Enjoy Every Minute: And Other Ridiculous Things We Say to Moms

“Enjoy every minute because the time goes so fast!” Every mother of young children has been offered this advice. Yet for moms in the thick of it, this advice is neither realistic nor attainable. A tired, overwhelmed mom can easily internalize these well-intentioned words into guilt-laced, negative self-talk.

“What is wrong with me? Why aren’t I enjoying my kids more? Why do I feel so overwhelmed when other moms seem so normal? I should be more patient and joyful. I’m a Christian—I shouldn’t be struggling so much.”

We will not enjoy every minute of this journey, but we can find joy in each season. With humor and candor, Becky takes on this cliché along with other common myths such as, “God will never give you more than you can handle,” and “The most important thing is that your kids be happy.” Through compelling stories and biblical insights, she encourages moms to “set their hearts on pilgrimage” as they:

• Rely on God’s strength in the hard moments
• Adjust their expectations to accommodate the ups and downs of life
• Walk with others along the way
• Develop and maintain an eternal perspective

Motherhood is not meant to be a solo sport. The challenges we face as we raise our kids can stretch us to our limits and, hopefully, bring us to our knees. Through it all, we are overcome with a love so fierce it can only come from the heart of God. Make no mistake—this motherhood gig was totally his idea.

Becky Baudouin is an author and speaker. She is the author of Enjoy Every Minute and Other Ridiculous Things We Say to Moms, and Cancer, Faith, and Unexpected Joy: What My Mother Taught Me About How to Live and How to Die. A former columnist for Chicago’s Daily Herald newspaper, her three daughters supplied her with enough material for a five-year-run with her column, “A Mom’s Point of View.” Several of her articles have also been published in Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family magazine.

Becky grew up in northern Michigan and now lives in the Chicago area with her husband, Bernie, and their three daughters. Find out more at BeckyBaudouin.com.