Mommy Pick Me Ups for everyday moms: Interview w/authors Linda Gilden and Edna Ellison

I sat with a mom last week who shared that while she loved being a mom, some days it was overwhelming. Been there? I have. So have Edna Ellison and Linda Gilden, coauthors of Mommy Pick-Me-Ups, who says that motherhood is a journey of physical, mental, and emotional changes. Today they join CML to talk about real issues with real moms.

Suzie Eller: What are some of the issues mothers deal with on a weekly basis that makes them not only need but crave, a lift?

Edna Ellison: I remember the hardest days of my life, when I had preschoolers at home! I felt so alone. . . I was a stay-at-home mom—the hardest job in the world—and I dealt with dirty diapers, baby spit-ups, meals to prepare and hand-feed to the smallest, wipe-ups with the oldest, who was trying to eat by himself, but he spread more food on the top of his head than he got in his stomach. . . the list goes on. I knew after I survived that first lonely winter when the snow and ice prevented my getting outside with small children, that I could survive anything!

If you’ve experienced the everyday crises of child-rearing, you can relate to my feelings about those years.

Today in blended- and single-parent families the issues are even more dramatic for moms: pornography on television, fear of child-snatching in a crowd, moms and dads separated because of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and even issues of child molestation in our churches and child-care centers when parents can’t be with their children all day. We need to hold on to hope.

SE: Mommy Pick-Me-Ups is designed to encourage moms. How can a book offer a pick-me-up for them?

EE: We know how busy moms are, so we have written a book with a very short devotional for the mom who hardly has a minute to spare. Sometimes she may hear all day: “Mommy, pick me up, Mommy! P’ease! Pick Me Up!” When she does have a quiet moment, she needs an instant “God Spa”—a quiet moment to find refreshment for her soul. Once her inner spirit is focused and renewed with a short word from God, then she can address all the other issues in her life. More about God Spas later.

SE: Linda, do you think that moms ever feel alone?

Linda Gilden: Absolutely. Although moms rarely have a moment when they are truly physically alone, moms can feel very alone in the midst of the day surrounded by children. With never a moment to themselves without the pressing responsibilities of motherhood moms can quickly become exhausted not only physically but also emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

SE: Can you share a couple of examples from the book that will resonate with our moms?

LG: Sure. When moms are feeling alone and like there is no one in the whole world who could understand what they are going through, it helps them to know that other moms experience the same thing. It was our prayer from the beginning that Mommy Pick-Me-Ups would encourage moms in a number of ways.

1. That it would give them hope by providing them with a moment of focus on our Heavenly Father during days filled with earthly responsibilities and chores.

2. That they could identify with the moms in the stories.

3. That by that identification they would find affirmation and a renewed sense of commitment to their God-given calling as moms.

4. That the Pick-Me-Up feature would offer brief moments of refreshment to their days.

5. That the Creative Parenting feature would offer suggestions as to how to instill solid spiritual values in their children.

The story “The Prayer Chair” demonstrates how one mother coped with a day that had not gone her way. Here’s her story.

The Prayer Chair

Stephen ran into the room. “Mom, can you…” He stopped.

The green swivel rocker in the bedroom was turned facing the window. Six-year-old Stephen had never seen it that way. Usually the chair faced out toward the bed and was piled high with clothes. Today Mom was in the chair and it rocked slightly. The curtains were pulled back and you could see the mountains where Stephen and Dad liked to hike.

The chair turned slowly around. Mom smiled at Stephen but he could see her cheeks were wet.

“Mom, is something wrong?” Stephen asked.

“No,” Stephen, “I was just sitting here talking to God. This chair is my special chair for that.”

“What do you talk about?”

“Well, when I have a problem I ask Him what to do about it. When I don’t have any problems, I thank Him for that. Sometimes I just sit and listen to Him talk to me.”

“Why are you crying, Mom?”

“I just had kind of a bad day. Talking to God made me feel better.”

“I’ve had kind of a bad day, too.”

Mom stood up. “Want to sit here a while?” she asked.

Trey nodded his head.

Mom walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. “Lord,” she prayed, “bless this precious son of mine. Please make him aware of your presence. Let Him know you are in that chair with him and with him when he gets up. Thank you for your constant presence. Amen.” Mom continued to sit quietly.

In a few minutes the chair moved. As it swiveled to face her, she asked Stephen, “Do you feel better?”

“You know,” Stephen said, “I think I do.”

Message for Mommy: Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10).

Pick-Me-Up: The most precious moments of your day are those spent with God. Do you have a place to do that? It could be a favorite chair or a spot outside, on the deck or under a tree. Maybe the only time you can find to spend with God is while you are cooking supper or folding laundry. Find what works for you and promise God you will meet Him there each day.

Creative Parenting: Your children need to know that spending time with God is important. Don’t always wait until they are in bed. Let them see you seeking God’s wisdom when you have a problem. Invite them to join you. And, often let them hear you call out their names to the heavenly Father, thanking Him for them and asking His blessing on their lives. Pray spontaneously about their needs as well as your own.

SE: CML readers, Monday we'll pick up where Edna and Linda left off. They share what it means to have a spa day, as well as more Mommy Pick Me Ups. What about you? Do you have those days? How can we encourage you?