Endlessly Tired Mama

Days seemed longer than usual, endlessly tired, showers calling my name. It seems impossible for this mother to keep up with everything.

I felt Defeated. Depleted. Worn out. Ready to check out.

Kids screaming and fighting one minute and the next they are best friends. Another minute the room is cleaned and the next its like a tornado came through our home.

I tried to keep up. Picking up toys, washing dishes, laundry piling up, meals to prepare for, rooms to be picked up, work to be done, it seemed all too much for this mama.

How can a mother feel so tired? Endlessly tired? How can a mother want to check out? Not like walk out and never come back but really just put a stop on everything and just sit.

The guilt. The shame. The terrible-horrible-no-good-feeling all came crashing on this mama for wanting to clear my head.

So often I see other mamas tired, worn out, looking for a place to escape but unsure how. As moms we feel this guilt crashing over our heads and hearts only to find us trapped.

I began sitting here, at this very moment, at my desk, wondering if I am the only mama who feels endlessly tired from all the mama things and housework things. And as I sit here, I began to feel rest swooping in while feeling worn out, depleted, and defeated. How?

Because I am reminded by this sweet reminder, that I can come to Jesus in my worn out wanting to check out places. I don’t have to hide myself or act like I am okay when I come to him. I can be real. Authentic. Open. And even sit in silence knowing He is right here with me in it all. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28 ESV, “Come to me all who weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Rest. What a word that is much needed in our heaviness. Weariness. Tiredness. Even in our depleted defeated self. He gives us rest for our weary souls in exchange to sit near to him and hand him our tiredness. What a peaceful giving and exchange it is.

Mothering can seem never ending. It is. It can seem overloading. It is. But it can also be one where we can hit pause on some things and not have to feel guilt.

He has shown me to reprioritize and remove what needs to be removed. The very things taking up space and “agenda” in my life so that I won’t be so wearisome or tiresome.

I wonder, maybe if we invite Jesus in our agenda, tasks, and to-do lists for the day and week, us mothers can begin to fill more rested. More at ease. More filled with Jesus. I don’t know about you friend, but I can surely use all the more rest, peace, at ease and filled with Jesus as he shows us what needs to go. How about you?

I want to ask you some questions friend, questions he very much is showing me right now in this moment and season.

• How is your agenda/schedule for the day? Is it packed and full?
• Are you able to actually breathe and maybe go for a walk without so much needing to be done?
• When you wake up, what do you head straight to?
• When you wake up, what is the first thing you think of?
• How are you currently feeling right now?
• What takes up most of your mind through the day (thoughts, emotions, ideas, etc)?
• Are you coming down to the well daily to get your soul nourished?
• How does rest look like to you?
• Are you inviting him into your schedule?

Motherhood doesn’t have to be this painted perfect get-it-all-done-today kind of mothering. Its learning to organize and reprioritize. It’s learning to let go of what’s hindering and enjoying the little things. Even the little things of watching them play legos on the living room floor with it all scattered everywhere. It’s seeing the floors needing mopping only to put it off and enjoy a walk outdoors. It’s calling up some friends to come over and help fill your cup up.

Motherhood is inviting Jesus in our mothering.

Theres no perfect agenda in mothering, just learning to let Jesus in.

I feel the motherhood stage. And I hear you. I see you. And so does He-Jesus.
Let’s head down to the well together sweet sister, and get our souls well-nourished.