When Life Feels Emotionally Heavy at Home

This past week has been one of the most emotionally draining weeks of my life.

Not my marriage. Not my kids.
Ministry life. Church things. Hard conversations. The kind that sit heavy in your chest and follow you from room to room.

I’ve felt completely at my wits’ end.

And in the middle of all of it, I kept thinking:
Stay present with the kids. Stay present with the kids.

But I couldn’t keep up.

The housework fell behind.
I didn’t open my reverse planner once. (If you’re new here, I talk more about my Reverse Daily Planner here and how I use it during overwhelming weeks in this post.)
I didn’t write in my one-line-a-day journal.
I didn’t work-out quite like I normally do.
We ate more fast food than usual.

The only thing I held onto was prayer — sometimes just one sentence at a time:
“God, give me wisdom.”
“Holy Spirit, give me peace.”

And yet… somehow this ended up being one of the most connected weeks I’ve had with my kids in a long time.

Not because I had extra energy.
But because I was intentional in small ways.

If you’re feeling emotionally drained but still want to stay close with your kids, these simple, low-effort connection ideas can help — even on the hardest weeks.

Here are 5 things that helped me reconnect with my kids when life felt emotionally heavy.

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These aren’t big Pinterest-perfect moments. They’re small, real ones that help you stay close when you have nothing left to give.

1) Play something fast and simple together

We’ve played so many card games this week.

Egyptian Rat Screw (or Egyptian War — whatever your house calls it) is my nine-year-old’s current favorite. It’s fast, loud, and fun. We laugh, compete, and get into it.

For a few minutes, my brain shuts off from the stress… and we just connect.

Cards might not be your thing.
Maybe it’s drawing, Legos, puzzles, or baking.

It’s not about the activity.
It’s about stepping into their world for a moment.

We played so many card games this week that our cards got gross, so I picked up a couple new decks on Amazon — and we’re loving them. (If you need an easy starting place, a simple deck like this works great).

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2) Turn on music and dance

Sometimes I just turn on loud music and start dancing.

Sometimes the kids stare at me like I’ve lost my mind and beg me to stop.
I finish the song anyway.

Other times? They join in.

This past week my sister introduced me to Koo Koo Kangaroo, and all four of my kids (ages 2–9) were instantly obsessed. We danced for nearly 20 minutes straight to their silly songs, laughing and moving and just enjoying being together.

And in those moments, the heaviness lifted.

It didn’t fix everything.
But it reminded me that joy can still live inside hard weeks.

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3) Grab a picture book and sit close

I love picture books. Always have. The key is finding ones that are actually enjoyable to read — not the overly fluffy, forgettable, mind numbing kind.

And honestly? Even older kids love them more than they’ll admit.

We pile onto the couch (or a bed), sit close, and read together.
It slows everything down.
It brings calm back into the room.

Connection doesn’t require big effort — just closeness.

(Our personal favorites that never get old: The Seven Silly Eaters, Flora and the Jazzers, Dear Duck Please Come, The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear, and Home in the Woods)

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4) Roughhouse for 5 minutes before bed

Before bedtime this week, I’ve been scooping kids up, tossing them onto the bed, wrestling, and letting them giggle like crazy.

I’m not naturally the roughhousing parent. My husband usually isn’t either.

But those 5–10 minutes fill their tanks in a way almost nothing else does.
I set a timer, and it helps me be fully present for those few minutes. The kids know that when it goes off, we’re done—usually after one last toss.

We end the day laughing.
And it feels like we’re sending them to sleep connected.

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5) Pause and truly look at them

This one has been the most important.

When they’re talking and I feel my mind drifting, I:

• take a sip of water (it keeps me from sighing when I’ve been lost in thought)
• take a deep breath
• look them in the eyes
• smile
• hug them

It grounds me again.

And it tells them:
You matter. I’m here. I’m listening.

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When life feels heavy…

Life has felt heavy outside our home this week.

And honestly… it’s been hard not to carry that weight inside.

But being intentional with these small moments has changed everything.

I haven’t been the most organized mom this week.
I haven’t stayed on top of the house.
I haven’t kept up with my planners.

But I have connected with my kids.

Maybe cards aren’t your thing.
Maybe it’s painting, baking, puzzles, or building Legos.

It doesn’t have to be perfect.
It just has to be intentional.

Because even in emotionally draining seasons,
we can still choose small moments of connection.

And sometimes… those end up being the weeks our kids remember most.

What’s one small way you stay connected with your kids when you’re running low? Share below — your idea might help another mom this week.

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