Have you ever looked up from your phone and realized you missed a moment you didn’t even know was happening?
I’ve always been conscious of phone usage and screen time, and that’s only been emphasized since becoming a mom. I have a desire to be present, soak up every moment, and make sure I’m truly *there* for my children during their formative years.
It’s difficult to make sure you’re available for friends or family to to call you, but it’s increasingly more difficult to not get sucked into checking social media or getting a quick screen-time hit. Modern motherhood is busy, and being present is a daily challenge—but it is possible.
Here are five small but powerful habits that help me stay connected to my kids and grounded in motherhood each day.
Habit 1: Morning Grounding Time
Waking up even 15–30 minutes before my kid is always a game-changer. In those quiet early moments, I sip coffee, listen to the birds, get ready for the day, and just relax. I allow my mind to wake up and feel relax before my toddler comes running out of the room!
This small window of peace helps me start the day feeling centered. I notice I’m more patient when I’ve had that time to gather myself first. I don’t always get the chance to wake up earlier than my son, but I always feel better on days that I do.
If you’re not a morning person, even five minutes alone can make a difference. It’s less about the length of time and more about starting the day on purpose.
Habit 2: Phone-Free Blocks of Time
I didn’t want my kids’ earliest memories of me to be with a phone in my hand. So I try to establish “no phone” zones throughout the day—like during breakfast, outdoor playtime, and the bedtime routine.
I often leave my phone in another room, and especially out of view of my son. I keep a little basket on the counter to make this more intentional. When my son was a baby, I purchased a smart watch in order to spend even less time on my phone.
These unplugged blocks give me space to notice the little things: the way my son plays when he doesn’t realize I’m looking, his unconscious facial expressions, and all the little things he says to me as he anticipates eye contact. It’s hard to overstate how much these small shifts have improved my presence.
Habit 3: Intentional One-on-One Moments
As a mom, it’s easy to be surrounded by your kids all day but not really with them.
My son and I read books, bake something simple, or play on the floor. We play outside a lot and I value the little moments of walking down the road and pointing out birds or boats or trucks. Sometimes we just talk while folding laundry or doing chores side-by-side.
These little pockets of connection help my son feel seen, and they remind me to slow down and savor who they are right now. It doesn’t have to be elaborate—just intentional.
Habit 4: Mindful Check-Ins With Yourself
In the middle of the day, it can be helpful to think, “Am I really here right now?”
This simple question can help you come back to the moment if you’ve drifted into stress or distraction. Take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, or just stretch for a minute.
Motherhood is demanding, and it’s normal to feel pulled in every direction. But these gentle check-ins give me a chance to reset and refocus—so you can show up with more calm and less chaos.
Habit 5: Slowing Down Bedtime
Bedtime can feel like the final hurdle in a marathon day, and it can be sooo easy to rush through it like a to-do list. But I’ve started seeing it as a sacred time to connect.
Now, we turn off distractions, dim the lights, and lean into the routine—reading stories and snuggling. Even if the day was hectic, bedtime is a moment to reconnect, repair, and rest together.
Ending the day with intention helps both my son and me feel more grounded. And honestly, some of our sweetest conversations happen when everything else is quiet. I will say, my son is almost 2 years old, so not every bedtime is full of sweetness and calm, sometimes bedtime can be… crazy. It’s all about doing what you can.
Final Thoughts: It’s not about perfection
If you’re anything like me, you’ll have days where everything goes off track—and that’s okay.
Being a present mom isn’t about getting it right all the time. It’s about coming back, again and again, to what matters. These five habits help me do that, and I hope they encourage you too.
Start with just one. Give yourself grace. Your presence—imperfect, tired, loving—is enough. And your kids will remember that you were with them.
And that’s more than enough.
Simple Little Moments 
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