I came across THIS post the other day about “How to Do Life While Pregnant”, to summarize;
“How do you function as a mom and homekeeper at the same time as realizing the limitations that your body is placing on you for a greater purpose?”
Really at this point I don’t know how to “do life” in any other state BUT pregnant, but I found it to be a good reminder to me that even though I’ve been pregnant for 39 out of the 46ish months I’ve been married this is still a season of my life. I love the “greater purpose” that my body is working for, but I am often frustrated by and just tired of “realizing my limitations”. But life won’t always be gestation, babies, toddlers and preschoolers (right? right?!). So for this season I will take some of the writer, Jessica Fisher’s advice:
1. Prioritize – my energy has to be used for the essentials right now; clean clothes, clean (ish) kids, clean diapers, clean bathroom and food on the table. Man, that’s a lot of essentials.
2. Limit my commitments – I do have a hard time saying “no” and I really wish I could do more outside the home since it’s just that, something “outside the home” (fun!) but I’m rarely seen in public so I don’t have any pressure to say “yes” much right now. So, I can be thankful.
3. Ask for help – I’m bad at this one too but I’m learning! And very thankful for the extra hands my neighbor friend is offering right now!
4. Lower my standards (!) – Again, here’s one I really struggle with. Since I’m pregnant so often I feel like I’m in a constant state of “lower standards” and my home and kiddos look like… well, see picture above, that’s my life right now and actually those children have on more clothing than mine usually do these days.
5. Remember that relationships matter most – Jessica writes; “Life looks different with each new baby.” That is the truth, there’s more work, etc. with each new baby, but also more love. The busier I get the easier it can be to just get through the day and not stop for a bit to enjoy the moments (yes, there are a few) that these early years with our babies bring.
