Last Updated on April 24, 2024
Lately, I’ve often felt stressed out, overwhelmed, and weary in the struggle to stay connected with my kids, meet all their needs, and hold each detail of our family’s world together. I know, everyone is busy. We all have our ‘things’ happening presently. But sometimes it feels like more than I can bear.
And speaking of bears, they are lucky! They get to hibernate. For months at a time. Just one season…one simple winter season, I would like to try being a bear…
Losing the magic
Do you ever lose your ‘Momma Magic’? It’s that mysterious magic that gives you endless energy (or maybe ‘just enough’) to wake grumpy kids from delicious slumber early each morning, get them to school (often against their wishes), work a long, hard day at the office, retrieve those little angels from school, and maneuver driving home while they argue from the backseat over who had the most drama-infused day.
Then come the questions – about dinner, sports practice, where their mouthpiece is (because, YOU, Momma….are the one that lost it), and why they have to do their daily chores, yet again, today (when they just did them yesterday)?!
At home you start the second shift; dinner, sports practices/games, school programs, homework, bath time, more homework, prayers, and FINALLY….the moment you’ve been waiting for all day long. You fall into bed and practically start dreaming before your sweet head hits the pillow.
But wait…once your head actually hits the pillow, you fail to fall asleep! While your body may be ready and willing to let go, your overactive brain is just getting started. Hang on, Momma….you’re in for a long night.
Again.
A much-needed reminder
Just when I feel I’ve lost that Momma Magic, which supplies an endless (or just enough) amount of energy, wisdom, and patience to parent your kids, something (or Someone) gently reminds me, ‘You haven’t lost it. It is there, deep down inside, because I placed it there.’.
I simply need a reminder….
Reminders can look like those baby birds chirping their early morning song just outside my bedroom window at the crack of dawn. They would starve without their Momma bird faithfully bringing big, juicy worms back to the nest and plunging them into their bright yellow open-beaked mouths.
Reminders can look like the elderly neighbor, wearing a long pink terrycloth robe, stepping outside her back door with a small container of food. While her cat, I’m quite sure, is adept at catching mice and eating who knows what while roaming the streets, he faithfully returns to his human mother for that full container of breakfast each morning at 7:12 a.m.
Reminders can look like when my own son faithfully pads into my room and slides into my bed every morning at the same time (5:57 a.m.) to tell me it’s time to get up. He allows me three minutes of cuddle time before he springs up into the air like the Energizer Bunny, ready and willing to tackle his day.
Each reminder gently shows me how God is taking care of us, looking out for us, and giving us the little bursts of strength we need to find our God-given momma magic again.
When my son wakes me each day for those few minutes of connection, does he gift me those moments for himself, or for me? Regardless, it’s a little reminder of God’s kindness and patience with me. The ‘Momma Magic’ is once again ignited and fully charged, ready to spring up and charge forth with the coming adventures of the day.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
– Matthew 6:31-34
These are the good days
The days are long and the nights are short. The needs of others can easily fill our plates to the brim, and sometimes we reach our breaking point.
We yell and cry. We subscribe to some Amazon therapy, eat chocolate, binge on Netflix, or lock ourselves in the bathroom and dive into a hot bubble-filled tub of water. We do whatever it takes to get through the tough moments, so we can enjoy the more tender ones to follow.
And there are always tender moments to follow.
Cuddles in bed with your kids. Soothing a sick child. The tender look only a husband can give. The tail wag of a furry baby, wanting just a fraction of attention. A call from a friend. A long-overdue chat with our own mom.
Each moment of connection is a gentle reminder that while these days are hard, and we’re armed with nothing but a robotic Alexa and a coffee-stained mug that says, ‘Mom Boss’ – God is doing something beautiful here.
These are the good days. The ones where we are needed; so very, fully, blessedly needed. And loved.
When we break, our army sees. They care. And they step in, faithfully breathing fresh life into our weary lungs.
These are the days that flow much too quickly but fill us with the magical memories of the effervescent ‘Momma Magic’ for which every child hungers.
And every mother longs to feed.
works at the UMKC School of Pharmacy, is a mother to two human boys, two furry boys (dog – Atlas and cat – Hamilton), and enjoys freelance writing based on her travels, life adventures, and pretty much anything that stands out in life as ‘story-worthy’. Manndi contributes to several online and written publications, including: Ozarks Farm and Neighbor, Moms of Teens and Tweens, Her View from Home, Motherly, Salt + Sparrow, Daily Inspired Life with Karletta Marie, Calla Press, Focus on the Family, The Christian Standard, and has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul Believing in Angels (January 2022). She had her first book published in September 2022, Tales From My Mummy, which can be found in local bookstores and Amazon Kindle. Manndi’s greatest passion is being a boy mom to her two sons, William (13, going on 23) and Waylan (still sweet, boyish and dangerously close to 11). Her sons never fail to provide daily entertainment, which inspires many of her writings. She also loves to write about everything from being a single mom and dating after divorce to finding love later in life, the devastation of miscarriage, the loss of a loved one, and dealing with anxiety and mental health issues (specifically her personal journey with OCD). Her pieces are lovingly filled with inspiration, encouragement, and always a touch of humor.
“Live a life worthy of writing about” is her daily motto and she strives to live up to these words every single day!