Have you found yourself as a postpartum momma worrying that you haven’t been doing enough? Feeling mom guilt because your kiddos can’t be involved in everything that everyone else is?

I’ve come to learn in my many seasons of postpartum and having babies, that slowing down and saying no to a lot of good things is actually exactly what my children need.  It is a gift, this season of rest. I have learned that I am modeling that it is ok to slow down and enjoy the moments with our littles, moments we might miss if we were rushing around to all the things. It’s important for our bodies to rest and heal after giving birth. It’s a good thing to learn your new normal with a new family member added to the mix. Slowing down doesn’t mean you are missing out. Slowing down is giving God the opportunity to have His way in the lives of our children and us mommas as we are more intentional about our days and time together.

It has not come naturally to me. In fact, it took me years to have peace in the different seasons that we were in. It can be so hard to break from ways or habits that feel so ingrained into our identity as wives and moms. This is one of many reasons why homeschooling has been one of the best decisions we have ever made for our family. It is truly a gift, a gift of time. It has given my family a huge advantage in the slowing down process and I am so thankful to be able to give my children something different.

While homeschooling has given us that gift of time, it can also be super easy to quickly fill up our days with extra curricular and social activities. It takes being super intentional in your postpartum season to identify what is of most importance for your family, while also remembering that missing out on a few months of any activity is not going to be detrimental.

I wrestled a lot with letting go and changing directions after my 4th baby (you would think I had learned it by then 😅). My momma gave me some wisdom that I have clung to numerous times especially, since my 5th was born. She said, “If you were going on a trip to somewhere warm and tropical, it would be ridiculous if you tried to pack a snow suit. Your luggage would be filled with things that are season appropriate.”

Mommas, stop beating yourself up when a new season approaches and you aren’t doing all of the same things. Rest in Him and renew your spirit and mind daily in His Word, prayer and worship. These seasons are fleeting, enjoy your moments with your blessings.  

My hope and prayer is that when my children go through slower seasons that they are quick to recognize it, find peace in it and embrace all the beauty of the season they are in. 

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..” Ecc. 3:1

”He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecc. 3:11