From Teacher to Toddler Mom: How This Mom Reclaimed Her Spark with Brittany Nassery (E49)

Mom's Guide to Finding Herself
Written By Mom Identity Project

Have you ever looked at your day and thought, “I didn’t think at all today… I just reacted”?

Motherhood can do that.

One moment, you’re thriving on lesson plans, schedules, and creative problem-solving. The next, you’re timing naps, dodging tantrums, and wondering if your brain is slowly turning to applesauce.

In this episode of Mom’s Guide to Finding Herself, I sat down with Brittany Nassery—former elementary school teacher and the heart behind @teachertotoddlers—to talk about that exact shift. What it really feels like to go from a mentally stimulating job to the isolating, repetitive rhythm of stay-at-home motherhood… and how she found purpose again through play.

When Teaching Was Everything… Until It Wasn’t

Brittany didn’t just love teaching—she lived it. She had the dolls-lined-up, worksheets-in-hand childhood that screamed future educator. And she made it happen, teaching for a decade, primarily second grade, even sticking with her kids through pandemic chaos and a hybrid return to the classroom.

But when it came time to start her family, something tugged louder than the call of the classroom.

Like so many of us, she dreamed of being a stay-at-home mom. But that dream came with a cost: identity loss.

Leaving her classroom wasn’t just a professional transition—it was a full identity unraveling. She swapped lesson planning and student connections for bottle rotations and diaper changes. “It was quiet,” she said. “And not in a peaceful way.”

The Mental Whiplash of Mom Brain

If you’ve ever gone from spreadsheets to sleep schedules, from teaching grammar to Googling how to cut grapes safely—you know the mental whiplash.

Brittany described it perfectly: “My teacher brain was always going. Suddenly, I had a baby who didn’t talk, and my brain went from creative mode to survival mode. I missed using it.”

So she did what so many high-capacity moms do: she started researching. Tracking ounces. Reading parenting blogs. Becoming an expert, because that’s what we’re used to doing.

But even that wasn’t it. It wasn’t hers.

When the Spark Found Her

Her husband saw it first.

After watching her teach during COVID—animated, singing, engaging from behind a screen—he said, “You should make videos. You’re so good at this.”

The idea stuck. And like any mom ready to feel something again, Brittany eventually said, “I’m doing it.” She filmed a video, posted it to Instagram, and @teachertotoddlers was born.

From Activity to Identity

At first, it was just about sharing what she was already doing: simple, engaging toddler activities using what she had at home.

But soon, it became more than that.

It became the way she got to use her brain again. To create. To connect. To help other moms who were also Googling “easy activities for 2-year-olds” and feeling like they’d lost themselves in the rhythm of raising kids.

“It reminds me that I’m still a teacher,” she said. “But now I’m teaching my daughter… and teaching other moms too.”

Finding Purpose Without Losing Presence

What’s beautiful about Brittany’s journey is how honest and light it feels. There’s no pressure. No push for perfection. Just a mom creating space for herself in the margins of her day—and sharing that with others.

She’s not trying to be a Pinterest mom. She’s not making complicated activities or selling a dream that doesn’t fit real life. She’s showing what’s possible when you give yourself permission to start small, stay consistent, and let your curiosity lead.

Want to Try Something New? Here’s Brittany’s Advice:

  1. Just Start – You don’t need a 90-day plan. You just need one step.

  2. Do It for You – Likes are great. Growth is cool. But if it’s not bringing you joy, it’s not worth it.

  3. Engage With Others – Brittany says connecting with other creators (like this podcast!) has been key to staying inspired and feeling supported.

You’re Still In There

If you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds like me… I miss using my brain,” I want you to know: you’re not alone. And you’re not wrong for wanting more.

Wanting to feel creative again doesn’t make you ungrateful. Wanting to use your skills again doesn’t make you less devoted. It just means you’re human—and you’re ready to come home to yourself.

Follow Brittany at @teachertotoddlers for the gentlest encouragement to do just that.

Help Us Grow

The BoldLittleMinds MomCast is made possible by you - the listener. Your support goes directly into making each episode happen—thank you for being part of the journey!

All donations go directly to supporting the production of the Mom's Guide to Finding Herself podcast

For Your Binging Enjoyment…

Story

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[00:00:00] Have you ever felt like you're using 0% of your brain while parenting, like you went from being a multitasking queen to a snack fetching robot? In this episode, we're digging into that mental whiplash with a former teacher turned stay at home mom, who found a simple way to bring purpose and creativity back into her days with her toddler in tow.

Let's be honest. Most of us thought our background, our degrees, or just our sheer love of kids, would somehow prepare us for motherhood. And then we had a baby and we realized that nothing could have prepared us for this. Brittany is someone who lived that truth. She was a second and third grade teacher for 10 years, and now she's a stay at home mom with her daughter, creating simple, enriching activities and sharing them over Instagram at [00:01:00] teachers to toddlers.

This conversation isn't about having all the answers. It's about what happens when you start following little sparks of curiosity and creativity and how those small shifts can add up to something that feels a lot like coming home to yourself.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Thank you so much for joining me, Brittany.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Thank you for having me.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: I'm

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: I'm excited.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: excited to chat with you and your story. I mean, your content is all so relatable. I mean, it's all like really easy things that you can pull together in zero time, which is what I need.

And I think a lot of our listeners need. So thank you for putting that out into the world.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Thank you. I try. I try to pull away from my teacher brain and put on mom brain on and be like, Hey, what's easy? Like, what could I do? That's easy here. So

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: I totally feel that. Yes, teacher brain and mom brain are not the same and

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: no.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: sometimes are competing a little bit. So tell me,

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: little bit. Yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: tell me about your background. Where, who were you before, before becoming a mom?

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah. So I was, [00:02:00] I, growing up, I knew I always wanted to be a teacher. I was the little girl who had her dolls lined up and made her own pretend worksheets. Like teaching was what I Wanted to do so knew that from the get go. Went to school for teaching I got a job right out of college. And then was just teaching ever since then for 10 years majority of my time.

I did a lot of everything from kindergarten through sixth grade but majority of my time was in second grade the last year I taught I actually got to do my first combo class. So I did a two three split But it was fun because these were the kids that I had through COVID like online. So we went through COVID together.

And then the following year, my third, they were going to be in third grade and that's when we went back to the classroom. So I actually got to have them in the classroom with me plus new second graders. So it was just kind of fun to have that moment with them to like go from online to to teaching with them in the classroom.

So we just had like a really special bond, which I [00:03:00] feel like when I decided that I was going to be a stay at home, mom was like just the great way to end, just to end on like such great relationships with these kids and their parents. And so, , I was really happy with. My final year teaching and saying that it was time to move on to the next thing.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: That's so sweet.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: hard. It

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Yeah. It's

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: was hard. It was a huge part of my life teaching wise. So yeah, I was, it was a big move, but I, at the end of the day, as being a little kid, I also knew I always wanted to be a mom. And so sometimes, you know, giving up, giving up my, you know, teaching to do that is what I decided to do. It's been the best, best blessing.

I'm truly grateful. I'm thankful to my husband for like allowing me and then helping me, supporting me to do that. So it's been, it's awesome.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Right. Isn't it so great? It's wonderful. And

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: on the mixed emotions. It's like there's part of you that misses, you miss so much [00:04:00] about just having your career and all the things, outside of the relationships with the teaching, just feeling productive, right? Like

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah. Yeah. It's really like going, like being productive. Like, I mean, as a teacher, your brain is just constantly going. I would work, I come home, I work like my kids in my classroom or my life. And so to go from that to like having a baby who doesn't talk, it was just you know, kind of quiet. And like, I just felt like, yeah, your brain, you have to use your brain.

Like, my brain, like slowly are just transitioned very quickly to like bottles, nap time and changing diapers. I was like, okay,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Are you like me where you then tried to become like a mini expert in pretty much everything?

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah, of course.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Right? Researching all the pieces because like, as a teacher, you are an expert in everything that you're teaching. You're, you're that lead. And then to go into something where you have nothing, you don't know what you're doing. It's like [00:05:00] doing all the research and trying to figure out how to, who you're going to teach this to.

Right. Yep.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Exactly. Yeah. It's funny. Like I look back and like, I was the mom who like documented like, Oh, my, my daughter had four ounces of milk at 12 o'clock and then she took like an hour and a half nap and like, now I just feel like if we were to ever have a second one, like, I don't think I would ever, like, it just kind of goes out the window now.

I'm like, Oh,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Right.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: what it is.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: I know what you

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: We survived.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: you have the right mindset of like, just embrace the chaos with the second one because that's all you can do. But yeah, I was

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: I kind of was the same way with my second one though, only because I was terrified of sleep because my first one was such a terrible sleeper.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: really? Yeah, I feel like we, we have our highs and lows too, so.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: I know.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: She was a really great sleeper. Yeah, and then all of a sudden, like, taught, like, we had a strong, like, six months of very hard sleep. Like, I think it was up every night. I don't even know what she wanted to have at that time. Like, we had a huge Regression, but [00:06:00] it's okay.

We're here now. Now we're

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Right. We are here now.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Some days she sleeps in the night. Some days she doesn't and that's okay.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: I hear you completely asleep, I feel like is the most, like, controversial topic. on that all day. So tell me what, how did you start your family? When did you know that you were ready to start trying and how was that journey for you? Um,

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: It was good. I guess I've always wanted to be a mom, so I was definitely like ready before my husband. He's my high school sweetheart, so we've known each other for a long time. So. Yeah, it was just, it was time and cope.

Like, I mean, we went through COVID. So, Juliet was born in 2022. So yeah, it was like right, you know, after COVID and everything. So it was just kind of, I think time for us.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: So you were

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: But if there was a yeah,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: And

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: but

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: you always know that you were going to want to be a stay at home mom?

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: I, yeah, it was always my dream. But I just, I [00:07:00] guess I feel very fortunate that my husband's work like has allowed me to be a stay at home mom. I know that it's. I guess just something I'm very grateful for. But yeah, I, I know that I can never get these years back with her. And as hard as it is, like sometimes it's like, wow, I always thought teaching was hard.

Like I was always very, you know what I'm sure other, I mean, I guess just teaching is all I know, but work is hard, but like. Wow, being like a stay out, like I just never quit. Like I'm just constantly, whoo, constantly going. We are, but it's, it's great. Like at the end of the day, I remind myself, I'm not going to get this time back ever with her being so little again.

And, and so I'm just cherishing all these special moments right now together. Yeah,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: my way thought of it was I, my, my, the best part of me is at the beginning of the day. So whoever has me at the beginning of the day is getting the best of me. And I just knew I wanted that to be my kids. I didn't want to be spending all that energy on. Other [00:08:00] people's kids or other people's parents. And so that was kind of what it went into my decision to end up staying home when I was on my leave. Did you take a maternity leave or were you just done when you were when you had your baby,

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: so it actually worked out perfectly and I didn't even plan this. It just, I guess, was in my favor and maybe a sign to be a stay at home mom. I came back from Chris Christmas break and I had like three weeks. I worked probably like a week until she was due just to keep me busy.

I'm like one of those people. I have to be busy. I have a hard time kind of just sitting around. Otherwise I'd probably just go crazy nesting at home. So I worked until like the last little bit of time I could with my kids. And then with my maternity leave, it ended. Like the end of may or something or beginning of June.

And we got out like June, usually around like June 14th, like is a sweet spot here in California. And so, anyways, I took [00:09:00] like, I had sick leave and everything that I still needed to use. So I ended up using that. And then I went and said goodbye to them, obviously just to say bye and the school year, but I wasn't working or anything.

So it just kind of was like a great transition out. So went packed up my classroom. Gave a lot of goodies to other teachers. So I was like, Oh, . If I'll go back into the classroom ever. So the only thing I saved were my books.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: right,

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: It's just like a huge, I mean, as a teacher, you know, it's a lot.

I mean, it's a lot of money. And so I saved all of those for our daughter and then just helped out other teachers with stuff I had because I don't need it.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: right. And that, what a gift, especially for teachers who are just starting out and have nothing. So that's

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: able to do that.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah the person who she was in my classroom as like an intervention teacher. And so I was fortunate that like, she was able to take my place as like a long term,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: yes.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: teacher in there. And so, her and I stayed in [00:10:00] touch like throughout the whole thing. Like we just kind of ended up becoming friends.

And so I would help her even like when I was at home, like with some of the kids I knew and like helping her with things. And so it was just a great like transition. And then I just ended up giving her a lot of my stuff too. Cause you know, they need it. So

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Right, right. Really sweet and

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: yeah,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: had somebody that was familiar with your classroom. That just put your mind at ease knowing like that un, uncertain period where you're like, am I going to go and am I going to come back tomorrow? Who knows? That really helps to know that that person knows the kids, knows your routine,

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: yeah,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: can just step in in a moment's notice.

That's great.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: yeah, yeah. It was awesome. So it was good. Everything was good. . Oh,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: that your transition was so with at least the professional end. So let's talk about your personal end of, of the transition to motherhood. What was that like for you?

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: It was, it was good. I guess I. I have a little sister I have nieces and nephews, [00:11:00] so being like, being a mom never like scared me. I, I guess like I, I kind of just was like, yep, I can do this, like this is what I want to do, like I want to be a mom, like, so it just kind of came very natural to me.

So the whole transition was good. I guess like the hardest part was honestly just feeling like, our family, both of our families are two hours away. So like, I think the hardest part is just being up here with just my husband and not like we live in LA. So just being, you know, up here with just my husband and I, and like a, you know, a newborn baby was just, it's a, , I guess an adjustment.

You don't really have like a, you know, your parents coming over. And so, that was probably the hardest part. But we made it.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: that is tough. I mean, I, I had my first baby through COVID so I can relate where it was just like, there was nobody able to come and help out and that it's a lot in your mental state where you're like, somebody's supposed to be doing my laundry right now. Supposed to be helping me

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: these ways.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: tough.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: But it's just you [00:12:00] guys, huh?

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: How long did you

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: But yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: there before having your baby?

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Oh my husband and I have always been, well, we've been in L. A. I'm sure, I can't even remember when we moved up, like, he was up here, then I moved up here to be with him, and then that's when You know, when everything's, you know, we got engaged and married and everything.

So

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: So

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: I don't even know how,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: of friends there?

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: It's growing now that like my, my daughter, I take her to be involved in things cause she doesn't go to school or like daycare or preschool or anything yet. So I take her to like gym classes and the library and she just started dance class. So I've met a few moms. through that whole process.

So, we slowly are doing like more play dates and everything. And, and I think it's helped you that now that our daughter, you know, that first year, like they're not very, it's hard to make friends. Like they're, you know, your baby can't talk, they can't play. So, the neighborhood that we live in, there's a lot of kids like you know, our next door neighbors across the street, there's just a bunch where like in the [00:13:00] summertime, it's great.

Cause all the kids just come out in the car our courtyard and play. So now that my daughter can like run around and play, it's been very easy.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: It really is amazing how much easier it is to make friends and meet people when you have kids. though it's like impossible to actually talk to those people when you're around them.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah, exactly.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: You're just like chasing and doing the count and you don't actually get to know that person, but just having them around is more comforting.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah, exactly. They, they know what you're going through, I guess transition to mom hood was, it was good, but I think like after that first year is when I just kind of just started feeling like I need to use my brain again, you know, I need to feel productive besides just like being a stay at home mom and cooking and cleaning and, you know, doing all the things The mom things.

It's like, okay, what can I do that? Like makes me feel, , like I'm using my brain more.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: think that's so common, especially around like the 9 to [00:14:00] 12 month mark, because you're escaping that, that survival mode. You're getting out of it. You are now more of a person. You are showering regularly. You are doing, you're getting a little more sleep. You're eating a little better, things like that. And then you wake up and you're like, who am I now? Because You aren't the person you were before. You don't have time for the things you were interested in before, and you might not even be interested in them anymore. And that can be really hard for a lot of parents. So tell me, what did you do to help fill that desire?

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: I guess I started my Insta, like I didn't start my Instagram yet. I have like always wanted to start an Instagram. If other parents are like their moms or, you know, people are like this, but kind of like with your, I remember when you started your podcast, like it was something that you always thought about and wanted to do, but just like, How do you take that leap and like put yourself out there and do it?

And like, that was hard for me to kind of [00:15:00] do. My husband through COVID saw me teach online, like a lot, like he never really knew how I was teaching. He never like came in the classroom and watched obviously. So like him working from home and like me singing in songs and like being crazy on the computer, he was like, Whoa, And then I just started to get very comfortable recording myself and just kind of became normal.

He's like, you should really like make videos. Like you should really do it. Like you're very good. Like go for it. And it was just that vulnerability piece for me that it's hard to, I guess, putting yourself like on social media, it was a hard step or like jump to do. And then. I finally took that jump. What was it? I guess almost a year from when this came out, but I started, I think like middle of March or April of 2024. So anyways, I just, he was coming home from work and I sent him a video and I'm like, I'm going to do it. And I just posted [00:16:00] and I just did it. And it was just kind of like that, you know, here we go.

But yeah, something that you just keep thinking about that you want to do. Oh, and then. I finally just was like, you know what? I'm going to do it like, and just see where it goes. he told me, my husband was like, what's the worst thing that can happen? And the worst thing is that you just have videos with your daughter.

Like who cares? And I was like, you know what? You're right. At the end of the day, if I don't enjoy doing this anymore, you know, if I want to stop and at the end of the day, I have a bunch of videos of me teaching my daughter that I'm like, Hey, look what we did. But but yeah, .

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: That's such a cute keepsake to have and a good mindset. I feel the same way. It's like, I'll keep doing this as long as I enjoy it and I do it for me. So all of the other things don't necessarily matter. I mean, of course I want to see all the likes and all the people enjoying what I'm

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: I know.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: but at the end of the day, I'm posting it for, for me and for my satisfaction and to feel good. About possibly helping others and, and getting that. [00:17:00] teaching aspect out of it. Do you feel a similar satisfaction with what you post as you do for teaching? Do you feel like a teacher?

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: I do. I feel like I get to use my brain again. I try to be like, okay, I've been working with my daughter and then my husband's like, you know what, you do all this stuff with her, like, you should post it. And so then again, we're like, okay, like, maybe I should. I try to keep it simple.

That's the, that's like my hardest part right now is like switching my teacher brain. And my, thankfully my husband's like, Brittany, that you have to realize that not all moms are going to do that. And so I'm trying to like put, like, how would I do this if I was a mom and saw it? So I'm trying to make activities that are easy things that you have around the house.

to do, but like are learning keeps them moving engaged. I guess it helps me feel like that teaching part is back, especially when people reach out to you through messaging, like, and they ask you questions about things. . It's nice to just help people again.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Yeah, it feels so good [00:18:00] to fit that part of you. And it's, it's so funny how it evolves to a different way, right? Like you're still teaching your daughter and teaching the kids, but you're also teaching the parents. And

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: too.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah. This is what I do with my daughter because I get, I get asked a lot. If it's like a California thing, but like, I get asked a lot of, are you sending her to preschool or is she going to day care? And, and I guess I just I just really want to enjoy the time with her.

So I was like, you know, I want to, I'm just going to work on it at home right now. And then, you know, and maybe a year or two, I'll, I'll send her when. You know, to get more of that. I think the biggest thing for me of sending her to school is getting her prepared for kindergarten by like, it's okay, I'm not there.

Like you can go, you know, half day to preschool and then I'll pick you up. Like, it's okay to go do something by yourself. Which is what we started with right now. It's like dance class. It's only 30 minutes, but she goes in there by herself. And so it's like kind of that, like letting her guide herself in there.

So yeah, I'm [00:19:00] not, not like too worried about her academically. Right. You know, I mean, I'm just, I want her to socialize. I want her to be okay. You know, just. all of that stuff before she actually has to go to school. So, so yeah, we just do little fun activities here and there and I record and it is what it is.

Some, some are awesome, some flop and that's okay.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: What you're doing for your daughter is awesome.

You're meeting her where she's at. I'm sure you're reading her cues. Like if you brought her to dance class and she was showing you that this is not something for her, you wouldn't keep going. So

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: No. Yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: she needs. And that's amazing to hear.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: I, yeah. I just, yeah. I feel like, I don't know if it's a, Society thing of like pressure to go or why, , but. I just enjoy having her at home. And I, I even like socially, like people are like, well, what about like hers? Like, you know, socially and I, and I know she's doing great socially.

And part of it is like, I get to like help her do like, you know, like I [00:20:00] help her go to the park and talk, like talk to kids and get that experience and practice. And so, yeah, I, I, . Sometimes it's like such a weird touchy conversation.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: I agree. The social piece is what I feel as well. Like people will say, well, what about the social, you know, he's doing this, that, the other thing, but, but what about socially? And there's so much to a social experience at that age. They're not necessarily yet with peers. Like that's something that grows as they, as they grow up.

So the modeling is so important on all of those things. You can get that through playdates. You can get that through going through the grocery store. You can get

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: yeah,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: many different ways. And I'm sure parents feel the pressure if they are, are sending their kids to daycare or preschool, that they might be doing something wrong.

I think it's just pressure that we are somehow not meeting the needs of these kids. And, and at the end of the day, we are the best parents for our kids and we're going to do what's right for them and what feels good for our family. So,

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: [00:21:00] exactly.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: it's really great. You're doing

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah, whatever works for anyone's family, you know, like no pressure

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Exactly. Exactly.

So what is your favorite go to easy activity that you use at home?

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Favorite go to's. Oh man. I feel like when she was little, like when she was like before one, our go to's were like the little people, like the farm set and everything. Like that was awesome. That got her to like really learn how to speak to like animal noises and everything. Like the little people highly recommend.

Nowadays where she's like, you know, a toddler and doing all these activities, I think our go to is puzzle flashcards where there's like a letter and then an animal or something. She loves doing activities with those. And so it's really helped her learn her alphabet, her, you know, sounds, new animals or whatever is matching that letter.

It's like, those are our go tos. And then same with [00:22:00] the wooden puzzle pieces, like a wooden alphabet and number pieces, those are also our go tos. Cause I feel like you can do so much with them of putting them in a sensory bin point them out. What letter did you pull out? What sound does it make?

Like all of those. And then like, same with numbers.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Great idea of having them just like with you. So that way you're on the go. You can make up a game. Like my favorite thing to do

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: whatever we have, just make up a game with it. Like off the top of my head or ask them. They can be the sound, if it was an animal that you

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: or it can be something else.

Like, let's talk about what color it is. Like, whatever comes up

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah. So many things. So yeah, those are our go to. I love those. I don't know What they're called, like puzzle puzzle pieces that match like the letter to the sound. , but yeah, those are,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: about. I think, yeah,

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: yeah,

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: we can link them in the show notes too so people can have a frame of reference if they're, if they're not so sure. So we can definitely do that. That's

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: yeah.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Do [00:23:00] you have any final words of wisdom for our listeners?

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: I guess like my biggest takeaway of I guess as being like a mom is just like, trust your gut, do what's right. It's okay to get other like opinions on things and, you know, be an advocate for your child. And then as like an Instagram, like my Instagram account and like where I'm at with it today is just like, if it's something that you want, whether it's social media or not, like what you want in your life is, but you're like uncomfortable is just go for it.

Just go for it. . That's just what I did. And I'm enjoying it. It's, it's working out. But yeah, I, I guess just finally. Saying, you know what, I'm going to do it. Go for it. That's my advice.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: zone and give it a try.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah

there really is nothing to lose.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: there really isn't. And for people who might be thinking about Instagram and starting something, do you have any tips for those people who are just starting out or who wanting to grow? Like what are some things that you've done or you would say to yourself at the beginning?

Like [00:24:00] I should do this differently.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: Yeah. I feel like at the beginning I probably, I wish, I feel like building relationships, I've met you through here and everything. What's helped my growth on Instagram and everything is having. Relationships with people that you meet online, like through your social media account.

So engage with other accounts, like comment on them, like their stuff, you know, like talk to them and just get that, like, I guess, social media engagement, family or cluster, you know, a group of friends together. So, I guess that's kind of just like, I wish I probably started sooner. Like when I started, like I wasn't commenting or, you know, really Figuring out that whole piece.

But I feel like that has truly helped my Instagram growth so far. And, and just to keep going, so be consistent, stick with it. If it's something that is still bringing you joy and happiness, keep going. You're gonna have hard weeks. You're gonna have great weeks, but just keep going.[00:25:00]

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Yeah, definitely. I agree with you, especially on the social part too is like social media is meant to be social. And and you're not just living in your own island, posting things and letting it go, like you're meant to engage. You're meant to communicate. And it's not just for the growth. I mean, it's, it's community. I feel like I've found a whole different part of me through talking to other people and finding my Instagram friends and all of that. So

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: know

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: that's, that's a huge takeaway for sure. If you're lonely in motherhood, social media can be that, that, a part of that fix for you. Definitely.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: for sure. So it's, it's awesome to see like the friendships that you can make from it.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Well, tell everybody where they can find you and your amazing ideas.

squadcaster-5c8e_1_11-03-2024_131911: You can find me at teacher to toddlers on Instagram.

krissy_1_11-03-2024_161911: Go check out Brittany's page. She's got so many ideas and send her a message because she will definitely answer and would love to chat with you for sure.

Imagine this, you go in for a [00:26:00] routine checkup, expecting to talk sleep schedules, and maybe ask about cradle cap, and instead you leave with your baby in a harness and a specialist referral.

In the next episode, Brittany is coming back to share what it was like to navigate her daughter's unexpected hip dysplasia diagnosis, the emotional rollercoaster of second opinions, surgery and cast care, and how she found her footing again, through it all, it's a raw, honest look at what happens when motherhood doesn't follow the script.

Mom Identity Project https://momidentityproject.com
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