Being a first time mom to young children can be exhausting, overwhelming at times, and demanding, especially when you’re a first-time mom. So it’s good to be reminded that the time, effort, and love you pour into your little ones is not in vain, and the challenges and hard seasons will pass. So many expectations are put on mothers; often it’s repetitive, full of routines, and dealing with fussy tired kiddos.
Because these tiny humans depend on you for absolutely everything and you’re constantly pouring into them leaving little time to do things that refresh and renew you. Being a mom with young children is such a selfless season of life, and sometimes it’s easy to let negative thoughts creep into your mind.
I have three children, and I remember the days of having two under two, which were long and very repetitive. I cried a lot and often the days just blurred together. I’d spend the majority of my time changing diapers, cleaning messes, and keeping my children safe. And my children never slept great until around 18 months old, so I was a very sleep-deprived and overwhelmed newer mom. Truthfully, I’d wonder if I’d ever feel like a regular functioning human again and I caught myself wishing the challenging young years away. Because I wanted to enjoy my children and not just get by with extra coffee on hand. Now my two older children are five and seven, and I look back and realize how challenging and fleeting that time was. But it’s also full of such special, beautiful moments too.
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If you’re in a season of life as a first-time mom with young children, and you feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and like you are hardly functioning some days, I hope this list of encouragement can brighten your day and offer some inspiration to help you get through this tough season of life.
Encouragement For First Time Moms With Young Children
1) You Won’t Be In This Season Of Life Forever
It’s hard to see “the light at the end of the tunnel” while you’re still in the thick of it all. But hang in there, you’ll get through this season of life and things won’t always be so demanding. The baby and toddler years come with lots of joyful, special moments and milestones, but they also have a lot of challenges. Because the days feel super long and very repetitive, and your little one needs you for everything. So it’s hard to visualize the seasons to come where you can feel like yourself again. Remember that you’ll get through this and look back and see how fleeting that time was, just take it day by day and focus on the tasks before you. Worrying about tomorrow won’t get you any further ahead.
2) Life Will Become Enjoyable Again, It Won’t Always Be So Demanding
When you have very young children, your day revolves around them and you can’t do things you want to do very often. When the days near its end, you’re too tired to enjoy anything, all you can think about is getting some sleep. Be encouraged, one day you will be able to enjoy the things in life you miss doing and your children will grow older and more independent, and you will find more free time. This is a season of life that demands more of your time, but it won’t always be this demanding. You will get to enjoy special times with your children and make great memories together.
3) You Will Get Good Sleep Again
Very young children often have sleeping issues, which makes for an interrupted night of sleep for mom. But hang in there because children eventually learn to sleep better when given the atmosphere and opportunity to do so. It’s hard to function and be a joyful mom when you’re exhausted. Children go through stages and this one will pass eventually. But when you’re in the middle of it all, it’s hard to see the sleep improve. Just know you won’t always be so exhausted, better sleep is coming, and you won’t always have to run on low energy.
4) You’re Allowed To Not Love All The Stages, You’re Still A Good Mom
As a first-time mom certain stages of having young children can be challenging, and it’s okay to not love them all. Because children change so quickly and constantly and each stage brings new challenges. But you can love your children all while finding it hard at times too, you’re still a good mom. And you don’t have to have it all together all the time, it’s normal to have ups and downs in all the stages. So don’t put pressure on yourself to force feelings that aren’t there. Just love your children, and do the best you can.
5) The Young Years Are So Fleeting, Try To Soak In Special Moments As A First Time Mom
Being a first-time mom with young children, it’s hard to see how fleeting the years are and the days feel extra long. Before you know it, your children are starting school and turning into big kids right before your eyes. Try to soak in some special moments, and appreciate their sweet little milestones, but it’s okay to not embrace every moment all the time. Let your mama’s heart enjoy the moments that touch you the most, and hold onto those extra special times. If you miss a special photo or milestone, that’s okay too, it’s nice to have documented memories but you can’t capture them all. Take that pressure off yourself, and enjoy the ones you have.
6) You Will Find Yourself Again, Motherhood Doesn’t Define You
It’s easy to get lost in motherhood because you spend your entire day caring for these tiny humans, and often you’re in the background. And you don’t have time to do things you want or to put much effort into yourself. But one day, you will feel like yourself again. You’re a mother, but you’re also an individual with unique interests, desires, and dreams. The day will come when you can remember what brings you joy and what you like to spend your time doing. Your children will get more independent and you’ll find a happy balance between being a mom and feeling like a person too.
7) God Sees The Little Things You Do, And They Matter
Many things that first-time moms with young children do go unnoticed, unappreciated and the tasks feel endless. But be encouraged God sees every detail and He sees the way you serve your family day in and day out. Everything you do as a mother matters and it has a purpose, none of it is in vain. You are living out a high calling, one that is shaping future generations and raising children for the Kingdom of God. The little tasks you do every day, the way you comfort your children and give them security and peace in this big broken world is something only you can do for them.
It’s important to find time to be in God’s Word and get refreshment from the Lord, this Beautiful Journaling Bible is a lovely option for mothers, inspiring them to journal while reading the Bible, writing notes next to verses that speak to their heart. Even a quick Bible journaling time for a busy mom is a blessing!
8) You Are Doing One Of The Most Important Jobs In The World
You’re doing one of the most important jobs in the world, and you’re helping to shape your little ones in God’s ways. You nurture them, serve them, and show them the way in a world full of darkness and evil. And you are leading them and pouring God’s truth into them that will one day produce good fruits. Keep showing up, keep serving your children and one day they will appreciate it. Your role as a mother is so important and even when it doesn’t feel like you’re making a difference, be assured you are.
9) As A Newer Mom with Young Children Don’t Let “Mom Guilt” Consume You
As mothers, we love our children more than anything and we want the best for them. But sometimes, we make decisions and question if it was the right one. Mistakes happen and we aren’t perfect and seeing our children hurt feels like it’s our fault. But don’t let “mom guilt” consume you as a first-time mom, every decision you make for your children is coming from a place of love. And we can’t always get it right, all we can do is keep trying and praying that the Lord gives us the wisdom to make the best choices. So give yourself grace as a mom, and pray for God to bless you with wisdom to make wise choices regarding your children.
10) You Deserve A Break And You Are Allowed To Enjoy It
It’s easy for first-time moms with young children to get used to caring for everyone else and forget to take time for themselves. And during a break, you may struggle with guilt for focusing on yourself. You deserve a break and you’re allowed to enjoy it how you wish. Because you can be a better mom if you feel refreshed and renewed, and if you’re running on empty it’s hard to press on. So try to take time for yourself and do whatever it is that makes you feel your best.
11) It’s Okay If Things Don’t Always Get Done, Your Children Are The Priority
As much as mothers like to get everything done promptly, the reality is it won’t always happen. And that’s okay because your children are the priority, and if they are thriving then you’re doing a great job. It’s okay to have days when other things have to wait because your focus is on your children. There will always be a list of things to do, errands to run, and chores to finish. But your children need you a lot and that’s a demand that can’t wait. So permitting yourself to push other things aside to focus on your children’s needs is okay.
12) As A First Time Mom Don’t Be Afraid To Accept Help
When you’re an exhausted mom with young children, sometimes you feel the pressure to do it all yourself. And if someone offers help, you can get stuck in your head about it, thinking they didn’t mean that. But don’t be afraid to accept help, because if someone is offering their help, they want to. Graciously accept if you need to, because it’s okay to lean on others, it’s okay to admit you need help and seek out ways to find it.
13) Is it Okay To Not Keep Up With Typical Trends As A First Time Mom With Young Children
There is so much to keep up with these days, and it’s alright to not follow typical trends, instead do things how you want. You don’t have to have professional baby photos taken, or a big party with a cake smash for a first birthday. Because you are the one who sets the standard for your family, so don’t let the pressure from social media or other moms make you feel like those are necessary. It’s okay to keep things simple and enjoy those special moments however you wish to. If you prefer to go big and do all the trends that’s okay too, just do whatever brings you joy and do it because you want to, not from pressure.
14) Motherhood Is A Unique Journey For Everyone, Try Not To Compare Yours To Others
Everyone has a unique motherhood journey, so try not to compare yourself to others. Because you get to decide what is best for your children, and even if your journey doesn’t look like others, that’s okay. God made YOU your children’s mother and He gave you the ability to choose what’s best for your own family. So walk confidently in your unique role as a mom, and trust your ability to make the best choices for your children. Focus on the little lives entrusted to you, and on the One who blessed you with them. And try to avoid the temptation to compare yourself to other moms even if your baby isn’t at the same milestone, or sleep habits as others. Every child is different and sometimes things come easier for some and harder for others.
As a first-time mom with young children life gets busy and you need to know what an important job you’re doing! When you have young children, it’s so easy to lose a bit of yourself in the exhaustion and never-ending list of things to do. Be encouraged, every stage will eventually pass and you will get through it all. It’s okay not to love every moment and to desire other things in your life, you’re still a good mom. God has chosen you to be a mother and will help you through all of it by His grace.
