On Instagram, her life might look like it's all fun and games, but Amy Kroff, founder of GoBeFun, is serious about helping families stay connected.

January 18, 2022 2:41 pm

By Shelley Hunter

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Listen to the Episode

Why Being a Fun Mom Matters

As a self-proclaimed, "fun mom" and the founder of GoBeFun, Amy Kroff prioritizes creating. experiences that bring her family together. Whether she’s setting up a bingo hall in her kitchen (complete with a microphone, bingo cage, and ink daubers) or issuing a challenge that requires nothing more than a blanket, this mother of seven is always looking for simple, inexpensive ways to create laughter and silliness across a broad range of age groups.

On Instagram, her home might look like it’s all fun and games, but the intention behind this frivolity is much more serious. In Amy’s words, “I value the family unit and I want families to grow together…so many problems can be solved if families just enjoyed being together.” 

But it can’t be forced.

Forced Family Fun

Amy learned early on that forcing fun on her family did not work.

She recalls, “In year’s past, I said, ‘No. I put a lot of effort into this. We’re going to have fun and you’re going to like it.’” 

Though well-meaning, that approach netted pushback and tears—the exact opposite type of family interaction she wanted. Undeterred and certain that the rewards would be worth the effort, Amy adjusted her expectations and learned how to offer the good times without requiring participation or wearing herself out.

This patience and consistency paid off. From drawing a reluctant teenager out of isolation to having long distance belly-laughs with a young adult child who no longer lives at home, Amy’s intentional experiences are creating memories and building family connections.

Amy Kroff of GoBeFun and her family

Learn How to Be a Fun Mom

Having seen the benefits in her own home, Amy started a business to teach other moms how to be “a little bit more fun.” Through social media, a free newsletter, an online “Fun Mom Certification” course, and a few other products and services in the works, this energetic lady with a quirky sense of humor and a brain that her sisters say does not work like others, is on a mission to bring wholesome recreation and family togetherness to the masses.

But if that doesn’t happen--"if there is no empire"--she will be just as happy knowing that her own family grew closer together in the process.

Listen to the interview to learn more about how GoBeFun got started, what Amy envisions for the business, and to hear her signature, “Fun Mom Monday” intro. It's good stuff.

I feel like Heavenly Father wants me to do great things. I feel my most important place is in the home and with my kids. If I ever feel this is distracting from that, it's not what I should be doing

- Amy Kroff -

Mentioned in this Interview

Download the Transcript

 Family Fun is Serious Business for This Mom

Guest: Amy Kroff

Shelley Hunter: You're listening to the Faithful Career Moves podcast. I'm your host, Shelley Hunter, and this is the place where we talk to people who have found the career they were born to do and recognize God's hand in the process. 

Welcome to Episode 25. I have a really fun interview to share with you today. For all of you Instagramers out there, get out your phone and tell me if you are already following @GoBeFun_co, and if you're not, you should be because today I'm talking to the founder of GoBeFun, Amy Kroff. 

Amy is a mother of seven kids who is on a mission to help moms have more fun with their families without spending a lot of money or turning it into a process. This isn't forced family fun, this is actual good times with intention.

Now to date, GoBeFun is an Instagram account, a website, with an online certification course and some products in the works as well. Now, if you follow the account, you already know how much fun Amy is and honestly, I kept losing track in this interview because I was just enjoying talking to her. The fun is genuine. If you're not familiar with what she's doing, stick around as she shares the story of how GoBeFun got started, where it's headed, and why she's motivating, encouraging, and inviting all moms to enjoy the ride a little bit more. I asked Amy to start us off by sharing how GoBeFun got started.

Amy Kroff: Started where I had so many people through my life as I've been a mom, tell me they wish they could be a fun mom or they wish they could have more fun with their kids. I've had young women when I've served in the church with the young women telling me, "Oh, I hope I grow up to be a fun mom," type of thing and I'm like, "Oh yes, you just do it. Just have fun." 

Because for me, it was more second nature, just the way my brain worked. As I started realizing this was something that people really wanted in their lives that it just didn't come as naturally, I thought, "Okay, I'm going to write a book. I'm going to write a book and get it out there with all these ideas and get people inspired." I sat at my computer and I could not figure out how to write a book on this. There is just so much more to it and so much of it depends on your family and your ages. There is so many different dynamics that come in. About a year and a half ago, I thought, "Okay, I've got all these thoughts jumbling up in my head." I started my Fun Mom Mondays. Is that what you see?

Shelley: Yes, and do your little thing.

Amy: Fun Mom Monday [sings]. Oh yes, it's huge.

[laughter]

Amy: It's so dumb.

Shelley: It's so cute.

Amy: Then I just kept doing it. My son told me I should change it so I tried to change it once and I had people message me like, "No, don't change it."

Shelley: Don't change it. It's actually so corny it's cute.

Amy: I guess it gets people's attention-

Shelley: It does.

Amy: -so I do it. [laughs] It's all good. It comes naturally. 

It was in the middle of summer, I had a bunch of kids, it was a weird rainy-ish day and so I thought, "I'm going to have kids over in the neighborhood and play some bingo." I went and got some treats, some prizes at the grocery store, and I have little daubers for bingo, I have the whole setup, and I just invited neighborhood kids to come over and I just recorded it and it was on a Monday, just so it happened to be on Monday so it started, Fun Mom Monday. I knew I had to put a day to it or else I wouldn't stay on top of it.

If I said, "Hey, Fun Mom idea." It would have totally fizzled but all of a sudden next Monday came around I'm like, "Oh, I need another idea it's Fun Mom Monday." The reason I put it out there is I knew that once I got started, other ideas would start coming of what I needed to do with all these thoughts in my head. I just had to be patient and keep putting my content out there see what caught on, see what people liked. I have a sister who's big in the social media world and she actually was at my home when we played the candy bar game. Did you catch that one?

Shelley: Yes, actually, I grew up playing that game.

Amy: It's the best.

Shelley: It is really great, but I love all the adaptations you've shown and that's another reason I think your site is so great is because you can adapt it to your family or your ages of your kids.

Amy: Yes, right. Well, good I'm glad you feel that. I also feel like some of these games are games people play when they're younger and they haven't even thought of them like MASH. I played that with my kids multiple times and I put it out there and people are like, "I totally forgot about that game." Some of it is just reminding people like, "Hey, these are simple, fun ideas that--" I keep saying ideas, they are ideas, but I do want people to view it more as let's do it.

Shelley: Well, yes, it's almost like you've identified the fact that we've forgotten how to have fun because now to have fun, you have to have an Oculus or a big-budget and you're reminding us no, we used to have a lot of fun doing the simplest things. Your sister came over, you were doing the candy game and--

Amy: Oh, she tagged me, I tagged her in it and she put it on her Instagram, and then a lot of people came over. Now, I'm like, "Okay, there's something here. There's something people are wanting to see." I've started a Fun Mom certification course, which I did last summer and I'm going to start it up again in February, and I'm working on products. It's just growing. I'm just trying to figure out what direction to take because again, my brain has so many thoughts.

Shelley: What's interesting to me about the certification program is if you don't understand the objective here, it could seem like I don't need to be certified as a fun mom I think I'm okay, but what I'm guessing is it is more about developing habits. What do you really get out of a certification?

Amy: Oh my goodness. When I did it the last year, so many people commented on how they just didn't realize how simple it has to be, but it has to be consistent and that's when they really saw the growth. If you figure 10 minutes a day that you're playing with your kid, huge, it's huge and you don't think it would be, but it's huge. It's that consistency. Then, of course, you get a certificate. Back to you, who doesn't want that on their wall? [crosstalk] tell them they're the worst really.

Shelley: I am a certified fun mom. It is a habit. I'm guessing that if they're part of the program, they have to return and report.

Amy: Oh, to get the certificate, you have to complete so many activities every week, but then there are simple activities. You don't have to go out to the store and buy stuff, it's stuff you already have at home or pens and paper kind of thing.

Shelley: Is there an example you can share that we can catch the visual?

Amy: Oh, sure. One of the ideas is just you got to tell jokes today and I give a list of jokes, but you can go look at some jokes and you've got to throw jokes out throughout the day. Your kids are going to moan and groan, but deep down they think you're hilarious. Got to believe it. You got to believe.

Shelley: I actually think the most fun my kids have is when they're making fun of me.

Amy: Then learning how to laugh at yourself-

Shelley: Yes.

Amy: -with them, right?

Shelley: Right. Take me back to your career before all of this.

Amy: I've been very fortunate I've been a stay-at-home mom. My husband provides a great, comfortable lifestyle, but I've always wanted something for myself. I have taught piano for years, I don't anymore, but I did for years because I didn't ever want to be told no I couldn't have something or do something. I also years ago decided I love photography and I started a photography business and that was really cool to grow. My goal was to become a high-end studio photographer and I did it. I did it, I had this whole photography business going and that was awesome but I feel like that's fizzled out. One of my weaknesses is when I set a goal and I accomplish it, I'm done.

Shelley: Interesting.

Amy: I know. That's why I'm telling myself this has got to be a multimillion-dollar empire or I'll stop.

[laughter]

Amy: I got to make it so grand that I don't stop. I always did that on the side as a mom. I found things that I could do while being a stay-at-home mom and that's something I needed for me.

Shelley: You have a big range of kids. How has being a fun mom changed for you over the years?

Amy: Well, obviously, the ages. I have seven kiddos so I don't know what you've seen on the Gram. Four of them are biological and three are adopted. Our youngest is from Ethiopia, our son is from Texas, and a daughter from Alabama. Then I've got the whole gamut. Got now adult children and I've got young kids. I've done the being a fun mom with toddlers, totally different than being a fun mom with adult kids. I've noticed for me, repetition doesn't work. What I did with my older kids, the activities I did, after I did it, I kind of was bored and I was ready to find new ideas. I think it's just evolved in that I just keep getting new ideas and more ideas and every kid is different. You've got the broad range of finding things that work for a 22-year-old and a 9-year-old.

Shelley: Do you just wake up ready to have fun like never a dull moment at the Kroff house?

Amy: [laughs] That is so funny. My daughter now, well, she just turned nine, her name is Lola, one day she was asking me to do something with her like play with her, and she's like, "But mom," and I was telling her, "No," I was in the middle of something. I'm like, "No, no, no," she's like, "But mom, you're Fun Mom Monday," "Today is Thursday so you're out of luck." Sometimes it's a push. I really love when my family is connecting and laughing. I know that makes it sound just so simple, but I just really get a kick out of it. I'm just trying to find activities that keep us engaged with each other.

Shelley: How do you help a mom who's thinking, "Well, my family is not like that. We come home and everyone scatters to their own room."

Amy: I guess that's a big question. It starts with desire, do you want it? 

There're probably some people that don't want to have this in their home and that's okay. I'm not saying this is the right way. I have seen the benefits of having it in my home so I want to put it out there. People have family that aren't connected. You got to start small. If it's something you want. As a mom, we control so much of our environment and our home, it's got to start small and I have learned, okay, I'm going to tell you something I've learned big time with all these kids. If I force it, there's going to be a lot of pushback.

I find the kids that are game that are ready to play and I'm like, "It's cool. You don't have to be a part of it but just stay around here. Just stay by us and we're just going to play this game." 

I'm going to say, 9 times out of 10, they make their way over and they start to join in. In the years past when I'm like, "No, I put a lot of effort into this. We're going to have fun. You're going to like it." A lot of times it's me crying because I'm like no one wants to play my game. I've learned a lot. If you have a family that isn't used to this, there's got to be a lot of patience, but consistency. Just keep doing it. Eventually, they'll make their way over to you and want to engage.

Shelley: When you're forcing the kids to live up to your vision of what you think something's going to be, it generally does not go well?

Amy: A hundred percent of the time. I have experienced it so many times and it's just been the last few years that I've just let my guard down and I let it roll. I just let it happen.

Shelley: I think that's where we're all supposed to get with parenting in general. All right. We know this works for your family, but let's talk about how it's been received by the moms who took your course. When we talked earlier, you mention there were some emails and things like that. Do you mind sharing some of that feedback?

Amy: Yes. Are you ready? I'm going to read this to you. This is from Trisha who has become a certified fun mom. 

Okay, she says, "I am loving, loving this program and you-" I just threw that in there. Just kidding, she really said that. "-and all the help and the changes I'm seeing and the hope it is giving me that I can do more of what I've always wanted to be. My mindset had become so ingrained in thinking that being fun is exhausting, expensive, or way too far out of the abilities I possess, but I'm learning that I was wrong on all of that. I needed this so badly and I'm so grateful to you. I've gotten a little teary-eyed multiple times seeing how meaningful the results have been.

Shelley: Wow.

Amy: That was awesome.

Shelley: Yes.

Amy: Those things, when people will message me and tell me like, thank you for giving us these ideas that we were doing it in our home and we were laughing and I totally forgot about this idea, whatever. I get so many comments of people just saying, "We needed that, thank you." I just think this is why I'm doing it. I want families to grow closer together. I really value the family unit. Let's not forget wholesome recreational activities. I feel that's what I'm zeroing in on.

Shelley: From where I sit, it sounds to me like you have a mission now. Do you feel this is the thing that you've been called to do?

Amy: I feel like the heavenly father wants me to do great things. I feel my most important place is in the home and with my kids. If I ever feel this is distracting from that, it's not what I should be doing. I feel very fortunate that because I'm coming up with new ideas even more so now all the time it's helping my family it's benefiting my family so it's twofold. I do feel I have found something that I'm passionate about. I believe in it. I believe in it big time. I believe in the family, that's where it all stems from so calling that's a strong word. I believe that the heavenly father totally supports what I'm doing. If I decided to pull back and just focus on my family, that would be great too.

Shelley: From a pure business perspective, which by the way, I don't believe being called to do something or having a gift means it has to be a career. I'm just saying that you have a vision of how families can come together and it's unique to you, born out of your talents and your interests, and your desires.

Amy: Now that I've caught the bug and seen people benefit from what I'm sharing, I can see myself getting more and more passionate about it and wanting to get it out there more in the world.

Shelley: Right. Since you did start a business, the way I see it going is you currently are recommending games and activities to people, but your next stop would be to create your own. When I saw the bingo, looked at it and I was like, "Dang it, my kids are too old now, but I would've totally bought bingo."

Amy: Okay. You need to stop back.

Shelley: Don't live here I know but as a grandma.

Amy: Yes. When they come and you have money or gift cards for the rewards or something where they get totally wait, what?

Shelley: Okay. I'm doing this.

Amy: I'm surprised some of these games that people think are for kids, I'll play with my adult kids and we are laughing. We are done. Did you see my blanket games?

Shelley: Yes.

Amy: Oh, but we're having so much fun with my older kids doing these silly blanket games, like don't say your kids are too old.

Shelley: Okay, I won't. I actually really needed to hear this because my youngest is leaving and I have been thinking a lot about traditions and how to stay connected with them so thank you. I thought I was interviewing you, but it turns out its therapy for me. That is an evolution for you.

Amy: I see. In the future being a fun mom to adult kids that are married. I've been doing these dates with my son and his wife, and we go do these double dates and they lived in California and we were here in Utah. I tried to find ways to stay connected and still have fun with them, even though they weren't here.

One time I just sent them, I ordered hula hoops. I ordered one for us, one for them. I sent it to them and I said, okay, don't open it until our date starts. At the same time, we opened the boxes. I had 10 hula hoop challenges that we had to break. We had to record ourselves and send it. Whoever got through all 10 challenges, one, and we sent the videos back and forth and we were laughing at each other, you had to get kids in the neighborhood to do the, I don't know, it was all these different challenges. It's still having fun with your adult kids. I believe that's just as important.

Shelley: I want to transition into the other questions. Before I do, I just want to say that it's okay, that you don't know where this is all going. I think it's very cool that you're following the promptings that you're feeling. Think about all the different coaching programs people come by, there's life coaching and finance and career, and there's personal fitness, and there's all these things that are self-betterment, but I love that what you're doing is trying to help families.

Amy: Oh, thanks. I do feel it has so much value because it can solve so many of those other problems by just enjoying being together.

Shelley: I love that. Can you tell me about a leap of faith that you had to take to get where you are now?

Amy: Well, I already mentioned the Fun Mom Monday and that was a big deal for me. I even had my sister who's the influencer of sorts discourage me from putting a day to it. I just knew that I had to do something. I had to put myself out there. Honestly, every week when I put a new idea out there, I feel like people are going to think I'm a goofball. I feel every step in putting myself out in the world and saying, "Hey, this is important. Hey, you, you want to see this?" I feel it's a leap of faith every single time for me because it's really safe and easy to do it in my own home and have my kids tell me, "Oh, that's a silly idea." I don't have people telling me I'm wrong. People thinking that I'm an idiot that's for real like that's.

Shelley: No, I totally understand that. Any person who is on social media is very vulnerable.

Amy: I do get a little worried about how even my family, how they're going to respond to it like not my children, but my extended family and just like, "Oh, here she goes again."

Shelley: Well, they won't be laughing when that empire is built.

Amy: They'll be like, "Can I have a job?"

[chuckles]

Shelley: Yes. Tell me about this Monday thing.

Amy: The Fun Mom Monday is probably the biggest leap. The Fun Mom certification right now, I've done it once and now I'm making it even more polished and I've got a company that's wanting to back me up on it and put it out and promote it themselves and that gets me excited, but also like who do I think I am? Right?

Shelley: Yes.

Amy: Do I even have anything for people to value?

Shelley: You know that's Satan, right? Because what you're doing is building families and helping families come together. That is something he does not want to happen so he wants you to feel insecure so you'll stop

Amy: 100% I have to remind myself of that all the time so thank you for reminding me as well. I have to just tell myself, I believe in this, I know there's more to do this. If this can benefit families and nothing, my empire is never built, which it will be but let's say it's never built if people are having fun because of my ideas, score.

Shelley: Yes.

Amy: Just keep going at that pace. Just keep telling myself it's all good.

Shelley: What you're doing is something you might not get a sense of the impact you have for quite some time because you don't know all the people that are watching what you create and are trying it. Just as an example of that, I often screenshot the activities that you show on your account. Because if I have a picture of it in my phone, that's how I remember it, but you wouldn't know that. It might feel like you're not making traction for a while, but you are.

Amy: I needed to hear that because you just feel you're putting yourself.

Shelley: Yes. I've done that. Can you tell me about an unexpected blessing, something you couldn't see for yourself in making this move?

Amy: This is huge because I have seven kids. I'm getting tired. I've been doing this mom thing for so long and I believe the blessings and the benefit this is into me is it's keeping me on my game. It's making sure that these younger kids still get these fun activities and also I believe is going to help my future family stay close. It's pushing me to do it. I can't let my tiredness now because other people are wanting ideas now. People are counting on Fun Mom Monday. It's keeping me on my toes. As I'm getting older and more tired, it's keeping me energized.

Shelley: Yes, it sounds like it's keeping you as the mom you want to be.

Amy: Yes and well, think about it. As I keep this up, I can turn it into fun grandma, right? Fun mother-in-law. There's so many ways to have fun and if I believe in it so much, I believe it should happen through our whole lives.

Shelley: Yes. All right, Amy, the last question I ask all of my guests is, how have you seen the hand of God in your career?

Amy: Just being reminded that God cares about every aspect of our lives. I actually include in my every morning prayer, I ask Him, my father to help me know what to do for my be fun today, because I believe in it and because I believe in it, I know He believes in it and He wants me to succeed. It's helping me to lean on Him in getting ideas and getting inspiration. What direction to take it in because as I said, I'm in the starting phases of growing it and I know it has such potential to be amazingly huge. I know that I can lean on Him and I do. I get inspiration and I get ideas and I feel a sense of peace that I'm on the right path as I pray about it so it's just those prayers, those daily prayers.

Shelley: I love that. Thanks for being on this show.

Amy: No, thanks for asking me.

Shelley: Of course so much fun.

[music]

I am inspired by all of my guests. I love their stories, their aha moments, and how they seek God and the details. A couple of things stood out to me in this interview. One, it's never too late to start having fun with your family. It doesn't have to be bingo and blanket games. It can be as simple as telling jokes and it doesn't even matter how old the kids are. What matters is your desire to bring your family together? I believe that God will help you make that happen if you put forth even the slightest of efforts, which may include following an Instagram account. The second thing is there's a business model in everything we enjoy if we want it, you don't have to want it. If there isn't a financial need in your family, you don't even have to pursue it as a career.

I do believe that God gave us talents, that he expects us to develop in some way because then we'll find more joy in our own life and success in serving others as well. If you want to have more fun in your family, check out GoBeFun. The Instagram account is GoBeFun_co and the website is GoBeFun.co. I will put both of those in the show notes, but this is where you can go to get great ideas and inspiration or sign up for that course Amy was talking about.

Finally, if you want help identifying that thing, you are exceptionally good at or want to explore ways in which to use it, give me a call. Until then, I will be over at Amazon looking at bingo games. Thanks for listening. Thank you for listening to the Faithful Career Moves podcast. If you want to know more about how to connect your natural talents and abilities to job opportunities and business ideas, then visit our website at faithfulcareermoves.com.

[music]

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Shelley Hunter

About the author

Shelley Hunter is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach with a passion for helping people up-level their careers, return to the workforce with confidence, and identify their God-given strengths. She is also a work-at-home mom who left a traditional career as a programmer to be unapologetically home with her kids.

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