Mama, you are doing amazing.
Repeat after me.
Even though my dirty dishes are overflowing, I am doing amazing.
Even though my clean laundry is a mountain on the floor, I am doing amazing.
Even though there are 15 pairs of shoes cluttering the entryway, I am doing amazing.
Even though the bedsheets haven’t been washed in months, I am doing amazing.
Even though the shower and toilet are long overdue for a cleaning, I am doing amazing.
Even though dinner was cereal, I am doing amazing.
Keeping up with a house full of chores that never stop and little people that keep making messes is exhausting work.
You are doing great work. You are doing the best you can. You are doing God’s work loving and teaching and helping your family.
Some days jumping with my kids on the trampoline takes precedence over sweeping up a pint of spilled blueberries. Some days mama needs to shower instead of taking the naptime opportunity to sort laundry. Some days what is most important is hugs and stories and self-care.
As a perfectly imperfect fellow mama, I am in it with you. We are doing the best we can each day.
I have a few mama survival tips and tricks I have learned to lean on that I would love to share with you. Please share yours with me! We can do this amazing job of motherhood stronger together!
One: Quiet Morning Minutes
Every season has its time to shine and the years of nursing babies made this tip harder to make happen routinely. However, if I am able to start my day with the rest of the house still quiet and open my scriptures, I can start the day breathing deeply. Five minutes will do it.
Two: Gym Therapy
Motherhood is mentally and emotionally taxing. Taking an hour to give it my all in a favorite group fitness class completely turns thoughts of “This is really hard and I’m not sure I can do this” into “I’ve got this! I can do hard things!” Read more about my love of gym time here.
Three: Survival Meals
Plan ahead for meals whenever possible. If you wait until 5 pm to see what’s for dinner, you’ve missed the boat. I know because I miss the boat frequently! Start a crockpot at lunchtime with your dinner ingredients. Freeze sandwiches ahead of time for a rainy day. When I’m on my A-game, I meal prep healthy meals for my family and freeze portions for ready-to-go meals for another day when I’m not on my A-game. If I’m going to make a warm meal, I might as well double the recipe to freeze half for dinner next week.
Four: Ten Minute Tidy
Start a habit of a “10-minute tidy time” every day at 5pm before anyone can eat dinner. If your children are old enough to help independently, assign each child a zone to clean such as the family room or entryway. During the 10-minute tidy, each family member rushes to their zone. I keep a “clutter crate” or “lost and found basket” in my family room for children to toss items into that don’t belong in their zone. Before bed, each family member should check the crate or it may just be tossed before mama heads to bed.
Five: Family Memories
Be sure to prioritize family time! My family looks forward to pizza and family movie night on Fridays. We do a Come Follow Me lesson on Sunday afternoons as well as play board games. We make a big deal of celebrating birthdays and holidays. Try to bring wonder, surprise and excitement where you can when the whole family is together!
Repeat after me.
I am doing amazing!
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