The Mom Cafe

Encouragement for Moms

  • Home
  • About
  • Encouragement in…
    • Expression
    • Motherhood
    • Faith
    • Family
    • Marriage
    • Healing
  • Places I’ve Been Published
  • Work with Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Summer’s Grace for Moms

August 15, 2014 By momcafe 26 Comments

 

How can it be that summer is over?  As quick as it came crashing in, it has yanked itself away with school starting and cool mornings meant for jackets and backpacks.

I feel cheated.

This summer season was all but a blur of goings on that seemed to roll together and never stand still.  I set out for moments to embrace in the heat of the sun and soak in the fresh chill of the water, and I vaguely recollect a few brisk fleeting swims on steamy days.

Did I fail this motherhood job?

My kids wanted more of me this summer, and I honestly don’t think I came through.  With calls to lead a ministry, blog, host group and carry out whatever responsibilities I had- I don’t feel I put my kids first.

Sigh.

As we were frantically pulling our house together with school supply shopping and preparing for the new season, I became dismayed over my reflection and assessment of the past few months.   Agonizingly so.

I love summer.  I love having long days at the pool and late nights of freedom.  I don’t recall much of that happening at all.  And I am disappointed in myself, for missing it.  Allowing summer to fly by and not catching it all with an intentional grip.

I needed to do something with this perspective.  I needed to see if my kids felt the same way. 

So I asked them.

I shared what they said over at 1Cor13Parenting this week.  And I would love for you to go read it (here) and then?

If you feel at all discouraged and defeated in your own motherhood mission, perhaps you too can go straight to the source.  Ask your kids, and in doing so you may find the grace I did.  And if they are too young to be asked, I bet their smiles and hugs and giggles might be your sign of approval.

Moms, we can be pretty hard on ourselves.  And honestly?  We tend to think the happiness of our children is based solely on us…

But you might be as surprised as I was.

Maybe?

Summer's Grace For MomsWe don’t have to fear failing after all.

 

It may be quite possible, they are doing just fine.

 

It’s time to give some grace for moms.  I found it, and I want you to feel it too…

 

 

 

 

 

Author Signature

Filed Under: Encouragement in Expression, Encouragement in Motherhood Tagged With: Encouragement in motherhood, Grace for moms, motherhood, parenting, summer

Comments

  1. Ilene says

    August 15, 2014 at 6:18 pm

    I feel like I failed too. Pulled in too many directions and my kids were not always first on the list. (sigh). heading over to read your post now!

    Reply
    • momcafe says

      August 17, 2014 at 7:16 pm

      Oh my dear, you have quite the reasons behind why you were pulled in too many directions!! If there is anyone who deserves the white flag, it’s you girl. Single mom…three kids…owning and starting and working a new business… hmm…. I cannot fathom the million things that pull you in a million directions. You continue to amaze me. You always will.

      I love you to the moon and back. And about 4,672,831 trips after that. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Denise says

    August 15, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    Actually, my blog helps me connect with the kids over the summer because I drag them all over town to take pictures and review places to have fun!

    Reply
    • momcafe says

      August 17, 2014 at 7:14 pm

      Now THAT is SWEET Denise!!! Lucky you. Send some of those businesses my way, would ya? 🙂

      Reply
  3. Janine Huldie says

    August 15, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    Trust me I feel the same way myself right now and I think we are all just trying are best, but am heading over to read your article now for sure 🙂

    Reply
    • momcafe says

      August 17, 2014 at 7:13 pm

      It’s SO hard to juggle it all, isn’t it Janine? I feel like I keep talking about it with hopes that somehow I will figure it all out.

      Work in progress always. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Joey says

    August 15, 2014 at 11:29 pm

    I’m guessing the kids had a different take on the summer. I’m interested to read it!

    Our cool fall morning sure did come fast here in the ‘Burgh. Time for sweaters and hot tea it would seem. I feel ready for it!

    Reply
    • momcafe says

      August 17, 2014 at 7:12 pm

      I love that you feel ready for it Joey!! I’m not there yet… I need more hot days at the pool. But none coming… sigh.

      Reply
  5. Katie @ Pick Any Two says

    August 16, 2014 at 1:56 am

    Needing some grace today…heading over to read your piece!

    Reply
    • momcafe says

      August 17, 2014 at 7:12 pm

      Girl, I need it every day- on the hour… sometimes in each minute!!! lol

      Reply
  6. Lisa @ The Meaning of Me says

    August 17, 2014 at 5:14 am

    Just came back from reading your post…wanted to leave some love here, too!
    XXXOOO

    Reply
    • momcafe says

      August 17, 2014 at 7:11 pm

      AW!!! You’re such a love Lisa!!! Thank you so so much my sweet friend!!! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Rorybore says

    August 17, 2014 at 5:23 pm

    Oh I had a million good intentions this summer. I did well at one: I did not over plan and schedule our lives. One point for me. But as for the more spontaneous mandate: well honestly — the weather has sucked this summer. The past 2 weeks have been more like Fall. Just yesterday we had a whole day planned at friend’s trailer in a campground: it poured rain the entire day!! And was only like 9 degrees, so here the 8 of us were all stuck inside the trailer. ugh. but we made the best of it.
    Can’t really control the weather though, can I? But it’s been challenging to not let disappointment colour our days. sigh.

    Reply
    • momcafe says

      August 17, 2014 at 7:11 pm

      GOOD FOR YOU with your simplistic scheduling Leslie!! I think that is key, isn’t it? And yeah- the weather. ugh. I know… it hasn’t “felt’ like summer at all. I’m so sorry you had to squoosh into a trailer for your ‘fun day’. That doesn’t sound fun at all- so disappointing I’m sure!! Board games anyone? Oy.

      Reply
  8. My Inner Chick says

    August 17, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    NOOO!
    I want SUMMER
    forever & Ever!

    I despise endings, don’t you, dear?

    xx

    Reply
    • momcafe says

      August 17, 2014 at 7:01 pm

      I want summer forever and ever TOO!!!!!! Sigh…

      I despise endings too… but yet? Beginnings can be quite beautiful at times…if we let them be.

      Love you. xx

      Reply
  9. Tamara says

    August 17, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    Heading over now!
    Yes, I feel cheated. There IS still a month of summer, according to the calendar year, though. More.
    Do something nice for yourself and think of me! And I’ll do the same.
    Oh yeah, and for our kids too! (they’ve had a lot of nice over here)

    Reply
    • momcafe says

      August 18, 2014 at 4:00 pm

      It’s a DEAL!! Now… let me think on that. 🙂 Oh and I will think on something for the kids too. lol

      Reply
  10. Kristi Campbell says

    August 19, 2014 at 12:01 am

    Going now. I did feel like I missed it (but Tucker’s school doesn’t start until Sept. 2), so this weekend, we drove 2.5 hours each way to go to an amusement park, and then went to a water park Sunday, so I feel better about it. xxoo we are too hard on ourselves.

    Reply
  11. Carissa says

    August 19, 2014 at 12:45 am

    So good! My daughter isn’t school age yet, so summer isn’t especially important. But I work from home an every day I feel the struggle, the desperate search for balance, and trying not to feel like a failure as a mother. It’s tough! But as I think about it, my daughter is healthy and happy. She loves me so much and I’m completely crazy about her. We’re ok 🙂

    Reply
  12. Leah says

    August 19, 2014 at 1:18 am

    We are so hard on ourselves!! The fact that you are thinking about how you are doing as a mother, makes you an even better mother. Heading over now…xo

    Reply
  13. Christine @ Love, Life, Surf says

    August 19, 2014 at 4:08 am

    I do feel cheated too. I mean, how is it the middle of August? And I feel like I failed too in my parenting mostly because I had visions of work slowing down and having time with my kids to say yes to all that they wanted to do. But of course, hours and days and weeks filled up with work and obligations and other things! Hoping to salvage some of that these last two weeks before the kids head back to school.

    Reply
  14. Brittany Zimmerman says

    August 21, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    I needed this today! 😀

    Reply
  15. Leslie Oden says

    August 23, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    I think you shared what all of us moms have felt at some point. Thanks for being transparent, and for sharing grace with your readers!

    Reply
  16. Rebekah @surviving toddlerhood says

    August 26, 2014 at 9:40 pm

    Your writing is so beautiful! I love gown you suggest talking to your children to see how you are doing as a momma. I will have to check in with oldest son and see what he says.

    Reply
    • momcafe says

      August 31, 2014 at 10:29 pm

      Oh thank you so so much Rebekah!! I really was so glad I asked my kids. I thought for sure I would get a barrage of complaints, but nothing related to me at all!! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow on Bloglovin

Subscribe to Blog


 

Recent Posts

  • Parenting a High School Senior and Soon-to-be Graduate
  • What I’ve Learned About Parenting Teens In A Pandemic
  • Have You Read The Greatest Story Ever Told?
  • I’m Thankful for the Power of Gratitude
  • For Mother’s Day, I Just Want Everything and Everyone to Be Okay

My Books Sold on Amazon!

Follow Jesus by Christine Carter   Help and Hope While You Are Healing by Christine Carter

Archives

Places I’ve Been Published

the mom cafe

Recommended Reading List

  The Mom Cafe Recommended Reading List  

Legal Stuff

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Affiliate Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 · Design by Fabulous Blogging · WordPress · Log in