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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / adventures / Detroit / On feeling weary (but finding solutions).

On feeling weary (but finding solutions).

February 11, 2016 · 16 Comments
Filed Under: Detroit, for fun, inspiration, our home

living room maggie whitley

Zack is still working in Los Angeles, while the kids and I are in Detroit, and most days I feel like I handle life just fine. (I do have a big “all the details about our move back to Michigan” blog post typed (and I will publish it soon), but helloooooooo, I’m one gal trying to keep an eye on a small tribe of toddlers, including a dog, while 7 months pregnant ;) so I’m a tiny bit delayed in some areas.) But, I digress…

Yesterday felt like a particularly life-changing day for me, considering our current situation. It was amazing. I’ve been feeling more and more and more weary over all we have going on, and finally the weariness broke. Instead of feeling solution-less, I decided to take control and find some solutions.

Here is what helped me:

+ FOOD: It always amazes me how important it is to fill our bodies with nutritious food. Every time I cook, every time I serve a meal that will positively fuel our bodies, I am amazed over the benefits. So that was my first solution to ending my weariness :)

+ CHANGE: Next up was re-routing some of the difficulties that come with parenting a toddler who is truly confused about what’s going on. Max knows something is different about our life right now, but what he doesn’t understand is the WHY (or when it be “normal” again). Letting go of some of the control that so easily comes with parenting was key. Instead of trying to keep control, my focus is now on guiding him (and letting him make more decisions himself).

+ INSPIRATION: And then lastly, I needed to be creative within our home. We need a few big pieces of furniture: a large bookshelf, a round breakfast nook table, and a dresser for our bedroom. And while we’re waiting to make these purchases, yesterday I realized I could empty a few boxes and still find some creative inspiration. Emptying these boxes meant I was able to tidy up the smaller areas of our home, which in turn meant I was able tidy up the larger areas of our home. It all started by using Command Strips to hang a peach-colored garland above our couch. (I’m trying to avoid making any nail holes.) As yesterday evening wrapped up, I had added another layer of moss-colored garland (both made with this super easy yarn technique) and a creamy white vintage frame. Texture and layers and color: my three favorite accessories :)

home maggie whitley

This may be one of my most random blog posts, but it’s an important one for me personally. Yes, we are in a really difficult stage of life right now. Yes, we are in a really exciting stage of life right now. Yes, we are beyond blessed. Yes, I am beyond tired. Yes, I know this season will pass. Yes, it is possible to get through the hard moments and find joy.

And so that is my wish for you, to let go of your weariness and do what you know is best (and possible). You can do it! :)

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16 Comments
Filed Under: Detroit, for fun, inspiration, our home

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Comments

  1. April says

    February 11, 2016 at 7:20 am

    I always love reading posts where you balance how you’re feeling with being creative. Creativity is such a wonderful outlet for stress, and it’s amazing at how making our homes a comfortable place of rest seems to help with the chaos life throws at us sometimes.

    Side note, thanks to your tutorial, I’ve been enjoying finger knitting, and would love to see the different ways you incorporate the pieces into your home. Love the apricot garland above the couch. :)

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      February 11, 2016 at 8:55 am

      Zack thinks I should tie it in a knot, like a boating rope knot, and hang it on the wall that way ;D

      Reply
  2. Cindy R says

    February 11, 2016 at 8:45 am

    Hugs to you!♥I have been where you are as a Mom also and now my kids are 22, 21, 17, and 16!! One thing I STILL do for myself is to buy fresh flowers like you have in the picture to brighten up and bring cheer to our home. :)

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      February 11, 2016 at 8:57 am

      Morning, Cindy! Would you believe those are from Zack? He sent me those last week. I love fresh flowers, my friend Lisa Leonard always buys a little bundle when she’s grocery shopping — I love that idea! :)

      Reply
      • Cindy R says

        February 12, 2016 at 5:58 pm

        Awww how sweet Zac bought you those flowers! :) I thought you might like to see I went to Trader Joe’s and decided it was a TWO bunch kinda day for fresh flowers!♥ I sent a private message to you on FB with the pictures! Love your blog and ideas! Have a wonderful Valentines Day weekend!!~Cindy

        Reply
  3. Laura says

    February 11, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    Girl, you are ROCKSTARING it. That’s a verb. For you. {wink}

    I think it’s important to acknowledge what you did – what makes life a little easier + more enjoyable, especially in those harder seasons.

    Keep rockstaring it. XO

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      February 12, 2016 at 11:24 am

      Haha, you are so amazing!!! Love the verb!!!!

      Reply
  4. Kelly Reyes says

    February 11, 2016 at 4:20 pm

    I love your blog but I’ve never commented! I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your posts and your perspective. So encouraging for me as a new mama! It’s really refreshing how real AND positive you are.
    Xo

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      February 12, 2016 at 11:24 am

      Thank you so much, Kelly!!!!!!!!! It is hard sometimes to be honest, but I’m so grateful to have this community to share what I’m learning. We are a great time, grateful you’re a part of it :)

      Reply
  5. Laura @ Laura Radniecki says

    February 12, 2016 at 1:29 pm

    I find it refreshing that you are able to acknowledge the hard time, and yet still rest in the peace of knowing it’s temporary and that it’s ok that it’s hard right now.

    My tendency seems to be always wanting to fix or change things.

    I’m 34.5 weeks pregnant with our first, and I feel like I’m approaching the brink of major change. [Actually, I KNOW I am haha.] I am feeling all the things right now as this huge change approaches. Giving myself permission to feel everything is a little tough for me, but freeing at the same time.

    Blessings to you in this season, Maggie!

    Reply
  6. Jessica says

    February 13, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    You’re so honest and optimistic. I love it. It’s inspiring. Honestly, you have an outlook on life I would like to aspire to. For me I think that means lots of practice, and patience, and practice on that patience, but your posts are always such a refreshing reminder :) Bless you! <3 and good luck on this season of your life.

    Reply
  7. Kelli says

    February 13, 2016 at 9:19 pm

    Maggie, I don’t know how you do it. I have an almost three year old and a one year old, and I am sometimes at the end of my joy rope by the time my husband gets home. I would have to muster up a lot of selflessness to stay happy while taking care of the little ones all evening too. Seriously, your ability to find the blessings is so humbling for me.

    Good job keeping on with three precious ones you have! I will be excited to read the post when you tell us Zach is back with you guys!

    Reply
  8. Haley says

    February 14, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    We’re entering a similar stage of life right now and I’m feeling so encouraged by you. Thanks for sharing your journey and I can’t wait to hear more when you get around to sharing.

    Reply
  9. Katie says

    February 17, 2016 at 10:15 am

    Maggie, I totally understand that weary feeling! Trying to be Mama to the kids with a Hubs who isn’t home… let’s just say it’s been my life for almost 2 years now! Thanks for the tips… I’ve been trying to eat better, and that has made all the difference! {And running!} We’re almost at the end of our “daddy being away all the time” journey. I’m SO looking forward to moving into our new house!

    Reply
  10. Crystal says

    February 24, 2016 at 8:46 pm

    This is my first time discovering your blog and this post resounds so well with me. The past couple months I have been in the dull drums of the first trimester of my 3rd pregnancy. i feel like I have been robbed of my energy, motivation, creativity and subsequently joy. I know it is just a short season, but it has been very depressing to fail to accomplish all the beautiful things I expected to do so far this year. You have encouraged me to do what I can creatively to dispel my weariness and right now that looks like working on finishing old crochet projects.

    Reply
  11. Sarah says

    March 7, 2016 at 11:22 pm

    Love this. :)

    Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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“We are preparing to wind down for the school ye “We are preparing to wind down for the school year with just a few more weeks of intentional table lessons. We will then transition to a lighter learning schedule during the summer months. Today I am grateful for the books and resources I’ve read that have helped keep me in my own lane. (Visit my blog to see a personal favorite.)

Even now, three years in, I appreciate the reminder to stay on the path that was designed with intentional thought just for me.”

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We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

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