I strive every day to give the twins the opportunities I wasn’t afforded. A life I didn’t live. I look around sometimes at the things they do on a daily basis and I’m in awe because most of us growing up didn’t have these experiences. At 10 years old the twins have traveled more than most of the adults I know. They are in high-level sports. They live in a nice house. They ride around in a nice car. They have the clothes, the shoes, and the gadgets that they want. I mean, the list goes on. All of this comes at a cost. I absolutely love providing these materialistic items to them, it’s my pleasure and it’s fulfilling to know that I can. But in the quiet moments of motherhood, it’s a lot.

I am in a space of transition. There are shifts and changes I am making in my life and I need days to rest and reset. School started so this is my cue, right? My work from home schedule can be reassembled, my days can finally go back to being productive? Most times, this time of year calls for us to up the ante and get back to business. But I’m taking a different approach this year. I’m focusing on slowing down, resting, and resetting my schedule.

This is your sign to give yourself permission to slow roll it this fall as well. If you are in need of a day to yourself, take it! Find time to spend a day doing what you need to do for yourself. That may mean catching up on chores, taking a walk at the park, going shopping, taking yourself to lunch, the spa, or Netflix, and chilling by yourself. Whatever it looks like for you, that’s perfect. Be empowered to say no to the hustle and bustle that the new school year brings.

As moms, we have to begin to put ourselves first at every chance we get. That means taking much-needed breaks. As often as possible.

When the twins were babies, I stayed home with them for the first 3 years of their lives. So it was just me and them, day in, day out. With the daily visit from my mom (we lived across the street from her at the time), and the occasional visit from friends/family. I remember how lonely and isolated I felt during those years. All the SAHM’s can relate. As rewarding as it is to be at home with your kids, living through every moment they experience; we often are the forgotten group of people in society. SAHM’s disappear into the background of almost every conversation, every encounter, every event, everything; we are just an afterthought, the forgotten ones if you will. That said, all I had during those years were the twins, my bible, and my mama. Exciting, I know. Back in those days, if I needed a break, I’d go sit in the bathroom and shut the door. I’d sit on the floor or the toilet, didn’t matter; and I’d think. Sometimes I’d write in my journal or talk to myself. Sometimes I’d pray. I just needed a few minutes of peace and clarity. A few minutes is indeed all I got too. It didn’t take long for a baby twin to wobble their way down the hall looking for me. Eventually, they caught on to my hiding place and would come “knocking” on the bathroom door, yelling at me in their baby talk. My quiet time came to an end almost as quickly as it came but I was thankful.

Even back then, when I had no free time at all, I found ways to create quiet time for myself. I pray that you prioritize this for yourself starting now and please continue to do so moving forward. It is vital that moms prioritize our self care needs. Our kids need us to be in a positive state of mind. I don’t know your situation and maybe this blog post finds you in a place where you feel getting time to yourself is impossible to achieve. I’ve been there and I promise you there is a way. You will have to get creative. Lucky for you, you’re a mom. Our best characteristic is our ability to multi-task and be flexible. Moms are the queens of improvising and making something out of nothing. Find a way to make time for a break. Whether you are blessed with a whole day or just 20mins while the kids are busy playing, stop and rest. Finding time for you to rest, reset, relax, and do all the other R words you can think of is important! (recharge, renew, react, remain…).

I want you to know that God blessed rest. He doesn’t intend for anyone, mothers included, to be on the go constantly. Take your breaks and take pride in the fact that you are doing what you need to do to ensure that you are okay. You, your kids, and your household will benefit from it.

The reality of all this is taking breaks sounds good, but so much is still to be done. The twins have busy schedules, the dog needs to be tended to, family issues need to be solved, friendships have to be maintained and nurtured, and significant others need our support; when is there time to rest?

And even when we do magically find a slither of time, our minds continue to be on the go. I don’t know if the feeling of urgency as a mom ever goes away. And so, despite God’s blessing, we still need a tangible moment or two to grasp.

I love how Ashlee Gadd encourages moms to create in the margins of motherhood. And to build on that, it’s also necessary to rest in the margins of motherhood. Any moment you can take to slow down, let’s do it.

My house is silent right now as I’m wrapping up this entry. All I can hear are the birds outside chirping, the keys on my keyboard being pressed, and my dog breathing as if she’s just worked a 12-hour shift. These moments come easier for me now that the twins are 10. But those days of having babies and toddlers are not too far removed. Back then, finding rest and free time seemed impossible. And with young kids it pretty much is. The truth is we have to do our best and give ourselves grace.

Breaks from motherhood aren’t really a thing. It’s something that we can have for a short time but the breaks are fleeting. I honestly can’t remember much about any of the free time I’ve had away from the twins. Those moments are not significant enough to be memorable. In the moment you feel at ease and free but our jobs are never done. No sleep for the weary right? The time I do get to myself will be times I cherish. It will be time I spend preparing for when the break ends and the kids return. The mom hat is placed back on, and we do it all again.

Wishing you and your family a happy fall and a successful school year.

Scriptures on Rest:

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