Moms, “You are Enough as You Are”

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER, VICKY!  ENJOY YOUR BOOK.  PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR MORE GREAT CONTESTS.

Recently, I became an official Don’t Sweat Mom.  I was excited when I heard about this campaign because I truly believe that you cannot sweat the small stuff if you are a mother.  I know plenty of moms who do this, and I ache for them because they cause themselves so much pain…which is not to say that I never fail at this.  I’ve had tearful breakdowns over laundry, what to cook for dinner, and missing a supplement for the kids.  Having kids with disabilities already means a some parenting overtime, but solving behavioral challenges biomedically really eats up my free time.

When I got my copy of “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Mom,” I was psyched.  The book is a series of 2-3 page vignettes on dealing with the challenges of parenthood and many of the title spoke to me, but the one that grabbed my gut was, “You are Enough as You Are.”  I know it sounds crazy with the amount of effort I put in for my kids, but lately I’ve been gripped with guilt.  Mother’s Day loomed as an acute reminder of my failures, how I did not measure up, how even the big things (faith, safety) fell through the cracks.

Again.

The chapter reminded me that Amelia and Zoe are my ideal children, divinely assigned, and we belong to each other.  Isn’t that beautiful?  Not only that, but as author Kristine Carlson writes, “…you have within you everything you need to care for those little people as they grow into adults.”

This brought me to tears. I am enough, and if I let go and let God do what I can’t, I’ll be ok.

For me, centering in my faith is the only way to truly not sweat the small stuff on a daily basis.  I don’t have time for stressing out over little things, even if it’s paperwork I forgot to do or forgetting about a homework project until the last minute or removing another detrimental food from my kids’ diet.  Life goes on around the setbacks, and if you can’t find your child something to wear on a Monday morning because you forgot to dry the laundry, you can always find something a little less clean than you’d like but serviceable.  Keep the big things in mind: your child’s healthy, his safety, creating a loving home, his faith.  Around here, those are the big three, and when it’s an overwhelming morning with upset kids and burnt lunch food, it’s time for a deep breath, a call out to God, and a moment to feel the calm rush over me.  There’s not much else I can do but my best, and that my friends, is enough.

Giveaway

Kristin Carlson

"Don't Sweat" Author Kristine Carlson

Are you ready to win a book filled with moments of encouragement, just enough to read on your own potty break, or right before lights out, or during your morning coffee?  Check out a free chapter of “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms” by Kristine Carlson before deciding, and then leave a comment here answering this question:

What “small stuff” do you let get to you?

Deadline
This contest will run through 10:00AM, EST, on Friday, June 1st, 2012.

Rules
This contest is only open to U.S. residents. All contestants must be over 18 years of age.

Winner
On or within a few days of 6/1/12, I will select one winner at random. Entries will be entered in order and one number will be selected at Randomizer.org. I will then contact the winner and the contest coordinator, who will then require your contact information to coordinate your prize. No information will be stored or used for any other purpose.  Winner MUST contact me within 48 hours of sending notice.  If I do not hear back within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.

Good luck!

 

15 thoughts on “Moms, “You are Enough as You Are””

  1. Ashley B

    I let poor time management “get to me”. I am not a “go with the flow” person, and when my schedule, or my kids schedules, or even my husbands schedule get thrown off track, I go bananas. I’m am dutifully working on letting go, not becoming such an emotional fruit basket when something alters our schedules. I’ve made *some* progress, but not as much as I’d like.

    [WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.

  2. Lori

    Mother’s Day really can be hard sometimes! I had a rough one this year. I’d love to read this book and then pass it on to the new mommies in the family. I love sharing encouraging words like these with the new generation of parents.

  5. Kris

    I love her! I am so happy for her that she’s written this book. I was a huge fan of her husband’s and have lots of his books, and was of course stunned and saddened at his death.

    My “small stuff” is the house. If it’s not clean and decluttered I have trouble functioning and I get all stressed out. And as a homeschool mom it’s almost always a mess! It has not been a positive combo at all, as I do not need the additional stress! I have one child with behavior/mood issues (adhd/anxiety) and homeschooling with that makes it almost impossible to keep up with cleaning, nevermind decorating. lol

  10. Kristie D.

    Household cleaning can get to me. I feel as though I don’t clean as much as I should. There’s never enough time. But I’m doing other more important things. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

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