Seeking the Lord as a Mom of Littles

As young moms we can easily get discouraged about our daily time with the Lord. It’s never enough – never deep enough, never quiet enough, never productive enough. We have this picture in our heads of what daily Bible study is supposed to look like, and we never seem to quite manage that perfectly peaceful scene. There are a hundred interruptions. Babies need to be fed, toddlers wake up too early from naps, kids fight and fuss. Half the time we feel defeated before we’ve begun.

“Just wake up earlier” doesn’t always work. I love the idea of reading my Bible, cup of tea in hand, watching the sun rise over the dewy field, praying serenely to the Father as my little ones sleep on. But that’s not my reality. If I get up at 3am, my kids are right there with me (yes, I know I'm the mom and can make them go back to bed, but it's still frustrating). And I don’t know about you, but first thing in the morning is not my highest functioning part of the day. On the other hand, it’s also hard to put the brakes on and step away for Bible study and prayer after the craziness of the day has begun.

What’s a mom to do? 

How to Write a Book as a Mom of Many

When I was a teenager I wrote the complete first draft of a book in just under one month. One year ago in August I began writing our book “Beaten: Recovering from Your Husband’s Porn Addiction.” Turns out writing as a mom is quite a bit slower than writing as a single chick with nothing better to do. Our book is still not completely finished, but I’ve learned a few lessons. Tips of the trade, per se. The kids and I would like to bless you with those today. These are specifically geared toward writing as a mom of many, but they can easily be adapted to fit any project you attempt as a mother with any number of children. Enjoy!

1. Find a quiet room in which to write, all by yourself. Then listen to the delightful sound of little fists pounding away on the other side of the door.

2. Get up at 4:00am to write in blissful silence. Have that silence broken at 4:03am by the patter of little feet and shouts of “Can I get up now?” These shouts WILL wake the baby and probably everyone else in the house. Embrace the fact that no one is going back to sleep. Have a 4:30am breakfast party instead.

Why We're Open About Pornography

I recently posted the following to my personal Facebook page:

“Husbands, one of the most healing things you can do for your wife following a confession of porn use is to encourage her to be open with others about your struggle. She needs your support to seek the help she deserves; to know that you are okay with her talking with whomever she trusts to share her burden. Don't let your shame imprison your wife.”