5 Truths For A New Mom

I started this blog several weeks ago, before we found out that our daughter, Samantha and her husband, Rudy, are expecting their first child. We’re so excited to be grandparents! So, when I took another look at this blog before publishing it, my heart is tugged in a little different way, knowing that our baby girl will be a Mom soon. I pray that some of these pieces of advice are helpful not only to Samantha, but to you as well.

1. Don’t wish their childhood away

It’s so easy to strain on to the next monumental moment. Their first steps. Their first words. Their first day of school. But be careful not to miss this moment, because before you know it they are driving away to college. It will come sooner than you think, and you’ll never get this time back.

2. Everything is for a season

It seems like just when you get used to a phase they’re going through, it changes again and your parenting style must change continuously, even when your kids become adults. Some seasons are sweet, and you want to savor every moment. Then there are seasons that you hold your breath waiting for them to end. But I promise: you will someday miss even the hardest days.

3. Just sit on the couch; SLOW DOWN

I remember sitting for hours, holding Nathan and watching him sleep. During those times I didn’t do the dishes, and I didn’t get to the laundry. The house didn’t clean itself, although that would have been nice. But I did get to study his precious face, taking in every moment of him laying in my arms. Don’t be so busy picking up toys that you miss out spending quality time with your little ones.

4. Seek Godly counsel

Get advice from other mom’s- have a mentor. Motherhood can feel isolating if you’re trying to do it all on your own. Reach out to other mom’s. We’re all in this together!

5. Take time for YOU

There are plenty of groups that exist to help you recharge, from MOPS and Mom’s Day Out Program to a simple lunch with the girls. You won’t be the mom you want to be if you are constantly running on empty.

As an empty nester, there are some major things I am going to miss. I will miss a house full of rowdy kids. I’ll miss entertaining our kids’ friends on a Friday night, and hearing about what’s going on in my kids’ lives everyday. I will miss those sporting events, choir shows, and coming together with other parents to help out at school. I look back on all those mundane memories of motherhood and realize just how precious each moment was. Even when it felt like a mundane task, I now see that God had purposed every single tiny moment.

But there are some new milestones to look forward to; things that I love about being an empty nester. I cherish the hugs I get when our son comes home from college or the texts or phone calls about nothing in particular.

I love the times our entire family is together, whether it’s enjoying a meal together, attending church together, watching a movie, playing cards or just sitting around laughing and talking… We’re blessed that our children are physically close to us and that they even want to spend time with us!

I love that our kids still seem to enjoy being around us- doing things with us

It fills my heart, Watching them grow into productive, caring adults- serving others, stepping up, leading others.

So I guess my advice to you, new mom, is this: cherish those moments. The hard ones, the sweet ones, the crazy ones, cherish them all. Store them up in your heart because the season you’re in is precious. But also know that it gets better and better. That baby you’re rocking to sleep at night will someday become one of your best friends, and someone you will one day look on with pride as you think back to the moment he or she was just a little baby in your arms. I hope you are finding joy in this journey, because being a mom is one of the most treasured callings you can ever experience.