Two things come to mind... 1. JOY, Jesus, Others, Yourself. When we put life in that order, we have joy. 2. That heart condition is the fruit of the Spirit... love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. As we grow and walk in this fruit, we are successful home makers, moms, spouses, friends, neighbors, employees, Christians.
I am an empty nester who NEEDED to hear this video! While my life is much different than it was raising children, I still have a husband, and a home to care for! I am guilty of not keeping my home as clean as I once did when the kids were little and when I had two grandchildren live with me for most of their first 5 years of life. Thank you for your gentle reminders that homemakers need (especially me) to remind themselves that they are still a vital part of life even if that pat on the back rarely occurs. Again, thank you!
I loved how you encouraged us not to let the world get in our heads about what we do. I feel like there’s such a lack of respect for stay at home moms these days. If we’re not careful, it’s easy to internalize that and have us questioning ourselves about our decision to prioritize family. Thank you for the encouragement and for reminding us of how important we are and what a difference we make!
I loved this so much, thank you Angie. I had my own change of heart within the last year or two and it has given me such peace. I actually want to create a nice home! Rather than all of it feeling like a burden or a chore. I’ve always gotten triggered if any typical “woman’s work” is expected of me. What? Just because I’m a woman?! (Leftover crap from my college years and such a lie). I can still work if I need it or run a business if I want to. And I do. But creating a nice home for my family? That’s a joy and honor that brings them peace and comfort too. ❤
I love that you talked about being a servant lover. It is life changing. And Gods design. ❤️ like you said, of course it’s not always reciprocated, but the truth is we don’t always reciprocate either. Grace upon grace upon grace!
Golly day did I need this this morning! It hit very close to home. Literally every single point. It’s nice to know we aren’t all alone in this journey!
Thank you Angie for talking about this! We as homemakers- whether someone is a work-at-home wife/mom or a work-out of the home wife/mom- we are important, needed, and loved!!! I am a newly “empty nester” and I NOW see how important my role as a homemaker has been. Maybe my kids didn’t always say “thank you” but I see how safe, loved, happy and comfortable they have felt at home. AND now I do those chores with gratitude and thank God that I have a family to take care of, clean up after, feed, etc. I think praising God while doing chores and smile because we have a family helps!!!❤
Re: children's emotions. I read this super interesting article by a pediatrician on children & parenting. She talked a lot about reframing thoughts. Children aren't trying to annoy their parents. They can't help themselves. Parents can and should help their children understand, explore, and regulate (!) their feelings, "It's okay to be angry, here are xyz things you can do to feel better." The same goes for things like, "Mark is a difficult baby" -- instead, she suggested saying: "Mark is having a hard time with xyz." I will keep these mechanisms in mind as I feel that using thought reframing methods such as these make for a more empathetic environment, a less stressed parent, and a child that feels heard.
Loving theses videos! As a young mother starting our homeschool journey, I find your down to earth, sister-like chat approach to these issues or areas so helpful! Thank you Angela!
Yes…patience IS virtue. Not only having patience during moments when the family drives you bonkers, but what may seem like thankless, mundane, repetitive tasks at the moment are deeds of love/seeds of love that we’re planting now to harvest in the future 💛. Also, Proverbs 32 😊🙏🏽🌼
I honestly greatly appreciate just the fact that this is being talked about. It can be very easy to feel alone and lonely in the homemaker’s role. I work 40+ hours a week and my husband does as well. I still try so hard to keep up with everything without asking much of him or our kiddos. I enjoy teaching our kids how to cook and clean to be helpful, but I want to take care of my family and be the best homemaker and be able to do everything without it taking a toll on me. I want to show them that I love them through everything that I do for them. But yeah, it is exhausting and hard especially after draining days of full-time work. However, I can still choose to do only the most important things that actually need done, and not make it so stressful on myself. I can still choose to do these things in a loving way for my family. I can still choose to feel happiness as I provide my family with whatever it may be: dinner, clean clothes, clean bedding, attention, a bath, help with homework, clean dishes, and all the thousands of other things. I don’t have to do it all ALL the time and make it miserable. I can make it work for us as a family AND for me, too. It’s when you stop doing it all ALL the time that you realize that you do truly have everything that you want in your life. I want to live a slower life and be more patient so that I smile at my kids more.
As someone who just came out of an awful year of society fueled identity crisis about me being a stay at home mom/homemaker, I thank you for touching on the topic of when you lose sight of your purpose or let others and society as a whole judge and look down upon what homemakers do and how detrimental that can be. I spent the entirety of 2022 lost and feeling like I had to go get a job since my kids are now all in school and could just never make them work because I wasn't living my values or being who I really am. Thank you for touching on how important it is that not only we add value as homemakers but that it is imperative that WE see it and know our worth because we're not going to get accolades from anyone else.
Your talk today really hit home. I tell my kids all the time to change things they CAN change, like their attitude toward certain situations but I also need to do it! Thanks for the reminder.
now I'm not a good home maker at all, My mom has almost always lived with us and she does a lot of those 50's housewife things, I work full time so I help when I can and when I see an issue I can't stand (piles of dog hair.) What I have always excelled at is loving my people and being funny and laughing at their jokes and bringing the joy to the home. Also I bring stability and at 24, 21,18 and 13 my kids still totally know who to come to with the hard stuff the funny stuff the weird stuff the easy stuff, I'm your gal for that! I'm trying hard to show them Jesus!
Scheduling... routines..laundry..dishes.. cooking.. cleaning the while house...decorating... taking care kids and pets and husband ... meal planning school planning Budgeting. Plant care cuz we have basicly a jungle in the house......and the list goes on.
I’m listening to you as i do my sons laundry because i truly want to help out a wonderful hard working young man. And that is not spoiling him. A few years ago i felt the Need to practice service toward my family. The joy that comes from choosing to help and from trying to be gracious and understanding of how someone might be an opportunity for me to serve is immeasurable. I mess up sometimes but the act of service itself has often become reward enough to try again to show Patience to others and to myself. After all Jesus was the best example.❤️
I prefer to say 'a giving heart' or ' a heart for others' than 'a heart of service', just because of the 'ick' feeling that comes with that term, lol. But I get this so so much!
I'm an empty nester & divorcee. It's hard sometimes to get up & do things. Being alone sucks & speaking for myself, withdrawal from others is easy. I love my 660 sq ft apartment & it's perfect to just sit & get lost in.
I am going to struggle to not be long winded here, but I found myself just nodding along saying yes yes yes to every statement. There was a time in my life, being new in motherhood and married life, where I was not in a place to hear this message, but I am so there now. I’m over the message of “you deserve a break! You need everyone to appease you! Don’t be of service to others help yourself first!” And while those things can have their place they can’t take up your WHOLE HEART or like you said you will never find fulfillment. The more I say where can I be of service to my family and not why is no one helping me or why are things not going this particular way, the more joy in the every day I am finding, and it is a game changer. Thank you for your content and the words you share Angie, I really believe there are sooo many women who need/WANT to hear them ❤️
How do you have a balance between having a servant's heart and making sure your children actually do things for themselves? My boys can take advantage of that and not do anything for themselves. I'm trying to teach them to be more independent as age appropriate as they can. But I also want to serve and do my part. Not sure if that makes sense. My daughter is 12 and she doesn't have that problem. My 7 boys are ages 11-2 weeks old. Talking more about my older boys.
Yesterday, I randomly watched all of your previous videos on being a better homemaker/ mom life. To my surprise I was happy to see you posted another video because I think we are all just trying to be the best we can!
Oh Angela! You were an answer to prayer for me today. I was having a really bad day. I have felt like I'm invisible lately. My kids don't appreciate what I do and help. I feel like I'm drowning in mess and schooling the wall... I'm sure you understand. Thank you for your encouraging words today. Thank you for speaking truths and words of wisdom. I have watched you for years and you really are an amazing role model to me. I have 8 kiddos as well and each day feels daunting and maybe it really is MY attitude. Thank you thank you thank you for this. God bless you and your family, Angela. I hope you feel loved and blessed today. ❤️
I love how you literally got to the "heart" of this subject, using biblical principles without saying so. For people who don't call themselves Christians, you explained all this in a way they can understand and appreciate without feeling repelled by Scripture. Or they might have missed the message. And yet, my mind went to SO MANY verses that say exactly what you said here. God's ways are best. He created the world and He created us, so reading the Manufacturer's Instructions is the best way to see results and fulfillment. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to guard our heart with all diligence, for from it flow the wellsprings of life. 1 Corinthians 10:31 exhorts us to do all things to the glory of God, whether we eat or drink, in word or deed. Colossians 3:23-24 says: We should strive to do all things as unto the Lord, taking His will into consideration.1 We should work at it with all our heart, not for human masters, knowing that we will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. And Philippians 2:1-11 (my wedding passage 30 years ago) gives Christ as the example for how we should put one another's interests ahead of our own and serve. And ALL with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells inside of everyone who is IN CHRIST. The power that raised Christ from the dead can help you walk in obedience with great joy as your serve your family, keep house, and all the other responsibilities. You got this, Mama! Galatians 6:9 encourages us not to grow weary in our well-doings, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. We should never get tired of doing what is good, for if we don’t give up, we will in due time reap the harvest.
Thank you. I have been feeling resentful...it's all my attitude. I can't expect the people around me to give me credit for the things they probably don't even know I am doing. I am feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, but also more motivated. Thank you!
This message is perfectly timed, Angie! I have been feeling really unmotivated, apathetic and "in a rut" lately. I JUST said to my husband the other day, how do you motivate yourself when you just don't feel like it? When there is no immediate reward or recognition? You answered all of those questions, so thank you!
I LOVE these types of videos. It’s great for just pressing play and going about your chores as you listen, don’t need to look at the screen to know what’s going on!
Great tips! Also a reminder for any of my Muslim sisters watching, remember your intention first and foremost is to do it for the rewards and the pleasure of Allah (God), as looking after your family and home is a act of worship.
This was exactly what I needed. I’m so glad you put yourself and your ideas out there because this is a video that can change lives. Thank you, Angela!
You are such a blessing and an encouragement 💛 I take so much away from your videos, you share the things you need to be said but also providing feedback from your experience and something I can apply right away. Sometimes it's hard, but girl it is what needs to be said. ❤😊
Thank you so much for creating positive, encouraging content about being a mother and managing a home. About 6 months ago I decided that I was only going to listen to voices that were positive about motherhood. I'm grateful for your tone because you acknowledge the imperfect and difficult parts, but then encourage positive solutions and moving forward rather than wallowing or complaining. I like that.
I love how your videos are so relatable and yet when I read the comments I enjoy seeing everyone chime in on their own experiences. Your videos really influence us all to self reflect in our own ways . That's the best compliment I could give of someone's videos. It gives us all space for our thoughts.
Amen Angie, having a good heart in all you do makes everything feel like a blessing. It isn’t always to do but for the most part the more you do it the easier it becomes a blessing. When raising my two children as a single Mom there were many times I wished I had more patience and showing them by action a good heart is always the way to approach life. Thank you as always for sharing. ❤❤❤❤
Definitely a heart posture! As well as realistic goals! I homeschool my kids and they are younger so they need a lot of my time, having a perfect house for any mom... is probably not realistic. Of course, there is a difference between your house looking like a scene from hoarders and simply being a lived-in home!
What a great message, thank you . I believe the Frankl book was "Man's Search for Meaning "-I read it in college and it was at a turning point in my life of learning personal responsibility. I so appreciate your practical yet loving approach to a variety of real life issues.
Thanks for your willingness to give us the 'hard' stuff; it's so much more useful and refreshing than all the ego petting out there driving people apart. The Frankl quote was spot on. This has been a long, hard lesson in my life and I'm a different person now. I like this 'me' better too 😊 I have more growth ahead, but I'm grateful the tone of our home environment is sweeter for the kiddos too. I'm glad the Lord has so much patience with us, because I've needed plenty 😂
Beautifully true, Angie. Thank you for sharing your heart. When we serve with humbleness and gratitude, blessings and joy are our harvest. I have been a homemaker for 15 years and have found that through the years, my attitude directly affects our home pretty immediately. We have a lot to do with the tone that is set in the home; let it be one of peace, joy, kindness, gentleness, love and God-seeking abundant joy!
Thank you so much for sharing this! As a mother of 9 ages 2-17 I have grown tired physically and mentally. I have noticed that I lack the joy I once had and I have been praying to find that again. Thank you for saying this is a heart issue because it really is. I realize now that I have grown into apathy. I feel like this was sent from above just for me to hear today. Thank you again! ❤
I resonate with what you said. Aside from my daily walk with God, I have also found a homemaker channel here on youtube (Scandish Home) has shifted my perspective from apathy to heart-centered. I hope it helps to renew your spirit while tackling your daily to do's, as it has mine :)
My tip that’s most crucial to give…is that you need the ability to say “no” (within reason). No to yourself, no to friends, no to your children, and no to your spouse. Once you can do that, you’ll gain energy back because you’ve made yourself and others realize that you simply can’t do it all or you don’t have the resources.
You are such a cool and inspirational person. Even though you’re not much older than me at all, I want to be you when I grow up haha! I am a teacher and a single adoptive mom of 4 boys. Someday, I’d love to have a funny farm like yours too! I just feel like you’re the leveled up version of me haha
To all the moms here, there’s a saying that we’ve all heard and we all say “it needed a Mother’s Touch” or “it NEEDS a Mother’s Touch. Mothers are so important to the world! Please don’t let anyone diminish what you do. You’re so so so important. You matter, being a mom is precious. It goes by so fast. The days do seem long, but the years fly by so fast. No one will love you like your mother loves you. And YOU are that someone to your children.
I enjoyed watching your video and felt very validated when you quoted the definition of insanity! 😂 But I'll be honest, as someone who is feeling incredibly burnt-out at the moment, adding working on my serving attitude seems impossible right now. I feel like I'm so empty there's nothing to pour from anymore,and the thought of working on myself or being stricter with myself just seems like another draining task on top of all the others 🤷♀️ Maybe you have some tips?
lol angela isn’t a tradwife… other words like business person comedian editor writer motivational speaker farmer diyer teacher manager come to mind. love her so much.
Hello ! incredibly good theme for this video. something I reflected on a lot since 2023 began. many good points of view and reflections. hope you have a great new week. Many warm greetings from me in Norway
I needed this. Thank you so much for these words. What came to mind for me was Jesus and how he has called us to serve. Finding fulfillment in that service is pure joy.
Very well done, I watched twice in a row! I’ve been both a working mom and stay at home mom and really, I try to think of the end game- how do we want our family to remember their time at home when they look back on their lives years later? I never want to become so unhinged that decades of time are not fondly remembered. Wives and mothers really do set the tone, often times. I try to take the advice that I give to my children- You have to Choose how you react. Otherwise, I guess I’m as refined as a 6 year old 🤣❤️
