55. Breathing Room: How Stepping Back Makes You a Better Mom

Today, we’re diving straight into the heart of what it means to hit that breaking point and reclaim our sanity amid the chaos of everyday life. It’s all about taking a hot second to reflect and ask ourselves, “How’s all that working for ya?” Trust me, stepping back isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity for those of us juggling family, work, and, well, life itself.

Join me as I share a personal tale of kitchen chaos that spiraled into a mini-revelation, reminding us that finding breathing room is not just about escaping the noise, but about stepping into clarity. So grab your favorite beverage, kick back, and let’s keep it real while we explore the importance of healthy boundaries, because (spoiler alert) you deserve it!

Episode Highlights:

  • Reflecting on our lives can be the catalyst for meaningful change and growth.
  • It’s crucial to create breathing room in our busy lives to recharge and reset.
  • Moments of solitude help us regain clarity and perspective amidst life’s chaos.
  • Seeking appreciation is valid, but our self-worth should never depend on external validation.
  • Taking a brief step back allows us to return to our loved ones as better versions of ourselves.
  • Investing time in ourselves isn’t selfish; it’s essential for being fully present for others.

Resources Mentioned

  • Essentialism by Greg McKeown
  • “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7 (NIV)

Related Episodes

Connect with Rachel

It means so much to me that you are part of this community! I never recommend anything to you that I don’t truly love and believe is worthwhile. Some of the links I share are affiliate links, and I will earn a tiny commission if you go through them to make a purchase. It’s no extra cost to you, and buying through the links I share is one small way you can support this ministry and our podcast. 

Transcript
Speaker A:

You are listening to the podcast where we ask, how's all that working for you?

Speaker A:

Because sometimes all you need to change your life is a moment of reflection.

Speaker A:

In this space, we are done with sugarcoating, and we embrace keeping it real.

Speaker A:

I'm your host, Rachel D.

Speaker A:

Baker, guiding you on this journey to create some breathing room, set healthy boundaries, and reclaim your time guilt free.

Speaker A:

This is real talk with a bit of sass, and we are always seeking the truth in God's word.

Speaker A:

Today, we're going to start with a confession.

Speaker A:

I am fully aware how easy it seems for me to sit over here and ask, how's all that working for you?

Speaker A:

And to tell you to create some breathing room in your life.

Speaker A:

Raise your hand if you are literally cussing me right now.

Speaker A:

Unless you're driving while listening to this.

Speaker A:

Hands on the wheel, sis.

Speaker A:

We're not.

Speaker A:

We're not getting dangerous.

Speaker A:

But I want you to hear me say that doing the things we talk about on this podcast do not typically come naturally for those of us who are used to putting ourselves last.

Speaker A:

Can I get an amen?

Speaker A:

Let me take you back to a personal outtake from my life, a moment that many of us can relate to.

Speaker A:

The chaos of preparing dinner for the family after a day that seemed to never end.

Speaker A:

The sizzle of the stove, the clatter of the pots and pans, the whole kitchen alive with activity.

Speaker A:

But in the midst of it all, there was a breaking point.

Speaker A:

Is this sounding familiar to anyone?

Speaker A:

Can you relate to this so far?

Speaker A:

All right, here it comes.

Speaker A:

Here's.

Speaker A:

Here's my confession story to you.

Speaker A:

One evening, after a particularly challenging day, I found myself right in the heart of that kitchen chaos.

Speaker A:

Overwhelmed by the demands of family and work and life, I reached a boiling point.

Speaker A:

So picture this.

Speaker A:

My kids bombarding me with questions, needing help with this and that.

Speaker A:

And to top it off, declaring they didn't want to eat what I was cooking for dinner.

Speaker A:

What?

Speaker A:

Is there much else in life that can bring out that mom rage anyway?

Speaker A:

I remember dropping the spatula, declaring, someone should finish cooking this.

Speaker A:

And I stepped out into the cool evening air.

Speaker A:

I legit dropped everything and ran.

Speaker A:

As I strolled through the neighborhood, this mix of emotions flooded my mind.

Speaker A:

There was frustration, exhaustion, and that feeling of being stretched too thin.

Speaker A:

But with each step, the weight began to lift a little bit.

Speaker A:

I don't know, the simplicity of the night, the quiet streets, the gentle rhythm of my footsteps, it kind of became this therapeutic cadence.

Speaker A:

In those moments of solitude, I found more than just a moment to breathe, more than just some breathing room, I found clarity.

Speaker A:

The noise of obligations and expectations faded and this moment of self reflection emerged.

Speaker A:

The evening became a canvas for my thoughts, a space to identify what truly mattered.

Speaker A:

And oh sis, there was a deeper layer to this discovery.

Speaker A:

It wasn't just the overwhelming responsibilities.

Speaker A:

It was a feeling of not being appreciated for all that I did.

Speaker A:

That solitude, that moment alone, allowed me to acknowledge this ache in my heart and to recognize that it was okay to seek appreciation and value you for my efforts.

Speaker A:

But here's the kicker though.

Speaker A:

I realized that while seeking appreciation is valid, my worth is not determined by my husband or by my kids.

Speaker A:

It wasn't up to them to validate my value.

Speaker A:

I love these verses in Titus chapter three that provide a reminder of where my true worth comes from.

Speaker A:

It says, but when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

Speaker A:

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal Life.

Speaker A:

That's Titus 3, verses 4 through 7 if you want to go look at it.

Speaker A:

And that came from the niv.

Speaker A:

So I've had my moment.

Speaker A:

I went out, had a bit of clarity.

Speaker A:

After some reflection, returning home, walking through that front door to my family, the chaos of the kitchen had not magically disappeared.

Speaker A:

Wouldn't that have been a nice ending to the story?

Speaker A:

I came home and dinner was ready and the children were well behaved.

Speaker A:

That let's this is real life.

Speaker A:

I'm sharing real life with you.

Speaker A:

So the chaos of the kitchen didn't magically disappear, but something within me had shifted with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear mind.

Speaker A:

I finished cooking.

Speaker A:

It wasn't just a meal.

Speaker A:

It was more this symbol of reclaiming my time and setting healthier priorities.

Speaker A:

And here's the takeaway.

Speaker A:

Stepping back, even briefly.

Speaker A:

I wasn't gone that long.

Speaker A:

Even just stepping back briefly allows us to return as the best versions of ourselves for our loved ones.

Speaker A:

We step out, we have that breathing room so that we can come back renewed and ready to keep going and serving and loving.

Speaker A:

It's a powerful reminder that taking a moment for yourself isn't selfish.

Speaker A:

It's it's an investment in being the best mom, wife, friend, sister, servant of Christ that you can be.

Speaker A:

And I share this with you.

Speaker A:

Not as like, hi, I'm the perfect example of getting your life together.

Speaker A:

I will never be that for you.

Speaker A:

I'm sorry, but I will be a real one.

Speaker A:

I'll be a real example because we're in this together, navigating the messy and the beautiful journey of life.

Speaker A:

There's a section in chapter six of the book Essentialism where Greg McKune talks about the importance of stepping back, reflecting and reviewing the big picture of your life.

Speaker A:

He says being a journalist of your own life will force you to stop hyper focusing on all the minor details and see the bigger picture.

Speaker A:

And if you don't know what book I'm talking about or you want to learn more about it, back in I believe it's episode 23.

Speaker A:

I did a quick review of that book, so go back and check that out.

Speaker A:

But he's talking about taking some time to be the journalist of your own life, and that can be done with journaling.

Speaker A:

So simple.

Speaker A:

And even just kind of going through your notes of your own life in your head can work as well.

Speaker A:

However you decide to grab a few minutes for yourself.

Speaker A:

Whether you go for that quick walk or take a couple minutes to journal or whatever else works for you in this season of life that you are in, I hope you discover the value of stepping away from the noise and asking yourself, hey, how's all that working for you?

Speaker A:

There is clarity to be found in the quiet.

Speaker A:

If this episode was helpful for you, would you share it with a friend?

Speaker A:

Please?

Speaker A:

You can take a screenshot or share it on Instagram.

Speaker A:

I love seeing and hearing your responses as we continue these conversations together.

Leave a Reply

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

Scroll to Top