What if taking care of yourself was the first step to helping your family thrive?

If you’ve parented long enough, then you’ve learned firsthand why your personal wellness matters.

You’ve felt the pain (or consequences) of devaluing yourself. Whether your wake-up call came from a diagnosis, a breakdown, an issue with your child or spouse, heightened anxiety, or simply feeling depleted, joyless, or numb, it most likely unveiled this truth:

Mothers are humans too. We require love, compassion, rest, and renewal.

Taking care of our needs strengthens us and equips us for the road ahead.

In my rookie days as a mom, I ignored the advice on self-care. Honestly, I thought it sounded self-indulgent, like an excuse to take bubble baths and visit the spa, and I didn’t feel like I needed it. I assumed my early exuberance and adrenaline would always exist, and I started my journey as a Giver ready to crush my parenting goals. Little did I know, there would be days that crushed me.

Fast forward 20 years, and I know better. I am older and wiser, and I feel the wear-and-tear of engaging in a lifelong marathon. My body suddenly dicates what I can and can’t do. Only now do I get the analogy about mothers putting on their oxygen mask first to take care of their family. How can we help anyone if we get knocked out? What good are we to those we love if we end up on the stretcher?

Your role as a mother is monumentally important – but you are more than just a mom. You are more than a wife, daughter, sister, friend, colleague, or CEO. Above all, you are a child of God. You have inherent worth and dignity, infinite value as a human being.

It is easy to lose yourself (and your footing) in motherhood. It is tempting to postpone your wellness until you have more time. But the fact is, demands on your time will always exist, and as you lose the generation that raised you, you must learn to mother yourself…or pay the price later.

You can only take your children as far as you’ve come, and raising healthy kids begins with them seeing a healthy mom. If you’re not in a healthy place (or working to get there) then failure on your part is more likely. You’ll struggle to find the strength, stamina, patience, and presence you need to be a healthy Giver.

With this in mind, I wrote a new book. It’s for moms of all ages and stages of life. Called More Than A Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive  it will release April 5 as a practical, approachable, and attainable framework to stay on a healthy path by unleashing God’s power in your life. It gives you permission to better yourself – and model the example your children need. 

One day, your children will be the adults dismissing warnings about self-care. They may assume they are fine until they reach the end of themselves, when an injury, crisis, heartache, or breaking point brings them to their knees.

In these moments, they’ll understand why their health matters. They’ll recall the steps you took to stay well for your family. They’ll remember how you weren’t ashamed to admit what needed work or attention. 

Motherhood is deeply rewarding, but most moms are underappreciated. It may take years (or decades) for your children to see you through a mature lens, and in the meantime, you need mom friends. You need uplifting voices in the trenches. So gather your most trusted friends to study this book with you. Plan a girls’ trip in April or May to kick off the conversation, or gift this book to your favorite tribe as encouragement on Mother’s Day.

Pre-order now, and then submit your receipt here to receive a fantastic bundle of pre-order incentives. By pre-ordering, you’re guaranteed the lowest price between now and the April release. I’ll post updates on Instagram and Facebook, so follow me on social media and subscribe to my blog to see the latest news.

Pre-Order Bundle Includes:

• • A 5-Day Devotional
  • 3 chapter samples of More Than a Mom
  • 24 Life-Changing Truths printable
  • Cell Phone Lockscreens with Quotes from More Than a Mom

Even if your children are your greatest game-changer, you are more than just their mom. You have a place in this world beyond serving them. Your secret weapon as they grow up, the way you parent them from a distance, is through your influence. Believe it or not, some of your best parenting will come through the example you set and the determination you model as you value yourself and your life.

Your greatest life purpose – even greater than motherhood – is to know, love, and serve God. As you journey toward genuine wellness, you journey toward Him. You become a light and a good steward of the gifts He gives you. Now, join me on this journey to wellness that will expand your faith, your relationships, and your perspective of yourself.

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More Than a Mom will release April 5 and is the perfect Mother’s Day gift for you and your friends. Pre-order now and you’re guaranteed the lowest price between now and April 5. To get a fantastic bundle of pre-order incentives, submit your receipt here.

My bestselling books for moms and teen girls, Love Her Well: 10 Ways to Find Joy and Connection with Your Teenage Daughter, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know and Liked, have been used widely across the U.S. for church and small group studies.

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