S.a.h.m.

[marezee]

hello mommies

hey christy!
how's life?

 

[marezee]

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

"train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Prov 22:6

"Let all that you do be done with love." 1 Cor 16:18

I received these scriptures at my MOPS meeting today. It was all about trusting our instincts as moms and praying about direction in our lives when it comes to our children (or anything for that matter). Rely on the Lord and He will show you how to mother your children.

So I pose to you some questions to ask yourself, you can answer them as a post on this thread, or on your own.

1. What do you think are your strong points when it comes to raising your children?

2. What do you think are your weakest points when it comes to raising your children?

3. Why do you think it is important to observe your child's tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, and gifts as you raise him/her?

 

[heart of peace]

For anyone that likes getting freebies in the mail, these two sites will sure bring a smile

US Residents: http://walmart.triaddigital.com/Free-Samples.aspx?fromPageCatId=11
UK residents: http://www.splendiddelites.com/Free_sample.htm
The first is for Walmart and the second is for Crownies. I am in the US so I don't know about the second link but I thought I'd include it for any UK residents here.

 

[heart of peace]

More freebies mamas

http://www.efantasmic.com/html/HomeschoolFreeTote.html

"Free ReUsable
Grocery Bag (Tote)

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif]This is a bit of a reading comprehension challenge, but it’s also a great way to discuss saving the Earth and conservation with your child. The reward is a nice free gift.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif]EarthBound Farms which is an organic farm, is offering a *f*ree reusable grocery tote. It’s *f*ree, with no shipping or handling. So it’s a great deal.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif]All you have to do is go to their site, and complete a short quiz based on conservation topics."[/FONT]

 

[faithmom]

WHHHHOOOOOOOOHHHHHHOOOOOO!

Unstickified posting. Feels good.

 

[faithmom]

Well, I have arranged an exciting weekend for my daughters and hubby. There is a thing called the Butterfly ball that the Suziki school of music does here, where Dad's bring daughters for pictures, grand march, dance and desert.

My daughter saw the poster at school and I looked into it, because (and I am so proud of her for this) she said if only she and her sister could go, we could get dresses to alter from Thrift stores, because it isn't about the money, but ABOUT DOING THIS WITH DAD!

So, they don't know yet, but I bought the tickets (only $25 for the 3 of them!) and am off to the thrift stores, but here is where I need your ideas.

My son and I will be haning out from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. next Saturday, any suggestions on what would make the night special for him to hang with Mom? I have ideas, but I know there are a lot of creative types here.

He is 7, loves all sports (except hockey for some strange reason...and hubby and I came from a serious hockey town!), pokemon, art and hanging with boy pals.

 

[marezee]

Well, I have arranged an exciting weekend for my daughters and hubby. There is a thing called the Butterfly ball that the Suziki school of music does here, where Dad's bring daughters for pictures, grand march, dance and desert.

My daughter saw the poster at school and I looked into it, because (and I am so proud of her for this) she said if only she and her sister could go, we could get dresses to alter from Thrift stores, because it isn't about the money, but ABOUT DOING THIS WITH DAD!

So, they don't know yet, but I bought the tickets (only $25 for the 3 of them!) and am off to the thrift stores, but here is where I need your ideas.

My son and I will be haning out from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. next Saturday, any suggestions on what would make the night special for him to hang with Mom? I have ideas, but I know there are a lot of creative types here.

He is 7, loves all sports (except hockey for some strange reason...and hubby and I came from a serious hockey town!), pokemon, art and hanging with boy pals.

sounds cool faithy!

for a suggestion for you and son: we have a pottery place here where you can pick a piece and paint it...do you have anything like that where you are?
That might be something "artsy."
Another suggestion may be to have dinner and take in a museum that you haven't been to in a while.

 

[CoolMom6]

There's always the video arcade, if you don't mind, where you can challenge each other to some games.

I like going to Anime or comic book stores with my guys.

 

[faithmom]

So I pose to you some questions to ask yourself, you can answer them as a post on this thread, or on your own.

1. What do you think are your strong points when it comes to raising your children?

2. What do you think are your weakest points when it comes to raising your children?

3. Why do you think it is important to observe your child's tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, and gifts as you raise him/her?

I had planned to answer this when I could get back on, but forgot.

Strong points:

I am very affectionate with words and touch. I am big on teaching life skills so they know how to handle things as they grow. I can shift my language and communication to a lot of levels to help them understand things in new ways.

Weak points:

I am a "pusher" under pressure. And things are always increasing in pressure. It's a constant struggle to not get cranky, snappy and demanding with them as the world is constantly getting cranky, snappy and demanding with me. I try to simplify, but find that the world see's any peace I bring into our lives as it's opportunity to use me to get things happenning, and that is not fair for my kids. Makes me want to run away to a cabin in the mountains somewhere for the next ten years.

Why observe?

NOW IS THE TIME is my answer.

You only get to do this part where you are their main influence once. You don't get to go back and be their parent again, later, and if you try you will be infringing on their own story of their own adulthood.

Worse yet. Life is not predictable. In a heart beat, health, dealth, security and freedom can all be torn away in many many ways. If your child was no longer healthy, alive, safe or secure tomorrow, what would you wish you had done today. Not a regret I want to have to say I didn't do my best to avoid.

And there you have it.

 

[marezee]

1. What do you think are your strong points when it comes to raising your children?

2. What do you think are your weakest points when it comes to raising your children?

3. Why do you think it is important to observe your child's tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, and gifts as you raise him/her?

Thanks for your candid answers faith!
I wouldn't have pegged you for a "cranky" mom! LOL!
But I too find myself struggling to control my crankiness & tongue! Especially when I'm running late (and it's not even the boys' fault...it's mine! )
I really like your answer to the third question..."now is the time." That is definitely true. The older our children get, the more exposed they are to the world and "other-than-Christian" views.
here are my answers:
1. My strong points come from my organizational skills. My boys know their schedule and pretty much stick to it with little variance or prodding on my part. They are well-fed (to the best of my ability, hehe), and we have a well-defined discipline plan in place.
2. my weak points stem from a childhood of constant control and little freedom (especially from my dad).
I tend to "over-indulge" my boys at times, which lead them to be a bit bratty and spoiled. and i think i use the TV too much, especially in bad weather.
3. I agree that the time is now to observe our children's tendencies, strengths and weaknesses. I don't want to "mold" my boys into any pre-determined form of individual. But we can at least help to unfold what is already there and what God intended them to be.
If we see a tendency for our child to be a bully, or a ballerina, we can lead them away from or to a certain goal. I think it is also helpful to talk about their strengths with them to build their self-esteem. And my boys are already saying things like "i cannot run as fast as so and so" (among other things). So they know what their weaknesses are.
I think we as parents can acknowledge their weaknesses and take that opportunity to lift them up with positive comments such as "but you are really good at _________." I don't think it is a good idea to ignore their weaknesses, though. If it is something that really bothers them, you can work on making that weakness a strength...if it is possible.
sorry to ramble!!

Anyone else want to answer?

 

[AnyaMa]

Its funny - there are people that look down on you for "not working", then those that try make you feel guilty because they also wish they could stay home but cant afford to. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems ;D

 

[marezee]

Its funny - there are people that look down on you for "not working", then those that try make you feel guilty because they also wish they could stay home but cant afford to. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems ;D

That is so very true!
And it's not only about staying home too.
there are also people who look down on you for not homeschooling or sending your child to public school rather than a Christian private school.
I say "live and let live!" God made you their mother.
Put your trust in God as He has in you.
Support one another as parents period!! not as working moms or SAHMs. Everyone has to make a choice...it's not good or bad. it is what it is!

 

[faithmom]

A little FYI...if you ever felt like the working world looks at you as having time to kill, I had proof in a wake-up call this week. A SAHM I'm friends with at the school went to the last PTO meeting, and said she isn't going again. No one is stepping up to the plate as next years PTO officers (because they so SUPERSIZE the activities, that no one has the time to commit). The statement was made by the current officers, "Someone needs to find out who the SAHMs are and call them. They have the time to do this stuff. Not us working parents."

She felt like the comment was partially directed at her, but bit her toungue. I wish I HAD been there, but was at home because my husband was at work....thus the reason I AM a SAHM! She usually doesn't go, her husband works out of town in two week stints every two months.

They REALLY do think that we are just sitting here eating bonbons!

 

[marezee]

A little FYI...if you ever felt like the working world looks at you as having time to kill, I had proof in a wake-up call this week. A SAHM I'm friends with at the school went to the last PTO meeting, and said she isn't going again. No one is stepping up to the plate as next years PTO officers (because they so SUPERSIZE the activities, that no one has the time to commit). The statement was made by the current officers, "Someone needs to find out who the SAHMs are and call them. They have the time to do this stuff. Not us working parents."

She felt like the comment was partially directed at her, but bit her toungue. I wish I HAD been there, but was at home because my husband was at work....thus the reason I AM a SAHM! She usually doesn't go, her husband works out of town in two week stints every two months.

They REALLY do think that we are just sitting here eating bonbons!

what nerve! And yes, I am sitting home eating bonbons! when I have time that is!! LOL!

 

[faithmom]

I just talked to a friend today who said it so well!

We didn't come home to make up for what the working person cannot do. Whether they work by choice or by necessity, it takes sacrifice to stay at home too. In no way does being at home for our kids obligate us to cover what they cannot do for their kids or community. In fact we may as well be working if we are not available to our kids and spouses because of volunteer obligations.

(That's the friend I mini-book club with. It just took us over 2 months to get through one light read book. Sure, we're just sitting around eating bonbons. Hmmmm....in fact I am wondering if there is ANY chocolate in my house right now, and I don't think so. My mind is moving to chocolate very seriously here.)

 

[marezee]

that's a great quote from your friend faith!
and speaking of chocolate...I was craving some last night...couldn't find anything but leftover chocolate eggs from easter. you know those ones with the foil around them that taste like wax?
but i ate 'em anyway! LOL!

 

[faithmom]

Is it just me, or did they taste better when we were kids?

 

[marezee]

Is it just me, or did they taste better when we were kids?

yeah...they did taste better then, because that's all we knew! LOL!
now we know better...like Gadiva! HAHAHA!

 

[faithmom]

Nope, no Godiva here today.
Nono Godiva here today.
WE'RE ONNA DIIIIIIET,
WE'RE ONNA DIIIIIET!

(anyone remember a similar chant from "Searching for NEMO?"

When they didn't get eaten.)

 

[marezee]

I do remember that!

"there'll be no eating here tonight, no eating here tonight!" "you're on a diet..." etc.!!
too funny!