This article is about finding joy in homemaking.
When Homemaking Feels Like Drowning
It was about four years ago, and I was in a really hard place.
I had a one-year-old, a toddler, and two older kids who were in school during the day. My husband was gone twelve hours most days for work, and by the time the older kids came home, I was already running on fumes.
The dishes were piled high, the laundry never seemed to end, and every room felt like a mess no matter how hard I tried. I’d lost all motivation to clean, cook, or even care. I thought, “Why bother? It’s just going to get messy again.”
I knew I should feel grateful. I knew I should be enjoying the time with my little ones at home. But I didn’t. I just felt tired, behind, and like I was failing everyone — including myself.
Looking back, I can see I wasn’t lazy. I was empty. I was surviving.
Parts of this post were drafted with the help of AI, then reviewed, updated, and edited by me to reflect my personal experience and voice. I always aim to share real-life content that’s helpful, honest, and rooted in my day-to-day rhythms.
This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you choose to purchase through my links. I only share products I use and love in my own home.
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The First Step Toward Joy: Feeding Myself, Too
The shift didn’t happen overnight. But one of the first changes I made was small — I started making sure I was fed too.
I realized I was spending my mornings cooking for everyone else and then grabbing a handful of crackers or leftovers for myself. My body and my spirit were both running on empty.
So, I began to make real meals for me too — even if it was just reheating something nourishing or sitting down to eat with the kids instead of standing at the counter.
It sounds small, but that one change reminded me: I matter too.
Simplifying What Drains You
The next thing I did was set boundaries around my phone.
I noticed how often I was scrolling through social media, comparing my messy, loud life to someone else’s highlight reel. So I started setting timers and app limits.
When I was tempted to scroll, I’d look for a way to connect with my kids instead. Not big, fancy moments — just real ones.
Snuggling with a book. Building a hot wheels track down the stairs. Sitting and watching them play.
It wasn’t about being the “fun mom.” It was about being there.
Praying for Perspective
In the middle of that hard season, I started praying for help — really praying.
I asked Heavenly Father to help me see my children the way He does. To remember that they aren’t interruptions to my life… they are my life.
He gently shifted my heart from resentment to gratitude, from frustration to awe.
I realized homemaking isn’t a list of chores to check off. It’s an act of love — a way to serve the people God entrusted me with.
Choosing Gratitude Over Comparison
That’s when joy began to creep back in. Not because the messes went away (they didn’t), but because I started to notice the beauty in them.
The sound of little feet. The smell of something baking. The comfort of my husband walking in after a long day.
When I stopped fixating on what I hadn’t done — or what someone else was doing better — I started to actually see what was right in front of me.
Gratitude turned my chaos into worship.
A Gentle Reminder for You
If you’re in that place right now — where homemaking just feels like survival — please hear me:
You’re not broken. You’re not failing. You’re just tired.
Start small. Feed yourself. Limit the noise. Look for one tiny moment of connection today.
And pray — not for a different life, but for new eyes to see the one you already have.
Joy isn’t found in doing more. It’s found in noticing the sacredness of what’s already here.
Begin Your Own Reset
If you’re longing for more peace, I’d love to gift you my Peaceful Home Starter Kit — a free guide designed to help you reset your days and rediscover joy in the ordinary.
Inside, you’ll find:
- 🧺 A 5-Minute Reset Plan for when your home (and heart) feel heavy
- 🌿 A Simple Daily Rhythm Template that works with your real life
- 💛 Gentle encouragement to remind you that peace starts small — and it starts with you
👉 Grab your free Peaceful Home Starter Kit and take your first small, grace-filled step toward joy again.
You don’t need to overhaul your whole life. Just begin where you are — with gratitude, a deep breath, and the faith that joy can grow even here.
This article is all about finding joy in homemaking.
Thank you for that ❤️