Walking Therein

Appearances Are Not Always Deceiving, Just Showing Discretion

Excuse me... I have to go get my 4yo, who is repeating his sister's name over and over and over and over in a loud, quite hateful tone... and I need to go tell him to shut his mouth and speak to him about being mean and how he addresses his sister.

Now, I have to correct him for the millionth time for interrupting me because he wants yogurt, though we just ate breakfast a bit ago.

I also have one of the older girls sitting on the steps, very upset with me, because she can't forgive her brother who ignored her request for him to leave the bathroom so she could dress, because he was wiping his Superman off with alcohol. I am unfair.

Today, I have not gotten up from the couch much, because I somehow hurt my back 2 days ago,and I can't even sit in a chair at the desktop pc, so I am typing this on the laptop (which, btw, will not, for some unknown reason, connect to our dial-up). I will have to load this onto a disc and then transfer it to my blog from there... or drive into town toget a wireless connection -  what a pain!!!
In addition to that, I really want to hold Lucy. I can't. With my back sore, lifting and holding her, along with nursing her and a bed that is uncomfortable, I am having a hard time holding her.

Sometimes I have to ask the diaper-washer at noon (!) why the diapers aren't washed. Sometimes a couple of days in a row. I usually get excuses, followed by, "You're right, Mom. I should have done that. I'm sorry."

It is a normal thing for me, as I write up a post, to get up - or stop typing- 50 times to (usually get Caleb) mediate a conversation, counsel/discuss an issue with one of the older girls, explain to Caleb why Lucy can *not* eat my birthday cake yet, clean up a spill, take caleb to the potty, chase goats, discuss why I am chasing said goats... any number of things! 

Hi, I am Jacque, welcome to my blog. I have been the struggling wife to Matt for 18 years, and we have 8 children who occasionally often drive me nuts. I try as hard as I can, but sometimes (because I didn't understand what a Godly, submissive wife is for the first 15 years of marriage, and I pushed Matt away) I feel like I do it alone now, and I get really frustrated. Our children usually listen pretty well, and they do a lot of work around here, but a lot of times, they just act like know-it-all brats I have to put up with. Other than that, I love to blog.

-Jacque

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3:34 PM, Friday, August 31, 2007 .. Posted by quietcajun

Dear Jacque,
I am not trying to contradict you in anyway... as a matter of fact, your post has challenged me to carefully check my writing "tone" and my motivation before writing and to guard myself against complaining!

I would like to share a different angle, however.For me, writing/blogging is a way to process as well as encourage others. Sometimes I am just plain negative (I am going to work on that), but sometimes I feel that sharing difficulities has the dual benefit of helping me sort through them and helping others know they are not alone.

I try never to embarrass my children. When one of my children had a bad run awhile back I took to referring to him as "someone" and read the posts to him before posting them. I did not want to embitter him.

I try to remind myself and others of the solution in each entry that presents a problem... trust and submit to God in all things.

I hope that this does not sound defensive. It is not meant to be so. It is only meant to be a friendly discourse on the subject you set before us here today! I value the opportunity to learn from each other and I have learned a lot from this post and have taken its points deeply to heart.

I think you will see a subtle difference in my blog-attitude from here on out.

Thank-you for challenging and encouraging!

Love in Christ,
Christina

P.S. Hope you had an AWESOME birthday!!!!

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3:37 PM, Friday, August 31, 2007 .. Posted by tumbleweeds78

I LOVE YOUR CANDID HONESTY and you had me chuckling at the last part.... Oh my goodness. In fact I was going to tell you that your post today was a great one..... There are a few others out there that share the same idea as you, leaving what should be private in regards to family and home life ...just that private, Most things should be 99% of the time between the LORD and that family....

Christina~

3:54 PM, Friday, August 31, 2007 .. Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES

Totally not offended...
I was really saying more to the fact that we are not perfect, and I don't want anyone to think that I am trying to come across as the perfect homeschool family.

I don't think you blog in a complaining or shameful way at all. I know we have to all be personal on our blogs. I think that is important. As a matter of fact, I didn't even have your blog in mind when I wrote this.
Actually, I had no blogs in mind... just my own.

I agree with sharing so others can be blessed and be ministered to, and I try to do that, too. I just wanted to clear up my blogging style in case anyone thought our lives came across as perfect!!

As if!

;)
-J


Edited by JacqueDixonSoulRestES on Friday, August 31, 2007 at 3:51 PM

Kudos

9:34 PM, Friday, August 31, 2007 .. Posted by Beth

Love you post today Jacque! I found myself grinning at parts of it.

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11:34 PM, Friday, August 31, 2007 .. Posted by nancysnook

Hello~I just wanted to say Thank you for all the times you've talked with me in the middle of the night and helped me with code issues for my templates. It means so very much to me to know you and your girls! I'm awarding you the Nice Matters Award! Come to my blog to pick up the code.

Nancy

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9:12 AM, Saturday, September 1, 2007 .. Posted by Michelle32

Wonderful and thoughtful post! You have the discretion to decide whom and what you post about. :)
Michelle32

:-)

5:58 PM, Saturday, September 1, 2007 .. Posted by BeccaBeard

I agree with what you wrote, Jacque:
"perhaps one about training and encouraging our children when they are focusing on themselves and being unforgiving would be appropriate"

Why spend our time moaning about our kids, which like you wrote, could possibly humiliate and discourage them, when we can write things that can encourage each other instead? Isn't that what we, as Chrisitian sisters encouraged to do?

Proverbs 27:7
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Love,
Becca

great post!

6:41 PM, Saturday, September 1, 2007 .. Posted by misty

hey sweetie - ahhhhhhh, so refreshing to read your post. you are the same IRL as you are here and i So appreciate you! you do show great discretion . . . and YOU DO have an amazing (and very real) family. you continue to encourage me in my walk with the Lord, my relationship with my sweetie, and with my growing family. MUCH LOVE! :)

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10:30 PM, Sunday, September 2, 2007 .. Posted by LadyMother

I like you just the way you are. Everyone is different and should act that way. The only people not enjoyable are those without a sense of the rediculous. Life is full of rediculous, which I happen to notice often. As I whine and complain a lot, I hope you still like me -- I am usually whinning and complaining about myself and I am not at all embarrassed so that should count for something, no?
Thank you for your sweet visits.
Miss Meg

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1:34 AM, Monday, September 3, 2007 .. Posted by curiouscat

That was a very good post.. I guess I can stop being envious now.. :D

hugs
Denise