Moms, how much time do you devote to prayer daily?

[alicewyf]

I am having trouble discerning what is "enough" prayer for me daily. The more immersed in scripture and prayer I am, the better I feel, but of course I have duties in the home that I have to attend to. Currently I am managing a daily rosary, morning prayers, prayers at mealtime, and we also do naptime and bedtime prayers with our daughter. I don't know if this is "good enough" or if I should be doing more. I usually have time for adoration about once a week as well. I have one 2.5 year old daughter, and we're expecting a son in June. Hopefully we will have more children as well in the future.

What looks normal for you? I do have the book A Mother's Rule of Life, but since my children are younger a lot of it didn't apply to me quite yet. We are going to start homeschooling Pre-k probably this fall. Our daughter is quite bright and definitely ready.

If you have any suggestions for specific devotions that you've found helpful I'd appreciate that as well.

[JayneK]

I really liked doing Angelus at noon with the children. 

I was babysitting my grandsons this weekend and I was really noticing the effect on the time I spent praying.  It is way harder to fit in with little ones and you are doing well to manage as much as you have.  Doing the duties of your state of life is also holy.

[StrictCatholicGirl]

Doing the duties of your state of life is also holy.

Yes, and you can talk to God while you're folding laundry, cooking dinner, etc.

[StrictCatholicGirl]

I am having trouble discerning what is "enough" prayer for me daily.

Enough prayer for you is right. Everyone is different. I heard a discussion about this on the radio yesterday. A mom of many called in and said that she didn't feel satisfied with her prayer life, or the lack of it. Sometimes just spending five minutes in the morning before the kids wake up, and five minutes before you go to bed at night, will make a difference. Incorporating prayer time with the children is important too.

[verenaerin]

We say before meal prayers and night time prayers.

As far as other formal prayers, I have a hard time with them because I am so tired. So I have come up with an alternative. As I go about my day doing things like dishes, cooking, cleaning, etc, I pretend that I am doing this for the Holy Family. As I do things for my kids, especially  when they drive me insane, I try to pretend I am taking care of a little baby Jesus. I play Catholic kid's songs during the day and sing them, as well as songs to the BVM. We talk about heaven and hell. Whenever any of them lies or steals we (myself and the perpetrator) kneel in front of a crucifix and say we're sorry and ask for help to do better next time.

In a few years I am sure I will be able to add more formal prayers.

[StrictCatholicGirl]

That's wonderful, verenaerin! I wish I would have thought of that when my kids were small.

[iona_scribe]

I really liked doing Angelus at noon with the children. 

I was babysitting my grandsons this weekend and I was really noticing the effect on the time I spent praying.  It is way harder to fit in with little ones and you are doing well to manage as much as you have.  Doing the duties of your state of life is also holy.

We say before meal prayers and night time prayers.

As far as other formal prayers, I have a hard time with them because I am so tired. So I have come up with an alternative. As I go about my day doing things like dishes, cooking, cleaning, etc, I pretend that I am doing this for the Holy Family. As I do things for my kids, especially  when they drive me insane, I try to pretend I am taking care of a little baby Jesus. I play Catholic kid's songs during the day and sing them, as well as songs to the BVM. We talk about heaven and hell. Whenever any of them lies or steals we (myself and the perpetrator) kneel in front of a crucifix and say we're sorry and ask for help to do better next time.

In a few years I am sure I will be able to add more formal prayers.

These are both great responses!

I've heard it suggested at least 15 minutes a day depending on your state in life.  Though often I struggle to put in any more than prayers before meals, night prayers with my little one and and our father with my husband.  But it does make my whole day better if I can remember to pray the morning offering.

I often pray a gloria before starting a task, and some days I run over to the wall where we have 2 icons and a crucifix, and say "help!" 

And my husband and I have been working on saying the rosary as a family on Friday nights (though sometimes we forget or are completely exhausted by the end of the week).

When my daughter was 3 months old she had a temporary case of reflux, so for a few weeks I had to sit and hold her upright for half an hour after every night feeding.  My prayer life had been totally disrupted up until that point (which I'm sure is normal though not ideal), but I used it as an opportunity to start praying the rosary again.  Maybe when this next baby is born I'll try to pray compline while I'm on "night shift".

[verenaerin]

I really liked doing Angelus at noon with the children. 

I was babysitting my grandsons this weekend and I was really noticing the effect on the time I spent praying.  It is way harder to fit in with little ones and you are doing well to manage as much as you have.  Doing the duties of your state of life is also holy.

We say before meal prayers and night time prayers.

As far as other formal prayers, I have a hard time with them because I am so tired. So I have come up with an alternative. As I go about my day doing things like dishes, cooking, cleaning, etc, I pretend that I am doing this for the Holy Family. As I do things for my kids, especially  when they drive me insane, I try to pretend I am taking care of a little baby Jesus. I play Catholic kid's songs during the day and sing them, as well as songs to the BVM. We talk about heaven and hell. Whenever any of them lies or steals we (myself and the perpetrator) kneel in front of a crucifix and say we're sorry and ask for help to do better next time.

In a few years I am sure I will be able to add more formal prayers.

These are both great responses!

I've heard it suggested at least 15 minutes a day depending on your state in life.  Though often I struggle to put in any more than prayers before meals, night prayers with my little one and and our father with my husband.  But it does make my whole day better if I can remember to pray the morning offering.

I often pray a gloria before starting a task, and some days I run over to the wall where we have 2 icons and a crucifix, and say "help!" 

And my husband and I have been working on saying the rosary as a family on Friday nights (though sometimes we forget or are completely exhausted by the end of the week).

When my daughter was 3 months old she had a temporary case of reflux, so for a few weeks I had to sit and hold her upright for half an hour after every night feeding.  My prayer life had been totally disrupted up until that point (which I'm sure is normal though not ideal), but I used it as an opportunity to start praying the rosary again.  Maybe when this next baby is born I'll try to pray compline while I'm on "night shift".

The brain power requirement for that seems too high for 3 am feedings! You could make a playlist of songs on youtube and listen to them while meditating on the pictures. Many people have made very edifying videos for my favorite hymns.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B91RUv2lI8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B91RUv2lI8</a>

[verenaerin]

That's wonderful, verenaerin! I wish I would have thought of that when my kids were small.

Thanks, I am not the greatest at it, but I try. It's the whole idea of letting your vocation sanctify you. I also think conversations with God are important. He's the only one that really "gets" you, that can be a very comforting thought.

[iona_scribe]

The brain power requirement for that seems too high for 3 am feedings! You could make a playlist of songs on youtube and listen to them while meditating on the pictures. Many people have made very edifying videos for my favorite hymns.

Thanks! I already miss the ability to give you +1 fishies on your posts.

We'll see...I used to nurse her by the light of a laptop anyway, so if I have this page bookmarked, it shouldn't be so bad: http://divinumofficium.com/cgi-bin/horas/officium.pl# I can't see myself fumbling through an actual breviary at 3am though