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Hey friend! I’m Melissa Mulvaney—founder of Finding Joy in the Middle, longtime mentor, certified encourager, and mom who knows the ache of pouring out so much that she forgot who she was outside of “mom.” I help Christian moms who’ve lost themselves in the beautiful, exhausting work of motherhood rediscover their identity, reconnect with the God who never stopped seeing them, and find real joy right in the middle of their messy, beautiful lives—not someday when things slow down, but now, in the middle of it all. You were someone before “mom.” She’s still there. And I’m on the sidelines cheering loudly for you, cowbell in hand, ready to help you find her—and your joy—again!
Hey, I’m Melissa…
And I’m right in the middle with you.
I’m a mom, former nanny, former educator, and your slightly bossy big sister who’s going to cheer you on, love you fiercely, and tell you the truth. Because you deserve someone in your corner who actually does all three.
I almost lost myself too. My world became about my kids — my schedule, energy, identity. One day I caught my reflection and didn’t recognize the woman looking back. The spark was gone.
That was my wake-up call. But it didn’t come from a book — it came from God. He whispered: You were made for more than this. Not more than motherhood. More than disappearing into it.
I started the hard work of adding myself back in to my actual life…leaning into God’s grace every step of the way. And something incredible happened. My joy came back. My marriage started breathing again. And my kids? They started changing too. In the best way.
But life had more lessons. After a cancer diagnosis, I walked through valleys so dark I couldn’t see light or feel hope. Yet God showed up. He didn’t just rescue me — He restored me. He gave me the abundant life Jesus promised. Not someday…
right there in the middle.
That’s why Finding Joy in the Middle exists. To help mamas in the thick of raising kids wake up NOW — before you lose another year, another five years, to disappearing. Because I don’t want you to go through what I went through.
I’ve seen this up close — hundreds of times.
This isn’t just my story. As a nanny for years, I watched families from the inside. As an educator, I saw how kids develop — and how home dynamics shape everything. I’ve watched moms with toddlers pour themselves completely dry. I’ve watched marriages turn into business partnerships. I’ve watched kids grow up believing the world revolves around them — and it destroyed their character, their relationships, their futures.
I know where this road leads. And I started Finding Joy in the Middle because someone needed to lovingly say:
“Hey mama, there’s a better way. And it starts NOW.”
Here’s what I know to be true:
God created you with purpose — and it doesn’t disappear when you become a mom. You were made for the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10) — not just surviving the toddler and teenage years. Your needs and desires aren’t selfish — they’re part of God’s design. A healthy family starts with a healthy, whole mom. You have worth not because of what you DO for your kids, but because of who you ARE and Whose you are.
Healthy boundaries aren’t walls — they’re bridges to better relationships. And teaching them NOW prevents entitled kids later. Your kids need to see you LIVING — not just giving. Joy is a gift for RIGHT NOW — not when they’re finally in grown.
YOU WERE NEVER MEANT TO DO THIS ALONE.
Here’s how I’m here for you
Your cheerleader: I celebrate every brave step — choosing your music in the carpool line, saying no to another commitment, taking 10 minutes for yourself. These moments matter.
Your slightly motherly guide: I hold space for the hard stuff with grace. The overwhelm, the loneliness, the guilt. No judgment — just love for where you are right now. God meets us where we are, and so do I.
Your bossy big sister: I also tell you the truth with love. “Wake up, sweet friend. God didn’t create you to disappear. Your kids are little NOW — this is when you set the tone. It’s time to start living again.” That’s me. Not sorry.
Your community builder: I connect you with other real mamas in the thick of it who GET IT. Because God designed us to walk this together.
Where to find me:
- Weekly emails: Faith-filled encouragement for the trenches of young motherhood
- Social media: Daily reminders you’re doing better than you think
- Podcast (coming soon!) — Real conversations about real motherhood
A Little About Me
When I’m not encouraging mamas, I’m laughing at the chaos of my own life, coffee in hand, running slightly behind. I believe laughter is medicine, God’s grace covers a multitude of cups of spilled milk, and there’s always room for one more exhausted mama at the table.
I’m not a perfect mom. I’m just a woman who learned that disappearing isn’t the same as sacrificing — and that God created you to be unapologetically YOU, even with littles climbing on you or tweens rolling their eyes at you.
Ready to stop disappearing and start living?
You’re in the thick of it with your kids. You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering where YOU went. This is your place. These are your people.
Yesssss, please!
Get the journal!
