The Power of Words: Trying to Be a Little Better Than Yesterday
Y’all, lately I’ve been thinking a lot about words — not the fancy ones that win spelling bees or make you sound smart in front of your kid’s teacher, but the everyday ones that tumble out of my mouth when I’m late, tired, and tripping over a Barbie shoe for the fifteenth time.
It hit me after watching Bluey (because let’s be honest, Bluey has more parenting wisdom packed into seven minutes than most self-help books). In the episode “Dragon,” Bandit admits that when he was little, he gave up drawing because no one encouraged him — while Chili shares that she kept going because someone did. That tiny moment right there just sat with me.
So now, I’ve been replaying conversations with my girls in my head — what did I say right? What did I say wrong? What could I have said instead? It’s humbling, y’all. Real humbling. I can’t count how many times I’ve whispered “Oh no…” to myself at 2 a.m. while scrolling through articles about “positive parenting phrases” and “gentle corrections.”
Because here’s the thing: I don’t want my words to crush them. I want them to know when their actions are wrong — but I don’t want them to feel like they are wrong. There’s a big difference there, and I’m trying to learn it in real time.
I’ve been trying to replace those gut-reaction lines that slip out when I’m frustrated. Things like:
Instead of “Why do you always…?” or “You never…,” I’m trying: “I’ve noticed this happens a lot,” or “I’ve noticed it’s hard for you to do this — let’s figure out what’s going on.”
Instead of “This place is a mess!” I’m trying: “Ok, it looks like you’re done playing in here. I need you to put your toys up so they don’t get lost or broken.”
It doesn’t roll off the tongue as quickly — especially when Nugget’s tracking mud through the house and both girls are arguing about who breathed on who first — but it feels better. It feels like progress.
I recently read about something called “most generous interpretation” — a mindset that encourages us to assume the best in others. Instead of, “She’s being defiant,” it’s “She’s having a hard time with this.” Instead of “She’s ignoring me,” it’s “She’s overwhelmed.” That shift changes everything. There are whole books and podcasts built around this, and I can see why. It’s grace in action.
Even science backs it up. Dr. Dan Siegel, author of The Whole-Brain Child, talks about how our words shape a child’s sense of self — their inner voice. What they hear from us becomes what they eventually say to themselves. (And whew, that’ll make you think twice before snapping “What were you thinking?!” in the Target aisle.)
Celebrities like Brené Brown and Mister Rogers have echoed this too — that empathy and understanding don’t make you a pushover; they make you human. Mister Rogers once said, “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” Simple, but goodness gracious, it’s powerful.
So here I am — a mama in Georgia, trying to rewrite a few default settings. I know I’ll still slip. I’ll still get frustrated. I’ll still say something I wish I could stuff right back into my mouth. But I’m learning. And hopefully, a year from now — or ten — I’ll be a little better than I was yesterday.
Because words matter.
They can build or break.
And every day, I get another chance to choose which kind they’ll be.
So here’s to all the mamas out there—doing your best, learning as you go, and trying to choose your words with love (even when the laundry’s piled high and someone’s crying over the “wrong” color cup). Sending you all the positive thoughts, deep breaths, and warm coffee refills today. 💛
Shows for Kids That Model Kindness & Positive Words:
Bluey (of course!)
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Doc McStuffins
Sesame Street
Ada Twist, Scientist
Puffin Rock
These shows remind kids — and let’s be honest, us adults too — that compassion, patience, and trying again are worth it.
#PlanItMom #PlanItMomUS #MomLife #GentleParenting #PositiveParenting #AtlantaMoms #GeorgiaMoms #ThePowerOfWords #ParentingGrace #MomLifeInProgress #BlueyInspired #MomCommunity
