Hi everyone! It totally depends on the year if I feel a drive to make resolutions or feel extra reflective. 2025 was one of them. This year was the year that I became a mom of two. It stretched me in ways I didn’t even know were possible. It was hard. It was wonderful. My heart is so full. Being entrusted with the sacred responsibility of being Quinn and Tripp’s mom is something I will never take for granted. Seeing the two of them playing or Quinn telling Tripp how much she loves him makes my heart burst! Tripp has expanded my heart. The adage is true “your first child shows you how deep you can love, and your second shows you how wide”. This year holds memories that I will treasure beyond words.
Until this year, I never really questioned how I was doing as a mom. I was able to give my everything to Quinn when it was just her. And suddenly with both of them, I never feel like I’m giving enough. Guilt has become a constant companion in this season. If I workout I’m guilty I’m not spending time with them. If I am not prioritizing myself I’m guilty that I’m not as energetic, shorter on patience and less present. It’s an impossible plates in the air situation. But it’s one I’m grateful to have even if it leads me to tears on the “I just need a minute” days. I am learning how to create quality time, especially for Quinn since that’s been the toughest to find- but it’s been an evolving process. This whole past year has been a constant evolution. So many stages, phases, changes that each hold so much preciousness that I want to pause time and yet they also hold a weight that at times feels like it might break me. I’ve learned to ask for help a little more. I’ve learned to be ok with things being half done and “just ok” because sometimes that is just what’s necessary.
Another area that has changed this year is friendships. I have gained some wonderful friendships and expanded my mom circle. But then other friendships have changed for no reason I can particularly point to, and that has been really hard for me to accept. Now I think I’m at peace with it & I’m focused on the gratitude for the circle of friends I have that have had grace with me as I’ve navigated this year and clearly love my babies too. ❤️
Personally, I have undergone quite the transformation. Going from working to stay at home mom has been more of an identity shift than I expected! I am so grateful to be home with them, and wouldn’t change it for the world, but it has been an adjustment! I think I want to go into a post about this deeper as I’ve been having this conversation with quite a few people lately. Also, physically, my body is different after two kids. I didn’t “bounce back” the way I did after Quinn. I dropped 10 lbs. after coming home from the hospital with Tripp and then the scale didn’t move after that. I think my body is very content where it’s at, especially with the energy needs of breastfeeding, so I’m trying to honor that. When I do have the time, I’ve shifted my focus to strength and using working out as a stress outlet with high intensity training intervals that are short (20ish mins). This has been a good groove and one I plan to continue in this year.
Onto my resolutions!
- Finally learn to make sourdough! I’d love any tips! 🙂
- Read/listen to the Bible in a year. I’m listening to The Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz. He reads the scripture and then adds some insightful commentary. DJ did it last year, and I’m really looking forward to it! I also am going to do a devotional book from my dear blog friend, Allie! I am so amazed by her!
- Do one date every other month with DJ- this is a lofty goal but one that I would really like to prioritize.
- Talk positively about motherhood/our days in front of Quinn. I found myself a couple times last year talking about how hard things were in front of Quinn. While she may not understand what I’m actually saying nor she may not care, I don’t want her to ever think I’m not enjoying her or my time with her. There’s a place for those conversations to be productive, but I want to make sure I speak positive words even on the tough days. And I’m not saying “toxic positivity” – but venting in front of her about it helps nothing. Im also not saying she can’t ever see me upset or having a tough day, I try to model when I’m overwhelmed taking deep breaths and such, but it’s just the venting that doesn’t feel right to me.
- Be more intentional with my free time. I have already started implementing this a bit, and it’s felt great. I don’t want to scroll mindlessly or swap between apps on my phone when I have a minute before bed. Maybe I’ll even… dramatic pause… get back into reading this year! But I’m not putting pressure on myself with that since my brain is usually fried by the end of the day.
- Make a to-do list every day. I did this for years, and it feels so productive to check off even simple tasks. With being a stay at home mom it can feel like I’ve accomplished nothing at the end of the day, which isn’t true. So if I write everything out and check it off, I think this will help me stay focused (off the scrolling) & also just give me that boost of feeling accomplished.
- House projects: shelves for storage organization in our basement, finish basement guest bedroom decorations and finish the half bath decorations
That’s about it!
I’d love to hear your reflections and resolutions if you’d like to share!
Happy 2026!
Mackenzie
Bible in a year with Fr Mike is awesome and he is entertaining. I had to slow it down in speed though. Lol. You are a beautiful.soul and I’m so very proud of you. Those 2 kiddos are blessed and so am I .
Haha yes!! He is great – I’ve definitely rewound it quite a bit to make sure I grasp what he’s saying. There are so many great insights!!
Thank you, Aunt Terry 🥹 you have been such a source of encouragement for me. I’m so grateful for you, I love you!
Hi Mackenzie and Happy New Year!
Hope you are all feeling better!
I have been setting up my 2026 Plan. My themes are: Trust and Obey, Share the Good News, Create a Margin of Free time. (Even Jesus took time to go off and pray by Himself.)
I will love deeply, pray faithfully and trust God with the outcomes.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW HAS COME.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Sounds like you are doing a good job of setting up your own 2026 Plan. God Bless!
These sound like GREAT themes! Thank you for sharing ! We’ll have to check in with each other through the year about how our plans are going! ☺️
Happy new year Mackenzie,definitely going to try bible in a year. Never done that and it’ll be nice to have some commentary on it plus I love your goals for 2026. Can’t wait to see you smash them
Aw thank you!! I’ve been so enjoying Bible in a Year- I hope you do too!! I’m a little behind on comments but happy belated New Year to you too, Dee! 🙂
You did have an awesome year, plus a lot of adjustments to make in 2025, but, as you say, it was well worth it. I have never had children, so I can’t offer any advice in that regard, but I marvel at how you seemingly effortlessly you manage your life, kids, etc. Reading is good – I don’t read enough and one of my resolutions for 2026 is to just plunk down and read every day for 45 minutes to an hour … now it is doable as it is Winter and the windows are closed so I don’t hear the neighbor’s dog howling inside the house. But come Spring, she is someone who does not believe in A/C, leaves the windows wide open and has a Bichon Frise, a breed that suffers from separation anxiety. She is gone 10 hours a day, at least. Right now, though I once again promise to declutter bigtime in 2026, I am enjoying the peace and quiet to read, do some watercolor painting and sort through photos from last Fall’s walks. I hope your resolutions work out for you Mackenzie!
Thank you, Linda 🥹
These sound like great goals too!!! I hope the reading is going well & is enjoyable without the background yaps – I’d have such a hard time focusing with that too! We had a neighbor in Austin whose dog barked allll day. I had to go to coffee shops because I had such a tough time focusing on school work . Anyway, declutterring always a good goal, and that’s wonderful with the water coloring too! Thank you for sharing!!
I’ve done well with the reading so far Mackenzie. The owner has been home for about a month and the other day, while shoveling, I saw her getting a ride from someone and using a cane. So I’ve had some wonderful quiet to help out with the reading goal. And I did some watercolors … I think, however, I’m pouting inwardly about not getting out to walk, so I have not done much decluttering. I hope you’re getting out some with this horribly cold and icy weather.
That sounds productive!! I hear you on the walking though. Almost every day I walk on the treadmill with Tripp in the carrier during a nap just to get some steps in.
Yes, it’s been too dangerous otherwise with all the ice. I need to think about getting a treadmill for the basement. It’s been so cold downstairs, I hate to go down to ride the exercise bike!
I love your reflections!! All of your latest posts have been precious and so heartwarming. I’m glad you had such a wonderful Christmas and New Years. I don’t make resolutions, but I do try to think of how I want to set the tone for the year. I’m SO excited and so scared to step into my role as a mama to two, but I am grateful. Mom/parenting guilt has been far too prevalent for me, so I’m making steps to improve my own mood regulation and abilities to parent during the tough moments. I always feel so much better when I remain the calm and end a tough moment with a hug and love.
You said it so well, I relate to this 1000%. The age 3 has been the hardest for guilt for me questioning if I’m doing the right thing by Quinn regarding discipline, making sure I’m regulating myself and tough moments overall. And then the added guilt of divided attention 💔. BUT yes the repair is what they see – the hug, apology, love. You will do so well, I was so scared too, it’s normal to feel that way, but you will be so amazed at how much you capable of and how well you adjust! I am so excited for you guys.
Thank you for this and for your confidence! I know we’ll find our groove, AND I know we’ll have our struggles. As long as I accept and not fight that, I feel I will be able to work through the inevitable hiccups as we become a family of four.
Absolutely!!
I’m cheering you on with all of your resolutions, Mackenzie! I also have trying out sourdough on my list as well, I have wanted to make my own for so long but I think this is the year that I’m going to actually do it, haha! Just clicked on your friend’s devotional, I will have to check that out soon!
https://www.makelifemarvelous.com
Yes yes we can do it!!! We’ll have to keep each other posted on our sourdough journeys 🙂