Dear Working Mama,
As summer fades and the school year rushes in, life can feel like a whirlwind. The transition from slower summer mornings to the structured routine of school can be overwhelming for everyone involved—especially you, dear working mama. The mornings get a little more hectic, the to-do lists grow longer, and the demands on your time and energy seem endless.
In the midst of this back-to-school mayhem, it’s easy to feel like you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions. Maybe you’re juggling work deadlines, coordinating school supplies and teacher meetings, managing extracurricular activities, and still trying to find time to feed your family healthy meals. It’s a lot.
And yet, this season also offers an unique opportunity to cultivate something beautiful in your life: patience. Patience is often thought of as a passive virtue, but in reality, it’s an active, intentional practice. It’s a quiet strength that allows you to remain steady and composed, even when everything around you feels chaotic.
Patience is more than just waiting calmly. It’s the ability to maintain your peace in the face of delay, stress, or provocation. It’s about choosing to respond with grace rather than react with frustration. In this back-to-school season, patience can be your greatest ally.
When the morning routine falls apart and you’re running late, patience gives you the grace to breathe deeply and start again without spiraling into stress. When your child is struggling with homework, patience allows you to offer support and encouragement rather than criticism. And when work pressures mount, patience helps you keep perspective, reminding you that you are doing your best and that’s enough.
As Christians, we know that patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). It’s not something we have to muster up on our own—it’s a gift from God, cultivated in our lives through our relationship with Him. The Bible encourages us to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). This call to patience is not just about tolerating delays or difficulties; it’s about embodying Christ’s love in our interactions with others, especially our children and ourselves.
In the back-to-school rush, it’s easy to lose sight of this. But each moment of frustration or stress is an opportunity to lean into God’s strength and to practice patience. When you feel your patience wearing thin, pause and pray. Ask God to fill you with His peace and to help you respond with love and grace.
5 Practical Tips for Embracing Patience
1. Start Your Day with Prayer: Before the day’s demands begin, take a few moments to center yourself in God’s presence. Pray for patience, wisdom, and strength to navigate whatever the day holds.
2. Practice Deep Breathing or Count to Ten: When you feel your patience being tested, take a few deep breaths. This simple practice can help calm your nervous system and bring you back to a place of peace. I will also frequently walk around my house muttering to myself… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10…. While doing this recently, my oldest, Katheryn, stopped mid-sentence (probably coming to tell me about whatever offense one of her siblings had just committed) and let me finish counting and take a deep breath before getting my help. It was such an eye-opening moment that the more we practice these grounding techniques for ourselves, the sooner our kiddos will catch on.
3. Set Realistic Expectations: Accept that things won’t always go according to plan—and that’s okay. Give yourself and your family grace when things don’t run smoothly.
4. Take Breaks When Needed: It’s okay to step away for a few minutes when you’re feeling overwhelmed. A short break can help you regain your composure and approach the situation with renewed patience.
5. Focus on the Big Picture: Remember that these hectic days are just a season. The back-to-school chaos won’t last forever, and the most important thing is the love and connection you share with your family.
Dear working mama, as you navigate this back-to-school season, know that you are not alone. God is with you every step of the way, offering you His patience and peace. When the days feel long and the challenges seem too great, lean on His strength. Trust that He is guiding you, equipping you, and sustaining you.
This season may be busy, but it’s also an opportunity to grow in patience and grace. Embrace it. Allow God’s love to flow through you, bringing calm to the chaos and peace to your heart. You’ve got this, mama—and God’s got you.
With love and prayers,
Julie
How balanced is your life really? Click here to take our quiz to uncover where you stand and get effective tips for creating the balance you crave.
Leave a Reply