Mom’s Secret Weapon: The Rosary
From the very beginning of motherhood, we find ourselves surrounded with challenges. As our children grow, those challenges grow too. It is in these moments where we no longer have any idea what to do and we’re about to try handing in our resignation that we find a tool that we may not have noticed is at our disposal. It is a tool that brings great encouragement. One that takes you out of the moment you’re in. It recenters you on the exceptional vocation you have been given.
The Rosary.
I recall when my son was about six months old. We had reached a point where it was a one to two hour ordeal to get him to go to sleep. It had to be on one of us and we could barely move for fear of waking him up. For some background, my oldest is exceptionally strong-willed, was curious and observant from day one, and didn’t want to miss out on a thing. These qualities, while beautiful, did not bode well for sleep. We decided that it was time to sleep train him.
We researched different methods, talked with our parents, and came to the conclusion that the Cry It Out Method would end up being the best bet with our child’s personality. I was fortunate to have my husband with me the first few attempts at it. He cried and cried. It sometimes took an hour to get him to settle. We checked in on him at the appropriate increments and if he cried more than thirty minutes straight, we would help him regulate and try again. By the time the weekend ended and it was just me during nap times, my resolve to help him learn this valuable skill began to crumble. After all, my baby was crying. A LOT.
Fast forward a couple days, He is down to thirty minutes to sleep. I expected that after just a couple days he would just suddenly sleep perfectly. It was these expectations that set me up to struggle in this season. I knew we were doing the right thing. I knew that this skill would be irreplaceable to him. I couldn’t validate how I felt against the logic. So I fell on my knees, grabbed the nearest rosary, pressed my forehead against the floor and began to pray. I poured out my aching heart to the Blessed Mother. I told her I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. I told her exactly what I was feeling. By the time I finished the prayer, he was asleep. I had sunk so deep into meditation that even through my tears, the crying had become faint. Finally fading to nothing.
Seven days into the training, he got the hang of it and it has changed our lives. Since that moment I lean on the rosary when I feel these emotions coming on. When he’s inconsolable, I hold him and pray aloud. If there’s a moment where I feel my patience slipping, I pull the rosary bracelet off my wrist and pray as I play with him. When I’m interrupted in my household tasks for the twentieth time, this prayer reminds me of the beautiful example of motherhood that is our Blessed Mother.
The rosary changed my life, my heart and my motherhood.
My disposition has softened. I’m less irritated by the many things that don’t go to plan. This is the most significant one. If I listed them all, it would be a long, rambling list. But the point is, Mary is so willing to lend her heart to us. I reflect often on how she must have lived her life. I see many ways that I can grow. My goal is to bring an atmosphere of peace to my household. To give my husband more than I thought I could and offer to do extra for him. As I stretch this muscle, the rosary is like a balm to my faults and a pre-workout for the day.
If I can encourage you in doing one thing to transform how you view your life, it’s pray the rosary. Find yourself a necklace, bracelet or ring that you can wear on you at all times. There are so many styles to choose from. Don’t put any pressure on yourself to accomplish the whole thing or multiple ones, but pick it up when you feel discouraged. Play a podcast version when you feel overwhelmed. Integrate this into your day and watch the Blessed Mother tuck you deep in her mantle, blessing your days, challenges and your experience of motherhood.
