I love a good blooper. And my colleagues at ESPN know to watch their backs for my pranks. I don’t take myself too seriously at all. In fact, I’m sort of goofy, and I enjoy poking fun at myself. Life can be really hard and serious sometimes, so I choose to spread joy in any way I can.
That philosophy of joy has served me well in motherhood. Some days, all I can do is laugh because Reese and Jack have taught me that no amount of preparation can prevent the unpredictable chaos of raising two kids (and a puppy!). Some of my most memorable ESPN moments have been spontaneous and unplanned. The same is true at home. Here are 5 times motherhood reminds me that learning how to enjoy parenting more starts by not taking myself too seriously.
1. When the Game Plan Falls Apart
At ESPN, I walk into every broadcast ready for almost anything. I learned that if you’re as prepared as you can be, you’re going to have a leg up. Naturally, I thought I’d bring that same preparation to motherhood. I have our morning game plan mapped out perfectly. But kids don’t follow scripts. Reese intercepted my timeline when she decided she absolutely had to change into her sparkle cape for school, and Jack called an audible when he decided he wanted to try using the potty. Did my game plan include a potty training cheer? No. But it turned into my favorite part of the day.
As moms, we spend so much energy trying to control every detail. But our kids have their own priorities (like whether a cape is appropriate school attire). Flexibility and humor are far more valuable than any perfectly executed plan. When we loosen our grip on how things “should” go, the unplanned moments often become the best ones.
2. When Your Kid Becomes Your Most Honest Critic
Reese has no filter, and honestly, I love that about her. She’s vocal and confident, which means she tells me exactly what she thinks. One morning, after I’d worked on my hair, she asked, “Is it supposed to look like that?” All I could do was laugh. She wasn’t trying to roast me. She genuinely wanted to know if that was the look I was going for.
Our kids notice everything. They see when we say we’re “almost ready,” but clearly aren’t. They catch the faces we make when we’re frustrated or annoyed. But I’ve learned that when my daughter sees right through my “put-together” attempt and calls it out, I can laugh and show her that moms don’t have to be perfect. It makes motherhood a whole lot more fun.
3. When Your Pre-Mom Identity Meets Your Mom One
Before kids, I’d show up to the ESPN set prepared and camera-ready. Then I became a mom, and those two worlds started colliding, teaching me a lot about how to enjoy parenting more by letting the real, unpolished moments shine. I’ve prepped for broadcasts at home while wiping Jack’s biscuit crumbs off my pants and while cleaning up puppy pee. I’ve rushed out the door with Reese’s toy microphone in my hand instead of my keys. The “put-together Laura” and the “mom Laura” merge in the most hilarious ways.
Trying to keep “work me” and “mom me” perfectly separate is exhausting. I don’t have the energy for that, and you probably don’t either. So instead, I just laugh when the two worlds crash into each other. Life’s a lot more joyful when we do.
4. When Your Kid Gets Silly in Public
In our family, we all love an impromptu dance party. But Reese doesn’t stop dancing when we leave the house. That girl dances everywhere. Recently, we were at the airport and she started dancing by our gate. I joined right in the twirling and giggling, just like at home. Did people stare? Absolutely. Did I care? Not even a little because the look on my daughter’s face was worth way more than looking cool.
Our kids won’t remember if we looked composed in public. They’ll remember that we said yes to the silly moment. It’s one of the best lessons on how to enjoy parenting more: choosing connection with our kids over what strangers might think.
5. When Your Kid Outsmarts You
I spend my days at ESPN breaking down football plays and analyzing coaching strategies. So, I thought I’d be pretty good at staying one step ahead of my kids. I was wrong. Just recently, Josh and I found ourselves crying-laughing after putting Reese to bed. We looked at each other and both asked, “Why were we doing everything she told us to?” Somehow, our daughter had completely taken over bedtime, orchestrating the entire routine on her terms. This child cracks me up. What a joy it is to call her ours.
Our kids figure us out fast. They’re always watching, learning our patterns, and testing what they can get away with. And in those moments, when we realize they’ve been three steps ahead of us the whole time? That’s when we can laugh because being outsmarted by someone who can’t reach the top shelf yet is actually pretty hilarious.
Have you discovered any unexpected ways to enjoy parenting more with your kids? I’d love to hear what works for you!
