Photo by Pexels via Pixabay. Edited by Erin Franco. 2017 CCO Public Domain.
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In general the first few years of marriage and motherhood, wherever you are, can be incredibly difficult.
Many times, a cup of coffee and a good conversation with a Titus 2 mom friend has been much-needed encouragement.
If you happen to be in desperate need of a coffee date like that, would you allow me to treat you to an e-date of sorts? I’m no expert at walking with God through the Little Years, but my heart wants so much to share some of what I’ve learned so far. I’m also no expert at marriage…but I have a heart for that, too. They say that sometimes we can develop a passion for where we have struggled…that’s me.:)
So, let’s pretend that we’re at your favorite coffee shop. Just you and me. We have a cozy, private booth in the back corner of the store. Our children are all at home bonding with their fathers and eating nutritious snacks. We have both just purchased the delicious coffee drink of our choice, and there is a large, warm chocolate chunk cookie on the little table in front of us, already cut in half to share (calorie/gluten/soy/dairy/peanut-free if needed:).You have just asked me, “Erin, how do we do this all?! It seems impossible. I’m trying so hard, but I’m drowning most of the time.” Either that or I have simply picked up on the exhaustion, disenchantment and discouragement on your face.:)
First, can I just tell you that I’m right there with you some days?
Now, let’s take a bite of that cookie. Because Rule #1 is that Chocolate Always Helps. (Just kidding. Sort of. Have you made this yet?!)
Life has so many seasons. It’s a constant ebb and flow and stretching and coasting and then doing it all over again. We get into a good routine and then…growth spurt…job change…out-of-state move…NFP woes…natural disasters..the flu…new baby…
We just can’t do it all, all the time, all at once, or all well. In fact, no other women in history have been asked to do what your average American mom is supposed to be able to do these days.
And of course we’re inadequate to the task. It comes with having a God-given mission. But we mothers join the ranks of Peter, and Moses, and Joshua, and Gideon, and Mary, and a host of other Biblical heroes (and the saints!). God always gives us more than we can handle, because giving us a mission that is more than we can handle is so often the only way that He can get us to fall into His arms so that He can then do some amazing things through us.
The life of faith is a never-ending re-centering of our lives on God: discerning His will and depending on his providence and trusting his timing and blooming where we’re planted. Something that helps so much in any vocation we’re in is to constantly examine ourselves. Every day is great. Every month is helpful. With our spouse is wonderful.
Remember that the mission always goes back to your marriage. Fight for your marriage, and the graces of the sacrament will flow. Let your spouse point you to God, every day, whether its by his holiness or because you’re on your knees in prayer about him. And when you fail and fight and hurt one another over and over and you don’t know how to stop, remember what God wants for you. Something will change, eventually. A phone call, a new acquaintance, a change of heart, a powerful homily, a book…there are so many ways God reaches us. And don’t be afraid to seek out good counseling! Just about all of us go into marriage with wounds and brokenness. A good counselor can be such a gift.
Remember, too, that the vocation to marriage is not all about children. One of the greatest gifts you can give to any children you have are healthy, happy parents. Sometimes fighting for your marriage looks like calling eight people to find a babysitter. Sometimes it means getting counseling. Sometimes it means sending your husband to work out for an hour a few days a week after work. And sometimes–maybe a lot of times–fighting for your marriage means being on your knees in prayer for a thousand nights in a row.
Sometimes Christian marriage and parenting books directed to moms can all seem to say the same thing: “Give, give, give. Be selfless. Die to self.” I won’t tell you that’s bad advice. But maybe it’s incomplete. Because we all need rest that renews sometimes. And we have to fight for that kind of rest in our busy lives. Whether it’s making Sundays a consistent day for rest, a monthly holy hour, a weekly mom’s night out for coffee and a good book, a whole weekend away, or something restful and life-giving unique to you, go for it and toss out those feelings of guilt with the trash. Self-care is so important! As an introvert, I’ve learned that taking care of myself IS taking care of my family. Because a mother with an empty tank isn’t her best self. And our families need us to be our best selves. And if your husband isn’t on board at first with more regular R&R for you, be patient but sweetly firm, and let the fruit of a refreshed wife speak for itself.
Speaking of children, the joys and sorrows of discerning them and making them and accepting them can be incredibly and breathtakingly hard. For those of you in the trenches with things like intimacy, infertility, or NFP, there are some excellent blogs and great books out there these days. Read them. Know, sister, that there are many, many “you, too?!’s” out there. You’re not alone. God has great plans for your marriage, and that includes your intimate relationship with your husband. Be patient with yourself and your spouse, find time to talk over things often with a calm and right heart, find big and small ways to be selfless, and don’t let go of a good sense of humor. Oh, and if you don’t do it already–pray.
On the running-a-home-front, let’s just say that feeding people and doing laundry and keeping the bathrooms sorta-decent is messy. Learning how to improve the running of your household is usually a very helpful thing. There are lots of great places to get advice on this, thankfully. Again, don’t try to do it all at once, but do try to do something if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Learning how to meal plan, or organize your bills, or lay out a beginning mother’s rule of life can be…life-changing is the word that comes to mind. I am so, so not “there” yet with running my home perfectly. I have found that necessity has been the mother of order in my home, to be honest.
Running a household also means running a house full of schedules. Work on a rule of life for your family that doesn’t say “yes” to every good thing. Really discern “good” and “better” for your family regarding activities, employment, ministry, and the need for unstructured family time. Simplify, simplify, simplify whenever and wherever possible.
Young marriage and motherhood can feel like being helplessly pulled along by a strong current. Maybe that’s just me? I am not a master swimmer yet. And at those times when I feel like I’m five minutes away from going under, it seems like it’s always then that somebody hands me a hungry baby! But as St. Pope John Paul II said so beautifully, we find ourselves when we make a sincere gift of ourselves. Sometimes I think that my challenge as a mom is to mentally stop fighting all the things I have to give to my family whether I like it or not, and to take those thoughts captive to Christ.
We mothers have a mission that requires us to climb a great spiritual mountain in these early years especially: A daily, active surrender that says I chose this, I choose this, and I will continue to choose Him.
This is one of my very favorite Scriptures in speaking to my motherhood:
“Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.” -Colossians 3:23
Isn’t that a good one to post above the sink, girls?! 🙂
I know very well how helpful it can be in the little years to get a little time away with coffee, chocolate, and a Titus 2 friend.
If you don’t have a coffee talk with a friend on the calendar today, I hope this post lightened your burden, made you feel normal, and left a little sweetness in your spirit.
God bless,
Hi Erin!
I re-found this greeting card given to me by a dear friend right before we left Houston, and it made me think of this blog post, so here is what the front says:
Two women met for coffee.
They talked about life –
things they were working through
and things they were learning.
They showed each other grace
and gave each other courage.
Even though neither of them
had all the answers,
they knew that God sure did.
So they laughed and cried
and shared their lives.
And in the end, when their mugs were empty…
their hearts were full.
I love and need those coffee talks so much, and I think all women do! And I think blogs, like yours, can serve as for people — that coffee talk when you just can't get out to do it in real life. Thank you!
Wow, I am keeping the words from that card filed for a handwritten note some day. So awesome. Let's you and I do coffee soon!!!;)
I LOVE this post. I agree with Miranda, thank you for writing when you could be resting. I really enjoy all of your posts on motherhood/marriage. They are always so encouraging.
Blogging is like a compulsion–I have these thoughts that I want to share in hopes that they will bless others. I do usually sleep when I need to though.;) I wanted to say that I am in a season of my life right now where I get enough rest in general. All of my children sleep through the night and nap well, and I have the space and the time to write more than I did maybe a couple of years ago. I am enjoying this season for sure. It is a gift. 😉
Blogging is like a compulsion–I have these thoughts that I want to share in hopes that they will bless others. I do usually sleep when I need to though.;) I wanted to say that I am in a season of my life right now where I get enough rest in general. All of my children sleep through the night and nap well, and I have the space and the time to write more than I did maybe a couple of years ago. I am enjoying this season for sure. It is a gift. 😉
I just love your words, Erin. Sometimes God reaches me through your wise young mother words. Thank you for taking the time to write when you could be napping. I always choose to rest when given the opportunity. And that's not just my pregant self speaking; -)
You are such a sweet person, Miranda. Thank you for your encouragement. I KNOW we would be frequent playdate-playmates if we lived in the same town!:)