Ever change a diaper and silently wonder, “Is this all my life is about now?”  It is okay; you are not alone.  We move from diaper change, someone is hungry {again}, to laundry, to cleaning something, and repeat again within 15 minutes.  Being a mom is HARD.  Whether you are at home, work out of the home, or work from home.  It’s hard.

I want to encourage you.  You aren’t alone if you are longing for more to life than the “Mommy Cycle.”  So what can you do to break out and feel fulfilled?

1.  Get OUT of the House Immediately.

What I have found in my own life and in other moms is the “stuck in house” problem, especially for stay-at-home and work-at-home moms. It’s like we become prisoners of our own homes.  The kids get restless, you get restless and before too long everyone is going crazy.  It’s still nice outside {yes, winter is coming!}, so GO outside.  Plan fun activities.  Take note of DMB events.  Just step outside and take a deep breathe.  It will change your mood.  And when winter comes, do the same thing, 5 minutes of outside breathing even if you are freezing, it’s worth it.

2.  Find YOUR Passions.

Remember life before kids? Okay if you can’t, maybe take a quick nap or grab a cup of coffee — okay now?  Remember who you were before you had kids?  Maybe you enjoyed painting, working, exercising, crafting, building, whatever!  However you answered that question, that’s what you need to be doing.  And I don’t want to hear “I don’t have time” because it’s the biggest lie you believe.  Life isn’t about time, it’s about priorities.  You can make the choice to make something a priority or not.  You enjoy crafting, well set up the craft table at the end of the day, let the dishes go ONE night and craft your little heart out while watching Sadie rock it on Dancing with the Stars.  Find your passions and make them a priority.

 3.  Get Involved.

The best way to overcome the wondering of “Is there more to life?” is to get involved in something local. Again, go with your passions and find places to serve others.  We were actually created to serve one another and be in community with others, so go do it!  Plug into your local church, local nonprofit organizations, moms groups, etc.  Find something where you feel you belong and plug in wholeheartedly; meaning show up when you say you are going to even if you don’t feel like it!!

4.  Find JOY at Home.

The greatest advice is to be content in your season as well.  I know, I hear you – “Lauren that is completely opposite of everything you have said thus far!”  But hear me out, you can’t be away from the home, outside, and during your passion 24/7.  Those stinky bottoms need to be wiped y’all!  I encourage you to find joy in those moments, for their stinky feet that you wash now will only get more stinky and bigger, so savor them now!

One final suggestion – I highly recommend The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson to helping finding more meaning in being a mom!

For real!  I’m Super Mom!  I tackle loads of laundry, wash the dishes, fix boo-boos, shuttle my preschooler to school, potty-train my 2-year-old, make my bed most days, feed us, work, and even once and awhile I take a breath….

Please tell me you didn’t start saying, “Wow, she is amazing.”  You didn’t see the whole picture.  I don’t sleep enough, my kids watch shows more than I care to admit, and dinners sometimes are just eggs.  No mom is super mom on her own.

Just like you, I struggle.  I wonder if I’m doing enough as a mom, am I working my business enough to see the growth I’d like, is my house clean?  It’s a lot on a girl’s plate, but I know one thing.

I serve a SUPER God.

He is my rock, my everything, and HE holds me all together.  Without my faith, I couldn’t be Super Mom.

So how can you be a Super Mom?  Whatever your home situation looks like, we all need grace and we all need help.  Motherhood isn’t for the weak.

1.

Read the Bible. Everyday. Even if it’s just a verse! The Word of God is life-giving and therefore you read a little bit of it, it will change your life.  And this includes when you read something and feel like you have no idea what it says!  Faith is so important to being a Super Mom.  Without… well you are just Mom.

2.

Ask for Forgiveness. We mess up! It’s okay, we all do it, we are human.  What we do when we mess up makes us Super Mom’s relying on a Super God.  If you are married and you let the ball drop on something with your spouse, then ask for forgiveness.  If you holler at your children and you know it wasn’t appropriate because you were angry and overreacted, then ask for forgiveness.  **Bonus – it’s a great teaching lesson that mommy isn’t always right, makes mistakes, and this is how we deal with mistakes!  If you have had a shortcoming with a friend, ask for forgiveness.  It will free up your heart from bitterness and make it a LOT easier to rock being a Super Mom!

3.

Stop being so Serious. Like if you do this or that you will mess your children up for the rest of their lives. Come on.  That isn’t even real.  Chill out because Super Moms cannot be acting all cray cray like that!  You are doing a great job, just relax and enjoy life!

4.

Do NOT do Mothering Alone. Remember I am a single mom, meaning I’m doing this ALONE. So I have the option to do it alone, but I don’t.  I have friends I talk to on a regular basis and ask for mom advice, I have prayer partners, neighbors that will watch my kids, and the sweetest thing called Grandparents {aka my mom and dad} who help me a ton!  My dad is even my lawn-guy, so I can be Super Mom!

*

Remember, being a Super Mom doesn’t mean you are perfect.  It means seeing your shortcomings, leaning on God, and asking for help!  Be blessed – YOU are a SUPER MOM!

As a business owner and mom of a 9-month-old, life can sometimes feel like a juggling act; and not just any old juggling act. I often feel like I am juggling Jell-O. Picture that. Ever feel as if everything could slip right through your hands at any given time? I sure do. Just as I start to get the laundry pile down, the dishes overflow. When I feel like I’ve found the right balance spending quality time with my little one, the length of my work to-do list gets overwhelming, and date nights are few and far between because we sacrifice the family budget every time we go out and hire a sitter. Whether you work out of the home or in, I know you can relate. We spend our days giving, giving, giving because it is what we are wired to do.

Every Mom I know is so busy taking care of everyone around them that it seems unrealistic to squeeze in “me time” to the day. It is easy to put your own needs on the back burner when you have so many other responsibilities. While it may seem counterintuitive at first please hear me out on this one. We really need to practice self-love so we can give our best to all the relationships in our life. When we are mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy, everyone around us benefits. I know what you are thinking- “This Carly girl is crazy. I don’t sit down from the time I get up to the moment I go to bed. And now she wants me to add a manicure into the schedule?! Ha!” Yeah, I guess I kinda do. It does not have to be a manicure. It doesn’t have to take an hour of your time. It does not even have to cost money. But it is important to find at least a couple moments of peace and serenity each and every day so you have more patience and loving energy to give your partner, children, co-workers, home, friendships, and work.

Don’t even know where to begin? I have some ideas for you, momma! Don’t get overwhelmed! You don’t have to do the entire list. These are just a few examples of ways to practice self-care. Try one or try them all on and see how they feel. More importantly, notice how your interactions change with your children after doing something special for yourself and make sure you give us feedback.  If there is something you already do that leaves you feeling uplifted please share in the comment section below. We love fresh inspiration!

–Look in the mirror and find something on your body you love and appreciate.

There has to be at least one thing. Keep looking until you find something. Hopefully your list grows overtime. Confidence is incredibly sexy and your kids will benefit immensely from a mom who has a positive body image.

–Book your next vacation.

–Download Gabby Bernstein’s “Spirit Junkie” App.

Read her daily affirmation first thing in the morning to start your day with a positive mind-set. Repeat the affirmation either out loud or in your head when you feel your energy start to shift. Best $1.99 you have ever spent.

–Meet your partner for lunch.

If you stay home, ask a fellow mom to trade services. If they will watch yours for an hour to grab an adult meal, you will watch their kids for an hour while they run errands, work out, or take a nap. Heck , you may even inspire them to prioritize their relationship. And dress up for the special event. Take a shower, get out of your yoga pants (I know! It is an effort for me to wear jeans too), and even throw on a little lipstick. You do not even have to go anywhere fancy or spend much money. You can pack a lunch from home and meet up at a park. Might as well take advantage of these last few warm-ish Michigan days.

–Listen to your favorite song.

“Shake It Up” By Taylor Swift is a feel-good-mood-booster that can be enjoyed by all!

–Schedule a spa service for yourself.

I love Beach House Spa in Birmingham. The ambiance is so relaxing you will feel like you left a beach vacation when you return home. If you have a gift certificate you have been savoring for the “perfect time,” activate it now girl! Chances are you will be rushing through your errands if you wait to use it before vacation or a special event. Ask your partner to watch the kids on a weeknight so you can get a massage. You will come home with a pampered and grateful heart. Everyone benefits from a blissed out mom.

–Call your best friend.

–Schedule 3 workouts this week.

-Meet a friend at the park for a play date and walk there and back. Try to make it a brisk walk to get your heart rate up. Lunge your way down the drive way while you push the stroller to really get your endorphins going.

-Go to a work out class. My favorite is definitely The Dailey Method in Birmingham (I may be a tad biased because I own it, wink, wink). One reason is because it works my mind, body, and spirit in one short hour. Another is because it offers child care so I can bring my baby to socialize with other kids while I reenergize for the day. While it is technically my “job,” it is also my happy place and I know I am a happier person to be around after I sneak into class.

-Get up 30 minutes earlier to work out before the household wakes. I love to stream yoga classes from YogaGlo when I do not get a chance to get to a studio.  The first 15 days are free, so it would give you a chance to try it before you invest. You can choose your style, level, and duration and you get to learn from some of the best teachers in the country. Don’t worry, you do not have to be a yogi to benefit. Beginners welcome!

–Eat something live, real, and extremely nourishing.

How often do you sit down to eat a healthy meal of your own? Most moms I know fall victim to the Momnivore scenario where they settle for the kid’s leftovers. Good food can make a huge impact on how you feel and who knows, your family just may get curious enough to try your green smoothie one morning.

–Download the book you have been hearing great things about.

My personal favorite is “Miracles Now” by my girl, Gabriel Bernstein. I try to read one of the 108 Miracles each morning. Correction. I do not always get to read in the morning but my best days begin with a passage from this book. And guess what? The digital version is under $10 on Amazon!

–Meet a girlfriend for a coffee date.

-Take time to be spiritual.

Wherever you may find inspiration- through nature, religious services, workout classes, or literature. Uplifting your spirit will automatically help you uplift all those around you.