31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom Giveaway with Arlene Pellicane
Today I’m super excited to introduce my friend, Arlene and she is guest posting on becoming a happy mom.
{Be sure to leave a comment today’s post for a chance to win one of two giveaway books.}
And guess what? Arlene interviewed many moms for her book including my friend Ruth Schwenk (co-author of Hoodwinked) and me!
Tweet ThisNow meet my friend Arlene.
Arlene Pellicane is a speaker and author of 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom. She and her husband live in Southern California with their three children (ages 5, 8 and 10). You can learn more about Arlene and find free resources to make your home happier at www.ArlenePellicane.com
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When my son Ethan was in first grade, we had this little talk after he received an academic award. “I’m so proud that you are well-behaved at school,” I said beaming. “Oh yes,” Ethan replied. “I’m very well behaved at school. I’m much worse at home because I fight with Noelle!”
Isn’t it true we can be well-behaved and pleasant with others but we have a much harder time acting happy and agreeable with family members? As a mom, you know how it feels to start the day like Mary Poppins and go to bed as Cruella De Vil.
Why are moms today stressed out, pooped out, and overwhelmed much of the time? Part of the answer lies in this quote from Erma Bombeck:
Do you know what you call those who use towels and never wash them, eat meals and never do the dishes, sit in rooms they never clean, and are entertained till they drop? If you have just answered, “A house guest,” you’re wrong because I have just described my kids.
If that scenario sounds familiar, get ready for a change! You are not running a hotel; you are managing a home. You don’t have guests to cater to; you have children to raise. We can easily get caught up in the mommy culture around us where the roles have been hijacked. Kids are calling the shots and moms are taking the orders. When that happens, unhappiness reigns supreme, not just for moms, but for kids too.
It’s time to put more “happy” in your home by getting our roles straight!
Now for the giveaway.
Two fabulous people will win a copy of Arlene’s book, 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom.
Leave a comment about why you could use some encouragement as a mom today. Can you relate to having a harder time acting agreeable at home as opposed to with others?
I would love to read this book ! I am a mom of a 3 yr old and a 4 yr old (who is about to start junior kindergarten next month), I work full time, and have no support structure in place (i.e. my entire family lives 3000 miles away and I have no friends or family where I am). So I am super stressed and busy all the time !!
I need encouagement because I have 6 children–oldest is 12, youngest is two. I’ve been doing this “momma with littles” gig for a long time and it’s often tough to manage life with such a wide range in ages and stages.
I feel that my “atm” is empty and sure could use a deposit. I am working multiple jobs trying to help make our finances meet the bills we have accumulated. I love my 4 children (20,16,14,11) but never see them because I am working all the time. I am not happy because I am tired all the time….I know that God’s plan is better than my own so I am following Him!
I am a new mom or a 1 yr old and some days still feel very overwhelmed. Of course, I want to raise a godly man and get nervous I won’t measure up.
Love that this is about getting our roles straight…I think the biggest role I get caught up in is being the entertainer and constantly having something for them to do verses expecting them to quietly entertain themselves, because that so often leads to fighting…I have a 6, 4 and 2 year old…Oldest 2 are girls…plus I home school, so some of the entertaining is necessary…But I can SO relate to the comment about waking up feeling so much hope and happiness for the day, singing like Marry Poppins and going to bed after being totally wasted and shouting in anger at my “ungrateful” bunch and feeling like Cruella Deville….#dailystruggle
I have been a mom for a long time and still feel like I’m winging it! I need to be able to distinguish where I need to back off and let my teenaged children be responsible for getting their work done. I homeschool and I feel like I am constantly nagging to get schoolwork done. Thanks for the giveaway
Please–I need help! I am a widowed grandmother raising a 7 year old granddaughter–who seems to be ruling our house. I am exhausted, but would not trade it. Many blessings and thanks, Barb Wall
I hope I haven’t missed the opportunity to win. I could use some encouragement badly. We have two kids(2&11mths). I lost my job because the company collapsed and I’m trying to start my own business. I have a niece and a nephew making 4 kids in the house. The financial pressure with one consistent income makes me impatient at times and the worry about money doesn’t make me a happy mum.
I pray for joy and peace everyday.
I would love to read this book! I struggle with doing too much for my girls and then feeling guilty that I may not be teaching them to do for themselves! They are 12 and 9. Is it too late to teach them? My older daughter is a big help around the house, but the younger one only likes to make a mess – not clean up a mess!
Am I too late?! I would love to read this book…the wake up as Mary Poppins go to bed as Cruella is so true. *Sad face*
This book sounds like I need to read it in this season I’m in. I could use some encouragement :)
I could use some encouragement because we in the last 7 months added 3 new family members to our family through foster care which makes me completely out numbered. We already had 3 kiddos of our own so we are at 6 kids ranging from 15 to 6 months. I feel like at the end of the day I have nothing left to give and still have a hundred things to do. The kids help tons but there is always more to do. I hope to some day catch up while not worrying too much about it where I start to miss important family time.
I had a moment just last night, where my kids were not picking up after themselves. I got so mad because it was the 6 millionth time I had this talk. I grounded all 5 of them from all electronics, and I yelled in “the voice” that I don’t like to use. I felt so terrible and was crying out to God as I went to sleep last night. Today went a lot smoother, but I know I could use some encouragement and help to get through those moments a lot better than how I’ve been handling them here lately. I don’t want to mess up what I consider the greatest calling that God has given me!
I can relate being a working mom thank you for the chance
I could use some encouragement because I just started back to teaching after being a stay at home mom for 4 years. Finding it hats to juggle both jobs!
Yes, I feel like I am completely messing up these kids. I could use some encouragement to be stronger, and follow through with rules, and the consequences.
I love her quote “You are not running a hotel; you are managing a home.” It is hard for me to understand where I end and the kids should begin with helping around the house. My mom did everything for us until my sister and I moved out. I don’t want my boys to be clueless when they get out in the world, but sometimes I do feel like my 4 and 8 year old could use some sort of responsibilities. At the same time I struggle with let me do it the right way (aka control *cough*) which is really contributing to mommy burnout. I am just starting to invest more in myself which leaves me feeling guilty at times. This book seems like it would be full of good tips for a struggling mama.
I have children at home, as well as grown up, out of the house,
with children of their own! The dynamics are complex at times,
which can be frustrating, stressful, etc. The joy of the Lord is my
Strength. It is so nice to see a book that looks like it will give the *right
perspective and help us to focus on our blessings!! :-)
As summer comes to a close, I needed this encouragement as we haven’t had a schedule this summer. When school is in we have a schedule and there are chores that get accomplished, but during summer the schedule changes and it sometimes feels like chaos around here, especially with the daily shores that need to be accomplished. Thanks
Wow! I could use this encouragement! I am learning about being a single mom after losing my husband to cancer. My 15 year old son and I are working to figure out the new family dynamic, and it’s really hard because we miss our head-of-house terribly! And…I seem to always be in a panic trying to wear both hats….I’d love some help remembering how to be happy!
I feel like you just described my home too! I really have to learn to let my kids do what I know they can do, even if it takes longer. I simply can’t do it all any more.
I work outside the home, and when I get home, I feel like I WANT to do mommy things like help organize the girls’ rooms, and serve them food. They are tired, and just want my attention, but the house is a disaster. I don’t want to rock the boat or make them unhappy by forcing them to do chores, when none of us has the energy for a fight. I try to encourage and make things fun, but I’m exhausted!! I also suffer daily migraines, which is an additional challenge to being a happy mom.
I have been a single mom for 14 years now and its so hard … it would take all day to describe what I go thru! I have cried for 14 years about “doing it alone” silently in me bed at night, not every night, I go thru ups and downs like everyone else. I have been angry and questioning God about why I am still alone ….
I would love this book…as the mom of three teenagers I often come home to chaos. I can be in a great mood, but as soon as I get home it gets blown away by the disrespect and additude of the kids doing their chores.
I want SO much to raise humans that can take care of themselves in this world… Love the concept behind this book as I believe that God never intended for us to be taxis for running our kids wherever they desire, etc.. :) Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.