photo by Scalespeeder
This morning I felt good looking at a clean kitchen. I stayed up late last night washing all of the dishes and cleaning the countertops. Then realization settled in. Part of the reason my counter was free of dirty dishes is that the dishwasher is full of clean ones. That means I now need to dry all of those dishes and put them in the cabinets.
It's at moments like these that the monotony of motherhood begins to overwhelm me.
It seems that there's a never ending supply of dirty dishes, an ever growing laundry pile, and a kitchen floor that's dirty 5 minutes after I mop it. Plus there are always needs. This morning it's notebook paper. How does a homeschooling mom run out of notebook paper?!?!?
Do you know that feeling? Are you overwhelmed by the monotony of motherhood? Let's take a few minutes together to figure out how to handle it.
Create moments of indulgence
Yes, I did stay up late washing dishes last night. But after I finished the dishes, I settled down with a bubble bath and a good book. My son was in bed and my husband was reading. No one needed me at that moment in time.
So I took a few minutes for myself. It wasn't long. I was tired and needed to go to bed. But those few minutes alone helped calm me. Then this morning when I was overwhelmed by the dishes, I thought about that bubble bath and knew there would be another one.
What is it for you? What is a moment of indulgence? Is it a few minutes on Facebook? Or a good book? Or time in your garden? Whatever it is make time for it. Those moments of indulgence will help connect you to yourself and remind you that you are more than just a mom.
Practice Gratitude
I read a heartbreaking blog post this morning about a girl in the final stages of cancer. The mother shared how a kind nurse had carefully moved the daughter's tubes and lines so the mother could lay and cuddle her in the bed. I am sure she would much rather be home facing a sink full of dirty dishes than at the hospital making decisions no parent should have to face.
Her grief reminded me to be thankful for what I do have…a healthy child and a happy home. It isn't always perfect. But it's ours. I am thankful for those dirty dishes because they remind me of the people who use them. They remind me of laughter shared over meals and the love that went into preparing them.
Remember you're not alone
Motherhood is a thankless job. Nobody sees the hours we spend scrubbing the toilet or washing the dog or cleaning the kitchen floor. And no one says, "Thank you, Mom, for making me do my homework and clean my room." It's easy to feel alone in this job.
The reality is we are not alone. Someone does see ever ounce of blood, sweat, and tears. Not only does He see it, He gives us the strength to keep going.
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
God's compassions never fail. And His mercies are new every morning.
They are there when we are faced with the overflowing sink of dirty dishes. They are there when we can't get a 2 yr old to sleep. They are there when the cat is throwing up. Or when our husbands are working long hours. God's compassions give us strength for our weary souls. And his mercies help us to show our families the love they need even when we are tired of the monotony of motherhood.
It isn't always easy. And there are days that the monotony can be overwhelming. But so are the rewards: toothless smiles, spontaneous hugs, and dandelions given freely. Instead of focusing on the monotony, may we instead focus on the blessings…the blessings that make motherhood truly rewarding.
How about you, my friend? How do you deal with the monotony of motherhood?
