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The Compass of Values

October 14, 2013 by Jaimi Erickson 11 Comments

Ready to have the ENERGY to be the best mom you can be? Get started! Thanks for stopping by!

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A child's compass of values are his or her parents. Are we leading our children on the right path?

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 decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

If our parents are there for us when we need them, then we can understand how God is there for us. In a child’s limited ability to understand what they don’t see, as a mother, our ability to prove that our love is unfailing is so important to our children believing in faith.  It sets them up for being secure as they pursue what is in store for them in their life.

I would venture a guess that occasionally you stray from being motivated to put everyone first and slip into wondering when you get your time. I do it. 

Sometimes I wake up at 6:00 AM and don’t get a moment free until I hit the pillow at 10:30 PM.  Yes, many days (or rather nights), my only ‘me time’ is sleep.

I knew there would be sleepless nights and busy days when I embarked on trying to have children. I watched my mom work part time at night just so she could stay home with my brother and me each day.  She never complained-to my knowledge-about not getting time to herself.

Every day was not pretty or perfect, but she pushed through.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and  do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  Proverbs 1:8 (NIV)

I know I get more sleep than my mom did, and I am still exhausted many days in this season of motherhood.

 

Somehow she did it with no sleep many nights…yes, awake all night taking care of babies in the hospital (she was a nurse) and then home to take care of her two babies all day.  She wanted to stay home, but the finances didn’t allow it.  Her devotion to her family (balancing SAHM and work-at-night-mom) taught me that family comes first. That lesson is my motivation every day.

My family is very close.  Much of that credit goes to 1) my dad being the main breadwinner and 2) my mom staying home during the day and fitting her career in at night.

 

I spent so much time with my mom, dad, and brother when I was growing up that they know me in-and-out, through thick and thin, my faults, my strengths, my failures and my successes.  We can be brutally honest with each other.  We have all cried together, argued together, laughed and celebrated.  We are COMFORTABLE together.

 

It was not always pretty or enjoyable, but it led us to solid relationships with each other now that my brother and I are adults. We knew our parents were there for us and would not leave us in times of struggle.

 

I hope that my husband and I are creating that family environment for ourselves and our children; I think we are on the way.

 

My goal: 20 years from now, I want to be best friends with my husband and my children.

 

If that means every exhausted day, and many sleepless nights, I have to focus on giving more than receiving from any of them, then I will do that.

 

My parents did that and our family is better for it. In fact, their marriage is even stronger today probably because they focused on family and faith first.

We know our husbands give to our families.  He gives you the opportunity to stay home-a gift to you and your children.  Our children give us smiles and laughter, and many more years ahead of a dynamic and growing relationship.

 

We will not always be changing diapers, but we are and will be first in our children’s minds.
We are their closest connection to God on Earth.

 

You witness every part of your child’s every day.  You are by your child’s side as they make mistakes, and learn new lessons.  Much, if not all of the time, you have been the one to teach them.

 

If you are worried about your time today, remember that one day your daughter or son may choose to emulate what you have shown: value family first.

 

I think that is the epitome of ‘pay it forward’. Provide them with the compass of values for their life. We moms, and parents in general, are the first compass of values for our children.

 

Hopefully we are guiding them in the right direction.

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older,  they will not leave it.  Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)

A weekly series of motivation for moms brought to you by stay at home mom bloggers at The Stay-at-Home Mom Survival Guide.
A child's compass of values are his or her parents. Are we leading our children on the right path?
This post was featured in A Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: Personal Growth Resources. View all of the tips here.

Other posts about faith and family:

As the Mother of a Son

My Description of the Perfect MomWhat I Will Not Teach My Daughter

Successful Mom Daily Checklist to help you gain balance between housework and play time with the kids. Get more done, and feel more successful as a mom and homemaker.

Enjoy your time at home!

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Filed Under: faith, motherhood, motivation Tagged With: dads, devotion, moms, parents, prayer, values

Comments

  1. Kendra says

    April 10, 2020 at 3:38 am

    I feel like that is what I had growing up, and that is the greatest value and foundation for me!! It is precious!! I love that you value this as well and share the joy and vision— blessing others who choose this journey! Thank you for the inspiration.

    Reply
    • Jaimi Erickson says

      April 12, 2020 at 5:57 pm

      You are so kind to share your thoughts. I appreciate that so much!

      Reply
  2. Kelly S says

    June 29, 2015 at 5:38 pm

    This is a great encouragement for those days you never sit down. I swing from coffee cup to coffee cup a lot! The fast pace of parenting causes me to treasure those small me-moments all the more. But, I don't want to miss the small kid-moments along the way. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Ginger Harrington says

    October 18, 2013 at 12:57 am

    So true my new friend. Great post!

    Reply
    • Jaimi says

      October 22, 2013 at 6:20 pm

      Thank you, Ginger!

      Reply
  4. Jamasina says

    July 24, 2012 at 4:30 am

    Having children is definitely a lesson in self-sacrifice!

    Reply
    • Jaimi says

      July 24, 2012 at 1:33 pm

      A lesson, indeed! It is one that I need to work on every day. We truly give so much that in a sense, we teach 'giving'. I think that might be one of the best values we can instill in our children.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How Parents Teach Socialization - The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide says:
    November 26, 2016 at 11:34 am

    […] children to emulate are those we show by example every day. We have to remember that we are our family’s compass of values. What we show and teach is what our children will emualte and learn. We do not have to be perfect […]

    Reply
  2. Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: Personal Growth - The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide says:
    May 29, 2016 at 3:04 pm

    […] [Mother’s are] The Compass of Values – The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide […]

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    August 31, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    […] I know it is worth my time for many reasons, but I want to feel accomplished as well. […]

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  4. Motherhood is a Calling - The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide says:
    August 30, 2015 at 1:09 pm

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You know what’s funny? I took this pic not even You know what’s funny? I took this pic not even noticing what random things were out of place. 😅 Perfect for this post today. 👇

Motherhood is a juggling act. We try to seek balance and be joyful, but kids, husband, house, our needs and wants all pull us in different directions.

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*****

If you feel out of balance today, you are just in the process of working your way back to it. 

If today was a great day, prepare yourself now because the scale may tilt and things may feel out of your control tomorrow. #reallife

It is not easy to cut things from our calendars or limit our focus each day. I feel that struggle so much. My whole family needs and deserves my time and attention. I am constantly in a state of re-balance, and making attempts to re-organize, as I attempt to balance four children and a husband.

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Do you see the items out of place in this pic or are you focused on the beauty within it? 😉💕

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How have you been taking time to recharge while st How have you been taking time to recharge while staying at home? Making my list of favorite ways to refresh ‘cause moms with full schedules from morning to night need some simple ideas to get in quiet time. 👏 Do you need recharge time?

I like keeping it simple. 👌 Luxurious shampoo and body butter to maximize the spa feel after a hot shower, Bible study in the morning with my coffee, walking the dog solo are just a few of my break ideas. (I think hot showers are a cure all for a lot of stress! Time to think, feeling the strain wash away...all good things.) What do you think?

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When you really focus on fear, isn’t it pretty s When you really focus on fear, isn’t it pretty silly how much we let it run our lives? 

Anyone who knows my 7 year old daughter knows she has a “no fear” spirit. She can be a bit of an adrenaline junkie. She is always moving, seeking out fun and not intimidated by the unknown.

As a parent I both admire and cringe. 😅 

I find that I have to suppress my fear when it comes to her adventurous spirit so I do not diminish her true nature. I also have to be on the ball from a parenting perspective to talk through being smart while having fun. 

It is not as if we can ever see the results from the actions before we act though. 

Remembering myself how I truly only know what I see and what faith teaches me allows me to focus on eliminating fear from ruling.

For many years I was the opposite of my wild child. I was always thinking too far ahead to see what potential pain may come. That suppressed my nature. I see my kids so social, so eager to try new things and it energizes me to set that example too. 

Fear is not a worthwhile debate partner. 

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” ~Proverbs 31:25, NIV

Do you wrestle with fear in parenting and life in general or are you more of the no fear type?

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