For the days we are running on empty. For the days we just don’t think we have it in us to read one more story, play one more game of Uno, wash one more round of sheets. For the days when we think everyone else has it altogether. For the days we’re sure anyone else would do this job better.
For those days. You know the ones.
Repeat after me:
- I shall not judge my house, my kid’s summer activities or my crafting skills by Pinterest’s standards.
- I shall not measure what I’ve accomplished today by the loads of unfolded laundry but by the assurance of deep love I’ve tickled into my kids
- I shall say “yes” to blanket forts and see past the chaos to the memories we’re building.
- I shall surprise my kids with trips to get ice cream when they’re already in their pajamas.
- I shall not compare myself to other mothers, but find my identity in the God who trusted me with these kids in the first place.
- I shall remember that a messy house at peace is better than an immaculate house tied up in knots.
- I shall play music loudly and teach my kids the joy of wildly uncoordinated dance.
- I shall remind myself that perfect is simply a street sign at the intersection of impossible and frustration in Never Never land.
- I shall embrace the fact that in becoming a mom I traded perfect for a house full of real.
- I shall promise to love this body that bore these three children – out loud, especially in front of my daughter.
- I shall give my other mother friends the gift of guilt-free friendship.
- I shall do my best to admit to my people my “unfine” moments.
- I shall say “sorry” when sorry is necessary.
- I pray God I shall never be too proud, angry or stubborn to ask for my children’s forgiveness.
- I shall make space in my grown up world for goofball moments with my kids.
- I shall love their father and make sure they know I love him.
- I shall model kind words – to kids and grown-ups alike.
- I shall not be intimidated by the inside of my minivan – this season of chip bags, goldfish crackers and discarded socks too shall pass.
- I shall always make time to encourage new moms.
- I shall not resent that last call for kisses and cups of water but remember instead that when I blink they’ll all be in college.
~ with love from one tired mother to another.
{click here to download the below printable version}
Look at the new design! It looks fabulous.
Saving and sharing this. Thank you Lisa. So important for us moms to remember. :) Especially #11. And your new blog design. Top notch!!
Seriously??? I love that SO much! Thank you, thank you and thank you for sharing!
It’s my eldest daughter’s seventh birthday and we were rollerskating in the garden before 7am. I was up until the early hours wrapping presents and decorating the house and my youngest daughter had lots of nightmares in the night. Wondering how I can last the day.
But I have photographs of a delighted newly-seven year old teetering round on her new skates, with a low silver sun and beautiful clouds and big smiles. I will hang onto those when I’m ready to cry at teatime… :-)
Thanks for this.
I love number 4 it reminds me of the backwards dinners my mom use to let us have every once and a while in summer. We would start dinner with a big bowl of ice cream and end it with a simple meal! I do it with my own kids now once or twice a year.
This is great! Love it!!
Love your new blog design and love this post. I SO SO SO needed some of these reminders as my daughter is 7 weeks old and I find myself struggling (daily) in the war of momma/home etc perfectionism. Love your site!
This is a very good list. A reminder to let some things go, to trust God, and to live a life of joy.
that blinking the eyes and they will be gone? i used to hate to hear that when my children were small. i would blink really fast sometimes to hurry up through a particularly taxing time, but really? they’re big. and it’s like i am mid-blink, for real. last night we drove one hour and paid $13 at the gate to watch my older son sit on the bench at a baseball game. BUT because we went, he rode home with us instead of on the bus. and i would pay even more and drive even farther just to have that time in the car with my teenage boys. we laughed so hard and sang so loud. and i don’t care about the snickers wrappers that i am positive litter the back seat.
Definitely sharing this one this week! Oh, and number 4? We called them “Pajama Rides.” Oh how my girls LOVED pajama rides! We’d put them to bed, then about 15 minutes later come running up the stairs shouting “Pajama ride!” and the girls would scream and gleefully jump out of bed, pile into the car, and we’d go get ice cream. What a great summertime memory. (Of course, if I did that now, it would probably be midnight and I don’t think my girls would appreciate going out in their p.j.s!–ha!)
Pajama Rides – what a great idea! Thanks for sharing. Our girls love ice cream and would absolutely love – and never forget – if we did this with them.
I love this! Thank you so much! I printed it right away! I am sick today….a cold, I guess, so this is perfect for me today…to get through the day with my 5 boys!
So I’m sitting at my desk, in my open-concept office at work, trying my darndest not to let these tears spill over. I sooo needed this this morning. Thank you. As always. You are my cheerleader.
You got this, Nancy. You do.
This is a tough one: I shall promise to love this body that bore these three children – out loud, especially in front of my daughter.
Wonderful, wonderful reminders!
Thank you. Exactly the encouragement I needed today as I feel still behind after last week’s end of school/graduation/parties/etc! I will just begin today and embrace summer with my children doing 1 thing at a time, not comparing myself to other moms who seemingly have it all together!
Encouraging and yet so convicting. #20 – yep, messed that one up last night.
I love this list! Thank you so much for sharing and encouraging and admitting and advising…You’re awesome LisaJo!
xoxo
ChristyJo
I love this, Lisa-Jo! Will be printing… and sharing.
Thank you. I needed these words today.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the thoughts of what *needs* to get done, and forget that the chores will always be waiting for me, but my baby girl is changing, growing and I can let the chores go and spend these fleeting moments with her.
A priceless liberty list! Luv it! … and #8 was a fav. : )
Amen!!! Thank you so much for sharing! Now if I could just remember who posted the link to your page (on Facebook) so I could go Thank them for “introducing” you to me!!
love this!
THANK YOU! I needed that.
What a great post. Lisa-Jo, you have such a talent for encouragement and for letting your heart shine into your writing. Each time I read here, I feel like I could be sharing ‘secrets’ in a friend’s kitchen. One of these days I would love to sit down with you somewhere for coffee and chocolate.
Thanks for once again giving a hug to my heart.
This is awesome! As I was reading it, I had 1) just stopped looking at pinterest; 2) have 4 unfolded loads of clean laundry, 1 in dryer, 1 in washer, 2 waiting to be washed (all while going out of town tomorrow!); and 3) remnants of a blanket fort in the living room! Then I read #4 and now I’m thinking tonight might be a perfect night to get ice cream after getting into jammies! Have never done that…but my kids would love it!!
This is truly wonderful! And on “those days” a great reminder!
I needed this today…such a great encouragement and reminder! Definitely going to print it off and put somewhere I’ll see often! Thank you.
How is it that you always know exactly what I need to hear? Thank you for honoring and using this gift that God has given you. It is truly beautiful! And so encouraging as I sit here holding my sleeping 6 month old, staring at the pile of unfolded laundry, knowing it won’t get folded before the 2 year old wakes up [and even if it does, she’ll just unfold it all.] So thank you for reminding me that it’s ok to cherish and love these moments too.
LOVE this so much!!!!! Thanks for offering the printable too!
Making a promise this summer to have more “memory making moments” with my 7 1/2 yr. old daughter. Started today! I had to take her out of school this morning at 11am to go to the dr…we were out of his office super quick, so quick she should have gone back to school in time for recess & lunch…instead, I took her to lunch & then brought her back to school. She squealed with delight! (disclaimer: normally I would not do this, but it’s the LAST week of school here in nyc!)
Oh, thank you, Lisa Jo!! I try my utmost to cherish the moments of these little years… but when the exhaustion kicks in it’s hard to keep my mind focused on what’s important (aka: NOT the housework). I need to print out this list multiple times and have it posted on every door and wall in my house! Haha! Also, I LOVE the idea of an evening ice cream date, and the idea one of your readers posted about a ‘backwards dinner’ — So fun!! I’ll be copying. ;-)
I love you, you’re my favorite online mom cheerleader and for all your savvy wit and wisdom I owe you a hug and a dozen cupcakes. Thanks for your heart, I always think of you when I clean out nasty sippy cups and remember that this rhythm is shaping me.
Be blessed!
So glad a friend introduced me to your blog;)!!! I needed to read this today yep, having one of those days.
This is so wonderful! I get obsessed with chores, always looking around at what I think I should be doing. It’s always doing-doing-doing when I really just want to be enjoying! Our girls are 3 and 1 and as you said, ‘In the blink of an eye….’
What a great reminder – thanks!
this tired mama needed this.
thanks.
Thank you for this! Printed it and put it on my fridge. You are such an encouraging voice to us not-so-perfect moms! Thank you for being so real, I always enjoy your posts!
From the US to the UK and all over the world, there are millions of mums who need encouragement like this! Thank you so much, and I have grabbed your button to feature on my blog so the word gets spread a little bit more.
to show JUST how tired i am.. i totally forgot i commented last night and was about to comment again. funny. i was about to say {again} “this tired mama needed this. thanks.”
guess i really did. :) :)
I really needed this today after a difficult week…I hope you do keep write such encouraging notes…I intend to share this with my readers as its really “a nail on the head” notes and I want them to be inspired as I was
How do you do it? How do you always know EXACTLY what I need to hear? I shared this on my FB and I can’t tell you how many other moms said they needed to read this today. What can I say except you are an exception woman Lisa-Jo!!! Thank you for walking in your calling…it helps more of us than I think you will ever imagine!
Lisa Jo, that is perfect! You are such an encourager. Thank you for sharing your gift with us. I linked to it over at my blog too. I hope you don’t mind! http://www.higginshullaballoo.blogspot.com
I printed it out and I will read it when I am feeling overwhelmed and tired!
this was really good thanks!
This is fantabulous, friend.
Well said!
Yes, there is something powerful about saying it out loud! Happy Friday, Lisa-Jo :)
Yes! Thank you for another great encouragement to keep moving forward with joy!
I love it!
This site is awesome!!!! Cannot express into words just how much I enjoy reading everything….keep up the wonferful posts!!!
I found this page 4 days ago. I’m an army wife, mother of 3 girls (10 yo, 5yo and 9mo), a full-time mom, also the mother of 2 dogs, and my husband is not home right now.four days ago I sat down in mybed crying, I’m was so tired, but I coudln’t give up…. So I google “encouragement for tired moms” and this log came up. You have no idea of what a blessing this has been! I decided to write each one -each day. Today is day #4…. My girls wore pajamas to school (school planned this, lol), so after school I decided that we needed to skip the schedule and we went for ice cream, during a school day ! They were so surprised, so happy. THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU! I can’t thank you enought! ~A very tired mom ~
What’s up, yup this post is really nice and I have learned lot of things from it on the topic of blogging. thanks.
Thankfulness to my father who told me about this weblog, this weblog is genuinely remarkable.
For we that strive for perfection…for Pinterest dreams…thank you! I shared this post and your recent Mighty Mom video with my sister. She is mothering alone right now while her husband is abroad working for a year. Blessings are before us.
This really touched my heart when I read this. There are so many of these things that I need to remember and take to heart. Number 9 really touched me. Thanks for writing this.
Lisa-Jo, you take my breath away. I’ve become too concerned with the stress of life, and because of chronic illness, I’ve become detached from my family and haven’t been able to serve, care for them, have fun with them like I desire. I desire to desire it. And you make me desire it, Lisa-Jo. You have no idea how much you’ve done for me in these few short weeks. I’m going to send you an email, m’kay? Love to you… {P.s I printed this out and it’s going on the fridge–but I wish I could imprint it right on my heart}
Thanks for retweeting! I love all of them but especially #11. Love these special friendships in my life.
You always bless me so softly & sweetly with these posts. Thank you.
(praying my hubby could read just a few & be a little softer with my tender & tired heart & know that our house isn’t the only “lived-in” house & that we will blink & they’ll all be in college…) Blessings, sweet warrior mama-friend.
A friend just shared this on her wall. It’s great and totally applicable to me as I try to nest in this crazy mess of a house. :) #4 is on the way and the oldest is 4 years old. Some days drag on forever and some fly by in a flash.
Lisa-Jo, my sister just shared this on her FB page, and I’m so glad she did! WoW, you have such a gift with the written word! Although I am not a mama (yet!), I sure do inspire to be one just like this. Thank you for sharing this and blessing me. Bless you!
Thank you so much for this. It constitutes everything every mom should know, feel, do, embrace. Our society places too much emphasis on what a perfect family, appearance, or child(ren) should be. In addition, time and a fast paced life unfortunately interfer and we often forget the important moments that create a lifetime of memories.
I will hang this creed on my wall and pass it along to others.
You inspire me as I now can remind myself it is okay to not be perfect and that I am not alone in the world of motherhood.
Keep writing. :)
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This is lovely. I need to remember #3 for my kids as I remember #7 from when I was a kid.
And a shout out to all us dads working this list!
My Hubs sent this list to me today. Thank you so much for validating 18 years of parenting and marriage. It is nice to know I was not the only one holding onto this ethos.
From one tired mom to another, thank you for posting this. I saw it today on Facebook and had to share it, too. So well put. Pray your day is filled with the beauty, wonder, and joy of being God’s precious daughter!
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Hello! Great stuff here, please keep us posted.
As a final point, you make an update for your blog. I had been waiting anxiously for a persons next update. I hope you will consider updating often so your readers may follow along. I wouldnt have much joy in life these days but your blog is one too. I recognize life is busy but I really hope you will take some time to keep us up to date on any progress.
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I may be stupid but what do you mean with guilt free friendship?
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