Five Practical Tips for Struggling Moms and Weary Women
Throughout the past 13 years, I’ve spent most of my time caring for our children. As we push through the end of another long winter, I hope to offer a few encouraging words for struggling moms and weary women who are wondering how to uncover the joy and peace they long for.
I pray these words will bless and encourage you.
Encouragement for Struggling Moms and Weary Women
A friend recently sent me a text that went something like this: “No one tells you how hard motherhood actually is!”
I immediately called her so we could talk in real-time.
We talked about the difficult newborn days when we thought we’d never sleep through the night again. We shared stories of coaxing our crying children onto school buses, feeling like failures, and melting down while our kids bickered.
Motherhood is hard, but it’s important to remember that hard doesn’t mean bad. This is true for motherhood, and I’ve discovered that it’s true in every other realm of life, too.
Motherhood is hard, but it’s important to remember that hard doesn’t mean bad. This is true for motherhood, and I've discovered that it's true in every other realm of life, too. #motherhood #MomLife Click To TweetBefore becoming a mom, packing up for a short road trip or weekend getaway was much easier than it is now with three kids. However, I often remind myself that easier doesn’t mean better.
Life is better now—most of the time. I wouldn’t trade this life for my pre-motherhood life.
Today, I’m returning to the words that remind me of how to add joy to the difficult days of motherhood. If you’re a weary mom, I pray these words bless you, too.
5 Practical Tips for More Joy
1. Instead of grumbling, learn to smile at the mishaps.
I encourage you to learn to smile often, laugh at yourself, and take your agenda less seriously.
You probably won’t cross every task off the to-do list today.
You might find an old meatball under the cabinet. Someone will spill a full cup of milk on the floor. You might find messes everywhere you turn.
Ask God to help you smile and respond warmly, with gentleness.
These moments will soon become memories. God is using the spiritual discipline of motherhood to transform you into the image of his Son. When you can learn to smile at the mishaps, you are moving toward a life of joy and peace.
2. Extend grace to yourself.
I spent years feeling guilty every time I washed dishes instead of playing on the floor with my kids. Most of us have learned that we’re supposed to put people in front of tasks. This mindset can lead us to feel frustrated when we can’t find the balance we crave.
I believe God has a better invitation for us.
He invites us to extend grace to ourselves.
We don’t have to be perfect at balancing work, parenting, self-care, friendships, and faith. Instead, we do our best and realize that some days simply lack balance. Instead of condemning ourselves, we extend grace. We continue to assess the rhythms of our days and aim to follow God, but we don’t shame ourselves when we sense that we’re missing the mark.
This leads to our next point.
3. Create space for fun.
Recently, I realized that I was spending too much time focusing on the work of writing and not enough time enjoying our youngest son, who is still at home with me in the day. The day after I realized this, I changed the pace. We put on our boots and headed to the woods with a bucket and a net.
We splashed, giggled, and ran through the woods. The playful fun brought joy to our day. We didn’t stay all day, but an hour in the woods changed the tone of the entire day.
I was reminded that creating space for whimsical fun can change the trajectory of a day or weekend.
We find more joy when we regularly create small snippets of space for activities that fill us with joy.
4. Remember that this is a season.
When our first child came home from the hospital, I thought I’d never brush my teeth without a baby in my arms again. I thought the newborn stage would last forever. I couldn’t imagine life becoming easier. But it did.
Our daughter is now 13. The few months of carrying her everywhere are long gone.
All seasons change in this life. As struggling moms, we can encourage ourselves by remembering that the season for raising little ones will pass. As weary women, we can remind ourselves that difficult seasons at work will eventually pass. Life is always changing.
This, too, shall pass, friend.
In the meantime, God is working in our hearts and helping us to grow.
As weary women, we can remind ourselves that difficult seasons at work will eventually pass. Life is always changing. This, too, shall pass, friend. #tired #weary #exhaustion Click To Tweet5. Don’t try to do it alone.
We were created to live in relationships with one another.
When the grind of everyday life wears on me, I make it a point to connect with other adults. I call my mom when I go walking at the end of long days. I intentionally make time for friends.
Whether it’s a group of women, close family members, or even an online community, we all need a place to share life with others.
I haven’t mastered the art of enjoying every moment of my life as a full-time mom. Nevertheless, I am taking small steps in the direction of the life I want to live. And we are making progress—one day at a time.
A Free Gift With Encouragement for Struggling Moms:
I have a gift for you today. For a limited time, I invite you to download and read a chapter of my life-changing book, Lean Into Grace, right here. This chapter will help change the way you see the work God has placed in front of you and align your heart with his heart as you seek him in this work. Download this chapter for free with promo code GRACE right here. I pray it blesses you!
Calling All Moms and Daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find this book in eBook form for free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or buy a print copy for 11.99 right here.
