Audrey Roloff gets it, you guys.
Or you gals, to be more accurate.
She’s a mother to a precious daughter named Ember and she also works: formerly as a cast member on Little People, Big World (until announcing her departure last month) and also as an author and an entrepreneur.
Roloff admits that she’s learning as she goes, trying to find the proper balance between her professional life and her personal life.
But she’s learned enough after about a year of parenthood to pass along some tips.
In an Instagram message Audrey posted in August of 2018, she passed along the following pieces of advice to “working moms” around the world..
Tip #1:
Writes Audrey to open this lengthy caption, which she shared along a photo of herself and almost-one-year-old Ember: “GRACE. Give yourself loads of grace when you see all the things other mothers are doing that make me feel less-than.”
More on Grace:
“I am constantly reminding myself that my standard for motherhood should be rooted in the Word of God NOT the world of Instagram,” concludes Amber on this topic.
But Hasn’t She Discussed Grace Before?
Yes, in February of 2018 Audrey wrote on Instagram: “”GRACE. If I had to sum up what motherhood has taught me into one word, it would be grace.
What Did She Mean at the Time?
You tell us, Auds! “I can be pretty hard on myself, and motherhood is teaching me to give myself grace in the moments when I feel unequipped, ill prepared, or like I don’t measure up. On the days when I discover I haven’t been doing something that everyone else seems to be doing, grace. When my ideals don’t fit to reality, grace. When I’m overwhelmed by all the conflicting research on all the hot button issues, grace. When I start to compare myself to the other mama warriors out there, grace. When I get criticized and accused, grace.”
A Final Word on Grace
Also from this February 2018 post: “When I realize I’m not the kind, patient, and loving wife intend to be, grace. When I get down on myself for working too much or not enough, grace. When I haven’t checked anything off my to-do list, grace. When I’ve worn the same outfit 7 days in a row, grace… I am choosing to release my harsh and sometimes worldly standards and learning to embrace His grace in my weakness. His power is perfected in my weakness.”
Okay, Got It. On to Tip #2!
Writes Roloff in her latest pseudo advice column: “Establish your team before you have a baby. Expect to have less than half the time you did beforehand.”
She Elaborates as Follows:
“Maybe that means hiring an assistant, or maybe that means hiring a house cleaner, or maybe that means moving closer to grandparents or aunts and uncles who can help! Whatever it is, you can’t do motherhood or entrepreneurship alone. Find your people and be willing to ask for help.”
So… It Takes a Village?
Yes, even those who did not vote for Hillary Clinton can likely agree with her stance on this same topic: it really does take a village.
Tip #3
This one is a little more drawn out. “Ask yourself,” writes Audrey. “‘What are my strongest desires and what are my deepest desires?’ For example. One of my deepest desires is to carve out alone time for myself to work out, go for a run, or read my Bible. But sometimes my strongest desires prevent me from living into my deepest desires.”
Wait… What?
We told you it was a little more complicated, but Audrey isn’t done explaining: “Sometimes my strongest desire is to respond to e-mails, check things I’d mt to-do list, scroll social media or clean the house. Establishing the difference between those desires has helped align my strongest desires to my deepest desires.”
So Just, Like, Get Your Priorities Straight?
Yes, sort of. Also, be okay with the fact that these priorities may shift on a near-daily basis. And that sometimes something practical has to take precedence over something profound. Ideally, though, the two can be morphed into one.
Concudes Audrey on This Point:
“It’s helped me live intentionally rather than impulsively. It’s helped clarified my priorities and my purpose. And it’s given me peace.”
In the End, Though, Just Keep Doing You
We’re riffing now a bit because Roloff only listed the three tips we cited above. But she’s also been quick to say in the past that parents should never judge each other. If you’re happy? If you’re child is happy and healthy? Hey, keep doing whatever you’ve been doing to accomplish these feats!