The True Schedule of a Stay-At-Home Mom
I try to start Mondays all organized, but for the last few weeks I’ve been feeling like I just can’t catch up. So, this morning, I got up early and started working on this week’s schedule.
Jon joined me in the kitchen as I was finishing, and we both took a look at the schedule. Only a few things planned this week, mostly white space.
I sighed, and looked up at him. “If there’s so much white space every week, how come I feel like I can’t ever catch up?”
My husband, ever the hero, pointed to all of that white space and replied, “Because that white space isn’t really white space. It’s cleverly disguised Nathan and Emily time.”
And I laughed, because he was right. Being a mom means there is no white space anymore. Not really. So, I give you the true schedule of this stay-at-home mom.
So, if you’re a momma who, like me, started the week already feeling defeated, let me change your perspective a bit. You’re a mom. Taking care of your kids, wiping bottoms, making sandwiches, reading stories, playing outside, squashing squabbles, training hearts, filling bellies, rocking babies – that’s all more than enough to take up every second of your day.
If you get the chance to accomplish anything else, that’s a victory, my friend. Home-cooked dinner? A victory. Playdate with friends? A victory. Doctor’s appointment with your little ones? A handful of victories.
So, take heart. You’re not defeated. You’re devoting time and energy and patience and intentionality to the things that matter. The little, booger-eating people who matter very much.
Your work? It’s more than a calendar can hold.
It’s a brand new week, momma. You can do this!
PIN IT!
Kayse Pratt serves Christian women as a writer + designer, creating home + life management resources that help those women plan their days around what matters most. She’s created the most unique planner on the market, helped over 400 women create custom home management plans, and works with hundreds of women each month inside her membership, teaching them how to plan their days around what matters most. When she’s not designing printables or writing essays, you’ll find Kayse homeschooling her kids, reading a cheesy novel with a giant cup of tea in hand, or watching an old show from the 90’s with her husband, who is her very best friend.
That’s hilarious! So so true
Love this so much!! Funny and a great reminder!
I so needed to read this today! Thank you!
I really love this calendar board! Where did you get it?
I made it! I got the white board from Target, and cut everything out of vinyl using my silhouette. It took WAY TOO LONG. I should have just drawn it on with a sharpie!! 🙂
You are fantastic fun!
So true and wonderfully said! I always felt like I didn’t do enough, like I was failing at this stay-at-home mom stuff. I realize now that I do a lot more than I ever thought even when I am not doing some of the other things I should.
You’re soooo organized. Thank you for all of your tips. I love your blog 🙂
I LOVE this! You are such a great writer and have such a way with words! 🙂
Yes! My struggle now is that I am a work at home mom to FOUR kids! Yikes!!!
Amazing I have trouble keeping everything in order I am going to try this.
So true!
Haha I love the white space quote. Sometimes I feel the same way. But thank you for sharing. Sometimes I get overwhelmed but then I remember that it is very very wonderful work. 🙂
Your honesty and encouragement is inspiring! 🙂
Great idea!!
I like how you said we are devoting time to what really matters. All too often, I feel like no one appreciates what I do, but then I need to remember that the real work isn’t something that can be seen on a day to day basis because it’s helping my kids become successful adults.
It has taken me 6 years to accept this!! I look back and think about all the wasted time…but then stop because I am wasting more time thinking about the wasted time. Haha! I hope all moms realize this, whether they are stay at home moms or working moms!
It is always nice to know I am not the only one.
Love this! So true that almost every moment is either taken up by doing something for the kids, or thinking about the kids.
This right here is truth I need to remember: “Taking care of your kids, wiping bottoms, making sandwiches, reading stories, playing outside, squashing squabbles, training hearts, filling bellies, rocking babies – that’s all more than enough to take up every second of your day.” Thanks, friend!
I realize even though I’m not a stay at home mom, that’s it’s just the two of us now, we still need to incorporate time for each other, to spend time together, not just in front of the TV time, I really When I was married to my first husband, we had a happiness jar, you take turns drawing one daily and we do what it says and everything is free, I also had one for our 3 young daughters, we had a lot of fun, at that time I was a stay at home mom! Big Tight Hugs! This is the first time I have done entry’s like this I think I did some of them wrong, so sorry!
Jann
This is a fantastic reminder! I always feel like I should fill up my calendar more to keep up with other moms or some other crazy thought. But all my blank space is full of my Baby Girl!!
I love the reminder that everything we do as moms is enough to take up every second of the day. I so often feel that I’m falling short. Thanks for the encouragement!!
thank you for your encouraging words! I am in the newborn stage and have a total of five kids, i never feel like i get anything done!
Sometimes it is hard to remember that what I do is just as important as someone who is not a stay at home mom. Thanks for the reminder and encouragement!
haha! So true!
I love this. So encouraging for the busy mommas. 🙂
This made me laugh and also was a big dose of encouragement!! It’s SO true!!!! Thanks for the awesome post!!
This made me laugh! Perspective is everything. I used to be where you are…now 4 are grown, married and on their own, and the baby is a high school senior. Soon, so very soon, you’ll have more time to be “productive”. And you’ll realize just how productive you were for all those years.
This won’t change when there older. Enjoy them!
Such a good reminder. I often ask myself what I did all day. (and I still feel like I don’t spend enough time with my kids or do any housework!) ugh. But there’s grace in the day if I allow for it.
Love this post and it’s honesty
Even without being a mama my days are also filled with fake “white space.” Having it pointed out is helpful.
Amen! It is a tough job, but who better to handle this than the ones God has and continues to equip for this blessed job! He will sustain us!!
I’m not a stay at home mom but I do struggle with this idea on weekends and other times that I’m home. Thanks for the reminder that time I spend with my little guy is just as important as my to do list!
Thank you for encouraging stay at home moms with young children. It’s a tough but rewarding job!
Thanks for the laugh, it’s all true. Busy and fun, but at the end of the day if anyone asks what I got done, some days I can’t think of anything, but I was busy all day. I’ve forgotten how important “KID TIME” is. Thanks for the reminder.
Amen to this post! Love it! – As a SAHM, this really resonates with me!
Do the things that matter!
I certainly needed this post! I am a new mom to a 5 month old, and just recently went back to my part time job. I was feeling a bit down – and this put it back into perspective! It is SUCH a precious time in our lives, and SOON I will wish it was back. So – I’m going to soak it in, the silly stuff I miss sometimes will be back TOO soon.
I have some trouble remembering this when some family members (who sadly don’t have Christ in their lives) tell me that since I don’t have it “all together” I’m not doing enough. Lately I’ve been choosing Christ’s Truth instead of the shame that fills me when I listen to those lies, but it’s a struggle. Thanks for being on the side of Truth in this one!
I will be quitting my day job in the Spring to become a full-time SAHM. I’m nervous and excited. Nervous because of the financial constraint but excited because (duh) my kids! Thank you for this post and the insight I’m gleaning from comments. It all makes me more excited.
Great post, as always 😀 Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Great encouragement.M
This is great!
I love the color-coding idea!
So true!
This is so true! lol
I love articles like this that really put things into perspective. Not a mama yet but someday! And this changed my perspective a lot 🙂
Oh so true…how our perceptions are often so skewed about what really happens in our homes! Loved this!
You made me smile, I have only one child, but I remember those stay at home days.
You made me smile, I have only one child, but I remember those stay at home days. Sometimes an only is even harder, especially when bored, so I should never say “only one”. 🙂
Oh, that post is so true. As a SAHM myself, I feel like people often don’t see what we do even though this is the toughest job I ever held in my entire life. Kids are exhausting and there is no such thing as an ordinary week. But despite the chaos and tiredness, I wouldn’t trade it in the world.
Where were you when I had littles? oh yes, you were probably a little yourself (or at least a middle schooler! lol) I remember when I first had my oldest Brock (who is 16 1/2 now) and my husband came home and I was sort of a basket case. I kind of wailed at him, “I can’t get anything done!! Look at this place!” He put his hands on my shoulders, looked me in the eye and said, “Brock is your job. It’s okay if you don’t get much else done because HE is a big job just by himself.” So, it really IS true – anything else really IS just gravy! 🙂
I totally needed to read this today! As the mom of a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 week old, I’m finding it difficult to keep my head above water, let alone accomplish items on my to-do list. My Type A personality doesn’t do well with an incomplete list, so thank you for the reminder that I am accomplishing plenty every day!
Totally, totally, TOTALLY get this. This is my life. “What did I do today?” It doesn’t look like I did anything. But I know I did. Everyone ate 3 meals, they wore clean clothes and there were no trips to the ER. Looks like a good and productive day to me. 😉
Well said, friend! I love the calendar visuals too.
Thank you! Even us stay-at-home Grandmas( 2-3 year olds, a 4 year old, and a7 year old) need reminding that what we give up is not nearly as important as we get. My day begins early 6:30 and ends at 5:00 pm. Some days I wonder why I agreed to do this but then I listen to the I love yous and know why I did. Thanks for saying what I am thinking!!!
Oh Kayse..
You truly just put it into more perspective for me..As I introduced my self when I first sign up for your beautiful site..being now 41 and a stay at home wife/mom to a wonderful husband and a beautiful 5 year princess with Aspergers..
I have and always do love being a stay at home( even though our household and myself are still unorganized..will get there soon).sometimes I so feel that I do or do not enough..
Thanks to you and your very kind husband..I am doing what needs to be done with finally realizing it that is really okay for Mom to just have a Mom time even if it is one day but always remember to ask for help..( one of my favoriate things to do is to wait for our daughter’s special bus to arrive after class with her smiling at me at the window..
Bless you.
Ok where did you get that board? I need one of those SO badly but don’t have the strength to try to pintrest one myself. I don’t think my fragile psyche could handle a pintrest fail right now! 😉
I totally made it myself, sorry. It took forever. BUT, I will say that if I had to go back and do it all over again, I’d just use sharpies to draw the lines instead of cutting and pressing on vinyl dividers. Dumbest idea ever. The board itself is from Target – grab one and draw on some sharpie lines and you’ll be good to go in 10 minutes!
Thank you for this encouragement!!! I especially needed to hear it on after a crazy day like today 🙂 Thanks for reminding me, in the midst of the chaos and mess, that how I’m investing my time really matters. 🙂
Beautiful, beautiful, and so well said!!! Thank you for speaking this truth to us today. I really needed to hear this. Thank you so much. And your family is beautiful, my friend!!! YOU are doing an amazing job!