Encouragement for the Overwhelmed Mom of Little Ones
Sometimes being a stay-at-home mom is just really hard, but I am here to encourage you in this journey. My hope is that you will be able to find the joy in motherhood.
After my second baby (16 months younger than the first), I entered a valley of young motherhood. I had not expected it to be this taxing, this demanding. There was hardly time to just sit and “breathe.” I felt like I was drowning in it all. Having viewed myself as a capable woman, it was hard to understand how now I was doing worse than “less capable” women. (It was a blow to my pride.)
How does one manage this stage of life? How does one keep from getting overwhelmed? I asked myself many questions because I did want to enjoy motherhood and my children.
So I set out looking for answers. I didn’t find them all, and I still sometimes get overwhelmed, but here are some things I have learned.
See the video.
Things That Help
As I began to ask around, I got many different answers.
“Vitamins,” many said. “Take your vitamins and supplements and that will help.”
And yes, the multivitamins did help my brain, moods, etc. I started to prioritize putting a bit more effort into my health. But still…
“Routines,” another crowd claimed. “Get good routines for yourself and your little ones and you will be able to rest more.”
And learning a little bit about baby/toddler routines did help to keep the girls happier and give me a bit more time sometimes.
“Take time for yourself,” was supposedly another secret to keep from burning out. That one frustrated me. Some days I hardly had a minute without being cried for, called for, or climbed on. Time for myself? How? I hardly had a even a moment at times to take a deep breath.
Nothing seemed to bring me true rest. Surely there was more hope for the Christian mom?
Did Jesus have answers?
I started thinking about His life, and if God’s Word had the answers for overwhelmed moms.
Christ Jesus faced burnout and needed time alone too. Sometimes He went apart to pray with the disciples. But He didn’t always get rest either.
When the needy crowd found out where He was and came to Him (just like our children do to us!) He said, “Feed them.”
He found the strength to feed hungry people, and sometimes we mamas sure need that strength when our little ones are hungry and we just want to rest.
Yes, we need time for ourselves, or with the heavenly Father. But hungry young children need food even on our hard days, and in those moments God can send us the grace we need to feed them.
When He needed sleep on the ship and the fearful disciples came to Him, He said, “Peace, be still.” When the need arose, He put His needs aside and found strength elsewhere. Sometimes we so badly want sleep, but our children need us to bring peace into their lives.
With short or sleepless nights and all, we need sleep. Dishes and the to-do list can wait if we need, but when the baby cries again we can’t just ignore them, even on our bad days. We can get our strength from the Grace That Is Sufficient.
I read of another busy mom who was told by an older friend that this is just where God wants us – in need of Him. That way He can show Himself strong in us. Sometimes I cry out to God that I can’t, so He has to show up. And He does.
He is the real answer to overwhelming motherhood.
He Restores Joy
From the time I was little I dreamed of being a mom. Then I hit this unexpected valley where enjoying motherhood was so, so hard. I have had wonderful times in motherhood, but I have had several seasons where I just wanted to get away for a while.
Probably we moms don’t talk about it enough – because it is humbling to admit so much struggle when it is what many of us most wanted to do, and we know some others who would love to have little children and can’t. We feel like a bad mom if we struggle, and sometimes even more if we compare ourselves to what we see on social media.
But as I asked around, it helped to find out that I was not the only one struggling like this. A lot of young moms feel the same way. And the truth is feeling overwhelmed is not what disqualifies you from being a good mom.
Each time I come out of this valley my prayer is “Restore unto me the joy (of motherhood), and renew a right spirit within me. Take away my complaints and self-pity. Give me strength for this task, and help me truly enjoy my children.”
He does restore the joy. If you are in a valley, look to Him for strength, and you can rest assured that you will come out of the valley in His time. He will restore the joy, but we need to be patient in the in-between times.
I am sure that one day when I look back from Heaven’s gates, these tiring days will fade away. It will be worth it all. (And I know that when I just have older children, I will miss baby days.😄)
Save it for later!
Where ever you are in your journey of motherhood, whatever the state of your house or heart, here is my little piece of encouragement from a mom who has been there in the deep struggle (and who sometimes still finds herself in these places):
Take your vitamins, learn about routines, and find time for yourself and your Heavenly Father. But on days when that is impossible, and you don’t have any of your own strength (and even when you do), the best thing you can do is find your strength in God who supplies our needs.
He will restore the joy…
Your Turn to Share
What would be your best advice or encouragement for moms? Feel free to share it in the comments so we can all learn.
Beautiful picture
Thanks!
This is very insightful! Thank you for sharing your story and personal journey. Moms need to know they are not alone in these feelings.
Yes. No one is alone with our feelings, though we feel like it sometimes.