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4 Ways to Cope When Motherhood Feels Relentless

Being a mom is wonderful, right?! It's just the everyday mothering tasks that, if we're not careful, can slowly eat us alive.

Whining, up-all-night feedings, lingering illnesses, ongoing discipline issues, endless homework, and all that time in the car: Everyday motherhood is downright relentless.

How can we deal with the hectic, perpetual pace of raising kids and running a home?

Here are 4 things I've learned on how to manage motherhood's relentless pace.

Whining, up-all-night feedings, lingering illnesses, ongoing discipline issues, endless homework, and all that time in the car: Everyday motherhood is downright relentless. How can we deal with the hectic, perpetual pace of raising kids and running a home? Here are 4 things I've learned on how to manage motherhood's relentless pace. There is HOPE!

Tip #1: Have a Stopping Point.

True, we can’t ever completely take off our mothering hat (unless we magically get transported to a desert island for six weeks or something) but it’s critical that we build in breaks and boundaries.

Establish regular times (and yes, you have to schedule it) where you are not feeding, wiping, carrying, or otherwise taking care of a little person’s needs.

Yes, I know this is hard to do. Yes, it takes a little creativity and some out of the box thinking.

But here’s what’s a stake if you don’t do it:  your anger level, your sanity and maybe even your self-worth.

What can a “stopping point” look like?

  • Taking a 15 minute walk a few times a week (yes even up and down your street if need be).
  • A regularly scheduled phone call with a friend (go into the other room and shut the door).
  • Regular date nights (you've got to get this resource for great ideas!) with your husband or significant other (when you don’t talk about the kids!).
  • Longer weekend breaks a few times a year, either by yourself (grab an inexpensive local hotel room) or with your husband or a friend.

We often try to sabotage our own rest, don't we? I definitely do.

These two scriptures have really challenged me lately in this area:

Isaiah 28:12: God has told his people, “'Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest.' But they would not listen.”

Isaiah 30:15: This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.

It really is OK to stop and rest. Really. (I'm telling myself as much as I'm telling you!).

Tip #2: Keep a 5-Year or 10-Year Perspective.

On the most hectic parenting days where I am worn out and completely frustrated, I play a little math game. You can play it too (I promise it’s not painful). Ready?

I simply add 5 or 10 years to my children’s ages and think about what life will be like then.

I don’t dream about the future in a fantasy sort of way. Those days will have their own unique set of trials and burdens, right?

But, instead, I use these thoughts to remind me that my kids won’t always be stuck in this same behavioral phase:

  • I won’t always have kids in diapers.
  • My son won’t always want me to read him a story and sing him songs at night.
  • My older kids won’t always be available to run a quick errand with me.

RELATED VIDEO: “Change. Can. Be. Slow.” (subscribe here)

These truths ground me and give me endurance on those days when I am sure that things will never ever change.

Tip #3: Catch the (anger) foxes.

In Song of Solomon 2:15 (in the Bible), the verse describes how we are to “catch the little foxes” that can run in and steal the joy of marriage: “Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!” (NLT)

While this verse is specifically talking about marriage, there are so many applications here to motherhood!

What habits do we continue to allow in our daily mothering that make it that much more difficult?

Mommy anger was one that tripped me up for a long time and made motherhood very challenging.

It quickly turned my already relentless pace into a joyless, guilt-ridden one.

Tip #4: Stop Expecting Perfection.

This was an epiphany for me last year.

I found myself mired in the quicksand of “destination sickness” thinking (you know—where you think that life will finally be happier when you reach that one parenting stage or this one great thing happens?).

Destination sickness is kind of like chasing that mirage in the desert: We’re chasing a fantasy that doesn’t exist.

Here are two facts that we must face:

  • There will always, always, always be something to challenge us on our mothering journey; and
  • Motherhood’s relentless pace will wax and wane, but it will always be there.

Ladies, we must stop holding our breath and waiting for “that day” or “that moment” to come in order to fully embrace and enjoy our mothering journey.

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