Archives for November 2024

Discontentment: Not Your Average Thanksgiving Post

November 27, 2024

Discontentment

Noun
• lack of satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation : lack of contentment:
• a restless desire or craving for something one does not have
• a sense of grievance
• Want of content; uneasiness or inquietude of mind; dissatisfaction at any present state of things

Discontentment happens one of two ways.

The first is when we become obsessed with our own needs, at least we think they’re needs. Like excessive time to yourself, those new clothes, that name brand stand mixer (ok that one is probably just me), etc. The other is the trap of comparison. We have the world at our fingertips, literally, these days. It’s easy to see, or perceive, the “perfect” lives of others and begin feeling discontent with your own life. Wishing for the things of others.

I found the above definitions convicting as I studied them out. “…dissatisfaction at any present state of things.” That one hurt. I began searching my heart and mind and recalling some of the recent thoughts that I had allowed to roam throughout my being. I quickly realized what I thought wasn’t discontentment, was. My desire for some specific things had become a root of discontentment in my heart. Not that it was all consuming, just everytime the thought occurred, it came with a longing. With some unrest in my soul because of a material gain I want. A good thing even, but not the current will of God for my life. It isn’t that you can never have a thought of desiring something. But it is allowing those desires to cause unrest. Wishing so greatly for the things you don’t have that it causes any kind of disappointment or unrest to your heart. A lack of trust in the will of God that He is carrying out in your life right now.

Think of how the attitude of discontentment affects your home.

Like it or not your children will reflect your attitude right back to you. They thrive or decline off of you, Mama. I know it’s a crushing weight to bear some days, that responsibility. Truly, I do, but, it is the truth and we as mothers need to own up and take responsibility for it. Children are extremely sensitive to our moods. If you’re discontent with your life, so are your children with theirs.

How about your husband? He is your provider. He works hard to meet the needs of your family. I’ve seen the life drain from a husband’s eyes as his wife casually mentions something she’d like to have, then states how they can’t afford it. Ashamedly, I’ve been that wife at times. A good man, and a hardworking husband desires nothing more than to provide. It is his calling just as homemaking is ours. It’s a slap in the face to essentially tell him he isn’t doing enough for you. We’re tearing down instead of building up our spouse when we welcome an attitude of discontentment into our home, even inadvertently. This topic is something I’ve recognized that I’ve been too casual with in my own home. This mentality can slip in without us even realizing it. It’s time we cast it out and count our blessings.

What about The Provider? How do you think it affects the heart of God and our Savior to hear us welcoming discontentment into our hearts after the price He paid for our souls. After saving us from hell and providing our needs daily. I imagine it breaks the heart of God to give His only Son for a people who choose to be dissatisfied with not only our salvation, but the blessings He’s poured out on top of that sacrifice.

Can we pause in this season and go far beyond just being thankful for what’s already been given, and be content if He never gave us anything else?

Philippians 4:11-12 KJV

[11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. [12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Luke 12:15 KJV

[15] And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

1 Timothy 6:6‐7.KJV

[6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV

[5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

[jetpack-related-posts]

Why We Decided Not to Vaccinate our Babies: Thoughts by Moms for Moms

November 16, 2024

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice and should not be taken as such.

Introductory Thoughts and Our Motive Behind This Post

We want to be very clear that we are in no way stating that you should not vaccinate your child. We believe that this decision is a right given us by God and our country as American citizens. No matter what camp you fall in- vaxxer, non-vaxxer, delayed/altered schedule vaxxer- you have every right to choose. No one here is criticizing anyone who disagrees with our views on vaccinations.

Our purpose in this post is that young mothers like us who are in search of information can find it. It is very important that whatever you decide you have confidence and peace in your decision. There is so much information out there that is fear based or just plain misinformation. That is why we wrote this post, to give you clear reasons why we as moms have chosen not to vaccinate our children.

We are not here to fear monger you into any state of mind concerning vaccines, only to share our own experiences and research thus far on our own motherhood journeys. We desire to have a very balanced approach to the topic and, as always, we encourage you to do your own research.

You are mom. You make the decision for your children right or wrong, good or bad. As mothers we get to live with the decisions we make. This may be frightening but in a world with so much information we can be well researched in our decision making process. What a blessing!

All we ask is that all mamas be informed and make their decisions with their eyes wide open. Parents know best for their children, but let’s put in the work to be informed ones.

1. Forcing Vaccines is a Breech if Rights for Free Americans.

As stated previously we believe in the right to choose what we believe to be best as American parents. Obviously agreeing that any immoral conduct or illegal conduct is not in the best interest of the child and must be interfered with for the sake of that child’s well-being.

Choosing not to vaccinate your child is neither illegal (yet!) nor immoral. It has not been scientifically proven to be detrimental to a child’s well being. Unfortunately, children have died from diseases that may have been prevented by vaccines and they have also died from sickness caused by vaccines.

Therefore it is our right as parents to do the research, know our children/circumstances, and to make the best decision we can based on the information we have.

No government agency, pediatrician, or even family member has the right to fear monger, force, or shame you regarding your decision. (This is true for both sides of the aisle!)

The fact that the government has begun to overreach in this area is one reason I had pause as a young mother trying to decide what was best for my baby. Why were they so involved? Why couldn’t I find a pediatrician after six calls to local offices that required my child to follow the schedule or else not be seen? I felt as though my freedoms did not matter. That my choice as a parent was not valid. Their health and safety as their mother is my number one priority. Why was I expected to make all the right decisions in every other area of life but I was just supposed to trust the “professionals” on this one?

2. Vaccine Manufacturers Are Not Held Accountable

At the end of the day one of the most disturbing thing about all of this is that no big pharma company can be legally held responsible for any vaccine they have made or for the recommended schedule your pediatrician is promoted to prescribe (according to the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986). This means they can make whatever product they want and at the end of the day they can get by with whatever their agenda is- money, fame, science experiment, etc.

That is why whatever decision you make has to be the one you can live with no matter the outcome. Big Pharma companies, scientists, and pediatricians will not be the ones awake at night living with your choices. You will be.

Have you heard of Earthley? Earthley Wellness is a U.S. company dedicated to providing affordable, completely natural remedies with absolutely no junk!! If you are looking tired of the dyes, chemicals, and other toxins that are in mainstream medicine Earthley is a great place to start. Treat everything from colds, fevers, teething, digestion issues, and more! Use my link below and the code HELLONATURAL to save 10% on your first order!
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3. Risk vs. Benefit Analysis on Vaccine Side Effects

This is something that has to be considered by every parent when it comes to what we believe to be the safest choice for our children. When trying to figure out what is best for your family a risk vs benefit analysis is probably the most important step!

This is how my husband and I (Anna) have come to make pretty much every medical decision for our family. Are the possible benefits greater than the risks? Does the circumstance warrant the risk even if it outweighs the benefit? Have the benefits been proven by evidence based facts? Lastly, am I willing to live with the consequences if the worst outcome happens? Can I stand by my choice if my child is injured or dies due to a disease? Can I stand by my choice if my child is injured or dies due to a vaccine?

In our research, we went through each package insert. I found clinical trials, or in some cases, little to no trials. I also found in the ones for the “scarier diseases” that I was having trouble denying, in many cases, weren’t clinically shown to reduce risk or have any lasting immunity at all. So what I thought was a benefit for the risk really was 100% risk for no proven benefit. It made the decision clear for us. I also found that in many cases in history where vaccines were shown to lower disease rates, there were other factors like sanitation practices, or even the criteria for diagnosis changed, which gave the appearance of a large drop to the disease. I just couldn’t put my trust in “safe and effective” when I couldn’t find much research to back the claims. For these and many other reasons, we chose not to vaccinate our children.

In some cases, the potential side effects of the immunization are worse than the disease they’re trying to prevent. This information can be very helpful if you are choosing to do an altered schedule. For example, if there is a risk of death, seizures, or paralysis with a vaccine even if considered highly unlikely, but the disease causes itchy red bumps, a rash, or cold like symptoms that last 7-10 days, is it worth the risk for you?

4. Personal Experiences

Anna: I have personally been injured by an injection given without informed consent. I was too young and naive to even realize I needed to ask more questions and trusted my provider when they suggested this was best. It set off an autoimmune response in my body that I still fight to this day. When I called to report my injury, I was dismissed, saying that it couldn’t possibly be due to the injection I received, and I couldn’t file my report. This injection was not a vaccine, but it caused me to question. If I can’t report my reaction here, then how many reactions are being denied and not even recorded?

Tori: I also have an autoimmune disease most likely linked to the HPV vaccine. I was a completely healthy pre-teen when I was given the first round and I soon began constantly battling fever, chills, flu like symptoms every couple weeks. I was diagnosed with mononucleosis four times during the ages of 12-14 (we eventually stopped going to the doctor for it). I was homeschooled, from a very sheltered Christian home so there was absolutely no reason I should be getting a diagnosis of mono every couple months.

I dealt with this along with many other symptoms such as body aches, arthritis like symptoms, depression, and more all throughout my teen years. It was always shrugged off by pediatric doctors. It was not until I was 19 that I finally got a doctor to take me seriously. After lots of testing I was diagnosed with a thyroid condition called Hashimotos disease. Just a coincidence? Maybe. But there are thousands of stories just like mine. How many young people in their twenties do you know personally that have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease? This is not normal. Something environmentally or culturally had to produce this.

5. Conflict of Interest

Follow the money. Companies like Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer make “donations” to their “third party” testing labs that test their products for safety and effectiveness. To me, it would seem like that wouldn’t be permitted as it is a clear conflict of interest. The information is public record, so you can research it for yourself if you’d like to. Finding this out threw some red flags for me. If someone is making “large donations” to a third party lab for their testing, they are no longer a third party. Where there is money, there is a level of control on the results.

If anything proved this and made me question even further the corruption in the government medical system the pandemic in 2020 certainly did. I think we can all see after the smoke cleared that there was definitely a money trail. They used us a pawns for scientific research games and monetary gains.

The fact that Americans were forced to be test subjects in scientific research so Big Pharma could make more money should be more than alarming. For me it lead to the question- what else are they doing to me/my children for a dollar? My babies are too precious to me to hand over as lab rats in some game.

Does your coffee support your values? Seven Weeks coffee is saving lives by donating 10% of every purchase to pro-life causes that give women access to ultrasounds, prenatal care, and mental health support- ultimately saving lives of precious babies! Not only does it support pro-life values, but the coffee is tastes amazing, is direct trade from trusted farmers, and is mold/toxin free. If you are looking for an active way to support the right to life try out Seven Weeks! Use my link below and the code TORI10 at checkout to save 10% on your first order.
Click here to shop!

Things That Made Me Think

Written by Anna Bourdess

-Why are there laws stating that vaccine manufacturers can’t be held liable for injuries if they’re safe and effective?

-Why do they give newborns a Hep B shot immediately after birth if the only way you can catch it is sexual contact or a dirty needle? (When the mother tests negative.)

-If all babies are born with “low” vitamin K, why is it not just considered normal infant levels? Maybe God has a purpose in His design.

-Why do they give a tetanus immunization after exposure when vaccines are strictly preventative and it takes weeks to build antibodies?

-Why do they give vitamin K (it’s not actually just a vitamin, by the way) intramuscularly when the package insert specifically states not to?

-If it’s all about health and safety, then why do I get removed from care at my pediatricians office if I choose not to vaccinate my child? Would they not be more concerned for my health then?

-If it’s all about health and safety, then why do doctors get paid for how many fully vaccinated children they care for?

-Why can’t my care provider answer any of my questions about immunizations, but can tell me they’re safe and effective?

-Even if vaccinations did provide protection, many of the antibodies vaccines are said to give, begin fading within a few months.

-Why are adults considered “up to date” if they no longer receive regular immunizations but children are “behind” if they don’t?

-Why am I only supposed to introduce one food at a time to monitor for reactions, but I’m not to question why my child is receiving 3-5 immunizations at one time?

Resources For Your Own Research

There are so many good resources to find non-biased, factual information. We certainly cannot name them all here but we decided to add a list of references and recommendations.

@justtheinserts on Instagram
@faithfulfreemama on Instagram
Books and Interviews/Podcasts by Dr. Paul Thomas (retired pediatrician)
Well Considered (a book with all information pulled from .gov websites)
Candace Owens: A Shot in the Dark
Package inserts (found in every vaccine package; lists all the side effects and ingredients)

There are so many more we could list but these are great places to start.

We hope this post has made you think. Regardless of your choice, you are doing an awesome job mama! All these decisions are tough and we pray God will guide you in what is best for your little family.

[jetpack-related-posts]

How to Prepare Your From Scratch Kitchen for the Holiday Season

November 12, 2024

The holidays are upon us! Is your kitchen ready for all your from scratch shenanigans this holiday season? Here is my list of must-dos before all the fun begins!

A From Scratch Holiday Season

If you are new around here, welcome! I’m Tori- mom of two littles (another on the way!), homemaker, and lover of all things from scratch. As we head into the holiday season I am here to share all my favorite from scratch baked goods, handmade gift and decor ideas, and meal inspiration!

If you are new to from scratch cooking or need some inspiration this holiday season make sure you subscribe to my email list! We never sell your information, no spammy content, or over emailing. Just quick notifications bout new posts and recipes.

Our holiday season revolves around all the food- which means the kitchen is the headquarters of the season. That is why I like to get ahead of the holidays by a few weeks and get things prepared for the madness. If you have never tried this in your from scratch kitchen try borrowing my strategy!

Have you heard of my friends over at Earthley Wellness? They are dedicated to providing 100% natural products for the whole family! They have everything you need from hormone support, vitamins and mineral supplements, herbal remedies for colds, fevers, headaches, and so much more. I have been using their products in our home for nearly a year now and we love them! Go check them out and save 10% when you use my link below and the code HELLONATURAL at checkout!
Click here to Shop!

Getting Your Kitchen Ready

1. Clean out your refrigerator.

As the holidays start to happen we all know one of the m most chaotic places in the home is the kitchen. Leftovers, ingredients, regular food- everything ends up getting packed in there. So to begin the kitchen preparation I like to clean out and organize my refrigerator and freezer. Throw away everything that is out of date, stuff I know I just will not actually use (that random sauce I bought for a random meal!).

After throwing away things and getting stuff out I like to do a thorough surface wipe down. This just assures me that the things I am storing or baking for others will be kept in a clean space.

The last step is organizing all the spaces. I may be a bit over-strategic but I like to leave a shelf open for ingredients- things like butter, milk, eggs, etc. The next for prepping food- cookie dough, fermenting sourdough, etc. Then another shelf for leftovers and current meals that are being thawed or planned for the weeks in between the festivities. Keeping all these areas specific and organized keeps me from loosing track of things and inventory.

2. Organize baking goods and take inventory.

Before all the madness of the season I also like to organize and take some inventory on my shelves. Things like sugar, flour, baking soda, etc. that are constantly being used during all the holiday baking. I take the time to clean out these shelves while I’m at it. Just a simple wipe down.

I also take this time to save some money and buy in bulk all the things I am low on. Things that I know I will use like flour, butter, eggs, sugar, etc.

3. Season cast iron and wooden utensils.

This is a great time to prep all your cookware. Personally I use mostly cast iron and wooden utensils in my kitchen. These require some extra care but they are well worth the investment. I season my cast iron with organic coconut oil on low heat in the oven over several hours. Depending on the shape of the cast iron I will repeat the process several times.

The wooden utensils and cutting boards I clean well with homemade citrus vinegar. After they have dried completely I seal them with organic coconut oil as well.

Try Plexus ProBio 5 to help keep your gut happy and your immune system healthy this holiday season! Click my link below to order your bottle for under $50. This probiotic has been proven to actually make it to your gut so you can rest assured it is doing its job! While you’re at it go check out all the other amazing gut health and immune health products Plexus has to offer!
Click here to Shop!

4. Clean the oven and stovetop.

Depending on the last time you cleaned your oven deeply you may want to skip this step but I find it the perfect time to do a chore I otherwise put off. Making food in a clean oven just gives me peace of mind that my food is being made in a clean environment.

5. Clean out the microwave.

Some of you may be a step or two above me on the crunchy scale. If you are, ignore my microwave tip! With two very young children I am just not at the season of warming everything in the oven and on the stovetop. I also soften all my butter in the microwave currently so I like to make sure it is clean and ready to get splattered with more butter!

6. Deep clean everywhere else.

Countertops, cabinets, and floors. All the places get a good and thorough wipe down. I like to clean and sanitize the places that have been neglected or that I know will be used like the counters.

I do this at specific times of the year- after new year, sometime in the spring, etc. I have also found that if you just do the things as they need them they do not get as dirty. This just keeps the flow going smoothly in the kitchen.

Does your coffee support your values? Seven Weeks coffee is saving lives by donating 10% of every purchase to pro-life causes that give women access to ultrasounds, prenatal care, and mental health support- ultimately saving lives of precious babies! Not only does it support pro-life values, but the coffee is tastes amazing, is direct trade from trusted farmers, and is mold/toxin free. If you are looking for an active way to support the right to life try out Seven Weeks! Use my link below and the code TORI10 at checkout to save 10% on your first order.
Click Here to Shop

7. Take inventory on bake ware.

Usually this is unnecessary but I like to take the time to check stock on mixing bowls, measuring cups, potholders, and all the bakeware. I would rather check on these things and make purchases before I find out I need them. Other things like cupcake liners, gift boxes, and ribbons for wrapping baked good gifts are another thing that I like to purchase before the rush of everything.

I hope you enjoy this little list! Join my email list for a free printable list pack for prepping for the holiday season (kitchen prep list, from scratch bulk ingredient shopping list, and bakeware checklist included!).

Recipes

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe: Cranberry and Dark Chocolate Chunk

littlewifeinthewoodsDec 10, 2024

The Best Sourdough Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe

Oct 29, 2024

How to Make the Perfect Sourdough Pumpkin Loaf

Oct 15, 2024

One Pot Chicken Vegetable and Rice Soup Recipe

Oct 8, 2024

[jetpack-related-posts]

Mom Fails: A Humorous Collection of Our Not So Finest Motherhood Moments

November 7, 2024

We decided to go a little more light-hearted on the blog this week. Please enjoy a collection of the times small things felt like a big deal (thank you hormones), moments that “mom brain” took our thoughts hostage and some of the most laughable moments from the beginning of our journeys into motherhood to now. We hope you feel a little less alone in your journey, knowing we’ve probably done something worse.

-Anna and Tori

The Taco Incident

During my (Anna) pregnancy, I had to be monitored a few times due to blood pressure spikes. We were leaving the hospital at 2:00 a.m. one morning after being discharged from monitoring, and I had a pregnancy craving for Taco Bell. I wish we would’ve just gone home, but I have a husband that spoils me, especially during pregnancy, so off to Taco Bell we went. About halfway home, I am suddenly overwhelmed with nausea. Like the kind that reaches up with a death grip and locks onto you. Sort of like your mama pinching your thigh in church, but it’s your stomach. I always kept a small trash can in my car for such moments as these, except my husband had taken it out to empty it and forgotten to put it back the evening before. I urgently state that he needs to pull over, but it’s too late. Looking at my options, I had the choice to puke all over the console or hang my head out the window at 65mph like a golden retriever with their jowls flapping in the wind. I made the wrong one. Knowing the blowback is going to be what feels like nearly fatal, I try to position myself to prevent as much spray as possible, but it doesn’t work. While my husband is attempting to stop the vehicle, the acidic eruption of tacos that once were whole takes place. Previously enjoyed tacos, including shredded cheese, half processed lettuce, and all come back at my face, unable to stand against the now 55mph winds of the slowing vehicle. Up my nose, through my hair, down the vehicle, splattered across the headliner, and the worst part, all over my husband they went.

There’s more to this story, but I’ll just end for now with this. If you’re ever faced with the choice to puke in the glove box or out the window at 55mph. Choose the glove box. There’s no way it’s worse.

The Pancakes Were Not Fluffy

I (Tori) was around four months postpartum when I became pregnant with my second child. This said, I was still dealing with fresh, new postpartum hormones and shall we say- BIG FEELINGS while also experiencing the hormone shifts that happen in early pregnancy. It was a wild time!

Your girl wanted pancakes. From scratch, fluffy, buttery pancakes. So I decide I am going to make them. If you have been around here any time you know that I just go in the kitchen and whip things up all the time. It usually turns out fine, I have a good base knowledge of how to cook just about anything. But in walks my wonderful husband. Trying to be helpful I suppose, he decides to recommend that instead I use a recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook his mother always used. His mom is a pretty good cook so I figured why not?

Well about a minute into the first pancake I can tell these are not going to be fluffy. At least not the fluffy I was craving. I am trying to hold it together at this point but they just are not fluffing up. I lost it. I absolutely cried while flipping these limp, not fluffy pancakes! And now when my toddler cries over food not being everything she hoped it would be I kind of think, “Me too girl. Me too!”.

Nipples and a Measuring Tape

It’s the third night home from the hospital with my newborn. My (Anna) hormones are a wreck, and I’m having a meltdown because my baby is screaming hungry but has forgotten how to latch. My husband, being the “fixer” he is, starts searching for a way to help us. Before I even realize what’s going on, here comes Philip with his professional grade tape measurer and starts measuring my nipples with it. I’m crying, Jackson is crying, and Philip, well, Philip is holding a tape measurer across my chest. He adamantly states that I need a product called a nipple shield to help baby latch, and he’s figuring out what size I need. He says he’s going to the store as soon as they open, and he’ll be right back. All the hormones, sobbs, and baby screams, and there’s my husband with his tape measurer. The image of this in my head cracks me up every time I think about it, but you know what, he was right, and it worked. I ended up using it for a few months before being able to transition Jackson away from it. Postpartum is a wild ride, y’all!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is C59664A3-740E-41BD-8D89-A1F37A5DFBA2-1024x536.png

Try Plexus ProBio 5 to help keep your gut happy and your immune system healthy this holiday season! Click my link below to order your bottle for under $50. This probiotic has been proven to actually make it to your gut so you can rest assured it is doing its job! While you’re at it go check out all the other amazing gut health and immune health products Plexus has to offer!
Click Here to Shop

The Induction Saga

It was my first baby. I had researched all the things and I was very anti all the things. I already have this thing with doctors, the medical system, and a couple conspiracy theories that are a big deal in my brain. So you better believe I had no plans of having an induction!

When my daughter stopped gaining weight according to their ultrasound indications I was told I would need to be induced. This was completely shocking due the fact that no one had prepared me for what exactly we were monitoring and the fact that I might need an induction. They were also not at all prepared for my lack of cooperation in the process!

I guess they thought I would be happy about it, or relieved. Instead, not really knowing exactly why we were needing to be induced, I began asking questions and pushing back on the whole idea. I was actually somewhat hysterical!

Especially when my husband said the words, “I really just don’t see why it’s such a big deal.”

And the red head was set off! At this point the nurse practitioner had left to get the doctor that was in charge at my request because I wanted more information STAT. It is a good thing too because this is when I unleashed every conspiracy theory, fact, and static to my husband on exactly why the was a HUGE DEAL! I must have looked pretty concerning because when they all walked back in the room everyone was looking at me like I was crazy. Irrational or not, this was a big deal in my mind!

You can read my full birth story here. (Side note, I did not get an induction!)

Recipes

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe: Cranberry and Dark Chocolate Chunk

littlewifeinthewoodsDec 10, 2024

Finding Joy in a Minimal and Simple Christmas Mindset

Dec 7, 2024

Simple and Cozy Christmas Decor Ideas for Small Spaces

Dec 4, 2024

Discontentment: Not Your Average Thanksgiving Post

Nov 27, 2024

[jetpack-related-posts]

8 Things to Try When You Are Not Enjoying Motherhood

November 1, 2024

This post is a part two of the post How to Enjoy Motherhood in the Little Years. In that post we discussed practical tips for how to enjoy all the different aspects of life with little people. In this post we will dive into practical ways you can adjust your mindset and routine when motherhood is less than enjoyable.

*We are Tori and Anna- moms in the trenches with three babies between us under the age of three. We are not professionals. We are not seasoned mothers. We’re just young moms going through birth, postpartum, and these little years with you, giving our fresh perspective on motherhood as we enjoy the journey ourselves.

1. Adjust Your Mindset for Enjoying Motherhood

Mindset is everything. Don’t think, “Oh no, I have to stop and feed the baby,” think, “I get to stop and feed my baby.” When I (Anna) plan to go out and run errands, I actually plan and alot places for making those little pit stops to care for my baby. It becomes something I look forward to. A chance to pause and rest for a few moments before heading to the next task. If you treat your children like an inconvenience, even accidentally, they will pick up in it. Children feed off of your emotions. They will reflect your attitude back at you.

My little one doesn’t sleep well, and pretty much never has no matter what I’ve tried. He is almost a year old and has never slept without waking multiple times a night. I could choose to be bitter about this and complain, but I chose a different perspective. I chose to see it as “extra” time with him. The years go fast even when the nights are long, so I’ll be grateful for all the nights pacing with a restless baby.

2. Choose to Enjoy the Pace of Motherhood

We discussed this a bit in our previous post (if you haven’t read that yet we highly suggest you read that post as well!). If you are an on the go kind of person it can be hard to just enjoy slowing down at the pace of babies and young children. Even if your personality more laid back it can be aggravating that it takes twice as long (or longer) just to get out the door, get to bed, clean your house, etc.

“The more you fight against the season you’re in the less joy you will find in it.”

Embrace the slower pace, the night wakings, the sticky messes and you’ll find beauty in the hard places.
Anna

Embrace the fact that it is going to take you five times longer to do anything you did before having babies. It’s ok, in fact I believe it should be celebrated. I truly believe God designed this pace for mothers. When you embrace it, you will learn how to enjoy it. You will stay stressed and become bitter with your children if you have the mindset that they’re constantly slowing you down.

Does your coffee support your values? Seven Weeks coffee is saving lives by donating 10% of every purchase to pro-life causes that give women access to ultrasounds, prenatal care, and mental health support- ultimately saving lives of precious babies! Not only does it support pro-life values, but the coffee is tastes amazing, is direct trade from trusted farmers, and is mold/toxin free. If you are looking for an active way to support the right to life try out Seven Weeks! Use my link below and the code TORI10 at checkout to save 10% on your first order.
Click Here to Shop

3. Don’t Expect Everything Out of Yourself

We’re all in different seasons. Know what your capacity is for your season. Don’t overload yourself with optional tasks, and end up so stressed out over them that you can’t serve your family well. Learn how to say, “No, I can’t do that right now.”

More tasks are optional than you think. It may not be your season to cook for all of the church dinners, volunteer for nursery, do bus route, go to prayer, be at every ladies meeting, and show up to every birthday party, and football game, all while training littles, managing a home and being there for your husband. It isn’t possible, and you will run yourself into the ground trying to be something for everyone.

Prioritize. For us, this looks like my walk with The Lord, my husbands needs, our child’s needs, and the health of our home (spiritual, physical and emotional), and then church and the ministries at church we are responsible for. This isn’t an excuse to get out of things. When run properly, your home should run cohesively with your local church. You’ll have to learn your balance between ministry and home life. Everyone’s is a little different, but this isn’t an excuse to avoid responsibilities. The Lord expects service in your home and in His house. You just need to learn to operate where He expects you to be and not in others’ expectations.

It’s about serving in a way where each area gets the best of you, not the rest of you.
Anna

4. Keep Your Focus and Priorities Right

This piggy backs off the last point…

Juggling priorities as a wife and mother can be overwhelming. We are creatures of constant motion! When things start to get off balance when it comes to my priorities I generally find my children less enjoyable. They can be doing the same things they always do but when my priorities get out of whack I find their presence interrupting and annoying. Off balance or just slacking in areas does not bring out the best mom in me. I need to constantly check myself to be sure I have my priorities right and that I am able to fulfill them.

Of course my children are one of my top priorities. However, when other things are slacking or being ignored I often find myself trying to get by with the bare minimum as a mom instead of making advancements. This is not fair to my children, nor is it any way to truly enjoy the gift of motherhood.

So how do you overcome this balancing act of priorities? I am still learning! This is what I’ve learned works for me so far…

Keep God first. This is hard with littles constantly demanding to be first place over everything in life. And they definitely should be close to the top of that list! However, I find that when I put God first all the other things find a place in a smoothness I could never create on my own without Him.

Make a list of your top ten priorities in the season you are in right now. Arrange them in order of importance (some things will be close or intertwined in importance but do your best to be honest and realistic). I’m my case the top four to five on the list are truly the most important things. When life gets crazy, as long as I am striving to keep those five plates spinning we call it a win.

Be ready to pivot. Some days things on the priority list have to shift and that has to be okay. It does not mean you failed if some things had to take a backseat. Motherhood is constantly pivoting and regrouping.

5. Remember You Are in a Season

Whatever is not so enjoyable about motherhood right now will quickly be gone. Maybe that helps give you some relief. Maybe that makes you realize that it is not as big of a deal as it seems.

Let me be clear- some seasons of motherhood are not enjoyable. Enjoying motherhood is not about pretending those seasons do not exist but choosing to find joy in the midst of those seasons. It is refusing to focus on the unenjoyable moments and letting them cloud out the beauty in every day, ordinary motherhood.
Tori

It is not wrong of you to feel like motherhood is not enjoyable when you are going through the postpartum blues, or a tough stage of training a toddler, or sickness with a baby. These are hard and they are definitely not enjoyable! But they do pass! And we cannot let these things rob us of the joy and blessing of being a mother.

So whatever hard season you are in right now shift your mindset by remembering- it’s just a season.

6. Take a Deep Breath

Sometimes motherhood is less enjoyable, not because of anything my children are doing, or a specific season but because I am overwhelmed. Maybe lots of things are going on in my mind or I have a lot to get done and just can’t get it together. Regardless of the reason, when I’m being snappy or short with my children I find that going to a quiet place just for a few seconds to take a deep breath grounds me. It brings me back into focus. I breathe a short prayer as well many times. Then I go about my tasks without viewing my children as a constant annoyance.

If I am very overwhelmed, days on end, with minimal relief or I have been experiencing a very difficult season I try to take a few hours to be alone with nothing to do but relax during nap time.

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7. Ask for Help

It does not make you a bad mother to ask for help. Repeat it with me. It does not make you a bad mother to ask for help.

It doesn’t mean you’re unqualified or incapable of being a mother if you ask for help. Everyone needs help with something at some point in their lives. It would be a disservice to your family for you to struggle along, needing help, but not be willing to ask for it. They’ll learn many of their behaviors from you, especially the traits they carry into adulthood. Would you want your child to desperately need help but never ask for it because they thought it’d make them look weak? They’ll learn first from you.

8. Just be Thankful

No matter how rough your season of motherhood is it could always we worse. If you have healthy babies you have more than some mamas do. To have this blessing of motherhood at all is such a gift!

When I find myself in a low place and find motherhood more of a burden than a blessing -and we all do at times- what helps me most is to stop and just be thankful.
Tori

Wherever you’re at remember you used to pray for the things you have now! Those little people are gifts, blessings to cherish and enjoy.

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