Being There
The Lord has really been convicting me lately, and especially today, about not truly being there for my kids. We choose to be stay at home moms but sometimes we aren’t truly there. We are at home but we might as well be letting someone else raise them because we become too busy with either chores around the house, Internet, crafts, television, movies, the list goes on and on. I have personally been struggling with spending too much time on the computer. I watch TV shows on the computer and spend a lot of time on ravelry. In order to do this I allow my son to spend WAY too much time on the computer as well.
It’s somewhat ironic that today it really hit home with me while watching Supernanny on my computer. She was dealing with a family where the parents had pretty much just checked out. I realized that in a lot of ways that is me. It is so much work to be there that I haven’t been. I think part of it is my all or nothing type of personality. If I can’t always have an activity going then I think I can’t do anything and just give up.
A couple days ago it was sunny and Ben, Hadi, and I spent the afternoon at the park. It was a lot of fun and Ben’s attitude was so much better because we had done something fun together. I know I need to make some changes so that we can do more together outside and inside. Ben is a great kid and lots of fun and I have been taking that for granted.
So one of the things I am going to do is take my showers in the evening. Now this may not seem like a big deal but it is. I am always in bed when Ben gets up and then he comes and lays with me and then lays with Hadi while I take a shower. This isn’t really fair for him as he has to wait for me to be ready for the day and by the time I am I have to put Hadi to sleep or something and he doesn’t get any attention or fun with me. So my new goal is to take my shower in the evening and get up when Zeb does. Then I’ll get dressed, do my hair and makeup and be ready for fun once Ben is up. I know this will be a great start to my day and will help me to change the habit of just getting on the computer and before I know it the day is gone.
Lord, Please forgive me for being neglectful of my job as a mom. Please help me to enjoy my children. Give me the energy to parent in a way that brings glory and honor to You, as that is what it is all about. Thank you for the children you have blessed me with. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Tiffany, funny that this is just what I needed and I read it while spending time on the computer and not with my littles. Thank you for sharing from your heart and letting the Lord use you to speak to me. I too am an all or nothing type person and I can easily get sucked in to “other” things that take me away from my littles. You have inspired me to think on ways to organize my day in such a way that allows me the most time building into the lives of the children God has blessed me with instead of building into my facebook, ravelry and blogs. God Bless You.
You can watch Supernanny on the computer??
Oh, I remember those wonderful days at the park with our boys! In Albuquerque there were so many parks and we searched them all out over the years. They remembered the parks by the types of equipment … like the rocketship park, the wooden tower park… the soccer park. You are on the right track. Cherish these days. Your children are a precious gift.
Oh Tiffany, quite honestly, just you writing what you did shows what a wonderful, caring parent you are. God Bless you!