Many years ago when I was a young mom, I read two books that I had actually just picked off the shelf at a Christian bookstore. Those two books absolutely changed my life and my mothering—A Mother’s Touch and A Mother’s Time—and the author was Elise Arndt.
To say that this lady has been an influence in my life would be a huge understatement. Elise has now entered the 80th year of her life, but she still has a heart to invest in women and mothers. And in this episode, Elise is taking some time to invest in you!
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
- About the importance touch has in our children’s development
- What makes us a “success” at mothering
- The balance between putting our children or our marriage first
- And much more!
Elise’s books meant so much to me as a new mom and I hope you enjoy our conversation in this episode!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- [BOOK] A Mother’s Touch
- [BOOK] A Mother’s Time: A Realistic Approach to Time Management for Mothers
- “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” – Virginia Satir
- Connect with Elise on her Facebook
- As a thank you for listening, get your 3 free eBooks.
My Key Takeaways:
1) Pay attention to our child’s signals for nurturing. Instead of seeing your child as fussy, it is important to recognize when your child is asking for nurturing. In many cultures, it is normal for a child to be with the mother 24/7 until they are a toddler. That’s not to say that you and your child need to be joined at the hip, but we can learn a thing or two from these cultures. The bond between mother and child is so very important. A cry may be a cry for comfort or to know that their needs are being met.
2) Successful moms are not perfect moms. Everyone has an idea of what it takes to be a perfect mom. But the truth is there are no perfect moms! We are all human and it is okay to make mistakes, need a break, or not take your children to every single activity they could be involved in. The key factor that makes all the difference in the world is if you love God and trust Him with your children.
3) Don’t forget to invest in your marriage. When a baby comes into your life nearly every waking (and sometimes sleeping!) moment will be spent focusing on caring for that baby. There will be seasons when your marriage will need to take a backseat to caring for your children, especially when you have newborns. But it is important to remember to invest in your marriage regularly. Elise shared that one of the tips she gives couples is to getaway with your spouse at least once per month.
About Elise Arndt:
Elise Arndt is an author, Bible teacher, former missionary, pastor’s wife, mother, and grandmother. Elise is the author of A Mother’s Touch and A Mother’s Time. Elise and her husband, Warren served in Papua New Guinea as missionaries in the 1960s. They are now retired and enjoy time with their grandchildren.
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