It is easy to think of a dining room as simply the place where we eat dinner, but in many homes, our tables become part of the everyday rhythm of family life. They might be where we gather for holiday meals, enjoy a slow Saturday morning breakfast, help children with homework, put together puzzles, play board games, paint watercolors, or sit down with a cup of coffee while someone practices the piano nearby.

For our family, we actually have several different places where we gather around a table, and each one has its own purpose.

We have a more formal dining table where we enjoy family dinners and gather for holiday meals. We also have a smaller table just off the kitchen where we often eat breakfast and lunch, and where our younger children frequently do homework and projects. Sometimes that table becomes a place for watercolor painting, Play-Doh, sticker books, and other little creative activities.

And then, of course, there are mornings when breakfast is simply eaten at the kitchen counter!

Every family is different, and every home has a different arrangement. So when thinking about creating an organized and lovely dining room, I think the best place to begin is with one very simple question:

What Do We Actually Do Here?

Before organizing any dining space, take a little time to think about how your family truly uses it. Do you eat most of your family meals there? Do your children do homework at the table? Is it where you work on puzzles together during the fall and winter? Does it become the craft table on Saturday afternoons? Do you gather there for board games?

There is no reason to organize a room around an imaginary version of family life when you can organize it around the life you actually live.

A formal dining room may truly be used mostly for special meals and holidays. A kitchen table might be one of the busiest places in the entire house!

Once we know how a space is being used, it becomes much easier to decide what should live there.

If your children regularly do homework at the table, it can be helpful to have pencils, paper, and other supplies nearby. If the table is often used for art projects, keeping a few art supplies close at hand may make sense.

But if something is sitting in the dining room and is never actually used there, it may be time to find a better home for it somewhere else.

That simple idea can make such a difference in keeping a dining space from becoming cluttered.

Give Everyday Activities a Home

Our smaller table just off the kitchen is one of those spaces that changes throughout the day.

It might be a breakfast table in the morning, a lunch and snack table in the afternoon, and a homework table later in the day. On weekends, it sometimes becomes a place for crafts and little creative projects.

Because we use that table for so many different things, we have a small sideboard with cabinets nearby. Inside, we keep many of the things the children enjoy using at the table, including paper, crayons, sticker books, Play-Doh, and homework supplies.

Having those things nearby means we do not have to carry supplies from all over the house every time someone wants to draw or work on a project.

It also means that when we are finished, everything has a place to go.

I think this is especially helpful in family spaces. Children can learn that the table is available for creating and working, but when the project is finished, the supplies can be put back into their home. The table can then be ready for the next thing.

Keep Supplies Close, but Not Necessarily on the Table

One of the things that helps our dining areas feel more peaceful is trying not to leave projects spread out all over the table. Of course, sometimes a puzzle stays out for a few days, or an especially exciting project needs to remain in progress. Family life does not have to be perfectly tidy! But in general, I love being able to clear the table fairly easily and sit down together for a meal.

Baskets, cabinets, sideboards, and nearby storage can be so helpful for this.

If your family uses the dining table for:

• Homework
• Coloring
• Crafts
• Board games
• Puzzles
• Play-Doh
• Watercolor painting
• School projects

Consider creating a nearby place for those things.

It does not have to be a large or elaborate organization system. A simple cabinet with a few baskets or containers may be all that is needed. The goal is simply to make it easy to take things out when they are needed and easy to put them away when the activity is finished.

Protect the Table When Necessary

Because our kitchen table is sometimes used for art projects, I like to keep an inexpensive waterproof tablecloth in the nearby cabinet. When the children want to paint or work on something messy, we can simply put it over the table and protect the surface underneath. This is one of those small practical things that makes family life easier.

We want our children to be able to create, paint, build, and enjoy projects. At the same time, it is nice not to worry about every little spill or splash of paint. A simple protective tablecloth, placemat, or craft mat can make the table feel available for everyday creativity without making the whole room feel like a permanent craft room.

Think About What Happens Around the Table Too

Sometimes the loveliest part of a dining space is not even the table itself. Our smaller table is near a piano, which makes that little area feel like a place where family life happens. The children practice piano there, and the table is nearby for schoolwork, snacks, and projects.

A dining space can become part of a larger family rhythm. Maybe your dining room is near a bookshelf where children choose a book after dinner. Maybe it is close to a window where you enjoy watching the seasons change. Perhaps there is a piano nearby, a favorite chair, or a basket filled with puzzles.

Thinking about the whole area can help create a room that feels useful and welcoming rather than simply decorated.

Keep the Walls Simple

One thing I have learned is that a dining room does not need a great deal of wall decor to feel lovely.

In our formal dining room, we keep the walls very simple. We have a large round mirror and wall-mounted candle sconces on either side. We also have simple white curtains on a black curtain rod. That is really about it. The simplicity helps the room feel calm and uncluttered. The table and the seasonal touches are allowed to be the focus.

In the dining area off our kitchen, we also keep things fairly simple. We have the dining table, the side table for storage, the piano, and a few decorative baskets on the wall.

There is something lovely about allowing a room to have a little breathing space. Not every wall needs to be filled. Sometimes a few things that are meaningful and beautiful are more enjoyable than many things competing for attention.

Use Storage for the Things You Actually Need

In our formal dining room, we have a side table beside the dining table. Over this, we keep a decorative plant, large candle holders on each end, and a large round mirror above.

Underneath, we use baskets to store our seasonal table linens.

This is where we keep things such as:

• Seasonal placemats
• Seasonal napkins
• Table runners
• A few seasonal decorating pieces

We also change our candles according to the seasons of the church year, so those are kept nearby as well.

Because we do not keep a great deal of extra table decor, the storage is very simple. Everything there is something we actually use in that room.

That is one of my favorite organizing ideas for any part of the home: store things close to where they are used whenever it makes sense.

It makes decorating and putting things away so much easier.

You Do Not Have to Store Everything in the Dining Room

Many people have beautiful china cabinets or large hutches filled with dishes, glassware, serving pieces, and other special items. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and if you enjoy displaying your dishes, a dining room can be a wonderful place to do it.

For our family, though, I prefer to keep dishes, glassware, serving platters, and other kitchen items in the kitchen or pantry. I generally like to keep things that are not being used put away from curious little hands. That means our formal dining room stays fairly simple and uncluttered.

I think this is another reminder that there is no single right way to organize a dining room. If you love looking at your grandmother’s china in a beautiful cabinet every day, display it and enjoy it! If you prefer to keep everything behind cabinet doors and have a simpler room, that is lovely too.

The best choice is the one that makes your home feel peaceful and works well for your family.

Create a Simple Seasonal Centerpiece

One of my favorite ways to make a dining table feel special is with a simple seasonal centerpiece.

Our tables do not need to be heavily decorated. We prefer to keep the centerpiece simple enough that we can still easily see and talk to one another across the table.

On one of our tables, we have a round wooden rotating tray in the center. Depending on the season, we might place a decorative plant, a candle, and a diffuser with wooden reeds on it.

On our formal dining table, we keep things similarly simple.

We may have:

• A seasonal decorative plant or arrangement
• A candle
• Salt and pepper shakers
• Candlesticks that change with the seasons of the church year

Right now, our fall centerpiece includes decorative autumn leaves.

That is really all that is needed.

I love changing just a few things as the seasons change. A new centerpiece, different placemats, or a different table runner can make the room feel fresh without filling it with decorations.

Sometimes one beautiful seasonal touch is enough.

Let the Table Change with the Seasons

A dining table is one of the easiest places in the home to enjoy a little seasonal decorating.

For the fall, you might choose:

• Autumn leaves
• A small arrangement of branches
• A seasonal candle
• Natural woven placemats
• A simple table runner

During Christmas, perhaps you bring out a favorite centerpiece or special napkins.

In the spring, you might enjoy a simple plant or a few fresh flowers.

The idea is not to create a complicated display that has to be carefully moved every time someone wants to eat. Instead, choose a few things that can easily stay on the table or be moved aside when necessary. I especially love seasonal table linens because they can change the entire feeling of the room without adding clutter.

Keep Everyday Tableware Simple

Keeping everyday dishes simple can be nice, if dish collecting is not one of your interests. We often choose white dishes because they go with almost everything. They can be used for ordinary Tuesday night dinners, weekend breakfasts, and special meals.

Simple clear drinking glasses are another favorite because they work beautifully throughout the year.

We also enjoy changing our tableware a little with the seasons. Brass-toned tableware can feel especially lovely during the spring and summer, while darker tableware can feel beautiful during the fall and winter.

But none of it has to be complicated. A lovely family table does not require a new set of dishes for every season. Simple dishes, simple glasses, and a few seasonal touches can be used in many different ways.

Save Special Things for Special Occasions

For holidays, we sometimes bring out inexpensive water goblets and wine glasses. These are not part of our everyday table because we have young children and simply do not need delicate glasses for an ordinary weekday breakfast!

Instead, we keep them safely stored away and bring them out for holidays and special gatherings such as:

• Easter
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• New Year’s Eve
• New Year’s Day

There is something fun about bringing out a few special things for a celebration. It can make a holiday meal feel festive without requiring the entire dining room to be filled with special dishes and decorations throughout the year. Sometimes keeping special things tucked away makes them even more enjoyable when the occasion comes.

Remember That Tables Are for Living

Of course, dining tables are not only for meals. We love playing board games at our tables. We enjoy putting together puzzles as a family, and seasonal puzzles are especially fun during the fall and winter. A table can become the place where a family gathers after dinner for a favorite game. It can hold a puzzle that everyone works on a little at a time. It can be where children color while dinner is being prepared or where everyone sits together on a Saturday morning. These ordinary moments are part of what makes a dining room special.

The goal is not to create a room that looks too perfect to use. The goal is to create a room that is lovely because it is used and enjoyed.

A Few More Ideas for Creating a Lovely Dining Space

There are a few other simple things that can help make a dining room feel especially welcoming.

-Make sure there is good lighting.

A dining room feels so much more inviting when the lighting is pleasant. Candles can be lovely for special dinners, but good everyday lighting is important too.

-Keep the table easy to clear.

If the table is used for homework, projects, and games, nearby storage makes it easier to prepare for a meal without a big cleanup every time.

-Add something living.

A simple plant, a small vase of flowers, or a seasonal branch can bring a little life to the room.

-Use rugs if they work for your family.

We have rugs under both of our dining tables, and they help define each space and make the rooms feel warm and complete.

-Keep a few family traditions around the table.

Perhaps Friday night is pizza and a board game. Maybe Sunday breakfast is a little slower. Maybe the family works on a puzzle together during the autumn or gathers around the table for holiday meals every year.

The traditions are often what make a table feel truly special.

A Lovely Dining Room Does Not Have to Be Complicated

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that a beautiful dining room does not need to be filled with things. It does not need dozens of decorative pieces or an elaborate organization system. Sometimes a lovely dining room is simply a table that is ready to welcome the people who live in the home.

A simple centerpiece.

A candle.

A few seasonal linens.

A place nearby for the things your family actually uses.

And plenty of room for meals, homework, projects, puzzles, board games, celebrations, and long conversations.

The most beautiful dining rooms are the ones where families truly gather. They are the rooms where children finish a homework assignment while someone prepares dinner nearby. They are the rooms where holiday meals are shared and birthday candles are blown out. They are the places where a puzzle slowly comes together over several days and where everyone gathers around the table for one more round of a favorite game.

The table does not have to be perfectly decorated. The room does not have to look like a magazine.

It simply needs to be a place where your family can come together and enjoy the ordinary, beautiful moments of life!

 

There is a certain kind of media that seems as though it has forgotten that ordinary people exist. Scroll for a little while, and it can begin to seem as though everyone is living at one extreme or another. We are apparently supposed to be chasing a dramatic makeover, celebrity drama, arguing about something, worrying about our appearance, achieving impossible goals, or watching the latest unbelievable story unfold.

And sometimes those stories become so familiar that we can practically predict them before reading the headline. There is the dramatic story with the surprising twist. The viral story about an unusual animal. The story reshared until it feels as though we have seen some version of it a dozen times already.

Meanwhile, many of us are thinking:

I just made lunch for my children. I need to fold the laundry. There are apples on the counter. Somebody has a school project. What are we having for dinner?

And honestly, there is something rather beautiful about that.

There is nothing wrong with wanting media that reminds us of good things. A beautiful recipe is not a frivolous thing. A magazine about gardens, books, homes, creativity, travel, tea, family traditions, or handmade things is not disconnected from the world.

In fact, perhaps these things help connect us to it. They remind us that people are still growing flowers, baking bread, and painting pictures. People are still writing letters, visiting friends, and  raising children.

Maybe that is part of what so many of us are looking for. Not a carefully manufactured lifestyle that requires a team of people and unlimited resources or a life that looks impressive from the outside. Just encouragement to make our own real lives more beautiful.

The problem may not be that ordinary life is boring. Everyday life is where so much of our actual happiness lives. It is in the first cup of coffee in a quiet kitchen. The conversation with a friend. The book we cannot wait to return to after the children fall asleep at night. The flowers from the grocery store arranged in an old pitcher. The new recipe that turns out even better than expected.

These things may not be shocking. They may not go viral. But they are real. And that is exactly what makes them worth celebrating.

Thoughtful Reading

One of the quiet freedoms of adulthood is realizing that we can be thoughtful about what we bring into our minds and homes. We do not have to read articles that try to make us feel inadequate about our bodies. We do not have to keep up with every celebrity disagreement. We do not have to follow conversations designed primarily to make us angry. We do not have to fill every spare moment with dramatic headlines, inflammatory and extreme opinions, or stories that leave us feeling as though the whole world has lost its mind.

We can simply choose something else.

We can choose a magazine with a beautiful recipe.

We can discover a new place to visit.

We can find a book recommendation.

We can enjoy a story about someone making something beautiful.

We can read an essay that makes us notice our own lives with fresh eyes.

There is something refreshing about media that does not demand to shock us. Media does not always have to provoke us in order to hold our attention.

Sometimes it can simply inspire us.

A Few Magazines That Feel Like a Breath of Fresh Air

There are still magazines that seem to understand the pleasure of turning pages and discovering something lovely.

Bella Grace has a soft, reflective feeling that celebrates photography, creativity, writing, and the beauty of everyday life. It feels like the sort of magazine you might leave beside your bed and return to more than once.

Magnolia Journal often combines home, food, family, design, and personal stories in a way that feels warm and approachable. The emphasis is often on creating a life and home that reflect the people living there rather than simply chasing whatever is currently fashionable.

The Simple Things, from the United Kingdom, is another wonderful example of a publication that seems interested in the everyday pleasures of life. Recipes, books, walks, seasonal changes, home, and simple ideas are treated as things worthy of attention.

TeaTime Magazine is simply fun. There is something delightful about a publication devoted to beautiful tables, tea, recipes, and the art of slowing down long enough to enjoy an afternoon treat.

Victoria has long celebrated beautiful homes, gardens, travel, history, entertaining, and the romance of everyday traditions. It reminds us that beauty does not have to be reserved for extraordinary occasions.

In Her Studio is especially inspiring for anyone who loves making things. It offers a peek into the creative spaces of artists and makers and celebrates the very human desire to create.

And Daphne’s Diary is wonderfully whimsical and different. It feels like a little paper adventure, full of color, creativity, crafts, stationery, ideas, and unexpected details. It does not seem particularly interested in arguing with anyone, which is sometimes a very refreshing quality indeed.

None of these magazines is perfect, and we do not have to agree with every article or idea in every publication. But there is something appealing about media that makes room for beauty, creativity, curiosity, and the quieter pleasures of life.

The Kind of Media That Makes Us Want to Make Something

Perhaps one simple question can help us decide what deserves our attention:

What do we think about after spending time with it?

There is some media that might leave readers anxious.

Some leave readers comparing.

Some leave readers angry.

There is a lot of media that leaves women, mothers, and children feeling worse.

And then there are things that leave us wanting to make soup.

Or bake a cake.

Or rearrange the bookshelf.

Or call a friend.

Or go outside.

Or finally begin the creative project we have been thinking about for months.

Or simply notice that our own lives contain more goodness than we had realized.

That kind of inspiration feels different. It does not say, Your life is not enough. It says, Look at what can grow from the life you already have.

Choosing Media with the Same Care As Other Things We Allow In Our Homes

Many of us are thoughtful about what we bring into our homes.

We choose the foods we feed our families. We think about what our children watch. We select the books on our shelves. We decide which traditions we want to keep.

Perhaps our media deserves a little thought, too.

Not because we need to create a perfect bubble or avoid every difficult subject. There are certainly important things happening in the world, and there is value in being informed. But there is a difference between being informed and living in a constant state of agitation.

We can know what is happening in the world without allowing the loudest, most inflammatory voices to occupy every corner of our minds.

We can care deeply about serious things while still protecting room in our lives for beauty. We can be thoughtful without being consumed by arguments. We can be aware without becoming endlessly alarmed.

And we can remember that a quiet life is not an uninformed life. Sometimes it is simply a well-tended one.

There is a reason many of us find comfort in the changing seasons and the familiar rhythms of the year, the gradual return of autumn, the anticipation of Christmas, the fresh hope of Easter, and the ordinary Sundays that quietly come in between. A life does not have to be constantly dramatic to be meaningful. Sometimes the beauty is found in returning, remembering, celebrating, and beginning again.

The Beautiful Things Are Still There

Modern media often focuses on unpleasant extremes and making ordinary life seem small. But the truly beautiful things are still there. There are still apples in bowls and flowers in jars. There are still family recipes and favorite books.

There are still children building forts, people learning to paint, friends gathering for lunch, and families trying to make dinner while somebody asks where their other shoe is.

There are still homes filled with laughter, laundry, books, snacks, and people who are doing their best.

That life may not always trend. It may not inspire a dramatic headline. But it is a real life. And for many of us, it is a very good one.

Perhaps faith helps us see this, too: that God is not found only in the dramatic and extraordinary moments of life. There can be goodness in the ordinary moments, in a shared meal, a familiar prayer, the changing of the seasons, the laughter around a table, and the quiet work of caring for the people and places in our lives.

Perhaps that is the kind of media we need a little more of: media that does not constantly ask us to become someone else. Media that does not insist we must always be more dramatic and controversial.

Media that gives us a few good ideas, inspires us to try something new, and then gently sends us back to our own lives. Because maybe the goal is not to spend our days watching other people live. Maybe the goal is to gather a little inspiration, and then go live our own beautiful, ordinary lives.

And perhaps we can begin by choosing a little more of the good stuff!

There is a particular tenderness that belongs to the early years of motherhood. There are babies who need to be held, little children who require help with their shoes, toddlers with big feelings, laundry that seems to multiply overnight, meals and snacks to make, naps and feedings to navigate, and mothers who are trying to do the very important work of loving and caring for the small people who have been entrusted to them.

And yet, for all the talk about family and children, motherhood can sometimes be misunderstood.

A mother may be both tired and joyful, yes. But mothers are also often surrounded by opinions. She may hear plenty of advice but little encouragement. People often share their strong thoughts and opinions about how a new mother feeds her baby, how much she holds her baby, how quickly they think she should return to work, how she gets her children to sleep, how her children behave, how clean her house is, and somehow, quite miraculously, what they believe she should be doing with every hour of her day.

That is a lot.

So perhaps some of us with a heart for encouraging new moms could think about a different question.

How can we be a little less critical, and again for those with the heart for it, a little more encouraging, to the new mothers around us during this important season of life? 

The answer does not have to be grand or expensive. Often, the smallest kindnesses are the ones a mother remembers.

Start by Believing That She Is Doing Something Important

Sometimes one of the best things we can do for a new moms is simply communicate: ‘I see that you are working hard. I see that you love your child. I believe you are trying to make good decisions.’

We do not have to agree with every choice a mother makes in order to treat her with dignity.

A mother who wants to breastfeed may benefit more from encouragement rather than pressure to quit. A mother who is staying home with her baby and young children may not be encouraged by being told she needs to ‘find herself outside of motherhood’. A mother who is holding her baby may not necessarily need to hear that she is ‘spoiling him’. A mother who is trying to get her little one to sleep may not be encouraged by another person telling her there is one magical sleep training method that will solve everything.

Sometimes the most supportive thing we can say is simply:

“I can see how much you love your children.”

Those are not dramatic words. But in a world full of loud and extreme opinions, they can feel like a deep breath.

Hold the Baby While She Eats

This may be one of the most practical gifts of all.

Hold the baby for a few minutes while Mom eats a meal with both hands. Offer to walk the baby around the room. Sit with the little one while she takes a shower. There is no need to arrive with an elaborate plan.

You can simply say, “Would you like me to hold the baby for a little while so you can eat?”

Of course, some mothers may not want to hand over their babies, and that is all right, too. Helping does not mean taking over. It means offering.

And sometimes that offer alone communicates something important: You do not have to do absolutely everything by yourself.

The House

If you have ever been welcomed into the home of someone with a baby or several small children, you should already know the truth:

It may be loud.

There may be laundry.

There may be toys.

There may be dishes.

There may be a child wearing a superhero cape and only one sock.

A mother with a baby is not encouraged by a visitor who surveys the house and leaves her feeling as though she has failed an invisible, unwritten test. She needs people who understand that homes with families and young children are meant to be lived in.

The goal should not be to embarrass and shame mothers of babies and young children. The goal should be to encourage or at least to do no harm.

There is a difference.

Spend Time with the Older Children

A new baby changes the rhythm of the whole family. Sometimes the older children need a little extra attention, too.

A grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend, or trusted family member might take the preschooler to the park. Read books with the older sibling. Bring over a simple craft. Take the children for a walk. Let them help bake cookies.

A small adventure can mean the world to a little child who is adjusting to having a new baby in the family. And it can give Mom a little breathing room without making her feel as though she has to send everyone away.

One afternoon of playing in the backyard with a beloved relative can be a wonderful gift.

Offer Encouragement

This one costs absolutely nothing. Tell the mother something good, even a single thing. Tell her that her baby is blessed to be so loved. Tell her that you see how patient she was with her toddler. Tell her that the early years are demanding because the work matters, not because she is doing it wrong. Tell her that she does not have to accomplish a hundred things today.

Tell her that it is completely normal if her whole day consisted of feedings, comforting, changing, making meals and snacks, carrying, rocking, reading stories, singing nursery rhymes and engaging in hand rhymes, and starting the same load of laundry twice, and that it did not involve training for marathons.

It was still a great day. It was important work. And it was absolutely a day full of love and care!

Sometimes mothers are carrying more responsibility than anyone realizes while hearing almost nothing except advice about what they are doing wrong and should be doing differently.

Let us not underestimate the power of a few sincere words.

“You are doing a good job.”

“Your children are so loved.”

“I know this season is demanding, but I see how much you give them.”

These words may stay with someone longer than we know.

On Giving Advice

Advice is not always bad. Sometimes parents ask for it. Sometimes moms want to hear what helped someone else. But there is a difference between being asked for advice and using a mother’s ordinary conversation as an opportunity to correct her.

If she thinks her baby wants to be held, you do not have to tell her she is ‘creating a bad habit’.

If she says breastfeeding has been difficult, you do not have to immediately tell her to stop, unless she is actually asking for your thoughts. Perhaps she needs encouragement to continue, practical help finding lactation support, or simply someone to say, “That sounds challenging.”

If she says she is tired sometimes, you do not have to assume the answer is to tell her she needs to completely change her life and get more organized.

Bonding

The early relationship between a mother and baby is precious. A mother should not be made to feel foolish for wanting to hold her baby, comfort her baby, or spend time with her baby. There is something unsettling about telling a new mother that her maternal instincts are automatically wrong.

Mothers can certainly benefit from wise support, practical help, and good information. But support should not mean constantly trying to pull a mother away from her baby or convincing her that her desire to be present is somehow a problem.

If a mother loves being with her children, that is a good thing. If she wants more time with her baby, that is a good thing. If she wants to protect and nurture her little family during these early years, that deserves respect.

There will be plenty of years for many other things later. A baby is only a baby for such a little while.

Mothers of Toddlers and Preschoolers

We often think of mothers with a brand-new baby, but mothers of toddlers and preschoolers need encouragement, too. A mother with several children under five may not look like she is in the “new baby” stage anymore, but she is still doing incredibly hands-on work.

Someone is always hungry. Someone has misplaced a shoe. Someone is crying because the sandwich was cut into squares. Someone needs help in the bathroom. Someone has fallen asleep in the car at exactly the wrong time.

This season can be funny, beautiful, exhausting, and wonderfully messy. Even a little bit of care goes a long way. Instead of watching a mother with a toddler and offering harsh words and critical glares, and instead of saying, “Well, I would never let my child do that,” perhaps we could remember that every child is human and motherhood is not a competition. The mother knows that her child is having a hard moment. Her child could be under the weather, and she needed to pick up ingredients for dinner, just before nap time, after an appointment with the pediatrician.

What she may not know is that there are still some people out there who see her with kindness.

Motherhood Isn’t Something to Escape

This may be one of the most important things we can remember. Not every mother is dreaming of returning immediately to the same exact life she had before children. Not every mother with a new baby and young children is looking for updated fitness goals, a dramatic reinvention, or a way to make motherhood take up less space in her life. And that is all right. Mothers are allowed to be whole human beings who enjoy many things.

They can have hobbies.

They can create.

They can learn.

They can rest sometimes.

They can have dreams.

But mothers of babies and young children may not be encouraged by being constantly reminded that the world thinks they should be doing something ‘more important’ than caring for their baby in this season of life.  If a mother is tired but still wants to be with her baby, it may be unnecessary to interpret her exhaustion as proof that she has chosen the ‘wrong life’.

Caring for babies and young children can be exhausting and still be deeply wanted and fulfilling, as are most worthy goals and callings. Two things can be true at once.

Listening

Perhaps one of the kindest things our culture could do for mothers is simply listen to them.

Listen if they say they need help. Listen when they tell you what is working for their family. Listen when they say they love being a mother. Listen when they say they are tired. Listen when they say they want to spend time with their baby.

Mothers do not need to be spoken about constantly as though they are a problem to solve. They are people. They are adults too. They know their children. And their voices matter.

Mothers Are People, Not a Debate Topic

Perhaps this is the heart of it all. Behind every conversation about sleep training, working mothers, stay-at-home mothers, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, schedules, screens, discipline, and everything else, there is an actual human being.

She is probably doing her best. She may be carrying a child who has been awake since 4:30 in the morning. She may be trying to make dinner while entertaining a baby. She may be missing some sleep. She may think motherhood is the most beautiful thing she has ever done. She may also feel tired occasionally. Most likely, she thinks several of these things at once.

But she does not need to become a symbol for someone else’s opinions about parenting. Mothers and children benefit from be treated like human beings, not like a debate topic.

A Few Words We Can Offer

If we have a heart for encouraging, perhaps these are the kinds of things we could say more often to mothers of babies and young children:

“I can see how much you care about your children.”

“You do not have to have everything figured out today.”

“You are allowed to enjoy your baby.”

“You are doing a good job.”

“Your home does not have to be perfect for your children to be loved.”

“You do not need to apologize for being tired.”

“I am not here to judge you.”

And perhaps, if we do not know what to say, we can simply choose to say nothing and to not criticize. That alone is a gift to moms!

The People Who Encourage

We cannot change every negative cultural message about motherhood, babies, and children overnight. But we can change the way we treat the mothers, babies, and children we know.

We can hold the baby while mom eats. We can listen. We can stop offering unhelpful, unnecessary criticism. We can choose not to shame. We can give a genuine compliment. We can respect the bond between a mother and her child.

A more family-friendly culture might begin not with a lecture, a debate, or an argument. But with one person noticing another person and saying:

“I know you are working hard. Your children are precious. And I am glad you are their mother.”

Motherhood does not need more strangers keeping score. It needs more people with hearts. And for the mothers of babies and young children who may read this and wonder whether anyone sees what they are doing, this is for you, too:

The meals, the rocking, the carrying, the comforting, the reading, the listening, the endless answering of questions, the nighttime wake-ups, the tiny socks, the scraped knees, the hugs, the prayers, the songs, and the ordinary moments of loving your children, these things matter deeply. 

Mothers do not need to become someone else in order to deserve dignity. Mothers, babies, and children can be shown some encouragement and a little kindness by those of us with a heart for it starting today! And if there is a mother around you who is raising young children, perhaps today is a beautiful day to remind her:

“You are doing a great job!”

Septembers are lovely. The long, golden days of summer begin to mingle with the first hints of autumn, and the month seems to hold a little bit of both seasons in its hands. There are still warm afternoons for playing outside, but the mornings may call for a light sweater. School has settled into its rhythm, apples are beginning to fill the kitchen, and everywhere we look, there seems to be a small sign that a new season is waiting just around the corner.

September is also a month full of little things to celebrate. There are holidays and family traditions, apple orchards and harvest festivals, back-to-school rhythms and the first delicious dreams of fall food. It is a wonderful month for making memories together, not just by filling every weekend with elaborate plans, but by noticing and enjoying the things that make this time of year feel special.

So, if your family is looking for a little September inspiration, here are ten things to add to your family bucket list this month!

September Bucket List

1. Celebrate Labor Day Together

Labor Day is a wonderful opportunity for one last little summer celebration. Gather the family for a simple cookout, pack a picnic, visit a park, or enjoy a favorite family meal together. It doesn’t have to be a big event. Sometimes the loveliest holidays are simply the ones where everyone gets to slow down, spend time together, and enjoy the gift of a day off.

2. Go Apple Picking

Few things say September quite like a trip to an apple orchard. Bring a basket or bag and spend an afternoon wandering among the trees in search of the perfect apples. Children will have their own opinions about which apples are the biggest, reddest, or most delicious, of course! And when the picking is finished, there may be apple cider, apple doughnuts, or another little orchard treat waiting to make the outing even sweeter.

3. Bake a Delicious Apple Crisp

After bringing home a basket of apples, turn some of them into a warm and wonderful apple crisp. There is something especially delightful about the scent of apples and cinnamon filling the kitchen. Serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream or a little whipped cream, and suddenly an ordinary September evening feels like a celebration. There will be a recipe coming soon, but for now, simply consider this your invitation to make something delicious with apples!

4. Celebrate Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day is a lovely reminder to celebrate the people who have been loving, cheering for, and making memories with our children. Call or visit grandparents, make them a card, bake them something special, or simply spend a little extra time together. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. A simple lunch, an afternoon visit, or a sweet homemade card can become a precious memory for everyone.

5. Have a Family Nature Walk

September is a beautiful month to get outside and notice the beginning of the seasonal change. Take a walk as a family and see what you can find. Perhaps the leaves are just beginning to turn, acorns are appearing on the ground, or the late-summer flowers are still blooming. Bring home a few fallen leaves or other little treasures from nature and let the children talk about what they notice along the way.

6. Visit a Farmers Market

September is a wonderful month at the farmers market. There may still be summer tomatoes and peaches, while apples, squash, sweet potatoes, and other autumn favorites begin to appear. Let everyone choose one ingredient or treat to bring home. It can be something as simple as fresh bread, local honey, a basket of apples, or a bunch of beautiful flowers for the kitchen table.

7. Have a Family Game Night

As school and fall activities begin to fill the calendar, September is a good time to remember the simple pleasure of staying home together. Choose a few favorite board games, bring out a bowl of popcorn or another special snack, and enjoy an evening of laughter. The game itself doesn’t have to be the most important part. The best part is often the silly jokes, friendly competition, and memories that happen around the table.

8. Enjoy the First Family Movie Night of Fall

Choose a family-friendly movie, make a favorite snack, and have a relaxed evening at home together. September is the perfect time for a movie night that still feels light and cheerful, perhaps a story with an autumn setting or simply a longtime family favorite. Bring out the blankets, pop the popcorn, and let it be a gentle little way to welcome the changing season.

9. Celebrate Michaelmas

At the end of September, our family enjoys celebrating Michaelmas with one of our favorite traditions. We make a dragon-shaped loaf of bread, serve it with blackberry jam, and read St. George and the Dragon together. It is a simple tradition, but one that adds a little storybook magic to the end of the month. We will save more about this special tradition for another post, but perhaps your family might enjoy creating a little September tradition of your own.

10. Have a “Hello, Autumn” Family Evening

September may not always feel completely like autumn, but it is still a wonderful time to begin welcoming the season. Make a warm meal, light a candle, bring out a few favorite autumn books, and enjoy some simple time at home. There is no need to rush into decorating every corner of the house or doing all the fall activities at once. Just a few little signs of the new season can make an ordinary evening feel special.

10 More Fun Bucket List Ideas for September:

• Visit a pumpkin patch when the pumpkins first arrive.
• Try a new apple variety and have a family taste test.
• Make homemade apple cider doughnuts.
• Start reading a favorite chapter book set in fall aloud together.
• Choose one afternoon for an end-of-summer family picnic.
• Go on a family bike ride.
• Make an autumn wreath for the front door.
• Have the children create a nature-inspired September table centerpiece.
• Visit a local harvest festival or fall fair.
• Make a family playlist for September filled with cheerful, relaxing music.

Final Thoughts

September is such a delightful little bridge between summer and autumn. It gives us warm sunshine and fresh apples, familiar routines and new beginnings, outdoor adventures and the first quiet hints of the season ahead. There is so much to enjoy, but there is no need to do it all. A family bucket list is not meant to become another list of things to accomplish. Instead, it can simply be a little collection of ideas, a reminder to pause, choose a few things that sound wonderful, and make room for delight in the everyday days of September. Perhaps your family will pick apples, bake something delicious, take a walk, celebrate a beloved grandparent, or begin a new tradition of your own.

Whatever you choose, September is full of small opportunities to gather together and enjoy the beautiful beginning of a brand-new season! 

There is something cheerful about looking forward to apple season. Perhaps it is the way apples begin appearing in great abundance at the farmers market and grocery store. There is also a return of apple muffins, apple crisp, warm cider, and little bowls of fruit sitting on the kitchen counter. And apples just seem to belong to the happy beginning of autumn.

While we may all have a familiar favorite, apple season is the perfect time to try something new.

This year, instead of bringing home just one variety, why not choose several? A bag of Honeycrisp, a few Gala apples, something tart and green, a beautifully rosy Pink Lady, or any other interesting varieties that happen to catch our eye can become the beginning of a very simple family tradition.

Gather a Little Apple Collection

Choose four or five different kinds of apples. They certainly do not need to be fancy or unusual! Part of the fun is simply discovering the differences between apples we may already see every day. Set them out on the table and admire all the different colors. Some are bright green. Some are pale yellow. Others are deep red, rosy pink, or striped with several shades at once.

Before slicing them, let everyone make a prediction:

Which one looks the sweetest?

Which one looks the crunchiest?

Which one would make the best pie?

And which one does everyone think will become the family favorite?

Slice, Taste, and Compare

Wash the apples, slice them into little wedges, and place each variety on its own plate or board. A simple handwritten label beside each one makes the whole experience feel a little more official.

Then comes the very important work of tasting. Some apples may be wonderfully sweet. Others may be crisp and tart. One child may immediately choose the green apple while another may wrinkle his nose and reach for the sweetest slice on the table.

And that is part of what makes it so fun: there really may be an apple for everyone.

We can encourage everyone to notice the differences.

Which apple is the crunchiest?

Which one is the sweetest?

Which one is the juiciest?

Which one would we like in a lunchbox?

Which one would we use for applesauce?

Which one would we most like to turn into an apple crisp?

Have Everyone Vote

After the tasting is finished, let everyone vote for a favorite. There could be one official winner, or perhaps everyone chooses a completely different apple. A little chart on a piece of paper can make the voting extra fun. Write down each variety and add a mark beside the winner of each family member’s vote.

There is no need to make it complicated. This does not have to be a serious taste test. It is simply an excuse to sit together around the table, eat a few apple slices, and laugh about everyone’s surprisingly strong opinions. Because apparently, when given the opportunity, families can have very passionate feelings about apples.

A Small Tradition for the Beginning of Autumn

What is especially lovely about this little tradition is that it does not require a big outing, elaborate preparation, or an entire afternoon. We can do it after school. We can do it on a Saturday morning. We can do it as a little Sunday afternoon snack. We can make it part of welcoming the first real signs of autumn.

There is something special about little things that are simple enough to actually become traditions. They do not ask much of us. They simply return each year, familiar and happy, giving us another small reason to gather around the table.

Perhaps our family will discover a new favorite apple this year. Perhaps everyone will vote exactly as they did last year. Either way, there will be apple slices disappearing from the plate, conversations happening around the table, and a few sweet moments tucked into an ordinary day. And that feels like a very good way to welcome the season.

A Little Family Challenge

Next time we bring home apples, let us try several varieties instead of just one. Set them out, slice them up, taste them together, and let everyone vote. We may discover that our family has a new favorite. Or we may simply discover that choosing a favorite apple is much harder than we expected.

Either way, there will be apples to eat, and that sounds like a wonderful beginning to autumn!