What Makes My Kids Cry Today

🥵✨ Devotional: Strength for the After-School Shift

By Lizzie @ What Makes My Kid Cry Today

Real Life. Real Laughs. Real Jesus.

It’s 3:07 p.m.

The backpacks have exploded.

There’s a trail of shoes, crumbs, and emotional debris from the front door to the fridge.

One child is crying because you packed the wrong snack.

Another is hangry and incapable of using their inside voice.

Someone needs help with math that might actually be a foreign language.

And you?

You were just trying to finish your coffee from seven hours ago.

Welcome to the after-school shift—that magical window where your peace clocked out and your patience was supposed to clock in.

📖 Scripture for the Chaos Hour

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

— Psalm 29:11

💭 Reflection

The after-school shift is a lot.

You’re balancing:

Homework help and snack prep Meltdowns and mood swings Your own end-of-day fatigue And the emotional aftermath of whatever happened at recess

It’s less like a cozy reunion and more like entering a second full-time job in which everyone is hungry, grumpy, and in need of something right now.

But here’s the truth:

You don’t have to show up full—you just have to show up surrendered.

You can bring your crumbs of energy and your scraped-together kindness.

You can pray over peanut butter sandwiches and give grace even while your ears are ringing from the noise.

God sees this shift.

He knows this hour.

And He offers strength exactly here.

🙏 Prayer for the Afternoon Chaos

Jesus,

I’m tired.

The after-school whirlwind is real, and sometimes I feel more referee than mom.

Give me calm in the chaos.

Give me grace when I want to react.

Fill in the gaps I don’t have the strength to fill.

Be present with me as I parent through the mess—

Not perfectly, but with You.

Amen.

💬 Final Thought

You are not a vending machine of snacks, patience, and emotional stability.

You are a mom doing holy, hard, afternoon work.

And you are allowed to need Jesus just as much at 3 p.m. as you did at 7 a.m.

So take a breath.

Grab the goldfish.

Whisper a prayer.

And know that strength is coming—right on time.