Motherhood Uncovered

This week’s focus for me is preparing a trip with my boys, alone. I’ve taken a trip 1000 miles away by myself but never with two human responsibilities. My husband or my mom have always been my sidekick for these events. We had planned on traveling back in December but it fell through. My husband has gotten very busy with work and it’s not going to be beneficial financially for him to come. We are excited to see family we haven’t since last May and enjoy the recent snowfall. Speaking of that, I need to be monitoring the road conditions to see if I can even make it this time. It seems my life comes with many obstacles in these situation’s. I don’t know about you but my mind spirals with events like this. I need to prep at least a week before with any grocery items necessary and last minute essentials. I create lists in word to make sure all clothing, shoes, and hygiene items are not forgotten. I have a checklist for each hotel stop to be sure we do not need to leave the room once we are there. I even went to the extent of creating an emergency list of contacts and personal info in the case we had an accident and weren’t responsive. I laminated it as well, can you really be too prepared? If there is something I haven’t thought of, I might cry. It is definitely a personality trait that I’ve developed over the years. I have this need to reach a level of perfection I will never find and be disappointed about it. It’s a work in progress for me.

As I mentioned in my previous post, our family has many events being held this year all across the country. The most amazing part about it is that we don’t have to navigate travel according to school schedules. We utilize the time and area we’re in to incorporate educational opportunities. We have two wedding to attend, in two different cities, both of which have had many historical events take place. I have already started putting together a “packet” of activities and information for each place. I love that my boys will be able to see it in person. It allows for the information to be interesting and may spark more conversation. My oldest has always been the empathic type, like me. We appreciate the extra detail described when it comes to how others felt to what they were passionate about. It allows us to have a better understanding of what they were going through. I feel blessed to have that ability.

We are down to three days to pack and prepared for two days on the road. Last May was our big trip so it has been some time since the boys have had to withstand sitting for so long. They are truly wonderful travelers. If I pack plenty of snacks and make sure all the necessary games and movies are downloaded, they’re good to go. One item I will always have on a road trip is a bucket. Our first huge trip was when we moved 1000 miles. The day we left my son said he felt off and was laying around but we thought maybe he was sad and overwhelmed with what was going on around him. Not the case, he was sick. We got a few hours down the road and boom, the vomiting begins. I was so happy with myself that I thought to bring puke buckets. This circumstance comes with a God story though! When we had pulled over with two U-hauls and our personal vehicle, I had gotten my son cleaned up while the guys double checked our belongings including the vehicle we had on a tow hitch attached to the U-Haul. They soon discovered our Jeep was starting to detach from the trailer. If my son hadn’t puked and we never pulled over, the jeep could’ve fell off and caused an accident for ourselves or any drivers surrounding us. That was definitely a reminder that God is always with us and he can put things in place to allow for correction before the fall.

Do you ever get the overwhelming feeling to just grab your child and put them bubble wrapped room? I cannot speak for girl moms but from what I heard they seem to play quietly more often then boys do. Mine wrestle, play tag and cops and robbers through the house. Our house seems to stay in an energetic state most of the day. With all of that excitement comes risks, and my boys are risk takers. I have learned in my journey of motherhood that with every year they get older, they find new strengths and confidence. For example, I decided to set up the old VCR in their room and play a movie that would hopefully keep them entertained while I speed clean the house. I checked on them a few times and they seemed to be enjoying it, great! Actually, not so great…..I walked into seeing my youngest jump from the top bunk, onto the floor where they had placed the bottom bunks’ mattress. All they did was giggle and he said, “Mommy, did you see me do a flip?!” I had no words that expressed the pit in my stomach taking witness to that. As a mother you’re continuously reminded that your world can change in a short 10-15 minutes. I know I am not the only one who thinks of every possible scenario that could occur when your child steps anywhere in the sight of danger. Sending them out into the world becomes the biggest fear you have. When they’re babies and toddlers you worry out physical harm for the most part. As they get older it turns into praying they don’t get their feeling hurt at the playground and hoping they’re really good at sport or hobby they enjoy. You want to make everything right and good so they don’t have to suffer. We forget that those are some of the very moments that have shaped up into who we are today. It’s hard letting go of the control you had when they were little ones. They continue to grow and as parents it’s our job to make sure they’re prepared for the journey. I pray I can be an example as well as a great leader and teacher for them. I pray that as parents we can display how to overcome obstacles and have healthy relationships. I pray that in my anxiousness I can choose the best way to protect them while allowing the independence they need.

One day I came across a video of a homeschooling mom, her life looked peaceful and full. And something about the fact that she was able to spend endless hours at home, with her children. No deadlines, no phone calls, absolute peace. Minus the kids, obviously! The biggest challenge would be how we could manage life on one salary. I began listening to audiobooks, reading blogs, seeking out any form of information about being a stay at home, homeschooling mom. I grew up in the public school setting and so did my husband and generations of family on either side. I personally thought homeschooled kids were a little backward because of being sheltered. But what I learned from that, is they had a way of socializing without needing to fit in. It’s understood in the homeschooling community that the whole point is to be different. We need to be comfortable as the person God created us to be and block out the noise the world tries to fill our heads with. This life would give us the ability to prioritize the teachings of our Lord and Savior instead of the anatomy of a cell. While that is also important knowledge, having your child at home allows them to focus on particular topics. Not only can we make Jesus #1, but they are able to have interests beyond a traditional school day. I don’t remember having any particular hobby or interest because of the time I spent being of the world. I wanted to run around with my friends and when I was old enough I worried about boys. It consumed me and distracted me from the potential I naturally had. I never assumed that I would be researching curriculums and making bread from a sourdough starter. I don’t dwell on what I never had though. I see my future as my potential. Now I have an opportunity to teach my children and myself new skills and knowledge I didn’t ever really see as necessary. We live in an industrialized, consumer filled, fast paced world. This is what I was molding into, forgetting that the root of our survival is learning how to thrive without the industry. I cannot thank God enough for the opportunity to thrive in this way. Through the struggle our family has been able to make it work and it’s been a blessing that will keep on giving throughout our lives. If you’re reading this and you have been thinking about homeschooling or you’re seeking an answer on how to make it work, this blog can certainly give you the motivation you need. Every post will give you more insight on how my family makes it work and how we thrive in an environment where we focus on slowing down and tending to our natural needs. God never intended for us to be so busy we cannot make time for what matters most. Influencing one another to be like Jesus. When that focus becomes number one, everything else can fall in line.

Final Day of 2025

The last day of the year has mixed feelings. For me personally, I reflect on what we overcame, how we grew as a family or individually, and even the goals we did not reach. I am always so proud of my boys and the people they are growing into. This specifically is bittersweet. Time is a thief and even through all the times I focused on being present, I can still think about a hundred times I was not. That brings me to the topic of resolutions. I have never been a New Year’s Resolution gal. I am the type that must restart about 10-20 times before a habit sticks. Rather than push hard only in January, I focus on one goal at a time throughout the years and what I can currently handle. As a mom we deal with underlying stress that is not made aware as often as it should. After having one baby your brain is not the same as it used to be. We live in crisis mode for months trying to learn our babies’ cues and the new routine of parenthood, all while trying to implement the life we had before. I did not even mention the possibility of complications medically, our support systems and postpartum depression. I have been a mother for 8 years now, with two boys in the mix. During this time, I have dealt with my biggest struggles in life and have learned a lot. In my imperfection, I have found several ways that have helped me on the day-to-day race to keep positive and my mind and body in order. Here are a few things I try to find time for every day. They are simple tasks but make a world of difference.

• Begin your day spending time with God.
• Move around – take a walk, find an exercise routine, play outside with the kids.
• Touch grass and find sunlight.
• Shift your mindset to this is the life and purpose God has given me.
• Go to bed earlier and stop doomscrolling.
• Make Lists, not just one, one for everything.

You do not need to put too much pressure on yourself. We are only as good as the amount we have filled our cup with. A few years ago, when I quit my job, I had more opportunity to spend time in the Bible. This created a fire in me to grow further in my relationship with God. I had been living in the motions following the path of the world and not spending time with God to learn what my true calling was. To be honest I spent most of my life wondering what the heck my purpose is. Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

Aside from forming a relationship with God, it would only make sense that we spend time everyday connecting to the earth he created for us. Spending time touching grass and catching sunlight can pair with exercise and the kids playing outside. Take a slot of time in your day to make this a priority and I promise everyone in your house will start seeing their natural energy return.

Shifting your mindset if tough! I am still working on this, and I think most would admit this is the toughest transition. Try changing your mindset to see and question everything with, “Will this positively benefit my family and myself and is it pleasing in God’s eyes? For example, my son LOVES making messes. With toys, with dirt, with anything he can get his hands on. I have had to shift my mindset from the mess to the need. What can I do here that is positive for him and pleasing in God’s eyes? If I just yelled and told him he cannot do anything else until its cleaned up, it would likely remain there and I would have a grumpy kid or I can teach him how to properly clean the mess and help him so it is not overwhelming. He is 5 so I do not expect independence like my 8-year-old, he still needs me in ways the other does not. Now that my oldest has developed independence, I can ask him to clean his mess and he can do it all by himself. This is a perfect example of how the committed work you have put into your child has blossomed them into the person you were always hoping they would be.

Doomscrolling has captured too many of us. Instead of having hobbies and spending time using our creativity, we’re wasting our youth watching other people live. UGH. I’m guilty of it. Let’s just quit it and go to bed already. :)

To wrap up my favorite organizational tool is…..LISTS! I make a list for bills, household needs, groceries, errands, honey-dos for my hubby. The list goes on, no pun intended. This has whole heartedly helped me be a productive human being. We live in a world where distractions are endless and if we don’t stay prioritized it falls apart too fast. I am going to add a chart I created to stay on top of my home. If your home is cozy and clean your mind will follow along.

Everyone is different, but this has helped me and I pray that anyone who can benefit from this will be able to stay committed and gain a sense of peace along with it.

Most mornings you will find me cuddled on the couch with a cup of coffee and my bible. I find it important to begin my day with a bit of peace before the chaos, spending time in the word and talking with God. As I mentioned in my previous post, we homeschool, so every school year I choose a verse to resonate on. This year was Philippians 2:14-16, “Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word.” This verse in particular spoke to me because it explains that if we choose to complain rather than see our daily life as a blessing, we are just as bad as the “crooked generation”. For they do not know what they do as unbelievers, but it is our job to show how to live like Jesus. If we choose gratefulness, thankfulness, and we remind ourselves of what we do have, we will live a life with an abundance of joy and peace.

The hardest part of motherhood is checking all of the boxes while still making time for ourselves in the mix. We get burnt out easily if we allow the daily struggle to run our life rather than us running it. I used to be very out of sorts. I worked 40-60 hour weeks managing employees, answering calls at home, my laundry in heaps, dishes piling, the list goes on but you can see the picture. Many of us struggle to find a good balance of everyday life and most importantly setting boundaries!! A scary word sometimes. I never fixed the boundary problem with work so no advice there, my husband and I came up with a different solution. I quit my job and he became the only monetary provider for our family of 4. Also scary. The guilt was extreme between wanting to leave my company and the time spent apart from my children, but the greater priority outweighed the Fortune 500 any day. God was pulling me in a different direction than I had ever dreamed.

Something that came along with being a stay at home mom was finding new ways to save. We are a foodie family and love trying different cuisines, we also enjoy doing exciting activities for the kids that typically is going to cost something. My solution to the food problem was to start learning how to cook our favorite meals from our favorite restaurants. I have to brag, my fried rice is YUM! Other ways to save was geocaching, it’s been an exciting time for us to discover new places while also learning and spending time together. It also quite addicting. We recently took a huge leap in life and moved from Pennsylvania to Florida, so we are frequently at the beach. Before moving we spent our spring, summer, and fall by the creek and running around the farmhouse we were renting at the time. We had access to 100+ acres of land so the boys and I were always finding a new “Beauty Spot” as they called it. The picture above is the view from the porch of that house. The memories made there are unmatched. Now we live in a tight community with about 30 other houses on our street. It was assumed that we would face challenges adjusting to this lifestyle and we have, but we have also blossomed in ways that we not expected. Going back to the verse I shared, our life is not always ideal in our own mind but God knows the plan and if we focus daily on him, he will allow clarity into a life you never even knew you needed. Until next time. <3