I chose to be a stay-home-mom based on experiences that I could not ignore. Before my husband and I were even married, we discussed how we would best care for our children if/when we had them. There is only so much preparation you can do to get ready for parenthood, but how we were going to care for our children was important. Maybe you had similar experiences that shaped your … [Read more...]
Super-Mom Kisses Perfect Goodbye
Photo used and edited courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net "Silhouette mom with child at sunset" by arztsamui Super-Mom Syndrome thrives on doing all the right things to build the perfect family. The wonder of holding my son for the first time quickly turned into fear at the thought of actually leaving the hospital--this is the fear that sets us up for Super-Mom … [Read more...]
Social Studies and Service Project for Kids
Making a difference in the world is what moms do, and we Stay-at-Home Moms do it as our full time job! Our daily work is a service project. The time we have with our children helps us teach them as well. This service project for kids is a prime example. How are we making a difference? We shape minds, teach values, mold character, and lead by example every day of our … [Read more...]
My Will Versus Motherhood
Every day I seem to notice a new opportunity to choose my individual goals and achievement over my family. There are volunteer opportunities, opportunities for career development, and plans for income that would require realigning my family focus to the side of the spotlight. Sometimes I struggle with my will versus motherhood. I am always weighing the impact on my family of … [Read more...]
The Compass of Values
Since you spend every day-or close to it-with your child, I would guess you value family to a great degree. Whether you know it or not, you teach that family is important and you probably hope your child will grow to value 'family' as well. Every day your mission is caring for your family. Family is our first connection to faith. Family is our compass of values. God … [Read more...]
I Don’t Ever Give Up
The role of motherhood has been pushed, pulled, and changed so much over the last 40 years or so that many of us wonder if we are doing it right or wrong. The way the world defines motherhood is still changing today. Mothers need to know they are important and that a mother's presence is vitally important in the lives of her children. Recently, my … [Read more...]
Helping A Child Face Challenges
“But life has a way of serving up the unexpected.” Soon many children will be entering new school buildings, classrooms, meeting new friends, and/or beginning a new year of study at home. That can all be intimidating and feel stressful for the whole family. Helping a child face challenges is an intense parenting struggle. It can also be a time of recognizing one's strengths … [Read more...]
Motherhood is a Calling
We do not have to view doing for others as separate from doing for ourselves. Self-fulfillment is the name of the game these days. If I tell people I do not care what personal success I get out of life, I get funny looks. I just want to serve my family and those who may need me each day. Motherhood is a calling. It has been my calling. I don't view it as anything less. If … [Read more...]
There Are No Perfect Parents
[Sponsored Post] See my disclosure. I had parents who enjoyed parenthood, but they were realistic about it. When they were frustrated my brother and I knew it. We knew why because they would tell us. We saw them argue. We saw them greet each other with a kiss when my dad would come home from work. My mom would literally stop what she was doing, go to the door, and … [Read more...]
Motherhood Is Not Easy
Exhausted, over-stretched, grasping to figure out if I was a successful mom that day. Of course, I never feel that way on just one day. "Things worth doing are never easy" comes to mind when I think of being a mother, but the bad days can get very draining. We could let ourselves view motherhood as a sentence rather than a celebration. After weaning my second child … [Read more...]
A Mother’s Best Asset
When we were children, we all observed our parents parenting so we had time to learn about parents and children before we thought about having our own. I thought about all of these experiences and they helped me form the ‘what would I do if that were my kid’ philosophy. Remember all those things you thought to yourself before having children: "I would never let my … [Read more...]
What I Will Not Teach My Daughter
When I found out 'child number two' was going to be a girl, I felt a large burden on my shoulders when it came to my responsibility for raising a WOMAN. I evaluated a lot about myself and how I approached life and relationships. Turns out there were a lot of lessons I decided qualified as what I will not teach my daughter. I prayed my actions would show her a different example … [Read more...]