10 Ways to be a Better Mom

We were sitting around the table when I asked him.

Sometimes you just need to hear something plain and simple from a child.

“Son, I want to be a better mother.  How can I be a better mom to you?”

He looked at me with that boyish, sunny grin. So full of life and love.

The kid is beautiful.

“Just…” he shrugged his shoulders sideways, like things really are this easy. “Just be happy.”

He’s sitting there beaming, not asking for an iPad or a trip to Disney World or a family fun night each week. He’s not asking for laundry stacked nicely on his bed or for meals to be home cooked or for glass doors to be free of smudge marks.

The kid just wants a happy mom.

And that’s just it, isn’t it? Want to know how to be a better mother? Turns out, a happy mom is what makes a good mom.

 

I’ve thought a lot about that simple conversation I had a few years ago with my eight year old. I want to be a better mom, and I’ve thought about the main things that keep me from being a happy mom and I’ve discovered three of them.

Three stinkin’ reasons that make “happy” feel impossible…

1. I feel flat out overwhelmed (stressed).

2. I feel under-equipped (clueless).

3. I feel exhausted (worn slap out).

 

Thing is, feelings can make problems appear bigger than they really are. When you sit down and look the enemy in the eye you realize they aren’t as big or tough as you thought. They aren’t insurmountable.

A little bit of home organization, inspiration, and motivation will go a long way in overcoming those barriers… which translates into a happier, better mom.

 

Read these 10 tips for being a better mom & put these action steps into place.

 

 

Below are 10 Ways to be a Better Mom,
and a 10 week plan for actually doing it.
 

 

 Week One: De-clutter  

Surprised? I’ll let you in on a secret. One of the greatest causes of stress in my life is clutter in my home. It’s likely the same for you.

Until I deal with unpacked boxes from the last move, paper piles, and dust bunnies, I know I’m never going to stop feeling constantly overwhelmed. Where is the clutter in your home right now? Now imagine how it would feel for that to be gone. See what I mean? This is step one in how to be a nicer mom!

Take one week to systematically work through each room of the house de-junking, purging and organizing your space. Remember the rule: A place for everything and everything in it’s place.

Recommended Resource:

Week Two: Have a Plan for Meal Planning

So sometimes I’m on and sometimes I’m off with the meal planning and this is the next big area that causes stress and tension in my home. This one is actually easy to address… we’ve just got to set aside a tiny bit of time each week to do it.

This week find a consistent time you can set aside for meal planning. Planning ahead eliminates the stress and pressure to come up with something at the last minute. Plus it means fewer meals out (i.e. cheaper)!

Recommended Resource: 

I LOVE the Eat at Home Meal Plans! Their monthly plans come with huge variety for all dietary needs and pallets. It’s hours of planning for a little over $1 a week. Click over to try it FREE:

Week Three: Master Your Mornings

So mornings can be absolutely crazy-nuts for us moms! The secret to having a great day is in mastering your mornings… and it’s easier than you think.

I’ve learned so much from other women when it comes to making the most of your mornings. Going from “messy mornings” to “meaningful mornings” takes some intentionality and a little bit of know-how. Crystal Paine brings those things together in her 14 day online course Makeover Your Mornings. This video course BRINGS IT! It is practical and totally doable for the busy mom. Crystal gives you mini coaching sessions each day and an assignment to implement. I recommend this course to every mom who needs to get a grip on her mornings!

Recommended Resource:

 

Week Four: Beautify and Simplify Your Home

So you’ve gotten rid of the clutter. Now it’s time to simplify and beautify your living space. Let’s face it: we all gravitate towards beauty. It’s the way God made us. As keepers of our homes, we can create a beautiful, inviting space without spending a penny.  {What? Don’t believe me? Your Simple Home Handbook: 30 Projects to Help Your Home Breathe convinced me; I bet it will convince you too!}

Begin working through the 30 different projects in the Your Simple Home Handbook. Pick three or four to complete this week and see what a difference they make.

 Recommended Resource:

 

I want to be a better mom. See what I learned from my son about how to be a nicer mom. Try these 10 tips for being a better mom, with your kids.

Week Five: Try Freezer Meals

There will be days when your best intentions or well laid plans will get overwritten by an emergency, a chance to serve someone else, or sheer exhaustion. Having a freezer meal ready to go will give you the confidence that it’s okay! You’re already covered!

So go ahead, this is your week to venture into the world of freezer meals. You won’t know if it works for you until you try it :)

Recommended Resource:

 

Week Six: Walk Intimately With God

I think we all know what a meaningful time with the Lord does for our attitude, words, and actions.  But sometimes we can be like Martha, so distracted by other things that we simply fail to make time with Him first priority. If that’s where you are right now, set a date with the Lord. Find a way to hold yourself accountable, such as working through a daily devotional. {The one written by yours truly is below :)}

Commit to making a habit of meeting with the Lord first thing every day, before anything else distracts or demands your attention.

Recommended Resource:

Week Seven: Create a Homemaking Binder

Calling all unorganized girls to attention. Ahem. A Homemaking Binder is just what you need to organize your cleaning schedule, finances, family calendar, to-do lists, meal and grocery sheets, and more. Some call this a life management system because that’s sort of what it is. You can create one that keeps track of all your personal information, your favorite recipes, your family calendar, whatever you need toward being an organized stay at home mom.

Think through what your ideal binder needs to  include. Then assimilate the necessary sheets and assemble your binder this week.

Recommended Resource:

This post by Lindsey will show you exactly how to assemble your own binder and what you might want to include in it.

 

Week Eight: Fuel Your Body Well (and your family’s)

Now that you’re regularly putting food on the table, it’s time to focus on making your food choices healthier. What we eat matters. While we all know this, there is so much info out there on best eating practices it can be overwhelming to sort through.  Just give me simple, actionable information by people who know what they are talking about!  Thankfully, this brand new eCourse does exactly that.

This course will help identify key changes to make regarding dietary habits that will deliver the greatest health impact. Simple and doable. Alternatively, choose a resource of your choice.  YES!

How can i be a better mom? Have you ever wondered this? Read these simple tips for how to be a better mom & try just one today.

 

Week Nine: Simplify the Wardrobe 

Let me just get real for a minute. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve reached for something in the closet only to find  the matching pants weren’t clean or mended… or the only clean top I had was a sleeveless one and I hadn’t had time to shave my armpits. I mean, this stuff happens. And in case you didn’t know, Mom’s attitude is a lot happier if she’s not wearing  pajamas while dropping the kids at school. Yup, it’s a scientific fact. :)

Make a date with your closet this week and start purging. Say goodbye to unwanted clutter, outdated styles, clothes you’ll never fit into or mend. See if it doesn’t help your attitude… even if it doesn’t do anything for the armpits~ wink~

 

Week Ten: Have Fun. Do Something You Love. Or Learn Something New!

Need I say more? Because we need to be stimulated mentally, ahem.

This week, pick a course from Craftsy to do just for fun. Or sign up for music lessons, join a Sewing club, enroll in a photography course, start a blog… the choice is yours and sky’s the limit!

 

So, there you have it~ ten practical ways to stop being overwhelmed, become equipped, and nourish your body, soul, and spirit. Ten tips for how to be a better mom. 

Just what those sunny-faced kids of yours ordered.

And if you’re ready for a fun, new tradition with your child(ren) to practice being a better mother, try our mother-daughter tea tradition with these beautiful Scripture tea tags. You may also want to try this Priceless prayer challenge.

Now that you’ve got your plan mapped out, what are you waiting for? Take these 10 steps for being a better mom-tips we can all use- and give them a try. Ready…set…go! 




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12 Comments

  1. I keep thinking of you telling “little bit” she couldn’t master it.

    I looked up the word master for the meaning: to make oneself master of; become an adept in. We need to….as moms….become adept at the skill of mothering because what we do can not be nipped in the bud because we think we’re never going to master this so why try. Why try?

    Try because a mom is given the privilege and honor of partnering with the Living Creator God in the process of creation. In the womb He makes plans for that creation and uses mom (and yes dad) to imprint on that child the true value of life so when they’re given the “free will” they can make an informed decision.

    If the child (now accountable adult) choose death versus life then the mom (and yes dad) can pray to their God that they will accept what was so freely created in their life by the God who loves them. Those children have an advantage over others: They have seen Christ in you the hope of glory.

    Blessings, my friend….

    ~Chris~

  2. So love this! In our kid’s eyes it is that simple- they want us to be happy and joyful and have fun with them and the things you mentioned do make things harder on us and takes away our joy! Thank you for these reminders and I am determined to get started right away! Have some of them already started but need to just take a week and complete one at a time like you said! Thanks!

  3. I LOVE this! Sometimes I do feel unhappy, and I honestly think it is because we are just not sleeping right now. That has really been wearing on me lately and I feel like a complete zombie. It has affected my patience and has definitely affected my mood. I definitely think that taking back over my mornings would be helpful in creating a more fluent day.

  4. I just found your blog and wondered if the bundle would be offered again sometime? It looks wonderful.

  5. I love these ideas! We’re trying to work on clutter in our house, but every time I clean up, it seems to re-clutter by the next day. (Even when I bring bags of stuff out of the house.)

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