~Proverbs 3:5-6~
Surrender isn’t weakness—it’s trust. God’s got a plan, even when yours falls apart.
Lately, I’ve been learning (sometimes the hard way) what it really means to surrender control in motherhood. It’s a lesson I thought I understood—until I had a newborn again. Life has a way of pressing pause on all the neat plans and routines I used to cling to. And truthfully, it’s made me reflect on where my desire for control is actually coming from.
One thing I’ve started asking myself more often is:
“Am I saying no because it’s necessary… or just because it’s not convenient for me?”
That question hits deep. Of course, structure and boundaries are important, but sometimes I catch myself shutting something down simply because it throws off my plan or makes things a little messier. And that’s not always fair—to my kids or to myself. Saying “yes” when I can, even if it’s inconvenient, has brought more peace than I expected. It’s shown me that flexibility doesn’t mean chaos. It means connection.
Another big realization? My children are not just mine.
They are God’s children first.
That truth humbles me every time. I’ve been entrusted with their care, but I don’t own their journey. I won’t always be able to protect them from every fall or guide them through every twist and turn. That’s not failure—that’s faith. Surrendering control means trusting that God is parenting alongside me (and often ahead of me). It means I don’t have to carry the full weight of shaping their entire future. I just have to show up with love, patience, and a willingness to let go.
And finally—the schedule.
Oh, the schedule.
With a newborn, it’s a gentle reminder every day (and every night) that flexibility isn’t optional—it’s necessary. I used to feel frustrated when my plans got pushed back or undone, but now I’m learning to view it as part of this sacred season. The to-do list can wait. The house can be messy. The laundry can pile up. But these moments with my baby—these fleeting, exhausting, beautiful moments—deserve my presence more than my planner.
Surrendering control isn’t about giving up.
It’s about loosening my grip so I can actually hold on to what matters most.
To any other mama walking through this with me: you’re not alone. If you’re feeling stretched thin, second-guessing your every decision, or just trying to make it to bedtime with a little grace left—know that surrendering doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. It means you’re learning to hold your plans loosely and your children closely. God sees your efforts, even the ones no one else notices. Give yourself permission to let go, to breathe, and to trust that the beauty in motherhood isn’t found in perfection—but in presence. We’re in this together.