This February, there is so much talk about love. Romantic love. Self love. Big gestures. Big feelings.
However, if I’m being honest, love in my life right now looks very different.
This season of motherhood has changed how I love. How I show love. And even how I understand love. Not in a bad way, but rather in a real way.
I’ve learned that intentional love does not have to be loud to be real.
Loving Your Spouse in This Season
Marriage after children is different.
Anyone who says otherwise is not telling the full truth.
Love for my spouse right now looks like teamwork. This means helping each other through long days and often, it means being patient when we are both tired. Choosing respect even when we don’t have the energy for long conversations.
Some days, love is not romance.
In practice, it is choosing not to argue.
At the same time, it is checking in.
Most importantly, it is remembering we are on the same side.
That choice, made again and again, is intentional love.
If you are also navigating marriage while mothering, you may relate to Motherhood and Success Redefined, where I talk about how priorities shift after becoming a mom.
Loving Our Children Intentionally
Motherhood teaches you very quickly that love is shown in small ways.
In everyday moments, it is being present even when your mind is full.
At other times, it is listening when you are busy.
Most days, it is showing up again and again.
Our children do not need perfect parents. Instead, they need parents who are there.
Because of this, intentional love for our children is choosing connection in the middle of ordinary days. Nothing fancy, nothing Instagram worthy, just real love lived out daily.
Loving Yourself Without Guilt
Self love in motherhood is not about doing more. Instead, it is often about doing less.
For example, it is knowing when to rest.
It can also look like feeding your body properly.
At times, it is saying no when everything in you feels stretched.
Loving yourself in this season does not mean copying what someone else is doing. Rather, it means being honest about what you can carry right now.
If you need ideas, you can explore Tools for Intentional Living, where I share simple habits that fit real life.
Loving God in the Middle of Motherhood
My relationship with God has changed in this season.
I do not always sit down with my Bible the way I used to. Some days, my prayers are short. Other times, they happen while I am doing other things. And on certain days, all I can do is say, “God, you see me.”
Even so, I have learned that God meets me right here, not when things are quiet or when I have done everything right. Instead, He meets me right here in real life.
In practical ways, staying connected to God in motherhood can look like opening Scripture in small moments. Resources like Bible reading plans have helped me stay in the Word without feeling pressure to keep a perfect routine.
If this resonates, you may also connect with What Intentional Living Looks Like When You Are Tired, where I share honestly about choosing God and intention even on full, exhausting days.
Love That Fits Where You Are
In the end, intentional love is not about doing everything right. Rather, it is about loving in ways that make sense for where you are right now.
This February, as we talk about motherhood and self love, my hope is that you give yourself permission to love in your own way.
You are not behind. You are not failing. You are simply in a season, and love looks different here.
