Cultivating Values for A Happier Life

You’re reading Modern Motherhood Musings, a weekly newsletter written from one mom to another. Each week I share an honest reflection on motherhood and a collection of things bringing me joy. Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I read in a book recently that the values we need to cultivate for a happier life are gratitude, humor, hope, and compassion.

But being a mom in 2025 feels in direct opposition of those values.

It’s the constant news cycle you can’t escape and the feeling that your one small voice will never be enough to change the world for the better—for your kids’ future.

It’s the pull to scroll mindlessly on your phone and the guilt you feel when you didn’t spend uninterrupted time with your kids instead.

It’s the summer camps you have to register for in January just to ensure you have childcare throughout the summer.

It’s the endless apps, tools, and technology you need just to contact the teachers, the pediatrician, and the babysitter—and the passwords you have to remember. But somehow, you and your husband can’t have your own separate logins, even though there are two parents.

It’s the fact that childcare is now more expensive than rent in all 50 states, but raising kids on a single income is impossible when the cost of housing—and even eggs—continues to rise.

It’s the constant text threads that interrupt you throughout the day, the well-meaning friends and family you want to catch up with but hardly have time to respond to.

It’s the social life you so badly want but the utter exhaustion that takes over after you’ve finally gotten the kids to bed.

So, what do you tell a mom who feels like she’s facing Goliath?

I’d tell her to live in the balance. I’d remind her that the weight, the heaviness, and the heartache she feels mean she’s human. Don’t lose that. But also, don’t miss the beauty.

Feel immense gratitude in those moments when you get to lie in bed reading books to your kids before they fall asleep.

Let laughter bubble up from deep within as you sit around a table sharing a meal with friends.

Let your hope be renewed when a friend who struggled with infertility welcomes a new baby or when your son’s teacher shares that he befriended a lonely boy in his class.

Don’t lose your compassion for the vulnerable. Let your heart continue to break for every injustice, and stay in the fight even when it feels like a losing battle.

Gratitude. Humor. Hope. And Compassion.

That’s the balance we need—the weight of the world on one side, and these values on the other, keeping us steady, keeping us moving forward.

🫐 I’m am not a baker, but I made this Ina Garten cake for cookbook club last weekend and it turned out SO good! It mixes in one bowl, and is really moist.

🥣 If you like to host, then don’t sleep on the serve ware from H&M, it’s really cute and affordable, like this serving platter and serving bowl.

👖I’m loving these linen-blend pants, and they’re on sale right now! If you’re not in Texas and experiencing spring-like temps, you might have to wait a few more months to wear them.

In 2025, I want to help you feel more confident using AI to make your daily life easier. From meal planning ideas to quick bedtime stories, these simple tips will save you time and help provide solutions to common parenting challenges.

Copy the prompt below and paste it into your favorite AI tool (like ChatGPT). Make sure to tweak and adjust it to fit your needs.

Parenting Challenge: Feeling like you’re constantly cleaning up toys, but the mess never ends.

Prompt: Create a simple, realistic toy organization system that works for a busy household with young kids. Include easy clean-up strategies and ways to get kids involved.

Happy Friday, Friends! I hope you all have a great weekend!

If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, I’d love it if you’d share it with a friend!

Quick Links

Send me an email

Connect with me on Instagram

Read past editions of Modern Motherhood Musings