There are so many life lessons I’ve learned since becoming a mom of 4, but here are the top 39 lessons that I know will impact you the most.
“If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before.” A quote by J Loren Norris that we all should definitely live by. Why struggle through life? Why struggle as a mom if you can just ask someone who has been there already? Learn from them. Learn from their mistakes, and improve your life’s circumstances be seeking wise counsel.
Well, that’s what I am here to do for you. Give you that wise advice, woman to woman, to further help you along your motherhood journey.
I have been a mom for over 10 years, and I have learned a lot over that time. And now it’s time for me to share my best lessons learned. I am celebrating my 39th birthday and with that comes 39 life lessons learned since becoming a mom of 4. Let’s get right to it.
“No Amount Of Money Or Success Can Take The Place Of Time Spent With Your Family” -unknown
1. Spend as much time with your babies as you can when they are little. If you are between working or staying home, I always recommend staying home. Your child will learn best from their mother.
2. Read to your baby daily, even if they don’t understand what you are saying, eventually they will.
3. Work out with your baby now because when you are old and gray, they will be strong enough to pick you up and take care of you, just as you did for them.
4. Teach your babies while they are young that exercise is a part of life; it’s not an option but a must, a must in order to stay healthy for years and years to come.
5. If you have joy, your baby in children will have joy too.
6. Speak words of encouragement even when you don’t feel encouraged; your words will uplift others and yourself.
7. Your days won’t be perfect, even though you try to make them perfect. Having that expectation from the get-go makes life so much easier as a mom
“Life Is A Series of Baby Steps”
8. Be happy with the small wins in your chaotic mom life, eliminate the high expectations in your life and you will feel like you accomplished so much more when a small win occurs.
9. Take as many pictures as you want of your baby, no matter what others might say or think of you… she’s your baby and you want to cherish every single special moment you have with her, so capture that moment.
10. Take some risks, venture out and try new things with your baby, those make the best memories.
11. When something unexpected happens, like a blow out or a massive spit up, try to laugh through it because it’s not going to matter tomorrow.
12. Ask for help. When you are feeling low, rather than feeling down, reach out for help and take time for self care to give yourself a mental pick-me up.
13. Working out is the best antidepressant there is for postpartum moms.
14. You don’t have to lose the baby weight the first year after having a baby. Set small goals and take baby steps towards your goals every day; just don’t stop taking those baby steps.
15. Journal and write down your favorite memories from each day because before you know it, you’ll forget everything that happened when your babies were little.
16. Make memory books – you will appreciate it when your baby is older.
17. Sing to your baby, even if you have a horrible singing voice. You never know if your child will grow up to have the most beautiful voice you have ever heard.
18. Avoid giving your child sugar for as long as you can. The moment you feed them sugar, they will keep asking for more.
19. Travel with your children at a young age, and I’m talking young, newborn because it will develop the sense of adventure in them from the get-go.
20. Instill in your baby your faith from the moment he or she is born. Be rooted in your faith as her mom and walk that journey together as you both grow closer to God.
“Simplify Life: Quality Time and Connections Happen In The Slow Moments”
21. The answers to all your parenting questions are in the Bible.
22. Find trusted mom mentors to seek advice from when you need some guidance.
23. Your husband is your teammate, you can win at parenting when you and your teammate work together. So be sure to keep practicing every day, aka: communicate!
24. Go on dates with your husband at least once a month and hire a babysitter. Those dates are game changers for your relationship, and it’s also great to have your babies get used to being away from you from time to time.
25. Give your child quality “mommy and me” time, preferably once a day for 10 minutes or more but if that’s hard, at least once a month for an hour at a time indefinitely as they get older.
26. Praise them, praise them, praise them. Your child wants to be praised.
27. Find something your child is good at and remind them they are good at it. It gives them a sense of identity in their talents and helps them to feel confident.
28. Create a sleep routine from the start. Sleep routines as early as 2 months old can last a lifetime and instill healthy habits forever.
29. Teach your baby about routines and schedules early on when they are young. Keep your days consistent day-to-day on most days, it avoids the fear of the unknown.This predictability in the day’s routine helps your child to feel more secure and relaxed.
30. Teach your child to say “yes ma’am” and “yes sir” as soon as they start talking! It’s all about respect.
“The More You Celebrate Your Life, The More There Is In Life To Celebrate.”
31. Play dates are a must, teaching social skills early on will carry over into their elementary years and beyond.
32. Listen to your baby, listen to the sounds of their cry. Study your baby, understand what your baby needs and keep adapting as your baby grows and changes. Your baby is always trying to tell you something. You just have to listen.
33. If your baby or child is having a hard time, it’s probably because they just need a long hug and snuggle from you.
34. Get down to eye level when you talk to your baby and child. They instantly will feel better.
35. Get your child involved in sports, and skip the screen time, all together. Sports are so much better than anything on the screen.
36. Make a list of all the things you want your children to be good at and be intentional at teaching them. Once a month check something off your list. Your child will become a rockstar!
37. What is your family mission statement? Don’t have one? Make one, write it out, frame it and make sure you live by it and teach your child as she grows older. And don’t forget to include your favorite Bible verse at the end.
38. Laugh a lot, and if you are having trouble laughing, just tickle each other. That will work!
39. Celebrate birthdays with a bang, your child will thank you. It’s the one time of the year they get to feel extra special and they deserve that .
My Birthday Wish
I share these life lessons with you to help you grow in your motherhood journey. I want you to be the best mom you can possibly be.
I feel honored that you took the time to read this far down the page. Let me know what you think. Which life lesson did you love the most? Could you share it with me by writing a review on Apple Podcast?
Simply head over to my show, The Fit Postpartum Mom, and…
-scroll down to the 5 stars
-click on “write a review”
-and write a couple sentences about your favorite life lesson.
That is my birthday wish, to receive a written review and note from you.
Thanks for joining me on my birthday, and I can’t wait to celebrate many more with you.
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*It is important to always consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program and get medical clearance. Always warm up thoroughly and stretch after all workouts. LiveCoreStrong.com and Jena Bradley will be not be responsible or liable for any injury sustained while exercising at home, gym or elsewhere. Perform exercises at your own risk.
