Amy says
So glad you entered! Thank you! Good Luck!
Here is my pinboard. Thank you very much!
https://www.pinterest.com/kellyr78/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
Thanks Kelly! xo
http://pin.it/L5e3K1U
#doingoodcontest
[email protected]
Loved doing this ❤️ I never thought of it before and I found a lot of great information for my kids! Thank you :)
I am so glad! It has been one of my favorite family traditions! I hope you enjoy it!
https://www.pinterest.com/amberly333/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
#doingoodcontest
[email protected]
Thanks for entering!!
https://www.pinterest.com/danipeterson13/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
Thanks Dani!
What a great idea for a Pin board. Thanks for the giveaway!
dixienites @ gmail dot com
https://www.pinterest.com/beverlyeverly/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
#doingoodcontest
https://www.pinterest.com/bec289/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
https://www.pinterest.com/katiemur80/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
My email is [email protected]
Thanks Katie!
http://pin.it/d2ZgQs8
#doinggoodcontest
[email protected]
Thanks Tara!
Pinterest… http://pin.it/4-wjDtU
#doingoodcontest
This is such a great idea and there are so many things to try for our families!!
Thank you!
I wish I would have thought about journaling when our kids were much younger. Such a cute idea! https://www.pinterest.com/tinagayt/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/ #doingood
Thank You.
https://www.pinterest.com/leccalave/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
#doingoodcontest
beccaolave {at} gmail {dot} com
Thank You!
http://pin.it/hhkh5pb
Thanks for the contest giveaway.
Minute Maid #doinggoodcontest
Jonda-Thank You.
I think this is my url. https://www.pinterest.com/brandielt/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
This is a fun post/contest. I have wanted to get journaling with my son. Perhaps you have inspired us to start again!
#doingoodcontest
I am so glad you enjoyed it! It has been one of my favorite things to do! Thanks so much for entering!
Brandie-Thank You!
Here is my board for entering the contest:
https://www.pinterest.com/rachelknutson10/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
Thanks so much for this, it is really inspiring!!!!
Rachel-Thank You
https://www.pinterest.com/joykdecker/minute-maid/
#doingoodcontest
[email protected]
Joy-Thanks for entering.
I’ve always wanted to do a journal, this would be a good chance.
Love this give away!
https://www.pinterest.com/larajn/minute-maid-doinggoodcontest/
#doinggoodcontest
[email protected]
http://pin.it/L9_vGNT #doingoodcontest
https://www.pinterest.com/kellbelle3/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
#doingoodcontest
[email protected]
This is so awesome!! Thanks!!
https://www.pinterest.com/mykie86/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
[email protected]
You are welcome! Thanks Mykaleen!
https://www.pinterest.com/collifornia/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
#doingoodcontest
holliister at gmail dot com
Thanks Colleen!
I love this idea, so many great ways to start fun family traditions
https://www.pinterest.com/abonnar/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
Thanks Andrea! So glad to hear you enjoyed this! Thanks for entering!
Great idea about journaling! I have been thinking about journaling a lot as a way of keeping up with things my littles do and say and to write letters to them and to write about this journey of motherhood! Thanks for sharing and the great ideas! https://www.pinterest.com/cynthia_eason/minute-maid-doinggoodcontest/
Thank You!
Sorry, realized the title of my board might have been spelled incorrectly. Updated link: https://www.pinterest.com/cynthia_eason/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
https://www.pinterest.com/aypert/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
Love your idea! Here’s my pinterest board- https://www.pinterest.com/dezia/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
Oops! Forgot to include the hashtag. Love the idea of focusing on #doingood
https://www.pinterest.com/dezia/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
Dezi- Thank You!
Love ❤️
Tisha, Thank you!
https://www.pinterest.com/acp389/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
#doingood
Andrea, Thank you!
#doinggoodcontest What a wonderful contest! Thank you!
http://pin.it/_v8zv0C
http://pin.it/_v8zv0C
Thanks so much for this awesome contest!
This is such a great idea! I love journal jars and appreciate the push to be a better record keeper. Here is my Pinterest board: http://pin.it/JunHiCK
#doingoodcontest #pickmepickme
I am so excited for the challenge. I already keep journals to celebrate the first day of school for my 2 boys. I write my feelings, how the morning went, just a little celebration of the first day of school every year which I plan to give them when they graduate high school! Here is the link to my pinterest board for this contest: http://pin.it/F08w5kQ
I am also pregnant with my first girl; baby #3, so winning this would be amazing. It would give me something to begin for her right away!
https://www.pinterest.com/oto001/minute-maid-doinggoodcontest/
I’m so excited about this contest! Thank you for sharing this great idea on how to stay connected with your kids!
I’m so excited to enter the #doinggoodcontest!!! Thanks so much for sharing such inspiring ideas to foster connectivity with your kids! This is so fun!! Regardless of the outcome, I know that I’ve already won big with these ideas to strengthen my relationship with the people who are most important to me! I cannot say thank you enough! #blessedmomma #doinggoodcontest #workinghardtobebetter #lovemyfamily #lovelife
PINTEREST LINK BELOW:
https://www.pinterest.com/oto001/minute-maid-doinggoodcontest/
Love your idea for sharing a journal with a child.
Here is my pinterest board:
https://www.pinterest.com/rosy2/minute-maid-parenting-doingoodcontest/
https://www.pinterest.com/vivaciousgold/minute-maid-doinggoodcontest/ (my board)- I am in love with a lot of the activities and cannot wait to do them #doingood
Livivua-Thanks so much!
What a fun way to promote good parenting! It all starts in the home. I am a teacher and I have always wished to have had the parents first and then their children! #doingoodcontest.
https://www.pinterest.com/cy123/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
LOVE all the great ideas I’m finding – daughter is in the process of adopting her first child from foster care and we are SO excited to share our lives and start some new traditions with our new grandson. This will be our first holiday season with him and we want it to be extra special.
I’ve started journaling with my granddaughter. She asks a questions or enters a comment and I reply…no judgements only conversation. Gives her a chance to vent and me a chance to see if there is a way I can help her! https://www.pinterest.com/nanamcgown/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
https://www.pinterest.com/mlantz/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
#doingoodcontest
[email protected]
#doinggoodcontest
https://www.pinterest.com/reneemossotti/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
Email: [email protected]
(One thing I loved about this contest is that it placed everything that is important to myself and my family into one board. Awesome contest!)
I pinned this is a awesome project https://www.pinterest.com/my4boysand1/doingoodcontest/?etslf=1480445256982&eq=%23doingoodcontest #doingoodcontest
Such a cool idea! http://pin.it/c8y6Qk5
#doingoodcontest
I have a daily to-do list/journal but I love these ideas of incorporating more family ideas and milestones! #doingoodcontest https://www.pinterest.com/asimplehomestd/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
Thanks! https://www.pinterest.com/slfree18/minute-maid-doingoodcontest/
THanks Sheri!