Jennifer Grassman | The Grit and Grace Project

29 Easy Steps for Grocery Shopping With Kids

You’re the mother of two or three small children and you need to make a quick run to the grocery store. Grocery shopping with kids isn’t something you do on a whim. You start planning in the wee hours of the morning before the kids are awake. Or maybe even the night before. Step 1: Assemble outfits. You dig through the laundry basket that’s been sitting on your dresser for three days and find clothing, which basically matches. You also set aside any articles of clothing you come across that your children grew out of 6 months ago. Step 2: Locate matching shoes and socks. You may or may not be successful on this one. Keep in mind that socks don’t technically […]

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Are You Grumpy or Just Neglecting Yourself?

By Jennifer Grassman / Health & Beauty, Life & Culture

I’m a moody person. I’ll admit that. But often, I feel grumpy, depressed, irritable or anxious. Are you grumpy too? Well, I find that the root cause of my negative mood is that I’ve actually been neglecting myself. Maybe you’re neglecting yourself too. It’s so easy as a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom to get so caught up in changing diapers, wiping up spills, mixing bottles, meeting deadlines, making phone calls, and kissing booboos that I neglect to take care of myself. And that makes me grumpy. Are You Neglecting Yourself? Here’s a Checklist to Find Out: Have you eaten something healthy? I tend to skip breakfast, and that leaves me feeling groggy and malnourished. Protein is super helpful when it comes to boosting

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Dear Single Mom, This Is Why You Inspire Me

By Jennifer Grassman / Motherhood

Dear Single Mom, I want you to know that you give me hope. Life is so fragile. Relationships are fragile. As a married, stay-at-home mom of three very young girls, I often worry. What will I do if my husband loses his job? What if he gets sick? What if he gets hurt? What if something terrible happens? And then I look at you. You probably don’t always feel this way, but when I look at you I see strength. I see courage, determination, endurance, and self-sacrifice. I see a woman who overcomes obstacles; who gets things done and knows how to hold her own. I see God’s hand working in every aspect of your life, and I take comfort in the

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There Is Hope and Healing for the Fatherless

By Jennifer Grassman / Faith

I was about 11 years old when I realized my dad didn’t love me. I remember praying and telling God, “You need to be my Father. You need to be my dad. If I don’t have a dad, I’m going to have a lot of problems when I turn into a teenager.” I still had a lot of problems when I “turned into a teenager.” In fact, I wrestled with my past and with God until I was well into my twenties. I talked to pastors, therapists, friends, and family. Nothing seemed to heal the brokenness I felt over being fatherless. I’d feel better for a little while, but then all the pain would come flooding back. It was difficult to go

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7 Tips For Battling Baby Blues

By Jennifer Grassman / Motherhood

Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression (PPD) are very common after the birth of a beautiful new infant. You’d think this would be a magical time of snuggles, bottles, and miniature clothes–and it is–but it’s also a time of rapid life transition and physically demanding recovery. A combination of sleep deprivation, drastic hormonal changes, the pain and discomfort of healing from childbirth, and the demands of caring for a tiny little person can easily combine to create a perfect storm and leave you feeling absolutely miserable. As soon as you begin feeling overwhelmed, sad, anxious, or stressed, it’s important to address the issue right away so it doesn’t get worse or tarnish this special time with your precious little baby. 1. Tell Your Doctor.

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Comforting Thoughts For Moms on Rough Days

By Jennifer Grassman / Motherhood

We’ve all had bad days. For me, personally, the best way to cope has been to find some inner peace. My kids are calmer when I’m calmer. My husband is less anxious when I’m relaxed. The phrase, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy,” has been proven in our home time and time again. Here are a few thoughts I have found comforting on bad days: “This too shall pass.” Tomorrow, today will be a memory. Next week, you might even be able to laugh about it. “I am loved.” When your children scream at you and pitch temper tantrums, remember that you are loved, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. “I’m their Mom, not their friend.” Disciplining your

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Remember This When Your Baby is Growing Up

By Jennifer Grassman / Motherhood

My husband and I are incredibly thrilled to be pregnant with our third baby. We recently had one of those trendy “gender reveal” parties and found out it’s a little girl. But then something happened that I didn’t expect. I felt sad. It’s not that I’m disappointed—I’m very excited to have another girl—but she might be our last baby. As soon as I realized it was a girl, the phrase popped into my head, “and they had three daughters,” past tense, and rather final. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited for the future, but a piece of me doesn’t want this childbearing phase of life to end. I think whoever invented the idea of cherubs must have felt this same way, because babies

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