Mothers who Know part 3

Mother who know are nurturers.

As much as I want to just say “DUH!” I won’t insult those people who don’t get it. WHY? Because I’m one of them. I love my children, but I am not one who has dinner ready because I am doing other things with these kids.

I grew up in a home where by the time I rolled around, my mom was tired of fixing dinner, especially to kids who didn’t appreciate it. But more importantly she had to go to work if we wanted the basic necessities of life. I never really watched her cook dinner. Either I wasn’t there or she wasn’t there. But my mother cultivated, cared for and a made grow those children given to her.

I have chosen a different path for raising my children. I’m not handy in the kitchen because I just don’t know and being creative in the kitchen is not my strong suit. Not only that, I have chosen to be with my children at their activities. I will talk more about that in a later part.
I do wash clothes, well sort of. I have taught my children how to wash their own clothes. I only wash for Steve (and of course myself). I will also do some of the family laundry, but only when it overwhelms a child.

I’m not the best homemaker and often my home is a mess, with dishes all over the kitchen, muddy floors, leaves on the carpet, blankets strewn all over and books! PILES OF BOOKS. But you first must know why they are like that. My house is a mess because my children don’t leave the home for 8 hours to go to school. There are dishes all over the kitchen because we quickly eat to get back to learning or we are going somewhere or as the case usually is: someone isn’t doing their job. Muddy floors happen because I live in the NorthWET and we are outside ALL THE TIME! (even in the rain). My house isn’t clean because people live in it and learn in it.
My house isn’t painted pretty, decorated well or very presentable because I have chosen to spend the money elsewhere—on my kids’ education.

“Working beside children in the home.” You betcha! How else will children learn unless we model it for them.

“Create opportunities to teach and model qualities children should emulate.” I get so nervous about this one. Are my children seeing me learn or do they just see me teach it? Do my children see me as a model?

“...but all the education women attain will avail them nothing if they do not have the skill to make a home that creates a climate for spiritual growth.” AMEN to that statement, but I have to do a self check here. Does my home create a climate for spiritual growth? I can’t answer that, but I know I am trying. I truly am trying to make it that way. Of course it starts with ourselves and that is where I am right now.

“house of order” I laugh because I look at my desk and it isn’t very ordered and yet, I know where everything is. And of course every day, month, year holds something new to order. We use to hold family council about once every quarter, then it was once a month and now it is every Sunday. We are going so many different ways that we need to keep on top of things. My teens are beginning to live lives independent from me (crushing, but good) and I’m having a hard time with that, but it is good. We are trying harder to make a house of order. I just need to get our money and cooking in order and we will be better off.

“Nurturing requires organization, patience, love and work.” I’m putting that on my mirror.

“Helping growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role bestowed on women.” Does He really trust us THAT MUCH!?!? WOW! I guess I better live up to it.

ps—I’m taking suggestions for quick, inexpensive, family filling recipes. Send them to doreenbl@waldsfe.org