As a home school mom, daycare provider for 8 years (before and during home schooling), a direct sales rep, and a lot more – I learned a few things. If I can help just one mom (hopefully a lot more) by sharing what I’ve learned, I will feel like my journey was with great purpose. This article is meant as a teaching tool for those who are walking now where I’ve walked previously. My purpose is greater than myself. It is to be a soldier for Christ and help His beloved excel and succeed.

5 Tips For Moms With Young Children

While many women are great nurturers, there are seasons of life that take us through different needs and wants. Women should remember, that they need to be nurtured as they nurture others. Keep reading to learn 5 tips for moms with young children.

In order to keep in line with our emotional, physical, AND spiritual needs, it’s best to map out different seasons of life and things you can do to keep your sense of self worth throughout these times. (There are great mentor moms at MOPS who can share their journeys and give insight.)

Don’t forget Mom!

Now I can hear some moms saying, “I have self worth. What are you talking about, I’m proud to be a mom,” etc. I LOVE being a mom (most of the time – wink). For many years I needed nothing more than to be mom and wife. So if you had said these things to me back when, I would have told you that I have self worth and you don’t know what you’re talking about. However, as my children got older and were out more often doing their own thing, I had to find something other than the kids to give me self worth. And there in lies a problem I didn’t even know existed.

When I made my whole life about being mom and wife, I sort of forgot about me and didn’t even think of what will happen in my future. That’s not to say that I didn’t have fun or enjoy myself. I had and still have hobbies and things I love to do. But now that I’m older, having a degree or two, or three, and certifications in areas of business I enjoy, would be helpful. By the time the kids didn’t want me around as much, it was too late in many areas to go back and set myself up for this new season (or at least, so I thought). I had the age-old attitude of, “I can do it later. I can do it when the kids move out and don’t need me as much.” Had I taken just a little, small amount of time back then, to set myself up for later years, I’d have my masters degree by now. I would have been certified in several areas of training. And there’s so much more!

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!

Now that my children are young adults, they need me just as much! You will never – NOT be a parent as long as you have children. It doesn’t always get easier as I was told most of my life. The relationships with your children just change, or rather, evolve.

5 tips for moms with young children:

1. Mom, take at least one class per year to keep your creative juices flowing. Any class that nurtures your creativity will do, ceramics, welding, auto shop, geography, etc. This allows you to work towards something just for you. When the kids move out, you will have finished or at least be close enough to getting a degree. And for those who received their college degree before they had children, there will probably need to be some updating of information in that field. The times they are a changin. 😉

2. If you have a hobby, set aside just a little time (if not more) each week to work on it. (I set mine aside thinking I could just do it later and later never came. Although I still have 13 boxes of stamping supplies – smile.)

3. Find a common interest with your husband that you can work on once a month so that after the kids move out, you have something you both love doing together.

4. Start or join a coop that gives you time without your children so you can work on one of your interests or give yourself a catch up day around the house. Though try not to make every moment away from the children a catch up day for chores. You need your fun time or as we coined the phrase, “Free Time/Me Time^©.”

5. Most of all, spend time just sitting on the floor, playing games and hugging your children.

Are there things you do for “you” while raising your children? Are there beautiful things you do with your children, giving them all of your focus?

Comment below to give other moms ideas.

©2007 Susie Glennan
All Rights Reserved.

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