Today I’m excited to share an interview with author and blogger, Kayse Pratt. I connected with her last year when she launched her book, Undivided Mom. The 14-day devotional was just what my momma-heart needed at the time and I’m thrilled to share my interview with her with you today.
If you’ve ever felt pulled in a million directions as a mom and are craving some focus, you’ll want to read on! Be sure to read to the end for a special coupon code for The Mosaic Life readers.
{Also, today, Sunday, October 19th is the LAST DAY to enter the giveaway for the Seeds Family Worship entire 9 CD collection including a bonus copy of each CD to share with a friend. ENTER HERE.)
First off, here’s a bit about Kayse so you get can to know her heart before we dive into the interview:
Kayse Pratt is a teacher turned stay-at-home mom of two, married to her favorite musician. She is a lover of books, freezer cooking, date nights, and all things chocolate. Kayse writes to encourage women, leaving them refreshed by truth, strengthened by honesty, and encouraged to live out God’s purpose in their lives and homes. You can find her hanging out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or writing about faith, family, and real life on her blog, KaysePratt.com.
Interview with Kayse Pratt, Author of Undivided Mom: Finding Christ in the Chaos of Motherhood
Hi Kayse! Please introduce us to your family and your online home.
Hi! I’m Kayse, wife to Jon & mom to Emily (my spunky almost four-year-old) & Nathan (my happy almost one-year-old). I am blessed to be able to stay home with them, and I’m so grateful for that. I write a few times a week (or every day in October!) about faith, family, & real life over at KaysePratt.com. You’re all welcome there!
What was the catalyst that led you to write Undivided Mom: Finding Christ in the Chaos of Motherhood?
There was one day when I was finishing up a writing project at the same time that my daughter was needing my attention. I kept telling her, “Just a minute, Mommy is almost done!”, but the minutes just kept ticking by. Instead of throwing a fit, she walked over to me, closed my computer, and said “Mommy, would you talk to me? I really just want to talk to you.”
Talk about breaking my heart!
I realized then that my priorities were not where they should be, and that I needed to make some serious changes. My “job” as a mommy comes first, my kids come first – before work, before my to-do list, before anything else. They are the work God has given me, and I needed my daily life to reflect that. That’s where Undivided Mom was born.
How will moms benefit from setting aside time to work through this 14-day devotional when life is already so busy?
Well, first of all, the devotions are SO SHORT! You can read them in the school pick up line, or before you go to bed at night, or while you’re hiding from the kids in the bathroom. It won’t take long.
And really, if you’re a mom, you’re exhausted. You need something funny, relatable, & true to feed your soul, to refocus your day, and to give you the strength to keep serving your kids. It’s my hope that the devotionals in Undivided Mom will do that.
What are your best tips and tools for setting boundaries around social media and screen time so moms can use their best energy on their priorities?
Well, first, I have to be honest and tell you that this is not something I’m perfect at. I still struggle with this every day. There are a couple of apps for your browser, like StayFocused, that allow you to set timers for certain sites, like Facebook or Twitter – that way you’re limiting your time on there each day.
I also love the idea of a Social Media Sabbath, which is something I learned about from my Life Coach, Carey Bailey. The idea is that from sundown on Friday to sundown on Sunday, you take a rest from social media in order to be really present with your family. My husband and I are talking about starting this for our own family.
Sometimes, though, our work IS social media! If you’re a blogger, a virtual assistant, or anything else where your business is online, setting these boundaries can be difficult, because there are times when you really do need to be online.
In those cases, I highly recommend setting office hours. Whether that’s when your kids are sleeping, or if you need to have a sitter come in to watch your kids for a few hours a week, you do what you need to do to get your work done without splitting your attention between your kids and your online life. We just hired a babysitter to come in for 4 hours a week so that I can do this, and let me tell you, it’s changing my life!!!
What benefits have you seen in your own life from putting some of these boundaries in place when it comes to your relationship with your children?
Again, I’m not perfect at this. But when I do it well, when I set aside social media and focus on my kids, THEY NOTICE.
Their behaviors improve, there are less tantrums, less arguments, and more snuggles. Everyone is happier, including me! Whether we realize it or not, social media really takes a toll on us. As moms, we already have SO MUCH on our plate, that to add facebook and twitter and pinterest on top of that, as more things we need to “keep up with”, it’s exhausting.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love social media as much as the next person, and sometimes you can find me in the bathroom, hiding from my kids and scrolling through my newsfeed!
But I think everyone is happiest when the boundaries are in place, our life is simplified, and we don’t feel stretched so thin. For me, simplifying the things that demand my attention, and saying “No”, or “Not right now” to the things that don’t fit into my priorities as wife & mom, really makes a difference in my overall peace & happiness when it comes to my everyday life. And I’d say the same thing is true for the kids!
Ready to Get Your Own Copy of Undivided Mom: Finding Christ in the Chaos of Motherhood?
PDF Version – $3.99 using coupon code
- If you’re the kind of person who loves to print out your devotional material, make notes, or just have paper in front of you, the PDF version is the best way to go. You’ll receive a download right to your email.
- This option is also a good one if you have a laptop or desktop computer and you often sit with your computer to read.
- If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for a friend or relative who already has plenty of “stuff”, this is a great option. Just print out the PDF version in color, hole punch and put in a nice binder. Add a special touch by writing notes to her in the margins as encouragement.
You can download a copy here. Be sure to use the coupon code UMSPECIAL20 for 20% off through October 31st.
Amazon Kindle Version – currently on sale for $2.99
- If you have a Kindle, this version is your best bet. With Amazon’s 1-Click buying, you’ll have the devotional delivered to your Kindle in seconds and ready for your morning quiet time tomorrow!
- If you don’t have a Kindle, but would love to have the option to read the devotional on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, this is a great option too. Click the banner below and you can download the free Kindle app to read this and other ebooks anywhere. Did you know you can find thousands of free ebooks on Amazon too? You’ll need this Kindle app to download them, but they’re really FREE!
Looking for more ideas and resources for Parenting With Purpose as you create a God-centered home? You can find the whole series here.
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