it's time to take care of ourselves, mamas.

I have come to the realization that it’s impossible to take care of yourself while your kids are under age 5.


That’s been my experience, anyway. Maybe yours is different…


But having three kids, all a little less than two years apart… that’s what I discovered.


Because when they’re little, you’re responsible for basically everything under the sun. In your home. 


You’re in charge of sleep schedules. And Lord help you if different kids need different schedules at the same time. 


You’re in charge of everything they eat. Three meals and 600 snacks a day. You have to get it for them, cut it into impossibly tiny pieces for them, and watch them eat it to ensure they don’t choke. 


You’re in charge of all laundry. So much laundry. Somehow little people laundry seems to take 5 times longer than big people laundry. 


You have to clean. All the time. By yourself. Scrub toilets, mop floors, wipe down the kitchen table, clean counters, wash dishes, pick up toys, etc. 


Then… when one starts school, best of luck to you. Now you add in school schedules, projects, car rider lines, packed lunches, teacher gifts, freaking spirit weeks, and so on. 


If you’re lucky like me, you’ll have one navigating elementary school, one starting preschool, and one still nursing and napping… all at the same time!


And don’t forget those extracurriculars. You better get them in ballet or soccer ASAP. All the greats started at 3, right??


Oh sweet mama, bless your heart. How can you possibly find time for yourself in all that?


Besides, there’s another load of laundry waiting, you ran out of milk yesterday, no one’s eaten a vegetable in two days, and your minivan is seriously starting to stink. 


Oh, and we almost forgot the husband. You don’t want your marriage falling by the wayside in this season. So make sure you still find time to jump in bed with the hubby and schedule regular date nights. That is, as long as you don’t move around all the time, like military families do, so you can never nail down a regular sitter. 


This was my experience until my youngest turned 5. There was just NO TIME for me. It felt impossible. The best I could do was squeeze in mini conversations with God here and there, asking Him to help me stay sane. 


But now that sweet Ava is closer to 6 than 5, I’m discovering that I DO have time to take of myself. 


And it’s on me to choose it. 


So fellow mama, if you’re in this new season with me… a season of kids over 5… I encourage you to join me on this new venture to care for ourselves. 


I promise you’ll see the fruit of it. You’ll show up so much better for your family. You’ll uncover new parts of yourself that have been hidden for so long. 


You may not love all the parts… but they all deserve attention! 


You may need to heal some old wounds… but you’ll be so much better for it!


Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light. If your burden is feeling heavy, that’s not from Him. 


So let it go! Follow His example! Rest. Take time for yourself. Be alone. Go off and talk to God.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
-Matthew 11:28-30


We’ll never fulfill God’s purpose for our lives when we’re a mental mess.