A New Perspective

Well, as you all know, I am now a full-time SAHM (stay at home mom)! This has taken some adjusting on various levels. It was a steady progression for me into this new role. I was teaching full-time up until Addison was born. I went back to work part-time (2 days a week) when she was 4 months old and stayed in that position until 1 week before Emerson joined us last May (2009). It was then that I became a full-time SAHM!

Now, I would be lying if I told you that it is pure bliss, all day, every day and that I don't miss my job one bit. Truth be told, this is, HANDS DOWN, the hardest job I have ever taken on. Honestly, there are days that I WISH I was leaving the house in the morning to go to school to teach for the day. But, I have come to realize that it's all about perspective.

I am called by the Father to be a wife and mother and manager of my home. That truth means that although the work is hard and often unrewarding, God is pleased with my work and I should find pleasure in the mundane tasks 0f cooking, cleaning, and child rearing. This is no simple feat and I am certainly NO expert...YET!!! But, I'm working on it.

In the beginning of this journey, I found myself feverishly trying to fill our days with fun outings and shopping/eating adventures with the girls. Well, not only did the money run out, but my home suffered greatly. The laundry piled up, the dishes weren't done, the furniture gathered dust and the carpet gathered everything else! It was a mess and so were we! Addison was all out of sorts because there was no routine, no consistent nap, lunch time, play time, etc. Perhaps what I felt most terrible about was what Joe came home to: a messy house, grumpy children and leftovers from wherever we ate out for lunch. UGH...and here he was, working hard all day to provide for our senseless outings.

So, you see, it's all about changing your perspective. This is a season in which my priorities need to be maintaining my home and raising my children. This means sacrificing. I realized that all of those outings were really just for me...my kids didn't care what/where we ate lunch each day. They are much more content to be in their home eating PB&J sandwiches! That doesn't mean we never get out, but we do try to make our outings purposeful. Not just "playdates" that are really for the moms to sit around and gossip about who knows what about who. We work hard on creating a peaceful aroma for Joe to come home to each afternoon.

Yes, there's much to be done...but I have a new perspective!