The Overwhelmed Mother

The overwhelmed mother. 

 

We have all seen her, and as much as we hate to admit it, if you are a mother, there are moments you have been the overwhelmed mother. As wonderful and fulfilling it is…it is also exhausting at times. 

 

I am not sure how or where it started, but it seems to be acceptable now for women to bash each other. 

 

The working mom bashes the stay at home mom. 

 

The stay at home mom bashes the working mom. 

 

Public school vs Private school vs Homeschooled 

 

The list goes on and on. Why? Let us vow as followers of Christ to stop this nonsense. Instead, let us look at why a mother is overwhelmed and find solutions to ease her burdens.

 

· Offer to help with household chores 

 

· Tutor her children in difficult subjects 

 

· Give her a few hours to herself 

 

· Cook a meal 

 

· Do her mending 

 

There are other situations that are outside of the normal that overwhelm mothers, so let us please not forget the homeless mother or the mother of a terminally ill child. 

 

The average age of a homeless person is 8. We tend to think of the homeless as the old man who wasted his life drinking. The reality is that the homeless population is primarily mothers with children. 

 

Do you keep Blessing Bags in your car? Does your church have a homeless ministry? Does your community have a safe place for families to rest at night in safety? Do you pray for that mother that has the same hopes and desires for her children that you have? 

 

The mother of a terminally ill child (no matter the age) ….oh how my heart breaks for her. 

 

How can we bless her? 

 

First, by covering her and her family in prayer. That is always the most important thing we can do. 

 

Then, what are her practical needs? Are they able to be near their home? Do they need meals? Are there other children in the home that need attention? Are they struggling financially? What is she doing those long hours at a bedside? Can you teach her to knit or crochet? Many people find that such activities not only help with the emotional toil, but it offers them a way to give back by making items for other patients. 

 

Lastly…let her talk. Don’t judge the feelings that she is having. Let her unburden her heart about her fears, her frustration, and her lost dreams. Be there for her. There may be times that you want to cover your ears and run from the room, but be there. Love her lavishly. Remind her that God is in control and loves her more that imaginable. 

 

What are your thoughts? 

 

How have you been a blessing to the overwhelmed mother?

Banana Nut Bread

Here is my recipe for Banana Nut Bread. Keep in mind that I have been cooking for a VERY long time. I don’t have alot of details written down. In fact...I rarely write down things like how long to bake something. I just follow the toothpick/touch/jiggle/smell/is it brown method. (If you have been cooking for a long time you know what I mean....or ask your Nana...she will tell you!

 

1 1/4 c Sugar

 

1 stick softened butter (use the real stuff...trust me)

 

2 large eggs

 

3 or 4 nice ripe bananas

 

1/2 c Buttermilk (if you don’t have buttermilk you should buy some because you need it for good biscuits, but in a pinch you can add about a teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to the milk and let it sit for a bit)

 

1 tea Vanilla

 

2 1/2 c Self Rising Flour (something else you need for good biscuits...but you can always add 1 tea Baking Soda and 1 tea salt to regular all purpose flour but you will need to sift it together before adding)

 

1 c chopped nuts...I use pecans

 

Okay...cream the sugar and butter, add the eggs, then add the buttermilk, bananas and vanilla. Last, stir in the flour. Pour it into greased pans. I use a bundt pan, but you can use loaf pans. One large, two small, or 4 of the really small ones. 

 

Bake at 350 until done. See above for what that means.

 

 

Service-New Moms

Does your church or service group provide meals for new mothers?

If not, why not start!

Here is a great list to get your started!

http://pinchofyum.com/10-meals-you-should-make-for-your-friends-with-new-babies