For This House
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
June 2, 2025 | 11 min read
Emily Van Eps
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
It’s 8:30 PM. I’ve finally gotten both girls to sleep after a day that felt like it would never end. My threenager decided today was the perfect day to test every boundary we’ve ever set, while my one-year-old wanted to be held constantly. My husband is gone on a business trip, the kitchen is a disaster, this living room is worse, I haven’t responded to any texts, and I still need to start packing for a family stay-cation to the city this coming weekend.
Sound familiar? If you’re a mom with little ones, I know you’re nodding your head right now.
In these moments of complete mental overwhelm, I’ve found an unexpected source of help that has transformed our family’s daily life: artificial intelligence. And as a Christian mom trying to be intentional with my time and energy, I’ve discovered that when used wisely, AI can be a valuable tool in creating more space for what truly matters.
As mothers, we carry the physical work of caring for our children alongside the invisible mental load of remembering, planning, and organizing everything for our families. Even with the most supportive husband (and I’m blessed that my husband truly is a partner in every sense), moms often become the family’s central processing unit.
This mental load can feel especially heavy when we’re trying to be intentional about raising our children in faith. We want to create meaningful traditions, teach biblical values, and model Christ’s love… all while making sure everyone has clean underwear and something resembling a vegetable for dinner.
The Bible reminds us in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
But let’s be honest—knowing we shouldn’t be anxious versus finding peace in the chaos of motherhood are two different things. This is where I’ve found the recent releases of AI to be an unexpected blessing that both my husband and I have come to appreciate.
One of my biggest daily stressors used to be answering the eternal question: “What’s for dinner?” It was a game-changer for our family when I discovered I could use ChatGPT to help with meal planning.
Recently, I was trying to follow an anti-inflammatory diet to help with some health issues while still cooking meals my family would still eat. My husband is wonderfully supportive, but our weekly meal planning falls primarily to me. Instead of spending hours researching recipes and creating shopping lists, I asked ChatGPT to create a week’s worth of family-friendly meals that were anti-inflammatory, used seasonal ingredients, and were quick to prepare.
Within minutes, I had a complete meal plan with recipes, a shopping list organized by grocery store sections, and even prep suggestions for what I could do ahead of time. This saved me hours of mental energy that I could redirect toward reading Bible stories or simply being present with my girls instead of stressing about dinner.
I’ve also used it when I’m in a recipe rut. After weeks of the same rotation, I asked for “quick, healthy dinners for toddlers that aren’t chicken nuggets” and received dozens of fresh ideas our family truly enjoyed.
Customizable Prompt:
Please create a [# days/weeks/month] meal plan for a family of [number], including [ages of family members]. We need meals that are [dietary preferences/restrictions]. I’d like recipes that take less than [time] to prepare, use seasonal [Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter] ingredients, and are budget-friendly. Please include a shopping list organized by grocery store sections and any prep work that could be done ahead of time.
As a mom trying to keep our home functioning, I often felt overwhelmed by the competing organizational systems out there. Should I be bullet journaling? Creating elaborate cleaning schedules? Following Clean Mama?
I asked ChatGPT to help me create a simplified home management system based on our specific family needs, home layout, and daily rhythms. Even though my husband works from home, his tech sales job means he’s often on calls or meetings most of the day, so we needed a system that acknowledged his physical presence but limited availability. Then we sat down together to discuss what household tasks were most stressful for each of us, and I input this information to get a realistic cleaning schedule that works for our family, not a Pinterest-perfect system we’d abandon after three days.
We’ve divided responsibilities in a way that plays to our strengths—he handles all the outdoor tasks and running a load of laundry daily (since the washer and dryer are in his office) while I manage most of the daily tidying—and the visual schedule on our fridge has eliminated so many “Did you remember to…?” conversations.
Customizable Prompt:
I need help creating a simplified home management system for our family. We have [number] adults and [number and ages of children]. My spouse works in [location] in [profession], which means [specific constraints]. Our home has [number of bedrooms/bathrooms/living areas]. My typical day includes [brief overview of regular commitments]. We need a cleaning and organization system that is realistic and sustainable with young children. Please include daily maintenance tasks and a rotating schedule for deeper cleaning, with suggestions for how to divide responsibilities between partners based on [work location] scenarios.
Finding activities that are both developmentally appropriate AND incorporate our faith is challenging. When my oldest seems to have run out of things to do, I will ask ChatGPT for something like “preschool-friendly space activities that incorporate God as creator.” I receive fantastic ideas for simple experiments, books to read, and ways to naturally talk about God’s design of the universe in toddler-friendly language.
My husband and I both value raising our girls with a strong foundation in faith, but neither of us has a background in education. Having AI help us bridge that gap means we can be more intentional in responding to our daughters’ curiosity in ways that nurture their intellect and spiritual development.
Customizable Prompt:
My [age] child is interested in [topic/subject]. Can you suggest 5-7 age-appropriate activities we can do at home to explore this topic? I’d like to incorporate our Christian faith naturally, emphasizing [specific biblical principles like God as creator, stewardship, loving others, etc.]. Please include simple activities using common household items, book recommendations, and conversation starters that connect the topic to biblical truths in child-friendly language that both parents can use.
One of my biggest struggles was creating a morning routine that allowed me to start the day intentionally rather than reactively. Even though my husband works from home, his first sales calls often start early, so we must coordinate carefully.
I asked ChatGPT to help me design a realistic morning routine that included time for prayer and Scripture before the kids wake up.
What I love is that it considers my specific constraints, like varying daily schedules and my youngest occasionally waking earlier than usual. The AI helped me create a flexible framework with different options depending on how the night went, rather than a rigid schedule that would just leave me feeling like a failure. Since my husband starts his workday early from his home office, we’ve set up a rotation where he takes the early shift with the girls on certain days, giving me uninterrupted time for my devotions and self-care on those mornings.
Customizable Prompt:
I need help creating a realistic morning routine as a mom of [number and ages of children]. I want to include [specific priorities like prayer time, exercise, etc.]. My day typically starts around [time], and my children usually wake up at [time]. Some challenges I face are [specific challenges]. My spouse works in [profession/location] and has [describe specific constraints like early calls, set hours, etc.]. Can you help me create a flexible morning routine with backup options for difficult mornings that coordinates with a work-from-home spouse?
As moms, we make approximately 35,000 decisions a day (at least it feels that way!). When I’m experiencing decision fatigue, which is often by Thursday afternoon, I’ve found AI can help offload some of these choices.
For example, I created a simple decision-making framework with ChatGPT for common dilemmas like “Should we do this playdate when everyone’s tired?” or “Is this activity worth the cost and time commitment?” Having preset criteria has helped me make consistent decisions aligned with our family values without the mental exhaustion of weighing every factor each time. This has actually eliminated some of those “But I thought we were going to…” discussions that can happen when parents aren’t on the same page.
Customizable Prompt:
Can you help me create a simple decision-making framework for common parenting decisions around [type of decisions: activities, purchases, commitments, etc.]? Our family values include [list of important values]. Some factors we typically consider are [factors]. I want this framework to help reduce decision fatigue while keeping our choices aligned with our values and priorities as a couple/family.
As believers, we’re called to be good stewards of everything God has given us—including technology. My husband and I have had thoughtful conversations about how to use these tools wisely, and here are some principles we try to follow when using AI tools:
AI can help execute tasks, but it shouldn’t replace human connection, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, or the wisdom found in community. We use it to reduce mental clutter so we can be more present in our relationships and our walk with God, not to outsource the things that require our hearts and presence.
We’re intentional about when and how we use AI tools. Just like any technology, they can become a distraction if not used purposefully. I try to batch my requests—perhaps spending 15 minutes on Sunday planning for the week ahead rather than constantly turning to my phone throughout the day.
As Christians, we’re called to “test everything and hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). This also applies to the suggestions and content AI provides. My husband and I always filter recommendations through the lens of Scripture and our family’s values.
The goal isn’t just efficiency for efficiency’s sake. As a Christian family, we want to use our time and mental energy for things that have eternal significance. If AI helps us spend less time on meal planning and more time discipling our children or serving others, that’s technology used well.
Motherhood in this digital age comes with unique challenges and opportunities. The mental load mothers carry is real and heavy. If using AI tools can lighten that load and help you be more present and peaceful, then embrace that help without guilt.
Remember that even Mary, the mother of Jesus, didn’t journey alone—she had Elizabeth, Joseph, and a community around her. In the same way, we can gather wisdom and support from various sources, including technology when used wisely, and our spouses when we communicate our needs.
My prayer is that you find tools that serve your family well and create space for what truly matters—loving God and loving others well right where you are, spit-up stains and all.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of motherhood and for providing wisdom in unexpected places. Help us use every tool and resource with discernment, always seeking to glorify You. Grant us peace in the chaos, strength for each day, and hearts focused on what matters most. May we steward our time, energy, and technology in ways that draw our families closer to You.
Amen.
Emily is a founder of For This House, and the middle sister to Lauren and Ally. She is a graphic design maven by trade, currently living in small-town and staying home with her two beautiful girls. Learn more about Emily.
Emily is a founder of For This House, and the middle sister to Lauren and Ally. She is a graphic design maven by trade, currently living in small-town and staying home with her two beautiful girls. Learn more about Emily.