You know, there is a stigma that stay at home Moms are lazy. That we sit around all day Facebooking and blogging, neglecting our homes and our kids....hey wait, where't the baby??? KIDDING! She's NURSING! That is how I have a moment to blog. Anywho, I digress...
Do any of you stay at home Moms have issues with over extending yourself, mostly out of combatting the stigma of being thought of as lazy?? Do you sign up to do every party, bake every snack, contribute to every art project your kids have going on because you, "are home" and "have the time" to do everything under the sun?!?! This is an affliction, I recognize this, and I quite frankly have this affliction myself.
This week I have two class picnics to attend and contribute either snacks, toys, tent, or time too...if not all of the above. I have to schedule a dr appt for the baby, I have to take my car in to be tuned up, I have dinner to cook, lunches to make, breakfasts, a house to keep clean, a dog to walk and pay attention to, and the baby...God bless her soul, my sweet baby who keeps me on my toes every second of the day that she is NOT nursing, or eating somehow.
I have a very busy life, and yet, I often feel like I could be doing more...not sure when I think this should be happening, but I do know it's all psychological. I would go to counseling for it, but who has the freaking time?!?!
So I will continue to keep doing everything I can for the kiddos, and you know what, in the long run....they will look back and appreciate that they could always count on Mom to be there....even if it was just to bake some goodies. They will look at their childhoods and recall me juggling everything I could just to make sure they know I love, support, and will be there for them as much as I can.
That makes it all worth it.
Okay, time's up, gotta run....
Monday, June 4, 2012
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Arrogance VS. Confidence
There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. How we define that line is a bit muddied, and how we keep our kids on the right side of that line can sometimes be difficult. I think it is important to keep kids humble, but still proud of themselves. They should know their shortcomings, but more so know and be proud of their strengths.
My oldest daughter has ears that stick out, straight out. She is well aware of this, we have discussed it in great length. It is how God made her, how she was intended to be, and what gives her a uniqueness. She is comfortable in her own body, and thus, when anyone says anything about her ears her response is usually, "Yes, I have big ears, and what?" She makes it a non-issue. That takes the helium out of any potential bully's balloon, really fast! She has taken control of something that could otherwise bring her some grief in her life. Instead of hiding them, having surgery, or whatever else, I taught her to embrace them, but never become arrogant about it. She doesn't make fun of anyone else proverbial big ears, she treats people as she wishes to be treated.
I was born with a birth defect leaving me missing one finger on each hand. I was ridiculed as a child. I did not know which way to turn. I internalized every comment anyone made. I grew up fearful, self loathing, and very sad. There is absolutely no reason that anyone should grow up that way, especially in this day and age of technology.
I raise my kids by the Golden Rule. Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto You. I do not buy into that, "boys will be boys," or "girls will be girls" crap. No, human beings will be human beings. I teach my girls not only how to treat people, but also, how to handle the treatment that may be put unto them. I am well aware of how things can affect the psyche of young girls, been there done that. So I take an active role in making sure that these girls do not internalize things the way I did.
As I said in the beginning, there is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. It is a balancing act, constantly, with no net. The moment our confidence makes someone else feel poorly about themselves, the line has been crossed and we are now walking through the arrogance field.
Take care in teaching our children how to be in our society today. Take care of their mental well being, their emotional well being, but still teach them inner strength. Let them know about our own internal struggles, it helps them feel more attached to us, and to open up a little more. My girls have seen me cry, have heard me yell, but most of all, have seen me smile and laugh through it all. Be human in front of our children, so they learn how to be human in such an inhumane world.
My oldest daughter has ears that stick out, straight out. She is well aware of this, we have discussed it in great length. It is how God made her, how she was intended to be, and what gives her a uniqueness. She is comfortable in her own body, and thus, when anyone says anything about her ears her response is usually, "Yes, I have big ears, and what?" She makes it a non-issue. That takes the helium out of any potential bully's balloon, really fast! She has taken control of something that could otherwise bring her some grief in her life. Instead of hiding them, having surgery, or whatever else, I taught her to embrace them, but never become arrogant about it. She doesn't make fun of anyone else proverbial big ears, she treats people as she wishes to be treated.
I was born with a birth defect leaving me missing one finger on each hand. I was ridiculed as a child. I did not know which way to turn. I internalized every comment anyone made. I grew up fearful, self loathing, and very sad. There is absolutely no reason that anyone should grow up that way, especially in this day and age of technology.
I raise my kids by the Golden Rule. Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto You. I do not buy into that, "boys will be boys," or "girls will be girls" crap. No, human beings will be human beings. I teach my girls not only how to treat people, but also, how to handle the treatment that may be put unto them. I am well aware of how things can affect the psyche of young girls, been there done that. So I take an active role in making sure that these girls do not internalize things the way I did.
As I said in the beginning, there is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. It is a balancing act, constantly, with no net. The moment our confidence makes someone else feel poorly about themselves, the line has been crossed and we are now walking through the arrogance field.
Take care in teaching our children how to be in our society today. Take care of their mental well being, their emotional well being, but still teach them inner strength. Let them know about our own internal struggles, it helps them feel more attached to us, and to open up a little more. My girls have seen me cry, have heard me yell, but most of all, have seen me smile and laugh through it all. Be human in front of our children, so they learn how to be human in such an inhumane world.
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