You officially have permission to have an imperfect Saturday.
Good morning, Mom.
Before you start making the list…
Laundry.
Groceries.
Cleaning.
Errands.
Kids' activities.
Appointments.
The 47 things that somehow didn't get done during the week.
Let's pause for a minute.
Because it's Saturday.
And today, we're giving you a permission slip.
Your Saturday Permission Slip
You officially have permission to:
Drink your coffee before answering 47 questions.
Stay in your pajamas a little longer.
Have breakfast for lunch.
Leave the laundry for later.
Let the kids watch a movie.
Say no to plans.
Make the easiest dinner possible.
Take a nap if you get the chance.
Sit down and actually enjoy your kids.
Do absolutely nothing productive for a little while.
Because here's the thing:
Not every Saturday has to be productive.
You don't have to wake up and immediately start accomplishing things.
You don't have to deep-clean the entire house.
You don't have to create a Pinterest-worthy family activity.
You don't have to spend money just because it's the weekend.
And you definitely don't have to compare your Saturday to somebody else's Saturday on social media.
Sometimes Saturday is just...
Coffee.
Pajamas.
Kids.
Snacks.
A messy house.
A movie.
A little laughter.
And maybe getting absolutely nothing checked off the list.
And that's okay.
What Kind of Saturday Are You Having?
Let's have a little fun.
Which one sounds most like you today?
A. Productive Saturday
Give me a coffee and a to-do list. We're getting things DONE.
B. Pajama Saturday
I'm not leaving this house unless absolutely necessary.
C. Family Adventure Saturday
We're getting everybody dressed and going somewhere.
D. Catch-Up Saturday
The laundry has officially declared war.
E. Nap-and-Snack Saturday
Honestly, this sounds perfect.
F. I Have No Idea Yet
I'm just happy I made it to Saturday.
And honestly?
There is no wrong answer.
Saturday Doesn't Have to Cost Money Either
Sometimes we think we need to go somewhere to have fun.
You don't.
Build a blanket fort.
Have a living-room picnic.
Make popcorn and watch a movie you already have.
Go for a walk.
Visit the library.
Have a family dance party.
Make something with whatever you have in the house.
Let the kids make dinner.
Play a board game.
Look through old family pictures.
Go outside and see what you can find.
Sometimes the best family memories aren't the expensive ones.
They're the ordinary ones.
The ones where everyone was home.
Everyone was together.
And nobody was in a hurry.
And If Today Isn't an Easy Saturday...
We also want to say something important.
Not every family wakes up on Saturday thinking about where they're going to have fun.
Some parents are thinking about:
How am I going to buy groceries?
Do we have enough diapers?
How am I going to replace those shoes?
How am I going to pay this bill?
Where can I find help?
What resources are available?
Where do I even start?
If that's where you are today, please know that you don't have to be embarrassed about needing help.
And you don't have to know exactly what to ask for before you start looking.
Need a Place to Start?
The KindNest Resource Library is there to help families find information and connections for things like:
Pregnancy and parenting
Baby essentials
Food assistance
Housing
Mental health
Infant care
Child care
Employment
Family stabilization
Community assistance
KindNest isn't able to provide every service listed in the library. Instead, the Resource Library is designed to help families find organizations and programs that may be able to help with their specific needs.
Explore the KindNest Resource Library
Visit the KindNest Resource Library
Sometimes you don't need someone to solve everything.
You just need someone to help you find the starting point.
Need Practical Assistance From KindNest?
If your family is experiencing hardship and needs baby or children's essentials, you can also request assistance directly from KindNest.
Depending on current inventory and availability, care packages may include things such as:
Diapers
Wipes
Baby essentials
Children's clothing
Hygiene items
Other available family essentials
KindNest currently serves families across Michigan. Requests are reviewed based on current demand and inventory, and specific items cannot always be guaranteed.
Request KindNest Assistance
And remember:
Asking for help doesn't mean you failed.
It means you're taking care of your family.
Want to Help Another Family?
Maybe your family is doing okay right now.
Maybe you're looking for a way to give back.
Maybe you have diapers your baby has outgrown.
Maybe you have children's clothing that no longer fits.
Maybe you want to make a financial donation.
Maybe you simply want to tell someone about KindNest.
All of those things matter.
KindNest accepts financial and in-kind support, including items such as diapers, wipes, baby gear, clothing, hygiene products and other family essentials.
Ways You Can Support KindNest
You can:
Donate financially
Shop the KindNest Wish List
Donate needed items
Volunteer
Become a community partner
Share KindNest with another family
See All the Ways to Give
Support KindNest & See Ways to Give
KindNest is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
You Can Help Without Spending Anything
And this might be the most important part.
You don't have to have extra money to help somebody.
You can share a resource.
You can tell another mom about the KindNest Resource Library.
You can share a KindNest post.
You can tell a friend about the assistance application.
You can comment on one of our blogs.
You can tell us about a free family event.
You can share a resource we haven't found yet.
Sometimes helping a family starts with five words:
“Hey, have you heard about KindNest?”
So Here's Your Saturday Reminder
Whatever kind of Saturday you're having today...
You don't have to make it perfect.
You don't have to get everything done.
You don't have to spend money.
You don't have to entertain your kids every second.
You don't have to have the cleanest house.
You don't have to have the perfect plans.
And if you're having a hard time right now, you don't have to pretend everything is fine.
Take the morning one step at a time.
Drink your coffee.
Hug your kids.
Put the laundry off for another hour if you need to.
Go outside.
Stay inside.
Laugh.
Rest.
Ask for help.
Find a resource.
Do whatever your family needs today.
Because sometimes the best Saturday isn't the one where you accomplished everything.
It's the one where you were actually there for it.
Now Tell Us...
What kind of Saturday are YOU having?
A — Productive
B — Pajamas
C — Family Adventure
D — Catch-Up
E — Nap & Snacks
F — Absolutely No Plans
Or just tell us:
“Today I need ______.”
We'll see you in the comments.
Happy Saturday from KindNest.
Supporting Families. Strengthening Our Community.