lifestyle

Tips for a productive and haven like feel at home.

Published on May 21, 2025May 21, 2025 by Alethea AwukuLeave a comment

Hey mama!

I hope you’re well!

As we journey together through the beautiful and sometimes challenging adventure of learning and being at home together as a family, I find myself reflecting on how our physical environment profoundly impacts our ability to absorb knowledge, be inspired, feel free and grow. Just as God created a world of order and beauty for us to thrive in, we too can create a haven of peace, order, inspiration and productivity within our homes.

Today, I want to share some tips on doing just that- specifically, setting up a productive and clutter-free learning and living environment. I hope you’ll be able to add some of these ideas into your own home!

Embrace the sanctuary of learning

When it comes to being inspired to learn (for our children and for ourselves), first and foremost, it’s important to designate a specific area for this no matter how small your space is. This space should be a sanctuary, a place where your heart and mind can focus solely on the task at hand. Choose a spot in your home that is quiet and comfortable, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Just as Jesus often retreated to quiet places to pray and reflect, we too need a quiet place to concentrate and learn.

This intentional space becomes a sanctuary where distractions are minimised, allowing our minds to concentrate fully on the task at hand, whether it be absorbing knowledge, engaging in heartfelt prayer, or nurturing a child’s curiosity. A dedicated environment fosters discipline and consistency. For children, having a defined learning area signals the importance of focus and establishes a routine that supports their development. By setting apart these sacred spaces, we honour our commitment to learning and spiritual growth, creating a haven where we and our children can flourish well.

Keep it simple and organised

Keeping our homes simple and organised is a beautiful reflection of the order and peace God desires for our lives. I don’t know about you, but a well-organised home reduces stress for me and allows us all to focus on what truly matters – our relationships, our faith, and our personal growth. This is an area that I am particularly keen on for the children. By eliminating the clutter that they can see, I am trying very hard to create a serene environment where their minds and spirits are not overstimulated, but feel at rest and rejuvenated. This simplicity also helps us to be better stewards of the blessings we have been given, as everything has its place and purpose.

Minimise distractions and digital discipline

The world is full of distractions, and our homes if they are to be a place of tranquility can reflect the opposite which is calmness and peace.

Remember the words of Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” In this stillness, we can hear His guidance in our hearts. To keep digital distractions at bay and cultivate a peaceful home, we really try to establish thoughtful boundaries and practices around the use of technology. We work hard to designate specific times and areas in our home that are free from electronic devices, such as meal times, family gatherings, and bedrooms. This not only reduces distractions but also fosters deeper connections and more meaningful interactions. We encourage a lot of activities like reading, playing games, or engaging in conversations.

With the boys tablets (which they use occasionally for learning), we use tools and apps that help manage screen time, such as setting limits on usage and scheduling downtime for all devices. Turn off non-essential notifications to prevent constant interruptions, and consider creating a central charging station where devices can be stored out of sight when not in use. Encourage family members to be mindful of their screen habits by setting a good example yourself and discussing the importance of being present and engaged in the moment.

Regular decluttering

Regular decluttering is essential for maintaining a peaceful and calm home, as it reflects the order and simplicity God desires for our lives. In our daily walk with Christ, we are called to cast off anything that hinders us and run the race with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1). In the same way, decluttering our physical space can help us to remove the unnecessary and focus on what truly matters. When we rid our homes of excess, we create an environment where our minds can rest and our spirits can breathe. This simplicity mirrors the peace that surpasses all understanding, which God grants us when we align our lives with His purpose.

Moreover, regular decluttering allows us to be better stewards of the blessings God has given us. When our homes are cluttered, we can feel overwhelmed and distracted, unable to fully appreciate the gifts around us. By organising and simplifying our spaces, we can cultivate gratitude for the things we truly need and love. This practice not only enhances our physical surroundings but also nurtures a heart of contentment and mindfulness. As we create a serene and orderly home, we open the door to more meaningful interactions with our loved ones and deepen our relationship with God, embracing the harmony He intends for our lives.

A Personal Touch

Finally, personalise your space with meaningful items – a plant, a family photo, or a piece of Scripture art. These touches make our spaces inviting and remind us of God’s presence and love. Ensure these items inspire rather than distract, maintaining the balance of beauty and simplicity. I have written a blog post on cultivating a Christ centered home.

Adding a personal touch to our homes helps maintain a peaceful and calm environment by infusing our living spaces with reminders of God’s love and the unique journey He has set before us. When we incorporate meaningful items such as family photos, scripture verses, or cherished mementos, we create a sanctuary that reflects our values and faith. These personal touches serve as daily reminders of the blessings and memories we hold dear, anchoring us in gratitude and joy.

A home adorned with personal touches becomes a haven where our spirits can rest and rejuvenate. Each piece of meaningful decor, whether it’s a handcrafted quilt, a favourite piece of art, or a vase of fresh flowers, contributes to a sense of belonging and comfort. These items tell the story of who we are and what we cherish, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for ourselves and our loved ones. In this sacred space, we are reminded of God’s intimate involvement in our lives. By intentionally curating our surroundings with love and care, we cultivate a home that not only reflects our personal journey but also becomes a beacon of God’s grace and tranquility.

So mama, as you set up your learning and living environment, remember that God is with you in every step of your journey.

With love and blessings,

Alethea

How to be a content mother

Published on March 10, 2024March 10, 2024 by Alethea Awuku3 Comments

Contentment is a very big area of our lives and it really can affect our level of happiness and joy as mothers. It is such a nuanced and interesting topic that affects us all. This journey of motherhood that we are on is marked by profound love, joy, and sacrifice for our children, and as a Christian, I realise that my own contentment is ultimately rooted in the delicate dance between trusting in God’s providence, working diligently and purposefully, and having faith that God does, and can change my circumstances.

In the midst of this beautiful journey of raising my children, I sense another struggle within me which are feelings of “am I satisfied? Am I happy? How can I experience joy and fulfillment as I work hard to serve, love and be there for everyone else in my home?” These are searching questions and I ponder on them constantly because one thing that I am personally committed to, is being a happy and fulfilled woman and mother not only for my children, but for myself.

My contentment is often linked to my expectations of what I believe I should have, and where I believe I should be in life and I think part of what can create discontentment in motherhood, is dealing with the reality of limitations. When we become mothers, it’s inevitable to face certain limitations inherent to this role, because it is a distinctive journey unlike any other. We enter into a new season of life which requires a lot of shift and adjustment.

In our age of social media where curated images of perfection abound in all areas of life, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of measuring our worth against carefully positioned and placed images and videos that display a standard and yardstick which we must all meet. While inspirational, we can find ourselves on a torturous cycle of constantly questioning our decisions, doubting our capabilities, and endlessly chasing after an idealised concept of motherhood that doesn’t truly exist- not 100% of the time anyway!

The arrival of our children brings countless blessings, but it also ushers in personal and relational (with our spouses) challenges that can test even the most resilient of us. Overnight, our lives change and our days become filled with endless demands, sleepless nights, and a constant juggling act to balance the needs of our children with our own desires and aspirations. How can we feel as though we are ok and not forgotten and unseen in the midst of it all? It’s a tough one that requires practical application grounded in scriptural direction.

Contentment and limitations

Very real and normal limitations to our lives and lifestyles will look different for each mother and I am learning that in order to cultivate contentment well, and find joy, I have to (by faith) adjust my expectations – bend them if you will to my current limitations. High expectations are good, and needed in some areas of our lives as they drive us forward to achieve goals, however I have experienced that my unmovable stance when it comes to my expectations being met in a very specific way actually creates overwhelm for me because it collides head on with my reality which in most cases is different. This then leaves me either frustrated or paralysed and feeling like I am suffocating under it all.

So what can we do? Adjusting our expectations to our limitations can help produce thankfulness, progress and good fruit in our hearts and lives. This is where the faith aspect comes in because it requires a willingness to surrender our desires and expectations to God, trusting that His plans for our lives—and the lives of our children—are far greater than we could ever imagine (Jeremiah 29:11). We live in a fast paced all or nothing world where passionately pursuing our own fulfillment is the norm, so anything that appears to threaten this is seen as a negative thing, even if it’s our own children.

Reconciling our expectations with the reality of our current lives is a great challenge that we’ll always have to find balance with, but in doing this well, I believe that we’ll be able to enjoy and accept the current season for what it is- good and bad while having hope toward something different in the future.

Many of us experience the mourning of our freedom and opportunities when we become mums. The pressure to “have it all” and continue exceling in every aspect of our lives—career, family, relationships—can weigh heavily on our shoulders, leaving us feeling like we are perpetually missing the mark. Natural comparison to other mums who seem to have it all figured out can increase our feelings of discontentment, frustration and disappointment.

Either your a boss babe that can do it all, a stay at home mother who has opted out of the pursuit of career and financial rewards, or a mixture of both. Either way, the issue of contentment comes up because we are women, a lot of us are very capable, and we want to feel as though our output in life matches with the financial reward and our inherent sense of worth.

Even though our once familiar routines become disrupted, and our priorities shift, adjusting our expectations to our limitations can help to shift our focus from impossibility to possibility which is so encouraging! I’ll give two examples from my life.

My personal experience: two examples

I really enjoy exercising, and before I had children, I had the freedom to workout without interruption, I could go to gym classes, or use the gym if I wanted to. My life in this season looks very different as I have had to cancel my gym membership and workout from home. In the beginning I absolutely hated it and felt resentful towards the fact that I couldn’t have my time the way I wanted to.

I felt very annoyed for a good few months. Why should I have to miss out on what is really important to me? I don’t enjoy working out at home at all and enjoyed the change of environment and focus at the gym. Well I have had to adjust my expectation to this limitation and instead of struggling against it, I have had to bend my will (painfully on a lot of days) to my reality, and redirect my thoughts to see the opportunity of how I can make good with what I can do now. I now workout early in the mornings when the boys are asleep, and I have actually grown to enjoy it. Some times they wake up, and when they do they play around me.

I am always having to train my mind from seeing the lack, to being thankful that I can still have time and opportunity to do something. If this should change in the future, I’ll gladly take it (!!) but for now, this will do and in accepting it as a good thing, good fruit is growing from it.

Another area is in the area of teaching the boys our native language (Twi). This has been a desire of mine since we got married 8 years ago. My husband speaks it fluently, but what is my limitation? I don’t. It didn’t stop me from having very high expectations for myself and my children though and I have wanted them to learn to speak and understand from an early age. As you can imagine this has brought a lot of frustration and feelings of failure as I am no where near the goal of speaking it fluently and passing it down to the boys.

Then I realised that the high expectation was a huge burden that was paralysing me from moving forward. The mountain just felt so huge. So I had to adjust my expectations to my reality by deciding that if all I can do to encourage our culture is work with the boys on a few words etc, translating for them (because I understand the language), songs, and stories, it is still a great seed sowing investment. They may not grow up speaking fluently, but they will still know about their heritage and hopefully have an appreciation and love for it, which is ultimately what we want! Settling my heart in this has brought the joy back in teaching them Twi.

Hope in finding contentment

Amidst the challenges that we face, there is hope for our journeys. Finding contentment after motherhood can feel like this grand finish line that we all need to reach, but I think it’s actually something that God wants us to diligently embrace while we are on the journey. That’s when our eyes and heart open up to see His goodness and faithfulness to us as we grow and encounter new and different life experiences. Acknowledging and accepting the inherent challenges of motherhood can co- exist with immeasurable joy and fulfillment.

We have the liberty to explore our interests and passions, nurture relationships, take time to pour into ourselves with the things we enjoy and so much more within motherhood because we have this new role that propels us forward into a stronger version of ourselves daily. We just have to take our time, breathe and trust that as long as we maintain a healthy balance, perspective and level of discipline, we can attain a lot of our goals. It may just look different to how we want to do it!

Finding contentment in motherhood requires a shift in our mindset which is a conscious choice to embrace the beauty and imperfection of our lives. Contentment is not static- a do once and finish with it type of thing. It is meant to be a daily pursuit (and let’s be real, fight sometimes) to drink from the fresh flowing water of grace available to us each day as we ask God to renew our minds, strengthen us, help us live purposeful and disciplined lives, and above all to anchor our joy, worth and value in Him and not in the world.

Here are two scriptures which I hope will encourage you in this area of contentment.

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:11- 13

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

How do you deal with cultivating contentment in your own life?

Crafting Timeless Moments: A Christian mother’s thoughts on creating special family memories

Published on January 29, 2024February 2, 2024 by Alethea AwukuLeave a comment

One of the big things on my heart is to create and experience special moments with my most favourite people- my husband and my 3 sons. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to plan creative and unique experiences that I pray will be etched onto our hearts for years to come.

Bringing us closer together as a unit is a worthwhile pursuit and deeply fulfilling to my mama heart. In a world filled with distractions and an easy inclination toward busyness, I can see already at this early stage of my families journey that it is essential to carve our moments that will strengthen the bonds between the five of us. In this blog post, I wanted to share some fun and faith-filled ways to build special memories with your family.

Document your family journey

I am sure like me, you have thousands and thousands of photos of your family on your phone! I try my best to not just be present in the moment, but to capture it for us to look back on and remember. That moment of remembering is so powerful for me as I lie in my bed at night and look back, and when we sit together to recall a family holiday or adventure that we were on together. Creating a beautiful roundup of your life, year upon year in photobook format is a great way to display and celebrate special memories.

Serving others together

When we do something good for others, we open up our hearts for God to do a work within us. When we invite others to come alongside us to serve, it seems as if there is a tangible knitting of our hearts with theirs. Serving others in any capacity as a family creates hearts that are missional and that have found a bigger purpose. This is an area of my personal life that I haven’t explored much but I want to learn. One way of doing this is through hospitality and opening my home to friends, families and even strangers. Preparing dishes to fill the hearts and bodies can create wonderful bonding experiences and memories, and helps foster community.

Establishing family traditions

When I gave birth to my first son I started thinking of family traditions that were unique to us, practical, special and that could be easily added without much overwhelm. Here are a few things that we do while the children are still very young:

Saturday breakfast, evening mealtimes (if daddy is at home)
Friday games night and chips
Sunday movie nights
Morning Bible reading/short devotion
Regular nature walks
We plan a trip either abroad or within the UK once a year.

These are a few things that we have started with consistently. They mean a lot to us and I look forward to seeing how it grows over the years!

It’s thinking about legacy. Pondering on and implementing the experiences that etch deep imprints into the hearts of those that we love and even ourselves, so that when we are long gone, the memories and traditions carry on a flame as a reminder of relationship and the privilege God gave us to know, love and celebrate one another.

Acknowledging milestones and celebrating one another

This is an area that is not only a great way to foster a positive and supportive family culture, but also add significant personal meaning to the individual being celebrated. They feel seen, valued and cared for and that’s the aim.