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stay at home mom

15 Encouraging Books for Exhausted Women

Encouraging books for exhausted women, especially moms - These reading lists for fiction and non-fiction are full of encouragement, strength, and hope. Some include the words and truth of God and some are purely for fun and escape. Written by teachers of faith and full of truths from the heart. Lots of great book ideas here, perfect for summer reading or anytime.

I love to read, and I have for all of my days on this earth. I remember as a little kid, holing up inside my bedroom to read. My mom used to get on my case to go outside and play with my sister because she was playing, and I was laying on my bed, reading a book. I love books. Since I’ve become an exhausted working woman and mom, I haven’t had as much time for books. Gone are the days of turning pages in my bed for hours. I have a Kindle now, and LOVE IT, but I … Read more

25 Simple & Easy Habits to Make You a Happy Mom Even When Life is Hard

While this has not always been the case, I am a genuinely happy person these days. My life is stressful, don’t get me wrong: I worry daily about whether I’m doing a good enough job for my husband and children. I am battling a raging food addiction and trying unsuccessfully to work the steps in a 12-step program. My house is an embarrassing mess, and I am overcommitted. But at the end of the day, I am content with the way things are and don’t generally feel bitter or angry or resentful. I have great joy in Jesus and in … Read more

14 Habits of Very Happy Moms

14 awesome habits of very happy moms - how to be content in your role as a working or stay at home mom. Tips, wisdom, and suggestions on how to be a happier mom in every day life. Includes morning and evening routines and self care needs. Inspiration, encouragement, and things to do to improve your mood and attitude toward your kids and family.

  Friend, are you happy, right now, today? Do you greet each new day with joy and wonder or do you drag yourself out of bed in the morning, grumpy and miserable? Does time with your kids make you feel great or bring out the worst in you? Would your husband describe you as cheerful and content or irritable and short-tempered? I don’t ask these questions to make you feel bad about yourself, truly. I just want to start off by taking the temperature of your outlook on life as it is today. I have gone through seasons of my … Read more

I am Not a Saint

Sometimes being a stay-at-home mom sucks. Sometimes, it is okay, good even. Sometimes, I like it. But sometimes, it really sucks. Like today. Nothing special happened today. It was Joe’s first day at work after the excitement and euphoria of Christmas. My kids were overly tired. They were overly needy and overly stimulated and overly sugared, and all of that translated into overly clingy and overly whiny. They touched me every moment of this day, feet pressed into my leg, faces pressed into my belly, little fingers wrapped tightly around my forearm. They laid across me and sat too close … Read more

No One Warned Me (On Being a Stay-at-Home-Mom)

stay at home mom

When you become a parent, your life changes more dramatically than you believe is possible, and you have no comprehension of those changes before they happen. The same thing happened when I became a stay-at-home-mom, and I was just as unprepared. No one warned me that it would be the most grueling job of my life. No one warned me that I would forget the last time I took a shower. No one warned me that I would come to appreciate chicken nuggets as a healthy food. No one warned me that I’d forget to have fun. No one warned … Read more

I’m Not Going Back to School in 2011

This week is unique in my life. For the last 27 years, during this week, I have been preparing for a new school year. Until 6th grade, I was an eager student. I loved school; I couldn’t wait to go. 6th grade is when things got hard socially and a move a few weeks into 6th grade made it harder still. Even so, I looked forward to the start of school each year – new adventures, new classes, new friends. For the last couple of years, I looked forward to the end of August with dread. The last thing I … Read more