Now that we still have some sunlight hanging aroun Now that we still have some sunlight hanging around after the kids go to bed, my new thing is sipping a glass of wine on the back patio while making small talk with Josh and praying the kids stay in bed.
 
I've been obsessed with cleaning our house recently but I've been so good about it, I have nothing left to clean or tidy right now and I'm left to face the things I don't really want to think about like the fact that I miss my kids when they're at school or how I really want to fill this house up with some more of them 😅 

At any rate, one of my simple pleasures in life is decluttering and purging unused things and I feel like I've accomplished a lot!! What about you?
Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growin Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growing up, I thought it was pretty much all I was cut out to do, which ended up being false. But even though I've learned that I'm capable of so many other things, being a mom is still one of my highest aspirations. As we're getting our home ready for fostering, I can't help but think of how the little one(s) entering our home will feel but also how David and Evy will feel. How will they react if we parent slightly differently? Will they understand that we're working to build trust and connection or will they feel indignant? These are the things I pray about and also speak to the kids about in the days leading up. We're all excited but I have the feeling of heaviness that we don't and won't understand the burden until we're all already carrying it together.
Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over here and I think it might be working 😉 Today the kids had TWOsday at school and they were so sweet. David wore a tie (I don't exactly get how it tirles in to Twosday but the kids were happy so..) and Evy "twinned" with a couple of sweet friends in her class. It's so sweet when you see your own kids building their own friendships. It just loosens a little piece of anxiety I've had about parenthood since David was still in my tummy. How did you spend your TWOsday??

Sandals @naotfootwear 💕
Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Jos Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Josh in a quiet house - the kids slept over my parent's last night. Got up, raced to clean the kitchen as fast as I could while my coffee was brewing. The coffee won this time. 

I recorded a Reel while getting ready. Went to the place where we were going to meet my fam a bit early so Josh and I could get in a walk. Then we got coffee, went to a huge antique store (sadly left with nothing but took pictures of my faves so I can remember to come back) and went to lunch with the kids and my parents. Love easy-going and fun days like these 🖤
Back in the day,I was talking with someone about m Back in the day,I was talking with someone about marriage.Josh and I had been married for a few years at that point but this guy was still single. ..

He told me he was studying to get his masters in counseling and he wanted to be a marriage counselor one day.I thought "Hey that's pretty cool" but, curious,because,you know, he was single. 

Anyway, after we'd been talking a few minutes about our interest in helping married couples, he leaned in and said, "You know, I have this theory on marriage.." "Oh yeah?" I said (pretty curious to hear what theories this guy had for all of marriage for everyone everywhere). 

He said, "I believe that every single problem in marriage boils down to communication."

At the time, I didn't really know what to say. I'm more of a *reflector* and then I come up with what I wish I had said later.

Here's what I wish I had said: "Um. Yeah I don't think so. I mean sure, communication helps with a lot of issues. But what about selfishness,⠀addiction,⠀past hurt and trauma, etc? Communication will help people work through those issues but they're connected to much deeper issues that concern the heart--not just your communication skills."

We are all broken, very human, beings and when left to our own devices,⠀we don't have all the tools necessary to "fix" ourselves or our spouse's problems. We can talk until we're blue in the face but we just can't fix ourselves. 

What we do need, is to lean on the Creator who made all things good and makes all things new. To understand that we are not the main characters here. The whole world and everything in it points to Christ and His redeeming power. And yes, he often works that out through us and often through communication. But it's not communication that saves marriages. It's Jesus.

I was just thinking about that today and wanted to get it off my chest. What role do you think communication plays?
Merry Christmas from the Damons! 🎁 Merry Christmas from the Damons! 🎁
So much joy in one photo! Ok, maybe 4 photos 😜 So much joy in one photo! Ok, maybe 4 photos 😜 Love my littlest niece, Eva ❤️
Let's hash something out together: what's somethin Let's hash something out together: what's something you do or used to fight about in your marriage/relationship regularly?

Do you feel like the issue is/was pretty cut and dry? 

Or was there an underlying issue that bubbled up in different ways?

Curious to know your thoughts. 

When Josh and I were first married, we fought a lot. We were pretty low-income, didn't have great jobs, and had a wee baby. While our fights were often about the grocery list, the real issue was that we were SCARED. 

Scared of the adult life we had just stepped into. It was kind of like jumping into a puddle you don't think is that deep until after it's too late and now your socks are completely drowning 🚣🏼‍♀️ 

Luckily, though, they dry off over time, don't they?

After lots of learning and working really hard (both at our jobs and relationship) things started to ease up. We started to see that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and even though we weren't there yet, it gave up hope to carry on together ❤️
Go on a walk with your spouse before Netflixing. O Go on a walk with your spouse before Netflixing. Or if you can't leave the house, sit in the kitchen with a glass of wine. Make time to talk. And make it easier by doing things together. It's so so important ❤️
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Uncategorized · May 20, 2017

Stay at home moms: take a nap!

"And then it hit me. Why do I really need to be doing anything right now. The rest of my family is sleeping (minus one hiccuping baby) and here I am feeling like I’m being lazy if I’m not doing something. Why do I feel guilty if my feet aren’t moving or if my hands aren’t working?"

Hey mamas,

So today amidst interviewing for my son’s future preschool, adding a load of laundry to the washer, feeding a baby, and getting my toddler a snack, I thought about the idea of napping. It sounded nice in my head, but I knew it just wasn’t going to happen today. The baby slept during the interview so I knew it was a sure thing that she’d be up the rest of the afternoon, anyway. I tried anyway in a bout of wishful thinking. Took this Snapchat. (Click here if you care to follow and see ten-second videos of cooing babies, btw). Then gave up. So while the rest of my family went down for a siesta, I found myself thinking of what I could do while my family slept. Work on the blog! Sure. I carefully balanced the computer on my legs while yet again feeding the baby. That worked for about 23 seconds until she fussed and needed to burp. So now I’m walking around with a fussy baby thinking, “What can I do, what can I do?”

And then it hit me.

Why do I really need to be doing anything right now? The rest of my family is sleeping (minus one hiccuping baby) and here I am feeling like I’m being lazy if I’m not doing something. Why do I feel guilty if my feet aren’t moving or if my hands aren’t working?

I realize I never really felt this way when I was working outside the home, because the number on the paycheck always vouched for me that I was pulling my weight. But what do I have to show now that I’m at home with the kids? Sure, I make an income on this blog, but that’s something I really enjoy doing, so it doesn’t really feel like “pulling my weight.” Especially when my husband doesn’t nearly enjoy going to work as much as I do.

So in the midst of finding myself needing to be busy, I stopped and created this video with the epiphany I had. Check it out, leave a thumbs-up, comment and say “HEY, AWESOME VIDEO!!!” and then subscribe to my budding YouTube channel!

Thanks, guys! Let me know what you think and share with a busy-body mama who needs a time-out!

In: Uncategorized · Tagged: busy, guilty, income, life, live, mama, martha, mom, moment, motherhood, nap, noads, rest, sahm, sleep, snapchat, video, wahm, Work, youtube

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Comments

  1. Toughcookiemommy says

    May 24, 2017 at 11:24 pm

    I wish I could take a nap. I totally feel your pain since I juggle a career and two active boys. Some days, I feel like I’m going to pass out but us moms don’t have that luxury.

  2. Amber Pilcher says

    May 25, 2017 at 2:52 am

    When my daughter was a baby, I lived by this! Whenever she slept, I slept. There were no chores that took precedent over my slumber LOL. I’d rather have dishes in the sink or a messy bathroom floor than miss those short, precious hours of sleep.

  3. Cassie says

    May 25, 2017 at 4:11 am

    Lovely post! An important message for all stay at home mums that it is ok to get some rest during the day. Forwarding to my mum friends 🙂

  4. Claire says

    May 25, 2017 at 4:57 am

    Love your hair! and the video along with the post! I definitely think a good 20 min of power nap is a right choice because power naps can really revive you throughout the day!

  5. Sona Sethi says

    May 25, 2017 at 10:11 am

    I dont have kids yet but I have heard about nap anywhere anytime from all my friends who have become new moms! haha

  6. Robin Rue says

    May 25, 2017 at 11:55 am

    When my babies were little, I napped when they did. It definitely helped. Now that they are older and don’t nap anymore- if I do, I can’t sleep that night 🙁

  7. Janel says

    May 25, 2017 at 3:58 pm

    I never really took this of vice because I always had something to get done if my kids even napped. Now that they’re older and either in school or college I still feel like I’m so busy and don’t get a chance to nap. However yesterday I found myself waking up from a nap after a Long week.

  8. Melissa says

    May 25, 2017 at 6:50 pm

    Now that I have my own business to run I find there is always something to do so I would feel so guilty to just chill for a half hour. On the other and a nap can recharge your batteries to get more work done.

  9. Elizabeth O. says

    May 25, 2017 at 10:46 pm

    I feel like we’re all too hard on ourselves and it’s just not fair. We have to learn how to slow down and enjoy the time that we have doing nothing. It’s important that we get a break too.

  10. daniella says

    May 25, 2017 at 11:54 pm

    Everyone needs rest at one point or another! So yea, take a nap and rest up! It is important to be rested!

  11. Rhian Westbury says

    May 26, 2017 at 9:06 am

    Sleep is needed even more so by moms so you should not feel guilty about taking it easy sometimes and having a nap. Naps are the best x

  12. Karen says

    May 26, 2017 at 9:00 pm

    It’s crazy important that you are rested as a mom. If you’re not – how can you fully support your baby and be alert to their needs?

  13. Cindy Ingalls says

    May 27, 2017 at 2:31 am

    There is nothing wrong with taking a nap. We all need replenishment, especially stay at home moms.

  14. Heather says

    May 27, 2017 at 10:57 am

    Amen to the nap! I can’t seem to juggle it anymore with my two older kids. But, if they are out in the afternoon with their dad and I am home with the baby – absolutely!

  15. Jackie says

    May 27, 2017 at 11:34 am

    I used to love naps. I’m not a stay at home mom or even a mom at all but I do work from home. I do feel guilty that I should be working instead of sleeping. Maybe I should take your advice.

  16. Heather says

    May 27, 2017 at 1:31 pm

    So much yes! I work from home and most days I’m counting down the minutes to my youngest daughter’s nap time so I can get work done. But I’d really love to be napping instead!

  17. Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says

    May 28, 2017 at 3:11 am

    You have a great attitude as a mom. I was like you 10 years ago, lol.. my children are now tweens, and yet.. we all still have those ‘guilty feelings’ of feeling like we should be doing more as stay at home moms. You’re not alone. 🙂

  18. Rachel says

    May 30, 2017 at 6:46 pm

    I never took/take naps as a mom. It always seems like there is something else to do and some better way I could be spending my time.

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Hi! I'm Chelsea and we're the Damon's. We spent the last two years in WA state paying off student loans and just bought our first house in SC! I love a smooth black coffee, Josh's first love is the Seattle Sounders. Our kids are huge dorks and constantly make us laugh and we all love spending as much time outside as possible.

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Now that we still have some sunlight hanging aroun Now that we still have some sunlight hanging around after the kids go to bed, my new thing is sipping a glass of wine on the back patio while making small talk with Josh and praying the kids stay in bed.
 
I've been obsessed with cleaning our house recently but I've been so good about it, I have nothing left to clean or tidy right now and I'm left to face the things I don't really want to think about like the fact that I miss my kids when they're at school or how I really want to fill this house up with some more of them 😅 

At any rate, one of my simple pleasures in life is decluttering and purging unused things and I feel like I've accomplished a lot!! What about you?
Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growin Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growing up, I thought it was pretty much all I was cut out to do, which ended up being false. But even though I've learned that I'm capable of so many other things, being a mom is still one of my highest aspirations. As we're getting our home ready for fostering, I can't help but think of how the little one(s) entering our home will feel but also how David and Evy will feel. How will they react if we parent slightly differently? Will they understand that we're working to build trust and connection or will they feel indignant? These are the things I pray about and also speak to the kids about in the days leading up. We're all excited but I have the feeling of heaviness that we don't and won't understand the burden until we're all already carrying it together.
Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over here and I think it might be working 😉 Today the kids had TWOsday at school and they were so sweet. David wore a tie (I don't exactly get how it tirles in to Twosday but the kids were happy so..) and Evy "twinned" with a couple of sweet friends in her class. It's so sweet when you see your own kids building their own friendships. It just loosens a little piece of anxiety I've had about parenthood since David was still in my tummy. How did you spend your TWOsday??

Sandals @naotfootwear 💕
Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Jos Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Josh in a quiet house - the kids slept over my parent's last night. Got up, raced to clean the kitchen as fast as I could while my coffee was brewing. The coffee won this time. 

I recorded a Reel while getting ready. Went to the place where we were going to meet my fam a bit early so Josh and I could get in a walk. Then we got coffee, went to a huge antique store (sadly left with nothing but took pictures of my faves so I can remember to come back) and went to lunch with the kids and my parents. Love easy-going and fun days like these 🖤

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Now that we still have some sunlight hanging aroun Now that we still have some sunlight hanging around after the kids go to bed, my new thing is sipping a glass of wine on the back patio while making small talk with Josh and praying the kids stay in bed.
 
I've been obsessed with cleaning our house recently but I've been so good about it, I have nothing left to clean or tidy right now and I'm left to face the things I don't really want to think about like the fact that I miss my kids when they're at school or how I really want to fill this house up with some more of them 😅 

At any rate, one of my simple pleasures in life is decluttering and purging unused things and I feel like I've accomplished a lot!! What about you?
Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growin Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growing up, I thought it was pretty much all I was cut out to do, which ended up being false. But even though I've learned that I'm capable of so many other things, being a mom is still one of my highest aspirations. As we're getting our home ready for fostering, I can't help but think of how the little one(s) entering our home will feel but also how David and Evy will feel. How will they react if we parent slightly differently? Will they understand that we're working to build trust and connection or will they feel indignant? These are the things I pray about and also speak to the kids about in the days leading up. We're all excited but I have the feeling of heaviness that we don't and won't understand the burden until we're all already carrying it together.
Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over here and I think it might be working 😉 Today the kids had TWOsday at school and they were so sweet. David wore a tie (I don't exactly get how it tirles in to Twosday but the kids were happy so..) and Evy "twinned" with a couple of sweet friends in her class. It's so sweet when you see your own kids building their own friendships. It just loosens a little piece of anxiety I've had about parenthood since David was still in my tummy. How did you spend your TWOsday??

Sandals @naotfootwear 💕
Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Jos Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Josh in a quiet house - the kids slept over my parent's last night. Got up, raced to clean the kitchen as fast as I could while my coffee was brewing. The coffee won this time. 

I recorded a Reel while getting ready. Went to the place where we were going to meet my fam a bit early so Josh and I could get in a walk. Then we got coffee, went to a huge antique store (sadly left with nothing but took pictures of my faves so I can remember to come back) and went to lunch with the kids and my parents. Love easy-going and fun days like these 🖤
Back in the day,I was talking with someone about m Back in the day,I was talking with someone about marriage.Josh and I had been married for a few years at that point but this guy was still single. ..

He told me he was studying to get his masters in counseling and he wanted to be a marriage counselor one day.I thought "Hey that's pretty cool" but, curious,because,you know, he was single. 

Anyway, after we'd been talking a few minutes about our interest in helping married couples, he leaned in and said, "You know, I have this theory on marriage.." "Oh yeah?" I said (pretty curious to hear what theories this guy had for all of marriage for everyone everywhere). 

He said, "I believe that every single problem in marriage boils down to communication."

At the time, I didn't really know what to say. I'm more of a *reflector* and then I come up with what I wish I had said later.

Here's what I wish I had said: "Um. Yeah I don't think so. I mean sure, communication helps with a lot of issues. But what about selfishness,⠀addiction,⠀past hurt and trauma, etc? Communication will help people work through those issues but they're connected to much deeper issues that concern the heart--not just your communication skills."

We are all broken, very human, beings and when left to our own devices,⠀we don't have all the tools necessary to "fix" ourselves or our spouse's problems. We can talk until we're blue in the face but we just can't fix ourselves. 

What we do need, is to lean on the Creator who made all things good and makes all things new. To understand that we are not the main characters here. The whole world and everything in it points to Christ and His redeeming power. And yes, he often works that out through us and often through communication. But it's not communication that saves marriages. It's Jesus.

I was just thinking about that today and wanted to get it off my chest. What role do you think communication plays?
Merry Christmas from the Damons! 🎁 Merry Christmas from the Damons! 🎁
So much joy in one photo! Ok, maybe 4 photos 😜 So much joy in one photo! Ok, maybe 4 photos 😜 Love my littlest niece, Eva ❤️
Let's hash something out together: what's somethin Let's hash something out together: what's something you do or used to fight about in your marriage/relationship regularly?

Do you feel like the issue is/was pretty cut and dry? 

Or was there an underlying issue that bubbled up in different ways?

Curious to know your thoughts. 

When Josh and I were first married, we fought a lot. We were pretty low-income, didn't have great jobs, and had a wee baby. While our fights were often about the grocery list, the real issue was that we were SCARED. 

Scared of the adult life we had just stepped into. It was kind of like jumping into a puddle you don't think is that deep until after it's too late and now your socks are completely drowning 🚣🏼‍♀️ 

Luckily, though, they dry off over time, don't they?

After lots of learning and working really hard (both at our jobs and relationship) things started to ease up. We started to see that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and even though we weren't there yet, it gave up hope to carry on together ❤️
Go on a walk with your spouse before Netflixing. O Go on a walk with your spouse before Netflixing. Or if you can't leave the house, sit in the kitchen with a glass of wine. Make time to talk. And make it easier by doing things together. It's so so important ❤️
Top knots over crop tops 😜 Top knots over crop tops 😜

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