Slow Down<\\/strong><\\/h2>\\n \ This life moves so fast sometimes! It\\u2019s easy to get wrapped up in the fast-paced lifestyle, rushing from one thing to the next. If we\\u2019re not careful, we can unconsciously pass the stress of our busy schedules onto our kids. Not only are our schedules often too full, we also tend to<\\/span>\\u00a0make things more urgent than they need to be.<\\/p>\\n \ When possible, try to get out of the habit of rushing yourself and your kids. It doesn\\u2019t do anyone good to get somewhere on time, when you all arrive flustered and stressed. Of course, there are some places you need to be on time (work, the airport, appointments, etc.) In these cases, give yourself ample time and leave room for delays.\\u00a0<\\/span><\\/p>\\n \ I know this is a difficult one\\u2026 I don\\u2019t like to be late anywhere! When it\\u2019s time to go, I want to be out the door and driving away. With kids though, things happen! My toddler is \\u201cLittle Miss Independent\\u201d and wants to get dressed herself, climb into the car seat herself, and buckle herself. These are all good things that I want to encourage her to do, but I have to remind myself of this sometimes. Instead of scooping her up and running her out to the car, I let her do it on her own, so she happily climbs in her seat, feeling accomplished and independent. Even if it takes a few minutes longer!<\\/span><\\/p>\\n \"two Image by kimberlyfelten<\\/a> from Pixabay<\\/a> Joy in Everyday Moments of Motherhood<\\/figcaption><\\/figure>\\nTake Pictures and Videos<\\/strong><\\/h2>\\n**** *\* While slowing down physically can bring more joy to our days, slowing down mentally can be beneficial as well. Notice the little moments with your kids. Take pictures of them together enjoying life \\u2013 baking in the kitchen, playing in the dirt, singing songs, riding their bikes, etc. It\\u2019s these every day moments that we\\u2019re sure to miss when they\\u2019re older.<\\/span><\\/p>\\n *\* As moms, it\\u2019s so easy to forget the good<\\/strong> things that happen throughout the day.\\u00a0<\\/span>If something goes wrong (sibling squabble, negative attitudes, etc.) we might think, \\u201cWell, there goes the day!\\u201d We can so easily let the negative moments determine our outlook on how the entire day went\\u2026 even when there were so many good moments in-between! When we record the times of joy, it can help remind us of all the things that went right. <\\/span><\\/p>\\n *\* ****Looking back at pictures of our kids enjoying life reminds us, \\u201cYes, the day was hard\\u2026 but there was also so much beauty!\\u201d<\\/span><\\/p>\\n**** \"mom Photo by Brooke Lark<\\/a> on Unsplash<\\/a>**** ****Joy in Bonding Experiences in Motherhood<\\/figcaption><\\/figure>\\nInvite Them Into Your World<\\/strong><\\/h2>\\n****** *\* In the early stages of motherhood, accomplishing even the simplest task with a child in tow can seem impossible. It can cause us to view children as barriers to whatever pressing thing we need to get done. I\\u2019ve learned, more and more with each kid, that they love to get involved in what we\\u2019re doing from an early age.<\\/span><\\/p>\\n *\* ******Going grocery shopping? <\\/strong><\\/em><\\/p>\\n \\n\\n\\nGive them a list to check off as you put items into the cart<\\/span><\\/li>\\n** Let them walk and help you find the groceries you need.<\\/span><\\/li>\\n<\\/ul>\\n<\\/li>\\n<\\/ul>\\n******* *\* Making dinner or prepping meals? <\\/strong><\\/em>Give your child a task to do. Even toddlers can help in the kitchen!<\\/p>\\n *\* *******Infants\\/Toddlers:<\\/em><\\/span><\\/p>\\n \\n\\n\\nHand them something pre-measured to pour in.<\\/li>\\nLet them stir the ingredients together.<\\/li>\\nTeach them how to chop ingredients safely with a plastic knife.<\\/a><\\/li>\\n<\\/ul>\\n<\\/li>\\n<\\/ul>\\n******* *\* *******Older Kids:<\\/em><\\/span><\\/p>\\n \\n\\n\\nLet them experiment with ingredients.<\\/li>\\nHand them a recipe and watch\\/assist as they gather supplies, follow the steps, and measure ingredients.<\\/li>\\nTeach them how to double recipes!<\\/li>\\nLet them teach younger siblings and delegate tasks in the kitchen.<\\/li>\\n<\\/ul>\\n<\\/li>\\n<\\/ul>\\n******* *\* *******Folding laundry? <\\/strong><\\/em><\\/p>\\n \\n\\n\\nYounger children can help with sorting categories, matching socks, or putting shirts on hangers. <\\/span><\\/li>\\nOlder children can fold their own clothes and put away. <\\/span><\\/li>\\nMake laundry into a family event!<\\/span><\\/li>\\n<\\/ul>\\n<\\/li>\\n<\\/ul>\\nTake Care of Yourself<\\/h2>\\n********* *\* *********Easier said than done, I know! As moms, our needs often get put on the backburner while tending to those of everyone else around us. Something I\\u2019ve noticed in myself, as well as other moms, is how easily we can become overstimulated. Perhaps everyone\\u2019s talking and needs your attention at the same time, maybe your toddler wants to be picked up for the 50th time and you\\u2019re already touched-out for the day, or maybe your kids are constantly saying \\u201cMom, can I\\u2026?\\u201d, \\u201cMomma, I need\\u2026\\u201d and you feel like you cannot possibly make another decision, or provide one more thing for anyone. You just need a moment to yourself where nothing is required of you. Gosh, I get it!<\\/p>\\n Our overstimulated state can cause us as moms to become short with our kids \\u2013 even if they\\u2019re not necessarily doing anything wrong. None of us want to be that mom who\\u2019s snapping at her kids or who\\u2019s despondent to their needs and interests. It\\u2019s important that we\\u2019re mindful<\\/a> of our own mental state, because it can deeply impact those of our children.<\\/p>\\n A few practical ways you can take care of yourself as a mom are:<\\/p>\\n \\nDrink plenty of water.<\\/li>\\nSpend time in the Word.<\\/li>\\nTry to get a good night\\u2019s sleep (this isn\\u2019t always possible \\u2013 and some stages of motherhood inhibit this more than others).<\\/li>\\nTake a moment to yourself to breathe deeply, count to ten, or walk around the block.<\\/li>\\nDo something that uses your gifts or passions.<\\/li>\\nExercise (as little as 10 minutes a day<\\/a>!)<\\/li>\\nMake a list of things you\\u2019re grateful for.<\\/li>\\n<\\/ul>\\n********* *\* *********Obviously, time is an issue most days as a mom and these might not all be doable for you right now. That\\u2019s okay! Just pay attention to your body and mental state, and incorporate what you can \\u2013 whether on a daily, or as-needed, basis.<\\/p>\\n Declutter Your Home<\\/h2>\\n Or at least your immediate surroundings! You might be thinking, \\u201cWait\\u2026how do my physical belongings affect my joy in motherhood?\\u201d I can tell you from personal experience, it\\u2019s one of the most positive changes I\\u2019ve made. My stress level became significantly lower when I decluttered our home<\\/a>. If you\\u2019re feeling overwhelmed as a mom, I would encourage you to remove any mess or clutter from your line of sight (no, I\\u2019m not referring to your kids or husband!) Start with the area of the house you spend the most time in. Go through and remove anything you don\\u2019t absolutely love or use on a regular basis. Then, notice the impact it has on your mood. There\\u2019s actually some science<\\/a> to this! For me, being a visual person, having a clear and peaceful environment helps me better focus and be a calmer mom. Minimalizing out household belongings had affected more areas of my life than I thought possible including my spiritual walk, my parenting, my contentment level,\\u00a0 my mental clarity and my stress level. If you don\\u2019t know where to get started on this journey or have any questions, reach out to me! There are also plenty of\\u00a0 helpful online resources<\\/a>.<\\/p>\\n \"Mom Image by StockSnap<\\/a> from Pixabay<\\/a> Joy in Tender Moments of Motherhood<\\/figcaption><\\/figure>\\nThe Joy in the Calling of Motherhood<\\/h2>\\n**** The bottom line is this: children are a gift<\\/a> from God. While we all have days when we\\u2019re stressed and overwhelmed by them, we should approach motherhood with a grateful heart, filled with joy at this opportunity the Lord has given us. If you\\u2019re struggling to find the joy you originally felt when you held your child in your arms, I\\u2019d encourage you to take some of the above steps. Remember , your kids are not a distraction from something more important. Motherhood is Kingdom work- even on days it feels insignificant. Let your children know that they matter to you. Show them the love and joy you feel, as a reflection of God\\u2019s love for them.<\\/p>\\n Children are a gift from the\u00a0 Lord<\/span>;<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> they are a reward from him.\r\nPsalm 127:3<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/pre>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Do you remember the first time you held your baby? That feeling is unlike anything else in the world as you look at their tiny perfect little features and are overwhelmed with awe at how amazing they are. What would you give to feel that way again? As moms, our kids mean the world to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4950,"featured_media":725,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[224,191,172,120],"tags":[138,275,84,33,278],"class_list":["post-689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biblical-perspective","category-daily-habits","category-household","category-parenting","tag-children","tag-joy","tag-motherhood","tag-parenting","tag-perspective"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Ways to Restore Your Joy in Motherhood<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Does motherhood feel overwhelming? Has raising your kids felt more like a chore than a gift? 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{"id":689,"date":"2024-04-18T09:51:24","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T16:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wholeheartedly\/?p=689"},"modified":"2024-04-18T10:03:37","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T17:03:37","slug":"5-ways-to-restore-your-joy-in-motherhood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wholeheartedly\/2024\/04\/5-ways-to-restore-your-joy-in-motherhood\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to Restore Your Joy in Motherhood"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Do you remember the first time you held your baby? That feeling is unlike anything else in the world as you look at their tiny perfect little features and are overwhelmed with awe at how amazing they are. What would you give to feel that way again?<\/p>\n

"mom

Photo by Jonathan Borba<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a>
Joy in First Moments of Motherhood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As moms, ou<\/span>r kids mean the world to us! At the end of the day, we wouldn\u2019t trade being a mom for anything. However, if you were to ask at various moments throughout the day, our answers may look different. Constantly caring for other human beings is exhausting and it can make even our greatest sources of joy feel burdensome at times.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re at the point in motherhood where the constant responsibilities are taking a toll on you and the stress outweighs the beauty\u2026 you\u2019re not alone! I think we\u2019ve all been there. The good news is, you don\u2019t have to stay there. There are a few practical things I\u2019ve implemented the last couple of years that have restored how much I truly enjoy being around my children.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slow Down<\/strong><\/h2>\n \ This life moves so fast sometimes! It\u2019s easy to get wrapped up in the fast-paced lifestyle, rushing from one thing to the next. If we\u2019re not careful, we can unconsciously pass the stress of our busy schedules onto our kids. Not only are our schedules often too full, we also tend to<\/span>\u00a0make things more urgent than they need to be.<\/p>\n \ When possible, try to get out of the habit of rushing yourself and your kids. It doesn\u2019t do anyone good to get somewhere on time, when you all arrive flustered and stressed. Of course, there are some places you need to be on time (work, the airport, appointments, etc.) In these cases, give yourself ample time and leave room for delays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \ I know this is a difficult one\u2026 I don\u2019t like to be late anywhere! When it\u2019s time to go, I want to be out the door and driving away. With kids though, things happen! My toddler is \u201cLittle Miss Independent\u201d and wants to get dressed herself, climb into the car seat herself, and buckle herself. These are all good things that I want to encourage her to do, but I have to remind myself of this sometimes. Instead of scooping her up and running her out to the car, I let her do it on her own, so she happily climbs in her seat, feeling accomplished and independent. Even if it takes a few minutes longer!<\/span><\/p>\n Image by kimberlyfelten<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a> Joy in Everyday Moments of Motherhood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTake Pictures and Videos<\/strong><\/h2>\n While slowing down physically can bring more joy to our days, slowing down mentally can be beneficial as well. Notice the little moments with your kids. Take pictures of them together enjoying life \u2013 baking in the kitchen, playing in the dirt, singing songs, riding their bikes, etc. It\u2019s these every day moments that we\u2019re sure to miss when they\u2019re older.<\/span><\/p>\n As moms, it\u2019s so easy to forget the good<\/strong> things that happen throughout the day.\u00a0<\/span>If something goes wrong (sibling squabble, negative attitudes, etc.) we might think, \u201cWell, there goes the day!\u201d We can so easily let the negative moments determine our outlook on how the entire day went\u2026 even when there were so many good moments in-between! When we record the times of joy, it can help remind us of all the things that went right. <\/span><\/p>\n Looking back at pictures of our kids enjoying life reminds us, \u201cYes, the day was hard\u2026 but there was also so much beauty!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Brooke Lark<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a> Joy in Bonding Experiences in Motherhood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nInvite Them Into Your World<\/strong><\/h2>\n In the early stages of motherhood, accomplishing even the simplest task with a child in tow can seem impossible. It can cause us to view children as barriers to whatever pressing thing we need to get done. I\u2019ve learned, more and more with each kid, that they love to get involved in what we\u2019re doing from an early age.<\/span><\/p>\n ***Going grocery shopping? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n* \n\n\nGive them a list to check off as you put items into the cart<\/span><\/li>\n Let them walk and help you find the groceries you need.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n* Making dinner or prepping meals? <\/strong><\/em>Give your child a task to do. Even toddlers can help in the kitchen!<\/p>\n Infants\/Toddlers:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \n\n\nHand them something pre-measured to pour in.<\/li>\nLet them stir the ingredients together.<\/li>\nTeach them how to chop ingredients safely with a plastic knife.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Older Kids:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \n\n\nLet them experiment with ingredients.<\/li>\nHand them a recipe and watch\/assist as they gather supplies, follow the steps, and measure ingredients.<\/li>\nTeach them how to double recipes!<\/li>\nLet them teach younger siblings and delegate tasks in the kitchen.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n ***Folding laundry? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \n\n\nYounger children can help with sorting categories, matching socks, or putting shirts on hangers. <\/span><\/li>\nOlder children can fold their own clothes and put away. <\/span><\/li>\nMake laundry into a family event!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTake Care of Yourself<\/h2>\n* ***Easier said than done, I know! As moms, our needs often get put on the backburner while tending to those of everyone else around us. Something I\u2019ve noticed in myself, as well as other moms, is how easily we can become overstimulated. Perhaps everyone\u2019s talking and needs your attention at the same time, maybe your toddler wants to be picked up for the 50th time and you\u2019re already touched-out for the day, or maybe your kids are constantly saying \u201cMom, can I\u2026?\u201d, \u201cMomma, I need\u2026\u201d and you feel like you cannot possibly make another decision, or provide one more thing for anyone. You just need a moment to yourself where nothing is required of you. Gosh, I get it!<\/p>\n Our overstimulated state can cause us as moms to become short with our kids \u2013 even if they\u2019re not necessarily doing anything wrong. None of us want to be that mom who\u2019s snapping at her kids or who\u2019s despondent to their needs and interests. It\u2019s important that we\u2019re mindful<\/a> of our own mental state, because it can deeply impact those of our children.<\/p>\n A few practical ways you can take care of yourself as a mom are:<\/p>\n \nDrink plenty of water.<\/li>\nSpend time in the Word.<\/li>\nTry to get a good night\u2019s sleep (this isn\u2019t always possible \u2013 and some stages of motherhood inhibit this more than others).<\/li>\nTake a moment to yourself to breathe deeply, count to ten, or walk around the block.<\/li>\nDo something that uses your gifts or passions.<\/li>\nExercise (as little as 10 minutes a day<\/a>!)<\/li>\nMake a list of things you\u2019re grateful for.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n* ***Obviously, time is an issue most days as a mom and these might not all be doable for you right now. That\u2019s okay! Just pay attention to your body and mental state, and incorporate what you can \u2013 whether on a daily, or as-needed, basis.<\/p>\n Declutter Your Home<\/h2>\n Or at least your immediate surroundings! You might be thinking, \u201cWait\u2026how do my physical belongings affect my joy in motherhood?\u201d I can tell you from personal experience, it\u2019s one of the most positive changes I\u2019ve made. My stress level became significantly lower when I decluttered our home<\/a>. If you\u2019re feeling overwhelmed as a mom, I would encourage you to remove any mess or clutter from your line of sight (no, I\u2019m not referring to your kids or husband!) Start with the area of the house you spend the most time in. Go through and remove anything you don\u2019t absolutely love or use on a regular basis. Then, notice the impact it has on your mood. There\u2019s actually some science<\/a> to this! For me, being a visual person, having a clear and peaceful environment helps me better focus and be a calmer mom. Minimalizing out household belongings had affected more areas of my life than I thought possible including my spiritual walk, my parenting, my contentment level,\u00a0 my mental clarity and my stress level. If you don\u2019t know where to get started on this journey or have any questions, reach out to me! There are also plenty of\u00a0 helpful online resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n Image by StockSnap<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a> Joy in Tender Moments of Motherhood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Joy in the Calling of Motherhood<\/h2>\n The bottom line is this: children are a gift<\/a> from God. While we all have days when we\u2019re stressed and overwhelmed by them, we should approach motherhood with a grateful heart, filled with joy at this opportunity the Lord has given us. If you\u2019re struggling to find the joy you originally felt when you held your child in your arms, I\u2019d encourage you to take some of the above steps. Remember , your kids are not a distraction from something more important. Motherhood is Kingdom work- even on days it feels insignificant. Let your children know that they matter to you. Show them the love and joy you feel, as a reflection of God\u2019s love for them.<\/p>\n Children are a gift from the\u00a0 Lord<\/span>;<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> they are a reward from him.\r\nPsalm 127:3<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/pre>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Do you remember the first time you held your baby? That feeling is unlike anything else in the world as you look at their tiny perfect little features and are overwhelmed with awe at how amazing they are. What would you give to feel that way again? As moms, our kids mean the world to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4950,"featured_media":725,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[224,191,172,120],"tags":[138,275,84,33,278],"class_list":["post-689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biblical-perspective","category-daily-habits","category-household","category-parenting","tag-children","tag-joy","tag-motherhood","tag-parenting","tag-perspective"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Ways to Restore Your Joy in Motherhood<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Does motherhood feel overwhelming? Has raising your kids felt more like a chore than a gift? 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