Prioritize & Execute. Stuck. Yee-haw!

Happy Memorial Day, Monday, Valley Moms!

🇺🇸 Today is Memorial Day! Today, we honor those who have died in service. Their courage, sacrifice, and dedication will never be forgotten. We are deeply grateful for their service and for the families who carry their legacy. Thank you.

Here are some facts about Memorial Day you can share with your kids:

• It’s always the last Monday in May

• Waterloo, NY, is considered the birthplace of Memorial Day

• By law, Americans are asked to pause for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3pm local time

• More than 1 million Americans have died in wars since the Revolutionary War

• Poppies are a symbol of remembrance

• It was originally Decoration Day, as people would decorate graves with flowers, flags, and wreaths

👀 In this week’s issue:

• Learning from Navy Seals

• Way down yonder

• Take a cue from the Wemmicks

Up first…

MOTHERHOOD

This is the best mom hack I’ve come across

My husband and his co-workers recently read Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win, written by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.

Sounds exactly like a book moms would pick up, huh?

You’re right: It’s not your typical momming how-to book, but as my husband talked about what he was reading, something stuck with me. Here it is:

Prioritize and execute.

It means that leaders (moms) must assess a situation (your out-of-hand to-do list, the chaos of daily life, etc.), identify the most critical tasks, and then execute them decisively.

When everything feels urgent — diaper blowout, toddler tantrum, dinner burning, school email dinging — pause. Take a breath and mentally step back.

Ask:

• Is anyone hurt or in danger?

• What can’t wait?

• What has the biggest impact on our peace/safety?

Example:

• The kid is screaming because they’re hungry? Food becomes the priority.

• Everyone’s safe, but the house is a wreck? Dishes can wait; start with dinner.

Once you’ve chosen the priority, commit to it fully. Don’t let the laundry, texts, or toy explosion distract you.

Example:
You decide the toddler’s meltdown needs attention. Kneel down, connect, and regulate them. Everything else waits.

If you have help nearby, keep it clear and short:

• “I’m helping the baby calm down. Can you finish dinner?”

• “I’ll get the toddler dressed. Can you load the car?”

After the top thing is handled, look again. What's now the most important? Shift and go.

Scenario: The Morning Rush

• The toddler won’t put on shoes

• Baby poops through outfit

• You’re late for an appointment

• You haven’t eaten

• The house is wrecked

Prioritize and Execute:

1. Change baby (urgent hygiene)

2. Help the toddler with shoes (essential for leaving)

3. Grab a protein bar and go (fuel for YOU)

4. Tidy later (non-urgent)

When all else fails, repeat the following phrase to yourself:

It may seem like a no-duh piece of advice (of course I’m gonna change the blowout first), but seriously. Think about the last time everything crashed into chaos all at once. What did your brain do (or not do)? How did you physically respond?

I’m by no means perfect at this. But I have gotten better at handling chaos when I remember this simple strategy.

Moms and Navy Seals may have more in common than you realize. Take a page from their playbook and use their expertise in crisis management to your advantage.

Want to read the whole book for yourself? Grab your copy here.

Buy your books through bookshop.com and select one of our local bookstores at checkout. They get a portion of the profits of online purchases!

QUICK QUESTION!

AROUND THE VALLEY

One woman’s junk…

📣 Calling all country girls, thrifters, and lovers of all things vintage!

The Junk Rodeo is happening this weekend! Two lucky Valley Moms won four free tickets, but don’t worry — you can still get yours!

This is an amazing event chock-full of WOMEN- and MOM-OWNED businesses. We hope you can make it and support all the incredible vendors!

Here’s some more info:

This event is a western + vintage + antique + boho market complemented by talented artisans & makers, yummy sips and sweets, and all things western. If you enjoy shopping small & local while enjoying the country scenery alongside friends… this is the market for you! Come discover vintage, rustic, farmhouse industrial, re-purposed, on-trend fashion and so much more!

Want some tickets? Grab them here. 

KIDS’ CORNER

Add this to your kid’s TBR list

I grew up on this book. 🥹 

It tells the story of the Wemmicks, a village of wooden people who spend their days giving each other stars for being talented or attractive, and dots for making mistakes or looking different. One Wemmick, Punchinello, is covered in dots and feels like he’ll never be good enough, until he meets his maker, Eli the woodcarver. Eli gently reminds Punchinello that he is loved just because he was made by the Creator, and that the opinions of others don’t define his worth.

You Are Special is a beautiful reminder (for kids and grown-ups alike) that our value isn’t based on what we do or how we compare, but on Whose we are.

You can snag a copy for your kiddos here.

ONE LAST THING

Are you forgetting to pray for these people?

Memorial Day can stir up feelings about current events, wars, our world’s leaders, etc. And when any kind of feelings are stirred up, my first stop is the Bible.

So, what does the Bible say about current events, wars, and world leaders?

A lot. Let’s dive in.

First, 1 Timothy 2:1-4 says we should pray for “…all who are in high positions.” (Please note that there’s nothing about only praying for leaders who subscribe to your chosen political party.)

So, we start by praying for those who are in charge.

Second, don’t fear. My pastor often brings up Proverbs 21:1-9, which says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD.”

Nothing is happening in this world that God doesn’t know about. Nothing happens outside of His will.

Third, talk to your kids about hard things and always point them to Jesus. Explain the world in kid-friendly terms, and then teach them how to respond biblically. In Deuteronomy chapter 11, God says, "You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Phew. It’s a lot to parent (and live) in the modern world. But don’t sweat it, momma! You were made for such a time as this. 💟 

More verses to explore:

• Romans 13:1

• Philippians 4:6

• Colossians 1:16-17

💝 Thanks for reading! In a world of Wemmicks, be a Lucia. IYKYK.

🗒️ This just in! Two-thirds of our readers use screentime sparingly! Lots of good balance out there, mommas — keep it up!

👯‍♀️ Keep up with us @valley_moms on IG. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected].