Marina Bloom's Blog: Moments Between Pages

“Ellie the baby whale wanted to learn the quiet language of the sea. Blue Mama said, ‘Inhale—the wave arrives. Exhale—the wave returns.’ Ellie listened…and she heard her brave little heart.”

Read this out loud and add one line of your own. Tomorrow at breakfast, add one more together. It takes two minutes, but kids feel us close.

For more ocean-soft adventures, visit The Adventures of Blue Mama and Baby Whale Ellie.

Ask the Author: What line did your child invent?

If you like this format, follow—I post more quick prompts.

There’s a sticky note on our fridge with four choices. Kids pick one: 1) snack picnic on the floor, 2) 10 minutes of cuddles + one short story, 3) building corner, 4) “draw your day.”

When there’s choice, there’s less “no.” I swap one option each week so it stays fresh. I talk less; they do more. It beats “turn it off because I said so.”

More low-prep, screen-free ideas after school are in Screen-Free Family: 8 Weeks Together.

Ask the Author: What would you add to your family’s calm menu?

If this helped, follow my profile—I share practical ideas often.

Right before dinner we play “one thing from the heart.” I ask: “What was hard today? What was good?” I listen. I don’t fix. Then we switch.

It takes five minutes, but our whole evening softens—fewer fights, easier bedtime. For us, it works better than long lectures.

Want a simple week of evening anchors? Step-by-step ideas live in Screen-Free Family: 8 Weeks Together.

Ask the Author: What’s the first question you’ll ask your child tonight?

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Hi, I’m Marina. If you’ve ever wished for more connection and less rush, you’re home. This space is a quiet pause: small ideas for screen-free moments, tender stories, and honest notes from real family life.

I write about newborn wonder (and overwhelm), about kids aged 4–8 finding their calm, and about the ocean that keeps reminding me: waves are steady, and so are we. No perfection here—only presence.

If you need more hand-holding, you’ll find week-by-week ideas in Screen-Free Family: 8 Weeks Together and heart-level reflections in When We Became Parents. For cozy read-aloud nights, meet us in The Adventures of Blue Mama and Baby Whale Ellie.

Ask the Author: What kind of evenings feel hardest in your home right now?

If this space helps, follow my profile for new posts.