stay at home mom – Faith Strengthened Moms

Ladies and gentlemen this ride could get bumpy, please strap on your floatation devices… Make sure to adjust the straps so they are nice and tight. Alright everybody ready? Let us dive in!

On our own we can try and tread water, doing our best to stay a float. Unfortunately, it gets tiring and our thoughts become captive turning us into a downward spiral. We may think to ourselves; what’s the point? I just want to give up? Why do I even bother? Once our thoughts are taken captive we start to sink.

On our own it is harder. However, I’m here to share some good news; WE DO NOT HAVE TO FIGHT WHAT EVER WE ARE GOING THROUGH ALONE! When we surrender to Jesus, turn our lives over to Him being born again we start a beautiful relationship with Him. Through this beautiful relationship we are given our life vest. Jesus is our life vest.

Lets look into the word of God and read about one man, named Peter, who focused on God and was able to walk on water.

There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

Matthew 14:21, 23-33
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.14.21-33.NASB1995

Peter let fear take over his thoughts when he saw the wind, which pulled his focus away from Jesus causing him to start sinking. Jesus will keep us a float, through Him we have all the support we could have ever hoped for. When the waters get rough and we feel like we can no longer tread water, we need to stop relying on ourselves. We need to surrender our worries to God. WE CAN’T BUT HE CAN! Christ has absolute authority over all things.

Peter saw the storm and forgot who was in ultimate control. No one ever said following God would be easy. We will have times of suffering and face difficult problems, but we need to give our storms to God. Relying on him to know best in all things.

When we take control of our thoughts and focus on God we can think, how can what I am going through be an opportunity to draw me closer to God to help me through this? When we let Satan take our thoughts captive is when we think about all the negative thoughts I mentioned earlier. Let go and Let God, getting through life is so much easier when He is helping us stay a float.

Remember God is only a prayer away 💓

While I am not one for New Years resolutions I vote us parents join together to make 2024 a less stressful one. The Christmas season can be a flood of emotions from; stress, to happiness, to grief, to anger, etc. a ginormous wave we find ourselves trying to not be drowned by. I found myself drowning and becoming angry mom hulk Kool-aid manning my way out of the waves. This is why I want to strive to do better, for my sake and my families sake. Believe me no one wants to see angry stressed mom hulk.

See exhibit A: Below (Photo Credits Marvel Studios)

Sometimes, what a parent needs most is a good support system. While we strive to do better lets help each other and make 2024 less stressful. The less stressed we are the less likely we are to hulk. Because like toothpaste once we snap and hulk out we can not take it back in. What’s done is done.

I have four children and I am a stay at home mom who home-schools. I get no breaks from my children nor do they from each other. Always being together definitely increases their attitudes towards one another while decreasing their patience.

See exhibit B: Below (Photo Credit kidspot)

During the Christmas season when we take a break from school and get dragged into all the chaos of the season our schedule goes out the window, along with bed times. Once the season comes to an end trying to start back up again is like riding a tricycle with a broken wheel. I know parents whose kids go to public school have the same problem; getting back on the train is no easy feat.

So how can we reel back in the stress? By supporting one another. Be an ear for a parent when they need some one to vent to. Let’s share ideas on how to help manage our stress. Please feel free to jump in entering a comment below. When we support each other we can learn and grow from other perspectives.

I’ll start, schedules are a huge help. As a home school family set times may be hard if we have dance during the day or co-op. However, having a schedule even without exact times for what the day may look like can help the day flow more smoothly. I know how easy it is to get question burn out from your children. Schedules help them know what is to come. Therefore, eliminating some of those questions. *Have to insert my random 2am thought lol, dishwasher magnets are also a great way to help answer the question of whether or not the dishwasher is clean. I easily get asked this twenty times a day.*

I’d like to share a suggestion from my friend Erin, have your children help lighten your load. I know I am one who falls under the category of it is easier to do it myself. This causes me to add way more to my Jenga stack making my stress blocks even more unstable. By doing this my children are not benefiting from how to be responsible nor are they learning how to do things. If I do everything for them they will never learn. Why yes I know what some of you are thinking, but the fits they give me when I ask them to wash the dishes or clean up their toys is so frustrating. Believe me I get it, I am new to this stress reliever idea as well. However, I never want to hold my child back the more times they clean up their room themselves or wash the dishes on their own the better they will become at it. Children can easily exceed your expectations of what you think they are capable of so set the bar high.

Please comment ideas you have found to help you live a less stressful parenting life. Let us have a Less Stressed 2024!!!

Tag: stay at home mom

Life Vests

Less Stressed 2024