This is a guest post contributed by Amber Palmer. You can learn more about Amber in her bio at the bottom of her post.

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
— Ephesians 5:1-2

A Wake-Up Call I Didn’t Expect

“Mom, I think your signature look is the side-eyed glare,” my daughter shared with me one day while we were getting ready to start school.

I chuckled at first. I wanted to brush it off as tween sass. But the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me to think that this was how my kids saw me.

As the day went on, I started to pay attention to my mannerisms—and sure enough, when my children asked me to do something for them or interrupted me in any way, my “signature look” showed up fast. Along with that side-eyed glare, I realized I had a deep sigh of annoyance to match.

I couldn’t shake the conviction: this was not love.
This was a grumbling heart.
I was knee-deep in major “mom mood.”

When Motherhood Feels Like a Burden

I realized my response to motherhood had shifted. What once felt like joy and calling had started to feel like burden and bother. And my heart broke that I’d allowed it to get there.

Motherhood is exhausting. We are needed constantly—playing, teaching, preparing meals, doing laundry, taming emotions, making decisions... the list never ends. With all that pouring out, it’s easy to grow thin. And when our souls are worn, our responses turn irritable. We sigh deeper. We glare faster. We forget the beauty right in front of us.

For me, this had become a habit. And clearly, my kids had noticed.

But I didn’t want them to think they were burdens. I didn’t want them to see themselves as interruptions. I knew I needed some major heart work—and a total attitude reset.

When You Need a Reset: Two Truths to Remember

1. Motherhood Is Sacred

Motherhood isn’t just another thing on our to-do list. It’s a ministry.
When we see what we’re doing as serving the Lord through serving our families, it shifts our hearts from burden to blessing.

2. Jesus Knows What It Feels Like

Jesus knows what it’s like to be needed all the time.
In Mark 6:31, we read that so many people were coming and going that Jesus and His disciples didn’t even have time to eat.
He knows what it feels like to be interrupted, to be poured out, to be stretched thin.

And Two Things You Can Do Right Now

3. Check Your Ground

What are you grounded in today?
Are you rooted in the Lord—or tangled up in unmet expectations, frustration, or resentment?

When we ground ourselves in God’s love, we gain the ability to love others with abundance.
When we ground ourselves in irritation, everything feels like a nuisance.

4. Take a Break

This isn’t selfish—it’s survival.
Whether it’s a coffee date with a friend, a quick drive around the block, or a quiet 15 minutes reading your Bible in the bathroom—take time to breathe.

You weren’t meant to carry the weight of motherhood without pausing to refill.

The Heart Behind the Glare

I know we’ll all have mom moments.
But when those moods become our norm—when burden is our default and joy feels lost—it’s time to reset.

I pray that my love for my children would reflect Jesus’ love for me.
That my service would be a fragrant offering to the Lord.
That my eyes would shine more with joy than with glares.

Motherhood is fleeting.
The years fly by.
These moments? They’re sacred.

May we walk in love—this side of heaven—so our children remember grace, not groans.
Joy, not sighs.
And hopefully... a whole lot less of that side-eyed glare.

Amber is a busy mom of two kiddos, wife, and blogger over at My Jars of Clay. When she is not homeschooling her daughter you can find her writing to encourage other moms and helping them keep their focus on Jesus. Amber enjoys spending her time reading, singing when no one is around and throwing random dance parties in her kitchen. She loves connecting with other moms in person and over on Instagram.