What is your Mindset? Fearful? Overwhelmed? Consumed? Prepared? Ready? Fearless?

What if you could see beyond the heavy fog and seize this opportunity, looking past the negative toward the positive?  Keep reading and you will find helpful tips, but my deep desire for you is to see this time as a gift. We are living through a pandemic. Our daily routine has been shaken. Let’s embrace the crazy? 

My life has not been normal over the last seven years. I literally have the words on my bathroom door “Find Joy in the Journey”. I challenge you to see the good. I grew up going to church and my pastor always said…

“Things you appreciate tend to get better, that you depreciate tend to get worse,” -Pastor Buntain. 

Stop.. what can you control? Start there… your home, your family?

My personal belief sparked several years ago after reading a variety of resources detailing the danger of the over-scheduled family, Not So Fast and The Hurried Child are two great books that discuss the busyness of the family. I actually believe it is healthy for kids to have empty schedules. No dances classes, play groups, gym classes, little league. Let me explain…

We live in the land of high-achieving, multitasking speedaholics- slaves to our schedule.

We are now Entering the Slow Zone.

It is allowing us to stop overcommitting, overextending, overscheduling and overloading families.

Today, children no longer have empty space. They don’t know HOW to entertain themselves. This season presents the perfect opportunity for kids to enhance their problem solving skills, creativity and deepen family bonds.

Are we living life to the full or have we just been filling up our life?

Suddenly families across the country are forced to stay home. Moms from all backgrounds and beliefs are now experiencing the life of a “stay at home” mom. This came about not by choice but mandated by the government, a crisis. Many are worried. Fearful. Not just for their health and finances. BUT… Can we really be expected to STAY AT HOME? Gulp! That might be hard to swollen.

Let’s get real.. This could get ugly .. maybe it already has. This may not be easy at first. But if you implement these tips, your days will get easier. Routines will help. Somedays you will just barely survive BUT my prayer is that you will actually thrive and becomes even a better mom. Ahead are a few tips to both survive and thrive through this season.

Before I jump right into tips, I want to point out that we daily balance somewhere between surviving and thriving. Some days just keeping our kids alive is the best we can do while other days we may shock even the most blog-worthy moms. My desire is wherever you find yourself on the scale, this season will strengthen your family. I really believe it can!!

TIPS For Kids:

1-Allow your kids to be bored! It teaches them great creative and problem-solving skills. Children don’t know how to be creative when their lives are too scheduled. Boredom opens the door to creativity. My kids know not to say the “B” word, Bored. “If you are bored I can find you something to do- chores.” Saying that word gets you a heap of activities, aka chores.

2-Set Learning Goals to teach your kids. i.e., wash hands, tie shoes, fold clothes, empty dish washer, etc. Try one a day, one a week, one a month. whatever works.

3-Avoid Screens– last resort not first. Look for creative learning online- tons of resources! You Tube, Razkids, scholastics, cool math games, watch a movie in a foreign language, “how to” videos, etc… Screens are okay but go to learning games and activities first. Save mindless games for times of desperation. 

4-Create an Event each week to celebrate at home; Game night, movie night, dance party, ice cream night, camping with s’mores… It gives everyone something to look forward to when you can’t leave the house.

5- Create a “TO DO” list of activities they enjoy; art, outside play, call a friend, read a book, sensory bin (bucket, water, soap, – plastic tote), watch a movie, baking, dance party, games, if they get bored you can refer to the list. This gives them resources in case they get stuck. Kids learn through play. Provide art supplies, playdough outside, blankets for tents. Think outside the box. FUN!! 

Give away grace! Lots and lots of grace. To you and your kids!

TIPS For Mom:

1-Set Goals– What is something you have been trying to accomplish? Here is your chance. Declutter or organize. Spring Clean! Get smart-Read a book, blog, “how to” on YouTube that will expands your mind.

2-Create a Schedule- design a plan for the day, structure is important -set a schedule by creating an outline for what the day could look like. FLEXIBILITY is crucial! Some days you will use it others, well, just survive.

3-Phone a friend-– stay connected. We may be in isolation but don’t have to weather this alone. We need each other. Check in with a friend to see how they are doing.  Reach out if you are feeling alone, desperate or about to lose your mind for the twentieth time today. Friends help keep us stable and steady.

4-Exercise:  run, bike, Zumba, walk, 30 days challenge… You will feel better. Fresh air is great for kids and you. Can’t get to the gym? Zumba in your living room or garage.  Check out Pilates videos on YouTube, family dance party, there are tons and tons of ideas online.

5-Enforce Breaks: nap time, room time and bedtime- you need it.  Moms need a break. You can incorporate them into your day. You are in charge. If you have younger children start with 15 minutes of quiet room time (depending on their age), then increase it gradually. Create bedtime routines for smoother transitions.

(In an ideal world) Be Stressless and Ride the Wave

You will have HIGHS and LOWS. You are not Mary Poppins. You probably don’t have a nanny, housekeep or cook. It is all YOU. This is your family. You created it. This will either be great birth control OR we will have another baby boom. Be flexible, if it is not working stop- redirect- you are in charge! Kids feel your stress. Limit news watching, be informed but not consumed. Someday you will just survive and other days you will thrive. Like being on a ride at Disneyland we will have our ups and downs.

                                GRACE!

You have been given the gift of time, FAMILY TIME. Are you looking at the glass half full or half empty?

So important! DO NOT make your kids feel like it is negative for you to be home with them all day. They are aware. They are stressed. Their world has been changed too. Pour out LOVE!

If you think this is the worst thing- it will be the worst thing. With a worldwide pandemic, things are changing. Fast. Whether you became a stay at home mom overnight or been fulfilling this role for years, we are all in. Literally. ALL IN!  

Find Joy in the Journey. 

We can do this!! Adjusting your mindset can be a game changer! We are moms. We got this! Good thing His mercies are new every morning!