1. Your house is not supposed to be spotless and your husband is fine with that. The best thing you can do is develop routine, order, and mealtimes that are predictable and nourishing, Your house won't be really clean until all of your kids are in college and beyond, and it really doesn't matter to anybody but you. Live and laugh. Enjoy THIS. A happy family trumps a clean house any day.
2. REST, child! You will be a kinder, more loving mom and wife as a result.
3. Don't believe the popular lie that there just aren't enough hours in the day. It just leads to frustration and burn-out. And really, there is not enough time for you to do everything that you want to do BUT there is just enough time for you to do everything you need to do. Be guided by the Lord in this area, not by your flesh.
4. Start your day with the Lord. If you don't know where to begin, then buy one of Beth Moore's Bible studies and let her or another great Bible teacher lead you for a while. The Bible teaches that your spiritual nourishment is even more important than your physical nourishment. THIS is the main thing. KEEP it the main thing.
5. Less is more. Keep it simple. Your child does not need all of those toys that you feel like you just have to have. Stay away from electronic toys for as long as you can. Excess will add disorder and chaos to your home. In this distracted world, our children need to learn to focus on one thing at a time. Set up your environment accordingly.
5. You are not going to want to go back to work. Plan your finances and do without whatever you need to so that you won't have to. This time will pass way too fast. Be there, savor it, and enjoy it. Don't pass these pleasures on to someone else who is incapable of treasuring them as you do.
6. There will always be something to worry about. Yet, with each new challenge, God will bring mercies that far outweigh your troubles. He is the man with the plan. Keep your focus on Him and let Him be your peace so that He may be glorified through it all.
7. Don't compare yourself to other parents or your kids to other people's kids. Rejoice with others when their kids are doing well and encourage them when they are having trouble. In the grand scheme of things, you're all in this together. Your kids will be growing up in the same world with those kids and it is in everyone's best interest for them all to become the best people they can be.
8. This too shall pass. Really, it will.
9. Humble yourself and ask for help when you need it. We're put here to love and support each other. Help others when you can and don't be afraid to ask for help. God created us to live in communities, not in isolation. As His love is shared among people who are not required to serve each other in any way, He is glorified. Live out that truth.
10. Don't take credit for your kids' good qualities and behaviors or blame yourself for all of their bad ones. Much is genetically pre-determined. Just love them where they are, allowing the Lord to direct your paths as you allow Him to work through you to mold them and make them into all that He created them to be.
11. Keep it in order, God first, husband second, and kids third. Everything will run more smoothly and peacefully if you live within this framework.
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