When author Heather Craw gave birth to preterm twins after a very complicated pregnancy, she realized that the fears and worries she felt during that difficult time were actually a form of love.
Miracles and Moments of Grace is a compilation of stories from women of all walks of life who all have something in common: they are all mothers. The author, Nancy Kennedy, has done a beautiful job at recording and collecting stories of hope, love, hardship, joy, worry, or as we could simply say, motherhood. ...
Do you feel like a failure as a mother? You'll want to read these beautiful words of encouragement.
Have you noticed that sometimes all your children seem to be having issues simultaneously - and that their various issues are exacerbating each other's issues? Well, here's a little glimpse of some of what's been going on in our house (some of it just might sound familiar).
I love bed bugs. I don't love how they creep across my blanket at night or bite me and leave red marks on my ankles. I love them for the lessons they taught me.
Do you ever dread those moments in the restaurant when everyone is staring at your family? When you know your children’s manners are being critiqued by the grandma at the next table over? Cheryl Cardall shares what she wants to say when she’s that grandma...or sooner.
If you're feeling battle-fatigue from whatever Mommy War you've been conscripted into, you'll want to read Where Is the Mommy War for the Motherless Child?
I did something this past month I’ve been wanting to do for years: I had all our old home videos put onto DVD. And even though I was ecstatically happy to finally have them in a ready-to-watch format, I found myself bawling--bawling--as I sat down to watch the infant years of our family. But this...
No matter how bad my day may have been, I have this one moment that I look forward to each night. It is something special to both of us. At the end of a crazy day, this is the moment that grounds me.
I am always learning things from my children. I’m learning what it’s like to be a mom to them as they grow into different stages of their lives. It seems with each new day, month, and year, they change just enough that I have to adjust how I speak to them or how...
Jewish tradition has always reinforced this concept that G-d is good, his ways are good, and his creations are good. It seems that we are supposed to constantly remind ourselves of this as a basic principle of Judaism. Can we apply this concept of looking for the good when we parent?
I’m not exactly the type of person who would ever desire to run a day care. I shy away from most organized play group-type children’s activities. And I can’t ever imagine myself a school teacher. However, I realized that as mothers, we owe it to each other to love each other’s children.
In the quest to be better, sometimes women get sidetracked with the quest to be perfect. Author, Allyson Reynolds, defines what the "perfect mother" really looks like.
Do you know what it takes to recognize the many "real-world" teaching opportunities of motherhood? Take advantage of those opportunities, and teach with confidence--you can make a huge difference in the lives of your children.
In that moment, when I let go of my reactivity and let empathy take over, love happens. Active, useful, healing love. That is motherhood at its best: giving our children that gift of understanding when it is least “deserved,” but most desperately needed.
Do you ever find yourself trying to be all things to all people--and then feeling completely overwhelmed by unnecessary guilt when you simply can't do it all? This post will walk you through a quick and simple process that can help you totally eliminate that guilt.
Do you ever wonder if all your work is paying off? “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! My kids had given sacrificially and unselfishly so that we could have something nice...They demonstrated back to us what we’d been showing them for years.” This mom shares a gift she will not easily forget.
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Sarah
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Feb 17, 2013 • After 15 years as a mother, the reasons why I think it's so important to be there for my kids are not what you would think. The real reasons are the hard stuff. The "no fun" stuff. I want to be the one that takes care of all those things. Because I know that my...
Valentine’s Day may be officially over, but nurturing loving relationships should be something we think about all year long. Yes, I know this blog is about motherhood and not relationships, but if there’s anything that affects our mothering on a daily basis, it’s how we get along with our spouse.
One day while my infant son and I were running errands together, I had a “swell moment,” when my heart about burst out of my chest from the love I have for him. I went home and started writing. The words of adoration poured out of me as I thought about every little thing that...
When I went to bed that night, I smiled as I pulled from my homemade mailbox many notes declaring that I was the best because I made my children dinner and pictures from my little ones who could not yet write. It filled my heart, and I spent half an hour writing notes to each...
Very rarely does one sentence have immediate impact on me. Very rarely does one sentence change the way I interact with my family. But this one did.
For those of us currently surrounded by little ones, may I suggest Rachel Jankovic's "Loving the Little Years." Her honest, yet hopeful, Christian perspective on how mother's sacrifices are real and essential made me reflect on how I handle some of the day-to-day in my home.
As we jump into the month of February, these ideas for celebrating the love in our families will help us to put our primary focus on how our home and family FEELS.
Sometimes it feels like we're just running in circles, but when we stop and look at our lives clearly, we can see that this business of motherhood is more than it appears to be.
Have you ever tried to complete a puzzle and gotten stuck with a difficult portion? Children are a lot like puzzles! Trying to work on one takes time, patience and diligence. Join author Wendy Jessen as she shares a bit of her own personal parenting puzzle. She discusses how finding missing pieces of the puzzle...
I was a teenager when Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All” catapulted to the top of the charts. And while I belted it out with the best of them, the message of the song always kind of rubbed me the wrong way. The greatest love of all is to love myself? Really? As a person...
Mother love, "I Love You" rituals, Valentine's Day ideas, we've got plenty of new thoughts, ideas and reminders for you this month as we explore the power of love together. Check out some introductory ideas here.
Everything in life has the potential to be beautiful. Some things just need a second glance, a chance to prove to us that the view might not be what we expected: It might be even better.
Check out these super-simple, meaningful ideas for celebrating and enhancing the love in your home as you get ready for Valentine's Day.
As a mother of a child with "extras" Sarah is used to answering questions and teaching others about children with special needs. But one day, Sarah found herself learning a lesson. An excerpt from Sarah Hull's blog, Having a "Hull" lot of fun.
For Amy's 40th birthday, she and a wonderful group of friends (who called themselves "The Giving Crew") decided to do 40 acts of kindness in their community. This inspiring podcast will show you how they did it--and how you could make this a new tradition in your own family.
Saren shares simple, tried-and-true ideas for how your children can help children in need during the holidays.
I bet every single person reading this can think of one or many times when someone acknowledged, complimented, or praised you for a certain behavior or characteristic. That moment felt good, right? Wouldn’t it be nice to be that person for your own children?
Make an effort to reach out to another mother in your school or neighborhood tomorrow. Try to be a little more neighborly. Open yourself up to the idea of making a new friend. Build strong social and emotional supports among mothers within our living, breathing communities. Because mothers with caring and connected friendships make better...
My son's first day of school was awful. It made me miss the days when as long as he knew Mom loved him and thought he was special, that was all that mattered.
Summertime generally means more family time. But does it also mean more sibling squabbling? If you feel like you're spending your summer playing referee, Amanda Hamilton Roos has some new roles for you to play to end (or at least minimize!) the fighting.
Sometimes I (April) struggle to help my children set and achieve goals. I want them to be excited about life, and I want them to progress within their areas of interest, but the whole process can feel a bit overwhelming. So I teamed up with DeAnne Flynn, an inspiring mother of seven children (ages 8-22),...
One of the very worst times in my home is “The Golden Hour.” This is the time right before my husband gets home from work. No matter how well things have gone during the day, it all falls apart in this blessed hour. I finally discovered how to make the change.
I didn't realize how much I would grow as a mother, but as I reflect on my life now, I see that many of the lessons I have needed have been learned from my children.
I have to admit, I was a little surprised by the near complete silence that came in response to my request for favorite Mother’s Day memories. I couldn’t figure out what was going on, so I went to the place we all go to when looking for feedback: Facebook.
Motherhood truly knows no bounds. Enjoy this touching story of a special relationship between an adoptive mother and a vivacious young teenager.
DIY expert and blogger Ana White tells a charming story about being careful what you wish for...
I love catching my children in quiet moments, showing affection for one another. It’s a moment I will never forget, and I hope they will remember as well.
I’m always looking for ways to improve, so I took on a challenge. “Make your home life better. Make a special effort to refrain from judging or criticizing, and watch for positive qualities." This new formula was so powerful- it changed the atmosphere of our home.
Counting down from 5 to 1, here are February 2012′s 5 most popular articles. If you missed them, take a moment to check them out!
My husband and I tried for several years to have a third child. During those years of infertility treatments, I questioned why I couldn’t get pregnant. I guess you could say I was given a new start as a mom, but with a new set of eyes.
Wanting to help our children succeed while avoiding pain and failure is the most natural thing in the world for a mother, right? So what’s the big deal?
My two year old Chase has a thing for shoes. Not only does he like the actual, physical shoes. He likes to throw shoes especially his sisters shoes. It was at this moment that I had a new understanding of the word prayer.
I had no idea. My husband and I are actually parenting like French parents. And it's working like a charm - so far at least.
Nine years and four pregnancies after our wedding, I was wondering if red hot romance was something reserved for vampire movies, people who have dated less than a month, or cologne ads. I found out the truth about a year ago. Romance is not an accident.
This novel is historical fiction, and it helped me realize how fortunate I am and how important it is to use my free time wisely. The other thing that really hit me after reading this was the impact of a mother's love.
Have you ever seen the hilarious comedy "What About Bob?" Today I’d like to take a page from Dr. Marvin's prescription pad and invite every mother reading these words to take a vacation from your problems.
A big way we show love for our families is by taking care of them. Most mothers are pros at taking care of their loved ones. But when it comes to showing love for ourselves, unfortunately, that doesn’t come so naturally to many of us. Let's get you to your "happy place"!
Isn't love the most important element of discipline and conflict resolution? This 20-minute podcast offers lots of stories and methods for making love the key ingredient in our discipline strategies with our children and our resolution of issues with our spouses and friends.
I lost my wedding ring over 3 years ago. It wasn’t an expensive wedding ring to say the least. We got engaged as college students and hardly any money to our names. Even so, it still held huge sentimental value for me. So when I vacuumed it out of the recesses of our couch, it...
Becoming a mother was one of those “dream come true” fairy tales for me. Growing up, I always wished to become a mother “someday”. My love for children has always been great, but when you have your own this love is multiplied by the thousands !
Donna West is affectionately known as "Gaming Grandma"; her most prominent "I love you ritual" is playing games with her children and grandchildren. Listen to this podcast about the benefits of this important ritual.
Do you ever have a day that just doesn’t seem to end? Do you ever feel like as a mother you have nothing left to give today? Cheryl Cardall shares five ways that we can fill our “mommy buckets” and rekindle the love of motherhood in all of us.
Creating a marriage that leaves you feeling twitterpated at the end of each day doesn't happen automatically--especially when you have children, but here are seven ideas that have helped me to savor the opportunity I have to live with my Prince Charming!
For a teenager, its just not “cool” to ask mommy for a hug when you’re sad, or to demand attention for a job well done by incessantly chanting, “look, look, look mommy, look!” (Which works, right?) So, how do we show teenagers love in a way they can receive?
Amidst all the tasty treats and heart-shaped crafts our family enjoys for Valentine's Day, we've designed a special tradition that incorporates some real quality time together. We call it our, "We Love to Be a Family" Day. It's one of the best traditions we've started!
Like adults, children crave love and attention, especially from their mothers--their first “true love.” Creating “I Love You” rituals in the home is probably one of the simplest things you can do as a mother to yield big results. Here are some fun ways to get you started!
Kendra Wright gives us a glimpse into life as a mother. Sure my children have their squabbles, but....
A few years ago, my three-year-old son and I were sitting in a meeting, and I was trying to keep him happy with a coloring book and crayons. "Why don't you color something nice?" I whispered. Resting his chin in his hands, he sighed, "I can't. I just scribble."
I remember the first time I heard that inflammatory statement. I was a teenager attending a class with this title simply so I could prove the teacher wrong! Who did this guy think he was?! Teenagers know exactly what love is! Or at least we thought we did.
There are so many great ways to love a child! The book: "The Five Love Languages of Children", is a great way to figure out the love language of your child and how to best communicate YOUR love to them on THEIR level.
Not everyone has the choice to be a stay-at-home mom, but for those who do, and for those who feel like everyone's asking them "what they do all day," here are some ideas from two moms who know that they are more than "just" a mom.
I remember it very clearly-it was my day off from work and I was making dinner when I heard my husband enter through the front door. That's when I saw it in his hand....
I nearly missed it. I was on my way to fill up my gas tank at Costco. The brown blur on the street moved! I had to stop my car. The man behind me in the white sedan wasn’t happy as he sped past, but he couldn’t see what I saw. You see, once I noticed the...
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Angie
on
May 8, 2011 • Editor’s Note: The Power of Moms is a website for mothers of all religions (and for mothers who are not necessarily religious). Each Sunday, we post a spiritual essay, and we would love to gather a wide variety of perspectives and ideas. Our goal is to be respectful of...
New grass is growing in my backyard. This homestead, our home, was quite literally carved out of a mountain just 18 months ago. We’re still working to tame the wilderness. We battle the creepers and crawlers and tiny winged things that seem to insist their home was here first. We pull up weed after...
My daughter was born almost three years ago, just as I was wrapping up a graduate degree in analytical chemistry. (That is such a simple sentence for such a complex time!) There was a transition time moving from being Alecia-focused (the pressure and drive to make something of myself in this world) to rather suddenly...
When I was a teenager (don’t all good stories start this way?), I wanted more than anything to be popular with the boys. I wanted boys to think I was pretty and fun, and for them to ask me out in droves. That didn’t happen. Fast forward several years (okay, decades), and I am a...
My sweet, darling baby boy has recently learned the words “NO!” and “UUGH!” and “MINE!” To his credit, he applies them appropriately. Just at inappropriate times. Each of my children has gone through this phase: the this-is-mine-and-I-want-whatever-you-have-in-your-hand phase. If I’m chewing gum, he can smell it. He’s like a bloodhound. He points to my mouth...
At The Power of Moms we’re all about putting family first, but that certainly means different things to different mothers. Over the last several years (even decades), an enormous amount of attention has been paid to the myriad virtues and vices of being either a stay-at-home or working mother. My purpose today is not to...
We all know that love is an important ingredient in any family, but how do you show love to yourself and your family members amidst all the thousands of things there are to do each day? Here's a podcast where we talk about ways to create a loving home. environment.
When our small family was growing in size and we would announce that we were going to have a new baby, we would wonder if the kids would be glad. We were never disappointed in their reactions. They would all brighten and clap their hands in elation! As the children grew to their teen years and...
“Kisses! Kisses!” the lady squealed, at which command her baby opened his mouth into a drooling “O.” The mother blissfully exchanged saliva with her infant. “Now give her kisses!” the mother urged, motioning toward me with a generous smile. I was old enough to know I couldn’t flatly say no, but not old enough to...
Editor’s Note: The Power of Moms is a website for mothers of all religions (and for mothers who are not necessarily religious). Each Sunday, we post a spiritual essay, and we would love to gather a wide variety of perspectives and ideas. Our goal is to be respectful of all beliefs while simultaneously offering...
We all know how sweet the smell of a newborn baby is. Their skin is so amazingly soft. Their tiny feet and hands are so small yet have such a big impact on us. I love those first days after bringing a baby home – the change in the routine, the newness of the new family member. ...
Submitted by Ali Hawkins: When I look at this picture I am reminded at how much I love newborns. This is my eighth. Most people that I run into think I am crazy. I always get “are they all yours?” or “are you going to have more?” Some people search their whole life for their...
About five years ago, we decided to add two more words to our already established three word family mission statement (to be revealed at a different time). These two words: LOVE MORE are so simple to write, simple to say, often hard to put into action. When everything is going well, the weather...
I sat beside the tub and poured water over Ivy’s belly, wishing I could make the noise and chaos behind me disappear. It was me they needed. More of my time, more of my energy, more of me. “Can you come?” Josh asked. “They’re all asking for you. Let me do this.” He took the...
My twin daughters’ bedroom is one of my favorite places in the house. It is partly because it is decorated in pink and green and feels like the perfect room for the little girl in me. Mostly it is because we have filled it with things given to us by people we love and people...
Each moment we spend together, focused on doing something kind for another, brings our family even closer. This week we spent a special evening together as a family making little messages of love written on paper hearts. The boys love to create and this time they were creating a secret gift. We discussed who...
I had a very ungraceful moment the other day when I tripped on our bottom stair. Though the experience was not enjoyable, the results of it taught me I have a priceless gift--right in my own home.
Teenage girls…what can you say about ‘em? They’re emotional, they’re giggly, and they’re trying to find themselves. The teenage years are so difficult. Would I do them over again? No way! So as I stand by watching my daughter go through them, I feel a tug at my heart strings whenever she’s hurting. I remember how...
Submitted by Amanda Shaw: When I heard about your photography contest I knew that I had to submit this picture. I don’t know anything about photography so hopefully it fits your criteria. This is my all time favorite picture of motherhood. In the picture are two of my kids and my third is taking the...
Remember how those labor pains feel? You can be in such intense pain one minute, then the next minute, you’re fine and comfortable, feeling excited for the new little person you’ll get to meet before long. Then the next pain hits. My midwife told me to envision myself on the ocean, riding the waves of...
This book is a wonderful resource for parents who want to raise emotionally healthy children. The authors explain specifically the ways children receive and perceive our love, and the book helps parents learn how to keep their children’s emotional love tanks full with unconditional love so that they can then...
The other day I was listening to Ashton reprimand the twins for something they weren’t supposed to do – he was using such a mean tone of voice! The twins were crying and I told Ashton it makes the twins feel like he doesn’t really like them when he talks to them like that....
So my son is now 3 months, and the past few months with him have been a mixture of exhausting and wonderful. He is the third child to join our family, and some days I am just trying to figure out how to juggle the three little kids who often seem to need me...
While love may come more naturally to mothers holding a soft and helpless newborn than to grown-ups on a quest to find Mr. or Mrs. Right, mother-love can still get pretty complicated.
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