When I found out we were moving to Alaska a few years ago, I cried. I was so scared and I didn’t want to be so far from family with a baby and a toddler. It’s been such a blessing. Our life is so slow here. We don’t pay attention to what everyone else is worried about in the rest of the US. We just live our little life here with no influence from others.
@@Katy_living_simplyno I got rid of it after we moved here. I spent too much time, while breastfeeding, watching other moms do things with their kids and wanted to actually do them with mine instead😂. Also we are military so we are pretty private.
@@samanthakwait8782 You're preaching to the choir. We have to create that cozy lovely atmosphere for our own kiddos🥰. And pulling out the phone kills the mood.😄
One thing I have learned too late that I worried about that I realized is not that important to always have such a clean home than spending relaxed time with the kids and having fun laughing with them a lot. Being just a bit more silly for the kids sake. And not worry so much about other peoples opinions.
I'm finally getting there nine years too late. It's so hard for me to relax my expectations for my home. I never feel like I meet my expectations and therefore I never feel like I can relax and be silly with my kids till I do. Makes for a very stressed out mom and kids left to play on their own. Thank goodness for country living but still...
I have watched you off and on over the years and I always come away with a calm feeling. I am a 58 year old woman with 3 grown children but I am a nanny for a family with 3 young girls ( 10 -twins and 8). I am still observing the world of parenting through their eyes. I think you are sending out a really good message. less is more in my opinion.
So good, Lisa! Love the idea of carrying a book around rather than my phone. I always think about 'what do I want my children seeing me doing? Staring at a black screen or sitting in silence, reading a book, watching them play etc'
I was a mother to young children starting in the later 80s. That era began the feeling of placing your child in after school activities, and juggling working outside of the home. The homework and extra assignments were heavy, adding to putting your child in music lessons/sports, etc. Life needs balance. Lisa, looks like your family had an enjoyable trip to the northern lakes region!
My oldest is 40. All 5 homeschooled. “Unbalanced” was key to our survival. No no no no no to most everything. We had friends galore too, including being the koolaid-mom-house. We did activities, over a decade of dance, “boy” skill acquisitions too Youth group, SS, nope Moms weekly Bible group, nope Overnight student camps, nope Game system, nope Tv, nope (rare shows or movies, we owned one - & a vcr!) Phones or even chatting online, nope On & on, nope Work, like physical labor, yep Biking to get urself around, yes Lots of time spent on & with younger children and older adults, yes Manners & civility, daily
I used to have a lot of anxiety about taking my kid out in public. I started feeling more freedom in motherhood when I realized that other people’s opinions on how my child is behaving doesn’t matter. I’ll probably never see them again, and if they’re someone that wants to be in my life, they’ll love my child even when they’re having a harder time in public. That being said, I do discipline my child when it’s needed, there’s no acting out without it being addressed. However, sometimes children just make loud noises or messes. That’s part of the learning process as they grow. And instead of worrying about everyone else’s feelings, I’m going to worry about my child’s feelings first, and use it as a learning experience.
Those look like Bowerman’s blueberry donuts! I live in Michigan. They are the only donuts I eat! You were so close to where I live! I appreciate your videos and the content you share!
Lisa, I love and look forward to your videos. Your calm voice and wisdom, for someone as young as yourself, is a balm in 2024! The dresses your daughter has had on in your last video that was green and white, with green trim and the dress she has on here that is black and white are so beautiful!!! Did your other daughter make them? Lovely feminine clothes! Lovely video!!!!!
I recently had a day with my God daughter, picking lavender. I took a few pictures, but mostly we just enjoyed our day. We did crafts and went for ice cream. It was just the best day ever.
Oh my goodness. My husband and I just had this conversation the other day that back in the day, we played outside for the entire day until called in for lunch and supper. And the freedom to just let kids be kids without monitoring them or worrying about someone abducting them just didn't exist, so to speak. It was such an easy and simple life.
Then your generation should have done more to protect it. I monitor quite a bit now because of social media and half my neighbors have drug deals going on. So, even though I grew up outside riding bikes, reading under a tree, playing in a creek, I get it. But now parents/kids everything is different.. parents should have pushed back on certain things
@@jessicabosco3009 Sweetie, we didn't need protection. My parents lived in a very rural setting in the deep South and in a township of less than 300 people at the time. Crimes were almost unheard of. Sure, the occasional piece of farm machinery went missing every now and then, but that was about it. Like I said before, it was a simple and good life.
Tell that to my neighbors, all of whom have been 50 and up, who give me the side eye, threaten, or even call authorities on me because my children are outside unsupervised. They aren't loud or destructive. They are drawing with chalk or riding their bikes or making a fort under the trees or playing in the dirt writing their names. This happened in the semi-rural Upper Midwest, where we just moved from, as well as the rural South, where we just moved to. Years ago, we lived in a major metropolitan area and we had this problem there, too...but to a lesser extent, believe it or not. No matter where we live, there are too many nosy and/or paranoid people getting themselves involved where they were not invited.
@katie7748 That is so sad. Unfortunately in America, people tend to be nosey and think they know everything. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a place where everyone got along? As a 61 year old female, let me apologize for those people in my age bracket who makes me look bad. Sending you nothing but positive vibes, my friend.
At 74, a mother and grandmother, I’m in a very different stage of life. I still found this video to be so meaningful. Your comment, “You can do anything, you just can’t do everything” really resonated with me. Thanks, Lisa.
Thank you for this reminder. As a fairly new mom I definitely fall in the trap of feeling like I’m falling behind and not teaching them enough and this was a nice reminder.
I looked at Wander and for this vacation home she stayed at it's over $8k for a 3 night stay - which is the minimum. Absolutely beautiful, but absolutely out of reach for most of us homesteading and raising kids. Happy for you that they paid for your family to vacation there. What a treat.
I deleted my news app, quit watching sensationalized videos and haven't ever had social media. I find it damaging, worrying and getting angry are not things I try to bring into my life. Thank you for touching on the negative aspects of our technology, keep life simple ❤
I totally agree. Watching or following the news and the overwhelming amount of social media options is not good for my wellbeing. It makes me sad and it could cause maybe worse. So that’s why I protect myself and avoid those things!
Same. I started experiencing anxiety and realized it was all the bad news intake. When I’m in my own world taking care of my home and family, I can have joy and not have my mind somewhere else worrying about things I can’t control.
Not true. Moms in the 80s and 90s absolutely worried about their kids and we did NOT allow them to run for hours on end outside with no supervision. Now kids in the 60s and 70s, yes, they had total freedom but by the 80s, kids were disappearing more and safety became a real focus for parents.
I was a Mum in the 70's in UK and our children had play times with friends in our gardens. They did not run free. My childhood was a run free time in the 50's and early 60's
I think it depends on where you were I grew up in the 80s early 90s in Alaska and we ran wild all day long. My parents rarely knew where we were, we rode bikes for miles, came home when we were hungry. However before we moved to Alaska when I was 4 yo, we were in California and my mom never let us out of her sight.
90s baby and I'd bike 5 miles away from our house at 12 without my mom ever caring.... And she was an awesome Mom! We were outside alone all day. We came in for dinner
I’m asking why do they need to track their babies every move? Billions of people living on the earth living happy healthy lives and were NEVER monitored every minute of every day! They are babies… enjoy the very fleeting moments. People need to take a breath and relax a little. So many other things causing stress in life… choose your battles!
Because pedophiles and predators prey on the ones who can't protect themselves...if a mom is always around, the child is less likely to be kidnapped and abused.
@LynetteB71 I totally agree. My Mom had 9 in the 50's and 60's and didn't even put on the TV during the day. I think most Mom's today have social media and keeping up with your friends is a big deterrent to what's in front of you. Choose your battles is so true.
My daughter's doctor when she was born wanted me to write down Everytime she ate, peed and pooped. I would get yell at by the doctor because she was eating more milk then she should be. She kept telling me only feed her every two hours. Well when my baby is hungry she got to eat. I quit tracking the pee and poop because I thought one day when stressing over everything that people raised kids back in the day and didn't track anything. Mother's that can breast feed feed their kid who knows how much because it's not like you know how many ounces they get out of your breast. So tracking does nothing but stress a tired mama out more.
@@kaykay2622I had my first baby last July and they gave me a pamphlet to track her feeding. If I forgot to write it down or was off with the feeding by 15 mins the nurses would scold me. I was already struggling with breastfeeding and getting baby to latch (kept asking for a lactation consultant who never showed up!) , I was healing from a 24+ hr labor and being told so many different ways in how you’re “supposed to” do this or that by different nurses! It was so stressful and left me feeling inadequate in such a vulnerable state. I’m having baby number two in August and I told my husband that if nurses start hounding/guilt tripping me and he sees that I’m getting flustered that he needs to intervene for me for the sake of my sanity!
It’s not so much that that’s what parents want to do, it’s what they have to do to avoid trouble. There’s a large number of stories of people having the cops or cops or whathaveyou called on them because they were inside doing something while their children played outside… There’s so many people making mountains out of mole hills, and parents are paying the price.
More than 30yrs ago, we took our kids to Williamsburg. I went to an event where the colonial character was trying to decide between the traditional midwife or the doctor, who had recently begun delivering babies. She asked each attendee if they had chosen a midwife or a doctor and I was the only one who had a midwife. She asked me how it was, did the midwife stay with me, etc. By the end of the event, all these older women were saying they wished they had chosen a midwife. I've never forgotten that experience.
My daughter had a midwife. Both times she ended up in the hospital. 1st time ended with an emergency c-section and 2nd time baby almost died. Both times were scary for both mother and baby. Happy you had a good experience, but SO glad my second daughter decided not to go that route.
What a beautiful video! A great reminder to keep things simple because there's so much beauty in that! And to be grateful in each moment... don't waste them worrying!
Wow the phrase you can do anything but you don’t have have to do everything stuck in my head. Retired three years ago and tackled homemaking full force and volunteering for everything. I’m ready to slow down and only do what brings me joy. Thank you Lisa for your wise words!
I'm really trying to pull back and not do all the things this summer and no one is listening to my request. My niece and nephew are here for a few weeks this summer and my inlaws are planning one or two things EVERY DAY! I told them we'd join them for a few things, but not all of them and explaied why. They message and guilt trip if we don't go. I have explained that my kids are available to play at their house, but they won't be running around to a bunch of overstimulating activities. (I have neurodivergent kids). Now I'm the bad guy. But if that's how it has to be, then so be it.
What do you do with a "stage five clinger"when you do meet their needs, manage their wants, do all the things, but yet they seem to demand every single moment of your time? 14 months old currently, we have three other children who she loves dearly and who love her. We also have a very small homestead and homeschool so our days are very very full. Having this one so very demanding is a full time job in itself, and i feel like i never have time to connect with the other kids because there's so much to catch up on when shes napping or (finally) content. It's taking a huge toll on my mental health because of all the fussing and sleeplessness, and I fear its causing my older kids to be resentful.
Raised my children in the 80's. They were not allowed to stay out until the street lights came on even then. We had the same worries over our children as today's moms. Parent's need to learn to say no to their children. No computer. No cell phone. No video games. No running the streets. No overnight sleepovers. Take those things away and imaginations will soar.
I raised my three kids in the 80s and even though we didn’t have to deal with social media, thankfully, we had our own problems to deal with. There was a lot on TV and in movies that didn’t reflect our values that had to be avoided. I live in a place where I couldn’t let my kids stay outside all day without me having them to check in every so often. Also, I was one of the few mothers who chose not to work outside the home and I faced a lot of judgment for that, which didn’t deter me but wasn’t pleasant. When I decided to homeschool my kids, which wasn’t common at the time, people acted like I had lost my mind! We had the “perfect” moms to compare ourselves to back then, too. They held down a job, ran PTA, had an immaculate home, and always had perfect hair and makeup, etc. 😂
yeah, lol my husband's brother and sister-in law did that---typical strict pastor parents who said no to absolutely everything. Their kids exploded with wildness when they turned 18, and snuck things behind their parent's back long before then. The only reason we found out about this is when our kids became old enough to be friends with their cousins and wow, did we learn stuff about their so-called perfect, pastor's family and what our nephews were really like!! The youngest nephew is 22 and we are very worried about him because he's making one bad decision after another. It's such a cliche to say what you are saying and assume you will end up with these perfect kids, but it doesn't work that way!!
@@Graceking76 why no sleepovers! ? Never could understand those mom's!! 🤔Those were the best times for me and my friends. We're still close friends to this day and reminisce about how fun they were!!
I laughed when I saw the cappuccino machine in the back of the van. LoL My electric percolator saw many hotel rooms. Priorities!!! What a wonderful vacation. Truely blessed.
Oh jeez this is totally my mindset. Been married 44 yrs & raised 2 sons & this attitude made for a very pleasant, content & loving family. Of course I didn't have the Internet to influence me but there was TV & other things, that we just turned off. We did that for the sake of the children initially but we benefited also. It's a great idea to carry a book, good for you! I know I'm tempted to look up something that just crossed my mind & if Google wasn't there, I'd never had thought to look it up.
It was so fun to see your family enjoying Michigan. I live just an hour North of where you stayed. I have within a mile of Lake Michigan my entire life (65). Every day year round I am grateful to be spending my life in this beautiful place. Nothing calms me more than a good walk down the shoreline,,my favorite is in the winter. We are truly blessed. We just introduced our youngest grandson to the "big lake",,, he giggled as the water washed over his toes.
So much truth!! I was a youth in the early to mid 70's, graduated high school in 1982. When I was young we could ride out bikes for miles, be gone for hours, be outside all day back & forth to the neighboring houses playing with friends.. the were know cell phones! We told our mom where we were going, that's it! We could walk the neighborhood, even at dusk, all with no worries. But now, its almost scary for your kids to play outside! My daughter came up in the late 80's-late 90's. I could see the changes happening during that time. When my son was born in 1997..i had to worry so much more! And he wasn't happy unless he was outside playing with sticks & rocks, cared less about toys😄 But we moved way out in the country, way down a private dirt road that only came to our house or my FIL's. He was almost 9 and he was like a bird out of a cage! Although its awesome he had that opportunity to live his best life as a kid & teen.. its sad that so many kids had to have that constant eye on them. The world has become an evil, scary & mean place..sadly😔 While we do have all these amenities to make life much simpler, that doesn't change the fear we face over the safety on a daily basis. I hate to know my grandbabies have to go up in such a time.. and if the Lord don't return before, what will it be like for their kids??! The gadgets Weill continue to improve, but so will the evilness of the world. I raised my children in church and taught them all i could. The word says to lead them the right way, if they turn, they'll come back. I can attest to that! I think sometimes all the modern gadgets we have can hurt us as much as or more than help us! While phones ware almost essential, people, especially kids, can get into so much trouble with them, having the internet can be scary as much as it is grumpy. Of course washing machines or dish washers has nothing to do with this, but i was just thinking about it.. Honestly sometimes i think I'd rather be living the lifestyle, and raising kids, that was much more simpler & slower, less expensive & scary, back in the earlier to mid 1900's. When there weren't ALL these apps that people have to make things actually complicated, or TV programs or ads that to me cause more worry than it gives knowledge. Life has become a whirlwind of an anxiety! I agree, we need to go down to the bare bone basics way more often than we do! Information overload is so so real! The home & setting you guys stayed in was so beautiful!! The sunsets were dreamy! Good for deflating!😉 Your youngest is such a cutie pie! But all your kids are beautiful! I'm like you, I love seeing new places or visiting with family back in our hometown.. but at the end ox the day, there's no place like home! Which right now We're in the process of moving from Tennessee to Florida so we're staying with my son & his family til we find our own place, so home is not quite home yet🥴 Great Video! So much to think about, so many great points! Totally enjoyed!😊
I’m in my 40’s and I can’t believe how much more busy my life is every day. I have so much more responsibility with family life, work, looking after my husband and 2 children and also my elderly parents as well. It’s really hard to do, but I’m finding the balance 🥺
This was such an awesome and beautiful video! The place that you stayed on the lake was absolutely amazing! I have to say it was really interesting seeing you in a different kitchen LOL looks like the whole family had a wonderful time.... love you and your sweet family God bless you all and God bless America
Awesome road trip! Love that you took your meals. You were in our neck of the woods!! We live close to the Ark and the Creation Museum. Love, love your channel! Even at 69 I learn so much from you! Thanks!
If I could give advice to any young mom out there...put your phone away, delete those apps and read to your children. I had my kids in the late 1980's and they could not play alone outside back then. The world was different then too!
I completely agree, my tendancy is towards over researching and over thinking. I want to make the right decision although often that leads to hours of deliberation and then no decision made! Your little holiday looked blissful.
Wow, I’ve never been to Michigan but it looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Growing up in a large family we didn’t take international trips like our cousins 😂 but my favorite summer memories are simple camping trips at the lake and spending time at my grandparent’s farm ❤
I just love your take on motherhood and a home-based life! It feels so validating to hear. I am a homeschool teacher, and I see these families with (in my area) so much privilege and options choosing to fill their lives and their children’s lives with so much “doing” that the kids are totally spun out, ungrounded in any type of rhythm, and their little bodies are so wound up they hardly seem to be able to relax at homeschool. I wish your testimony could reach the parents in my class.
What?! Colonial Williamsburg is definitely NOT a tourist trap! It's an incredible living history museum. Definitely haven't been to anything else like it.
So wonderful to go on vacation and still keep your routine eating your food . My husband and I went to a bed and breakfast and our bliss and grandchildren were there. It was so relaxing ! You have a precious family Lisa!
I immediately checked out the book you mentioned and have already almost finished it in one day. I became a stay at home mom two years ago and since then I have felt absolutely robbed of my peace being a home maker and mother with the extent of information and lack of real in person connections. Reading that book has been life changing. My husband is going to re read it with me and I’m already feeling a massive weight lifted off of my shoulders knowing I can choose a different path and her so clearly outlining options that I can put into practice. THANK YOU!!
I can’t wait to get your book. Thanks for the granola bar recipe. I have been wanting to try one and I don’t know why I didn’t think to search your blog!
“No” is the secret to calm, happy families w/actually learning kids too No no no no no Nope Dad can learn to be the fall guy too while mom learns to say no herself THE SECRET to success. Boundaries of time, effort & energy bandwidth
Haven’t watched through yet but had to comment! There’s a great book called Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne. Highly recommend. At one point he mentions how we used to be far more concerned for children’s mental/emotional safety and less so for their physical safety (parents would be careful about what they talked about in front of the kids/listening to the news etc, but would be more likely to send their kids out to play unsupervised, for example). Today that has flipped. Kids have access to the internet, social media, and are often exposed to some of the heavy stuff going on in the world, but then are never let out of sight of an adult, are hovered over or prevented from doing something “dangerous” etc. It’s really fascinating to think about.
I don’t think you’re accurate on mothers to feel the pressure of one on one with each child. I think the opposite. Kids are not getting the attention or discipline they need today and that’s one of the reasons children today are me me me, rude to others and in times violent. Parents only think about themselves (I have a job and I’m too tired is what they say. I need meee time). Don’t have children unless you plan to take responsibility for the and quit blaming everyone else.
I was a mom in the 80s and I’m so thankful my kids weren’t pulled in all directions, life was less complicated.They played outside and played a lot, we watched a little tv and I homeschooled when we were underground and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. My daughters are torn in so many directions with their kids and I say no thank you! Thankful for those days!❤️
I admire the way you run your home and household! Some of it goes back to the way things used to be when my parents were kids and I think it’s great! My grandma had 10 kids and baked bread daily along with milking cows and the list goes on. Hats off to you! I can understand that you have to use social media simply because of your job on it. Otherwise, I would bet you’d probably not be online half as much with as busy as you are. Kudos
I raised my children in the 80s, when the news was full of instances where they were being kidnapped from their front yards if a parent turned their backs. It was a very dangerous time for children. I never let my children play out front without my supervision. Otherwise they played in the backyard or in the house. We had lots of stress in those days related to our children. I was a stay-at-home mom of three. I baked my own bread, made everything from scratch, never had a can of anything in my pantry. Sewed a lot of my daughter’s cloths, embroidered, and crocheted. I loved every minute of it. I wish you wouldn’t say, in those days it was such and such. It just isn’t so.
People have so many things on their plate, and how do they get there? Too many listen to the voice of tempting & false guilt that sits on a shoulder whispering ideas to lead us on an unhealthy, yes, even unGodly path. Make right choices on who we serve, our family, our God as He leads us. Father God, I pray You bless Lisa and Lucas and family, give a hedge of protection and may the Holy Spirit be ever guiding, IJN ✝
Baby is such a little chunker now, so sweet and cute! my youngest of 4 is 5 months right now and I love the chunky stage, although I miss the newborn stage so much.
Good to see you all had a mini vacation Lisa. The older I get the less I can fit into each day so if I wake up, I thank God for the sleep I got (which isn’t much sometimes) and I read my Bible and pray then I can begin my day with baking bread etc and cooking. By one I’m fizzling and need to rest my back and maybe nap twenty minutes 😊 God bless you all😊
I am a mother with children born in the 80’s and late 99 and 2000, and there was a huge difference. Like you pointed out in the 80’s definitely more layer back, but in the early 2000’s, there was a huge influence to enrol your child with all sorts of activities, especially at 2 years old! Luckily, I wasn’t influenced by them , I let my son pick what he wanted to do, without other parents thinking there was something wrong with me! Especially with school overnight trips. My son used to flip out, and I’m sorry, it wasn’t worth having my son have anxiety attacks! I just pick and choice my battles, and I’m glad I did, both are well adjusted adults, and both of them did overnight school trips when they were ready. And they thoroughly enjoyed it!
Get rid of the baby monitors! Go physically check on them! I believe that was one of the first tech "tools" that came on the scene that began the paranoia for mothers...all the sudden, they convinced mothers they had to constantly monitor everything with some sort of gadget. It's nonsense.
Colonial Williamsburg used to be WWWWAAAAAAYYYYYYY better. It used to be full immersion like you stepped back into the past, the employees stayed in character the entire time, more hands on experiences, etc… it’s ok now, but not what it used to be 😢
I agree with you. We definitely cannot do everything. Life would be so much simplier if people would stop trying to track everything and be so rigid. We forget to enjoy life and Gods blessings. ❤lifeatthenutthouse
There is a downside to having technology make our lives convenient. It frees up our time. And what do we do? We put more on our plate. The human brain can only process and store so much. Even though machines are doing the labor for us, we still have to hold what is going on with that in our minds. That dorsnt just go for what technology dies for us, but the masses of people we connect with now and interact with. Humans did not evolve with that amount of contact with other humans. Our minds are thinking about what some random person, we dont even know, may have said on some social media outlet. Or we are thinking about "what can I post on my blog today" or trying to keep our lives up to date with latest trend. Thise were not things we had to qorry about until the last few decades. Sometimes we have to unplug to keep our sanity.
Be so proud of this adorable family and family life you've created! The picking raspberries and blackberries at the end made me smile! and your adorable baby in the highchair on the patio is so sweet. These moments go by too fast.
You seem to give the voice of other people and authors. You have your own voice and own experiences that are good and not OVER THOUGHT. Just be who You are, it works. I don’t tune in for others thoughts but yours.
I think I strugle with saying yes to everything in the home. We do not have our kid signed up for everything, our schedule of things outside the home is very limited. But I feel the pressure to do all the things in the home. Bake sourdough, have a garden, keep the home tidy, keep chickens, have home dairy, start a side hustle, homeschool, decorate. And I love it so it is hard to not try to do it all.
Every time humans create technology to make tasks simpler people find other ways to fill their days with work and stress. Even with AI and automation tools in the future I don’t think humans will ever have a truly leisurely existence.
What is the paint color in the thumbnail or where can I find the information on your website? It looks just like my living room paint color that I can’t seem to find a match for!
In all honesty your life doesnt reflect most Americans lives these days? What with the failing economy and all. I'm not sure if ppl realize who is controlling their thoughts & lives. I grew up in the late 60/70's I was out till the street lights came on but even then my Mom made my sister & I aware of what to do if some person tried anything with us. I didnt allow Tv's in my home when my son was coming up & I home schooled him he was born in the late 70's. I never cared for what others did ,I didnt sit around asking other ppl how I should live my life or raise my son...The handbook I used was My Bible & if I had a question I asked my Mom or my Dad but those were few...
Making people less in touch with their natural instincts. Creating less responsibility, the need to be told what to do. To take away stress or cause more.
Thank you Lisa for this video it came in just the right time. I was feeling very off and could not put my figure on what it actually was but listening to this I know exactly what it is. I need to detox from social media, to meet these so called standards and just step into my own version of motherhood. Like you said in another video a we are never too late. We each have our own unique journey and we can pivot when we need to. So I'm going to pivot, unplug and make my actionable plan to get to where I want to go and not where society says I should. All while enjoying what is right in front of me because tomorrow is not promised.
I'm 5 mins into your video and I do have to agree. For moms nowadays there is so much pressure from other moms and it's not all verbal. With the world of youtube we watch these seemingly perfect days that a mom days it all, does all the things. We internally compare ourselves to that mom. I have done that so many dang times and I have to stop and tell myself, it's not true. Those moms making those vidoes if your careful, you can tell it takes them DAYS even if they are wearing the same outfit. I have to really watch myself because I compare myself to moms of youtube that send their kids to school and are away all day long. Those moms have the time to clean house all day long without littles underfoot. Mine are homeschooled, so I have littles constantly underfoot. I tell myself it's okay to not be them. It's not just youtube or apps, it's always the previous generation that causes us stress. Most of the previous generation gives us advice on how to raise our kids the way they raised them. And if you don't... then most of the time they get upset. I remember when I had my first baby back 6 years ago. I struggled so dang hard as a first time mom due to all the pressure of how they wanted my child to be. Bedtime at 7pm, naps at a certain time, or eatting at a certain time. I struggled for a good year up until my second. Then, something happened and I stopped carring. When my second was born, me and him just clicked and how I wanted to do things, just clicked. Mentally it was better for me and my family. I stopped worrying about bedtime, I stopped worrying about naps. We lived with my inlaws and of course they had their opinions. more stress for you there. I finally said heck with it all, I've got 3 kids under 6 and they are home 24/7. I can't do all the things even if I wanted too. My 2 year old little girl is clingy and one day she wont be. So right now, I do what I can and try to enjoy this stage of life because here in another year, things will be different. One day I will not have that little hand tugging at my shirt or have my 6 year old bugging me for some milk even thought I can totally teach him how to get it himself. It gives me something to do for him.
Yes, LOVED Colonial Williamsburg- we homeschooled in the early, mid 90’s when it wasn’t as common and it was a beautiful experience to take them there.
This video reminded me I’m doing way too much and I’m pressuring myself to do more than I can handle. Thank you for sharing this. I feel super identified. I don’t know how to say no either. I will take it easier.
Add on top of that the "need" to have your children get into the "best schools"...beginning in elementary school for some people!...nope. They don't need full-ride scholarships. They don't even need to go to college, period. The pressure that puts on children is insane. So many parents put their children in super competitive sports in the hopes of getting a scholarship. Then once in they have to maintain a particular GPA to keep it. More pressure. Nope. The super-achiever mentality like this produces some of the most unhappy and unstable people I have ever met. Life is about happiness, not status or money. Thanks for helping explain that to the world, Lisa!
Oh I grew up in Michigan and I encourage everyone who hasn't ever visited one of the great lakes to go! Its hard to imagine a body of water that has waves and is so immense that is not an ocean. I grew up on a lake but going to Lake Michigan was always so much fun boogie boarding and building sand castles ~I have great memories. I am glad young parents are realizing its ok not to sign up for everything. Of course encourage whatever your children are passionate about but they don't need to be in all the sports/activities. The house you booked looked awesome, glad you all had a nice break!
Even having grown up in Williamsburg, and like two miles from Colonial Williamsburg, I still wouldn’t call it a tourist trap! I love going back! So glad y’all enjoyed it ❤️
Lisa, this is such a good word.❤ My boys are grown now, 21 and 19, and I was (and am) a work from home mama. I’ve often said how thankful I am that I didn’t have to contend with the information overload and especially social media when I was a young mother. Thank you for being an encourager!
I appreciate the pressure parents feel today but I think that pressure has been there for a long time…not just today. I also think we need to be open to encouraging parents to use the technology that helps them… might not be right for each of us… but if tracking the feeding and diaper changes for a newborn helps parents ensure the baby is eating and going to the bathroom… why shame those parents? It is ok!
