31 Days to Intentional Parenting: {Day 4} Finding your joy

{JOY}

the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.

a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated.

the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.

a state of happiness or felicity.

Do you feel joyful about motherhood? Would people describe you as a joyful mother?

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that the fruit of the spirit is: love, joy, PEACE, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. What mother wouldn’t want to have a healthy dose of each those traits in her character?

We’ve already spoken about loving your children this week, so now let’s talk about finding your joy. What does finding your joy have to do with intentional parenting? Well, I believe that mothers set the tone in their households. As the saying goes, “If Mama ain’t happy; Aint’ nobody happy.” So, let’s try to capture JOY in our mothering because our moods affect our children (and husbands) and our moods affect our parenting.

Writing things down is generally helpful to me. So, this week I’d like to challenge you to make a JOY JOURNAL. Make it as fancy or as simple as you desire, but it should elicit feelings of joy when you see it—-so try to make it pretty. If crafting isn’t your thing, I’m sure you could buy a pretty little notebook or journal somewhere to use as your own JOY JOURNAL.

Next, I want you to create a running list of things that bring you joy. Whenever you feel like you need to get a little joy back in your life, refer to your list and do something on the list to make yourself happy. Remember, the items on your list should be things that you can control.

Here are some examples from my own journal:

Cuddling with my children during read-alouds
Pretty feet —relaxing pedicures
The smell of a new book
Earl Grey Tea with honey
Hagan Daz ice cream bars
Reading a book while soaking in a warm bath
Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Souffle body cream
Fresh flowers on the table
Candlelight
Holding hands with my husband
Playing with my children
Scrapbooking