Motherhood has a way of bringing out the spectrum of emotions. Here are some tips to be a calm mom when you feel anything but. Also, here’s some encouragement for the emotionally exhausted mom.

Imagine you love hiking.

You make a habit of finding new trails and woods because you enjoy the thrill of exertion and exploring new terrain.

Early Saturday morning you pack a bag with water, an anorak, lunch, and a camera. You put on thick socks with your best hiking books and drive out to your destination.

As you park the car and begin to set off, you wonder whether you need your compass or a map. Quickly you decide they aren’t necessary.

You’ve got good instincts, after all.

An hour into the hike you come to a fork, then another, then quite a few more. By lunchtime you are feeling that good tired. The satisfied physical kind. You sit down for a nice lunch, take a quick power nap, and decide to head back.

Soon you realize the way back isn’t all that clear.

Your instincts say…
Your instinct tells you right, then left, then right again. But quickly you wander into unfamiliar territory and now you wonder… did I err at the first fork or the second?

Should I retrace my steps all the way back to where I ate lunch, or try the other direction at the last fork?

Too often we do this in life.

We rely on our feelings and instincts to guide us instead of just advise us.

If feelings are your compass, you will wander in circles.

if feelings are your compass….you will wader in circles- a mother far from home

The same is true in parenting.

Because love for our children wells up instinctively, we feel the rest of parent is likely to do the same. The feelings of nurture, protection, and love overflow easily, and often it feels they’re all we need.

While a foundation of love is the best thing you can do for your child, you cannot rely on your feelings alone to guide you in parenting decisions.

Why?

Because feelings make excellent servants, but terrible masters.

If our choices depend upon our moods, and our moods depend upon our children’s actions there will be no lasting peace, there will only be confusion.

We can’t go into the parenting woods relying on our best guess.

We need to let our values and principles guide us, particularly in those moments when we’re tempted to lose it. It’s the only way to remain a calm mom under pressure.