I DO know myself, and I know that I do not want 5 or 7 kids. So why is it, then, after meeting two wonderfully sweet mothers, of 5 and 7 children, do I feel like half the mothers they are? Is it because mom of 7 brought them all to the same park I was at this morning, cradling her 2.5 week old baby and rocking her 120 lb body.....and her TWO sets of twins? Is it because mom of 5 just so happens to be the woman who BUILT the house I'm living in and totally in love with? Is it because people who know I'm a Christian and a licensed teacher automatically assume I will home school my children (this just happened last week....a kind stranger warned me of the danger of the world, meaning public school).
I'm all for large families and home-schooling. In fact I'm kind of lost since "19Kids and Counting" isn't on TLC this summer. I wish I were more like Michelle Duggar, minus about 16 kids.
But I know myself. I know that I would not be a good mom to 7 kids. At all. Thinking about making 6 meals, breast feeding the baby, then feeding myself and my husband, not once but three times day, not to mention trying to spend time with each kids and maintain a relationship with Hubs....It's not my cup of tea.
There are days I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water with my three little ones. I comfort myself with images of t-ball, soccer, and kindergarten . Public school kindergarten. We have such a great school system here that I look forward to the day I can work in it, even a little.
I am privileged to stay home with my boys now. Hats off to you mamas who are working outside the home, or did, during theses early years. I likewise couldn't imagine myself doing that, either. So don't go thinking I'm all dying to get back to work, either.
I know myself. Sometimes I just have to remind myself that who I am is okay. Thank the Lord He did not choose me to have 7, or homeschool, or work through the early years. He knows me better than I know myself. And I'm a pretty good mom, all things considered.
5 comments:
I love this post so much!! What a great reminder!! We are all chosen for certain roles and sometimes we forget to embrace them. Like you... I feel I'm where I am supposed to be, right now. As hard as that feels some days. A few weeks back I had a playdate with a neighbor. She's a mama I admire. Five kiddos and # 6 on the way. She invited us over and did not try to sugarcoat her life. It was real and busy and messy! I loved it bc it reminded me that even tho I bow down to her for mothering and homeschooling... It's not perfect. None of us are.. We're just doing the very best we can! Thx for this post!
I totally agree with this post (but I'm on the other side of having many little ones and homeschooling them...I get a "why" a lot)! Everyone is called a little differently...not all are called to have 19 kids and not all are called to public school. Serve the Lord with all your heart with GLADNESS where you are at...that's what He calls us to do. AND be ready to change if He calls you to. PS We may be in MN this October...would be cool to be in real life. :)
Let me know when you will be where. We are about 45 mIn south of MSP.
Sounds good...we will be all over the cities...up in Maple Grove/Plymouth for a while and then right down by the MOA for a while. Maybe when we are down there it'd be a good time to meet up?
Great post! I'm on the other-side...a working mommy...wishing I could stay at home but the Lord knows me better than I now myself & knows what I can handle. I have a different outlook today & will embrace my role as it is - thank you!
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