I’m so glad you’re here! Let’s spend a few sunny days together.☀️
I vlogged Friday through Monday and shared my new workout routine, losing my voice, some current struggles with motherhood, family photos, and more!
MENTIONED//
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LINKS //
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TIMESTAMPS //
0:00 welcome back 🙂
1:36 teaching
3:21 saturday morning
4:53 clean with me
5:22 motherhood chat
10:32 sunday
11:44 organizing toys
13:10 new workout routine
14:08 encouragement
16:40 monday
20:08 family photoshoot
24:05 thanks for watching 🙂
CODES //
Dime: (emma20)
LiquidIV: (elementarywithemma)
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MUSIC //
All music in this video is licensed by Epidemic Sound. I do not own this music.
⋒Numbers 6: 24- 26“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
#christianmotherhood #motherhood #SPRINGDAYSINMYLIFE
want to work together?: contact@tablerock.com contact me: elementarywithemma@gmail.com
Comments
39 responses to “SPEND A FEW DAYS WITH ME // new workout routine, motherhood chats, family photoshoot”
I enjoy these no matter if they are a day, a week or however.
I will say most of my favorite photos of my daughter over the years are pictures I made with my camera rather than the professional ones, so don’t worry how these turn out but I suspect some will be good.
Love the part about being a Mary or a Martha!
I am not a SHM this year but last year I had medical issues that required me to stay home. It was one of the best years because I was home with my son but the hardest because I was getting chemo but also dealing with a 1 year old lol. I used to break down our days and rest on weekends. So like Mon grocery shopping, Tues laundry day, Weds rest day we colored all morning and just do nothing, Thurs maybe an errand I had to do or a store I sometimes started cleaning let’s say the bathroom and then Friday it was cleaning day like the kitchen and floors. It was hard but then this year is hard as well because we’re back at work. As a working mom I haven’t found balance sometimes I say to myself I’m just gonna get it done to be in bed by a certain time but whatever I get done on the weekends good for me if no then I have to do it during the weekday. I felt in my heart why your leaving your job because I felt that too but I can’t at the moment since last year I was home almost all year.
Edit to add that when he napped I napped lol I needed it. On weekends now I still nap while he naps.
I was a teacher and now SAHM…no regrets other than should have done it sooner. Creating a routine by using a loose block schedule works well yet not too rigid. Just being intentional about what you want to do for the day helps. Enjoy! 🙂
I live in Canada, so I was kind of a stay at home mom for 18 months and I will tell you I've definitely struggled with balance. I do think it's important for our children to see us clean and not think that a magical fairy does it and it shows theM the importance of taking care of her things and showing our home love. I always told myself tomorrow is a new day or another day if I didn't get everything done but also reaching out for help if I needed a morning or a few hours to get things done
maybe a tip for doing photos is having your mom or Michael's mom just take pictures on an iPhone, because that way Jordan is comfortable with them and may smile more for them.🥰
I’ve been a mother for about the same length of time as you I think our babies are 10 days different. I have found that getting my baby involved in the chores is the best way to keep the house clean but I also know that I am not going to look so much at the things that are at his level, but I’d rather going to focus on the cleaning that is at my level. So like the dishes, kitchen counters, dining table, living room, couch, all sorts of things like that, and then the floors get kind of chaotic with toys and pots and pans and things but my husband and I tag team that after dinner with one of us is bathing the baby and it honestly only takes 15 to 20 minutes to clean up!
I’m a sahm to 2 under 2 (21 months & 8 months). It’s definitely difficult. I think being a sahm is a blessing but it can also be really hard. I just try and remember that the house is never gonna be 100% clean. It’s hard though because I want it to be and I feel like it should be. I also feel guilty if I’m tired or having a bad day but it’s important to rest. It’s all about finding the balance that works best for you! I’m reading the comments and looking for advice from people because even though I have been home a while, I still struggle! Good luck to you in this season! I’m excited to watch you grow🤍
As a home mom I've been improving my system year after year and I still doing it. My essentials are:
– Put God first: I go out and walk with God everyday first thing.
– A planner: I have my mind in there, I have a list with all my daily tasks and check boxes for the week. Next page my weekly tasks and plans. I think it's the best layout for my week. I plan my meals. And I do my deep cleaning little by little everyday, because I hate doing all at once.
– Getting up earlier than the rest of the family. I do all my home tasks in the morning and the afternoon I can do my own projects and take care of my family.
– Go to bed early, but after the family. That means that my daughters go to bed really early (11 and 18 years old). So I have quiet time at night too. It's the best.
– Say "no" more often: I still working in this area, but I can tell that it's really good to say no to extra activities at least in the morning monday to friday, because I need to take care of my home first than other people's life. First God, second family, third others. Priorities are important. Martha learned about that in her life. And if you are constant with God all other things will be OK.
Hope to help somebody!
Hi Emma! I am a former teacher and now at SAHM of a 15 month old. The biggest piece of advice I have gotten since becoming at SAHM is to always remember that in this season of life my house is lived in, meaning that my house does not need to be 100% clean 100% of the time. The people who come over to my house understand that I have a 15 month old. Toys will be everywhere ALWAYS. There will always be dishes in the sink, something to wipe down, something to pick up, but this is the season to embrace the clutter. For me,having a teacher brain, it helps if I pick 1-2 tasks to do at night when everyone is in bed. This could be closing down my kitchen, folding laundry, etc, but do what YOU feel. Sometimes the clothes just stay in the dryer until the next day because I chose to watch a TV show or read a book for MYSELF. Do whatever YOU feel is right. No one will judge you, and if they do maybe God is letting you know it is time to move away from them. I love your channel and your fam so much. I hope you enjoy your new season as a SAHM.
My daughter Julia would do a cleaning routine to remind her to slow down
As a stay at home mom of 3 I’ve had to learn throughout the years to give myself grace! Is my house always clean..no, do I wish it was ABSOLUTELY!! Are my kids old enough at this point to pitch in and help, absolutely, but my oldest works full time, my middle daughter is in 11th grade and works and wants to hang out with friends, so my 11 yr old is usually the one stuck at home helping me. I find that I had more time when they were little to do the laundry and actually fold it and put it away and dust and vacuum on the regular but I now find myself in my vehicle more times then not running my kids here and there so by the time I get home I’m beat!! Plus I have my own business on top of all of that! It’s really a hard balance sometimes but I know one day I’m going to look back when my house is spotless, when my kids are all moved out lol, and quite and truly miss the days of running around like a crazy woman.
I came across your channel recently and I am loving it after watching YouTube for over 10 years, I am finding your channel fits my season of life just perfectly. I’m a mom of 3 under 6 years old. I just switched to full time working (opposite of you 😄). Almost being at a year of being a mom of 3, I am now starting to make the lord and myself a priority. I admire that about you! Just noticed your bronco mug and I live in Denver! Didn’t know if you do also, but I had to leave a comment ❤
I don't think I've ever seen such a high percentage of long paragraphs in a comment section before haha. Everyone must have some good advice 🙂
I am excited for your new season of life. Enjoy it. I have 3 kids, now 2 in secondary and 1 in elementary. I started off as a stay at home mom, but always enjoyed when I felt compelled to help out with finances and make money from home or very part time out of the home. I enjoy working. And now that they are all bigger, teaching part time because it still is hard to manage full time for me and I am lucky to be able to. I feel like I have enjoyed my kids at all ages. But take the time to spend time with your kids, no matter how busy you feel. My favorite memories with my young kids are swimming and doing fun summer activities with them. Just enjoying watching them grow.
One piece of advice that I use is reminding myself that 5 years a go me, wanted to be right here where I am. I wanted to be a mama so bad. Yes, it is hard. But this is what I have always wanted. I did want to stop teaching and go back to subbing, be we need my income, so that part is not quite where I wanted to be. But, any time I catch myself starting to feel frustrated by my kids' actions, I remind myself that this is the only place I wanna be. I get the be these kids' mama.
Another one is that I am in control of my feelings and actions. If my child is making me feel a certain way, I reflect and ask why. Why am "I" choosing to react that way. And what is their perspective or goal from their behavior. Usually, if I can understand them, I understand me better.
Jordan's age is the hardest being between baby and toddler because she can't really communicate her needs. Once she hits 2 and starts talking more, it becomes easier. We'll, some parts do. Its all relative.
I love every video you do, day, week. ALL OF THEM! Thank you for always being so honest.
Say no to the things that waste your time.
Great video! I make motherhood and homemaking videos new to it so seeing others Is fun 🙂
Hello, there! Thanks for sharing with us again. I'll miss the teacher content, but I'm so happy for you as you move into this next chapter. I taught middle school, then had my own 4 kids and stayed at home with them and home schooled for 17 years, and now I'm back in the classroom in 3rd grade. You mentioned the struggle of keeping the house clean when there are people home ALL DAY, and I thought I'd share something that helped me. I am someone who would always claim that I just "couldn't" rest if my house was a mess, and that I "couldn't" stand clutter… I have had to make myself remember that just as I train my child to pick up and be neat, I also have to train myself to not be obsessive about cleanliness. It's a two-way street, and there is a healthy balance to be found. Cleanliness is actually not next to godliness – despite how the old saying goes.
I just like when you admit it’s real instead of trying to pretend it’s real.
As a working mom, my best advice is to give yourself grace, always ❤😊
My goal is to pick one thing that matters most during nap time. As long as I get that one thing done, I count it as a success (some days that’s laundry, some days that’s eating lunch). MOST importantly on days that it feels like nothing gets done, I remind myself that I’m not staying home to keep my house clean. I’m staying home to raise my daughter. With that perspective, it gives me a lot of peace and patience when I otherwise would beat myself up.
I can relate to fighting the Martha in me! I keep that verse on a window in my kitchen as a reminder. I really do feel like this ebbs and flows though. Some days I feel like I’m a better mom if I take time to tidy throughout the day just because it mentally makes me feel better, but some days I feel like a better mom if I just let it go and get to it when I can. I sometimes feel like it’s all or nothing and I’ve learned that life is so much sweeter if I just ride the wave and find a balance between hard work and play just like anything else. You’ll do great!
My daughter also loves to be involved in things like taking clothes from the washer to the dryer, unloading the dishwasher, etc. and we just try to keep it fun!
I'm a homeschooling stay at home mom to my 6 and 4 year old. The baby and toddler days are rough! Church was always a mess, they never stayed in the nursery. Pictures never went as planned too 😆 But it does get easier when it comes to those things, I promise! And I'm talking as a mom who had two VERY difficult babies and toddlers. With pictures I always told my husband "we're keeping our expectations low" lol.
Lovely vlog 🌼 I’m not a mom, but love learning & hearing the ‘real’ moments as I do hope to be one day! Also, I enjoy both the day in the life & a few days. It honestly just feels like we’re hanging out. ☺️
I love both! It keeps it fun. And I totally understand about pictures. We get it so worked up in our heads, and I know some of my wedding pictures (or lack thereof) just broke my heart. It's ok to be disappointed ❤️
I’d do encourage you to read Max Lucado’s chapter on Mary and Martha in ‘They Walked With God’. Hugely encouraging when your natural tendency is to be a Martha!
As a mom of four, first of all, the fact that you care about being a good mom means you already are one. We’re ALL just figuring things out one day at a time as the Lord guides and leads. As far as photos, a huge tip I’ve learned is to simply set up your camera in video mode and just stand and pose and cuddle naturally, then go back and find a still to screenshot and use as a photo. Hope that helps! God bless 💕
Hello. Thank you for sharing a sneak peek into your life. I really enjoy this format of short clips of a few days. Hi lights . You’re outlook on life is inspiring. Daily little struggles are sometimes frustrating, hard, laughable, temporary, repeating, bumps in the road, etc. At the end of the everything is going to be all right, we are going to be all right.😊
A woman I follow here on YouTube did a homemaking tips video and one tip she shared that stuck with me was that early on she asked her husband to rank what was most important to him to come home to, was it her dressed up with makeup on, a hot meal, or a clean house? Based on this she knows what eareas she can let slide a bit on busy days and still bless him. Hope this helps!!
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Love your new hair.
Also, you seem to do a lot for a working mom and vlogger, so I’m sure you will balance it all well!!
Heard your struggle about church and having a little. My church only has one service. Sabbath school first and then one service after. This is so that everyone can be together at once in classes and then in service and be in fellowship all together. Our pastor has made mention many times, we are a church that has babies crying in service and that’s okay. God knows the importance of us being there in all seasons. So it’s okay!
Hi Emma! I have a prayer request. I have a lot going on at the moment and am really struggling to balance it all, and could really use some grace.
I stayed at home with my two kids for about 5 years. I used the fly lady cleaning method. It really gave me peace to have routines so I could be more present with my kids.
❤
As a stay at home mom I use that bible account constantly. When it's time for our spiritual routine as a family all I hear is what Jesus said to Martha. " For Mary has chose the better portion ". Luke 10:42 it helps me to put down the laundry or dishes etc… And get to the better portion AKA spiritual routine because keeping our spiritual routine is more valuable than a to do list 🙏. So glad we have the bible as our guide in life 🙏
i'm not happy with you staying home with jordan next year. You are the reason for your teacher
content 11:18 11:20
You’ll do great as a stay at home mom:). I was a teacher, stay at home mom for 9 years and now a teacher again and mom to teens. My advice would be to get out of the house at least once a day and find a community of other SAHM, (it sounds like you already have). I really enjoyed doing playgroups and having other moms to talk to. Also, I was a member of MOPS, does your church have that? I really liked that too:). Good luck. You must be so excited!😊