Reforming Motherhood

Aug. 17, 2006 - What we’ve been up to

For the last two weeks we have been doing swimming lessons. Considering the fact that we live in an area surrounded by water and the fact that I am a terrible swimmer (and have always wished I was better) I thought lessons were a good idea. Getting three kids (5 and under) up, fed, ready, and sun-screened –along with the necessary bags packed—and getting us all to the pool (20 minutes away) BY 8:15am has been a challenge though! So I have been tired. The kids have been tired. And the company we’ve had pretty steadily (different people) for the last month or two has added a bit to the tiredness. But it’s all good!

Most of all I am thankful for how these two weeks have shown me how it would NOT work for our family to rush out of the house every day to get kids to school. It has significantly changed the pace and peace in our home. I feel this is ok for a short period of time, but I really cannot imagine it being our lifestyle. We certainly do not laze around every day in our normal routine, but keeping kids at home is very different than rushing them out of the house! There is time to discipline for the things that come up at any time of the day. There is time to stop what I am doing and praise and hug these sweet kids of mine. I have way more creative energy when we are at home more and the important things can get done first (like our devotions after breakfast at the table –all together and NOT rushed!). The bottom line is that we all get to choose how the atmosphere of our homes will be. And I think it is especially up to the mom to set the tone. We need to choose what things are worth our rush (like getting to church on time) and what things are not according to our values. We need to start with our values (that we get from God’s Word of course) and work from there.

Just like vacations are nice (for a week or two) but in the end cause me to better appreciate the norm. I have found these weeks of an added outside-the-home-thing show me how good we have it that we have not jumped on the school bus! I will So enjoy this September!

~Amy

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Aug. 17, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by reformingmama

I am grateful to have a friend who likes the norm as much as I do! :) The norm with an occasional play date and phone call (if we're lucky!)
~Stacy

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Aug. 18, 2006 - me too

Posted by MicheleinNZ

When I had only one child, we did a lot of things outside the home - playgroup, music, stuff like that. But we were always home for naps and I really worked hard to keep a routine for her. When I had number two I tried to maintain the same schedule but it just wasn't working. I was so tired of having to be places on time and the little one wasn't getting the kind of rest she needed because I was making her sleep in the pram instead of her crib. So I looked at our schedule and really pared it down to the minimum. Now we go to the mother's group at church on Wed morning which is important for me and the kids get to play with some of the other kids and I take my oldest daughter with me to a Bible study that has an excellent children's programme (she gets taught the same lesson that I do, it's awesome) while my youngest is at home with dad for the morning. And that's it. That's all we do. I rarely leave the house during the week and I really like it that way. On the mornings that I have to be at Bible study (we leave at 8:30) it's so stressful and as I'm driving, watching all the moms drop off their kids at school and daycare I just thank the Lord that I'm at home. Now that we're expecting number 3, we'll continue to stay home a lot. We often invite friends over for morning tea and playtime with the kids, but don't go out much. I like it that way and I know that my kids are better for it too. It's all about priorities, isn't it?

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Sharing my thoughts on faith, marriage, homemaking and raising children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

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