It feels necessary and right to start with this small freedom—which is actually kind of a big deal—the freedom to choose your legacy. But, this is where it all started for me. I spent a lot of the first few years of motherhood overwhelmed by the work, the chores, the lack of sleep, the weight of the expectations and demands of motherhood. I had no idea how to prioritize any of it. It all felt enormous and heavy. I sought relief in structure, to-do lists, schedules, and control, which left me exhausted, resentful, angry, and then guilty. And, the cycle went round and round.
As I angrily scrubbed yet another sink-full of dishes, feeling simultaneously resentful toward my husband, casually relaxing on the couch, and guilty for putting my list of chores over my son’s pleas for me to play with him earlier that day, a thought burst into my mind. The laundry is not my legacy. Funny, because I wasn’t doing the laundry at that moment…but the point was clear. This statement burst into my mind, shining a spotlight on my mismanaged priorities.
I was focusing on the wrong work—housework instead of heartwork. ‘Be silly,’ ‘play,’ ‘hug,’ ‘laugh,’ ‘get messy’ were not on my to-do list, and therefore I didn’t have time for those things. My son begged me to play with him constantly, but there was always one more dish to scrub, one more mess to clean up, one more load of laundry to fold. I didn’t race trucks with him, because I had to switch the laundry. I didn’t pretend to be the Mama T-Rex, because I had to clean the bathroom. I didn’t play in the sprinklers, because I had to prepare dinner.

I don’t want my children to remember me as the resentful woman who cleaned the house, did the laundry, prepared food, and snapped at everyone for tracking in dirt. I realized that each small choice, each word, each action was creating a legacy, a memory, a definition of who I was and impacting the world around me. Thinking about what I do want my legacy to be allows me to change my behavior and make conscious, intentional decisions about what I do and say. Knowing that every choice either builds a legacy of love or a legacy of negativity forces me to choose different, to choose better.
So how do you choose your legacy?
First, acknowledge that you have a choice. You can control how you are remembered, because you can control your words and your actions. Only you. This is so empowering! There is freedom in knowing that you don’t have to just keep going through the motions, you can choose different. Change is possible.
Take an honest look at your priorities. What is important to you and how do you want to be remembered? Write it all down. I want my children to remember me as someone who loved them and others, someone who was kind to them and to others, someone who prioritized love and connection over success and perfection. I want them to remember I had faith in God and did the tasks presented to me joyfully instead of resentfully. I want my legacy to be one of love, of kindness, of faith, of joy.
Compare that list of priorities with how you actually spend your time. Does the way you spend your time match your priorities? What do you say ‘yes’ to? Those are your actual priorities. What (or who) do you say ‘no’ to? Those are the things (and the people) that come second, or third, or never. Your legacy will be created by what you do today, what you say ‘yes’ to. I was saying ‘yes’ to chores, schedules, to-do lists, and perfectionism. I was saying ‘no’ to connection, play, presence, and rest, so that I could say ‘yes’ to checking off my list. Of course, the things on my list are necessary to run a household, but they don’t need to come before my family.
If your priorities and how you spend your time aren’t aligned, you have the freedom to make some changes. Change requires action. If I want my children to remember I had faith, then we need to go to church and pray together. If I want them to remember that I crawled around on the floor with them, laughed, held them when they cried, and modeled how to be patient and kind to them and to everyone around me, then I need to do it every day. And, I need to apologize when I fall short. A clean house and a tightly controlled, orderly life isn’t the legacy I want to leave in my children’s hearts, so I need to be willing to let go of perfectionism and leave things half-finished at times. I don’t care if my kids remember their shirts were folded into perfect neat squares or that the house was always in pristine condition. *Spoiler Alert* they won’t remember that stuff anyway. I want them to remember I was the Mama T-Rex and a dang good one.
The laundry is not my legacy, and I hope it isn’t yours either. We will have clean clothes and a (mostly) clean house, but that stuff isn’t what I want my children (or anyone) to remember when they think of me. If it is a priority, whatever it is, what are you doing every day to reflect that? Every moment offers a chance to choose better, to build a legacy you can be proud of. Make a conscious decision about who you want to be and how you want to be remembered by the people who matter most. Don’t let the laundry (or whatever distracts you from who you really want to be) be your legacy either.
Powerful words and outstanding advise not only for mothers but for everyone!!!!
Thank you!!! Love you:)
I couldn’t agree more!! this was so honest and REAL! Beautiful and inspiring- and I bet you are a dang good mama T-Rex!!!!
So beautifully put! Parenthood is a choice and so is being a good parent.. it looks to me as if you are on the right path!
Thank you, Allyson 🙂 And thank you for always being there for me. Love you!
Very well said Jacqueline! I must point out for the readers that I’m not ALWAYS on the couch though! Ha
Love you!
Haha, ok, not ALWAYS…you’re a wonderful husband and father. Love you too!
I love this!! Every word is so very true!! I fell into the perfectionist role as well, until my children outnumbered me, lol, then I had to let go of the reins, because it was extremely hard to keep up with everything. You are an amazing mother, daughter, sister, cousin, wife, etc. You will also graciously perfect every other role you are chosen to fulfill in this lifetime. I love you! Keep doing what your doing…everyone that is lucky enough to know you and have you in their life, is blessed and much better off. 😘
Thank you so much, Sharon! Your words brought tears to my eyes. It’s also nice to know I’m not the only one trying to keep it all perfect all the time, haha! I love you too! Thank you so much for your support. Miss you
Agree with Sharon!!!
It’s not easy, but amazing parents like you make it look that way 💙💙
Thanks, Kelley! 🙂
So perfectly put!
Thank you so much, Rebecca! 🙂
Beautiful, wise words! I hadn’t thought of legacy that way, of thinking of how they’ll remember me. Thank you, my friend. ❤️
Thank you, Annie! I wish we lived closer! Miss you!!
Beautiful reminder for life, it’s all in the choices.
Thank you, Gina! Totally agree. There is a choice in every moment…
You are an excellent writer! I am so very proud of you. The legacy of being present for your family is the best gift you can give them. Rick and I have commented to each other many times how we love seeing you and Matt playing with your boys in your yard, neighborhood, and The Vero Beach Country Club. Good job Mom!
Thank you, Laurie! It’s always so fun to see you guys! Thank you so much for your support and for reading my post 🙂
You are such a beautiful writer! I feel this to the core. Being a working mom it’s always my first instinct to come home from work and get the laundry done, or clean the kitchen. I’m missing precious moments with my boys. I have to learn to live in the messy chaos because it won’t be like this forever and they won’t be this little for long. Looking forward to more of your shares. Keep on doing what you’re doing! Those boys are lucky to have a momma like you!
You are such a beautiful writer! I feel this to the core. Being a working mom it’s always my first instinct to come home from work and get the laundry done, or clean the kitchen. I’m missing precious moments with my boys. I have to learn to live in the messy chaos because it won’t be like this forever and they won’t be this little for long. Looking forward to more of your shares. Keep on doing what you’re doing! Those boys are lucky to have a momma like you!
Thank you so much, Shannon! Hearing from other moms that they feel all this too helps me to know I’m not the only one. So, thank YOU! 🙂
Beautiful just like you! Enjoy every moment
Thank you, Sherry! You have always given me advice and support in motherhood. Thank you for that 🙂 Miss you!
Awesome message Jacqueline!! Obviously I am not a mother but can apply this same concept to other aspects in my life.
Thank you, Shane! I didn’t even think about that, but I totally agree! Figuring out what’s important opens up the space to focus on those things. Thank you so much for reading it!
This is beautiful and so needed in today’s world, Jacqueline. Moms had it super tough this past year and a half. You worlds will help some to let go and live the life they deserve. So hard to let go, but your thoughts will hopefully help others💕
Thank you so much, Noreen! That is my hope in sharing it 🙂 Thank you so much for your encouraging words!
So beautifully written and a great reminder to all of us mamas that it’s more important to be present over perfect!
Thanks, Natalie!
Amazing insight! Keep it up.
Thank you!
Beautifully started! You are so blessed to have realized this so early in motherhood. You can Inspire many.
Thank you so much, Donna!
I love this wonderful advice & certainly needed the reminder. Beautifully written! The dishes & laundry can wait…
Thank you so much! 🙂
Amazing words Jacqueline! Life goes by way too fast! Have no regrets. Think of your chores like an email inbox-it’s never empty even when you answer the last one so enjoy your boys now!
And it’s never too late for the Phone Basket. I may attempt that or some version of it.😊 Love you!💕
Jacqueline, I feel so blessed to have you as a new friend of mine. You are a gifted writer, and an even more wonderful human. Keep it up, I’ll be reading!