We both can’t be tired at the same time…

A slice of advice:

Raising a family is both a blessing and a challenge.  Often you have both parents working outside the home and if you’re a stay at home mom you have more work than can be handled between the hours of 9-5.  The key is to work as a team.

I remember some years ago my husband and I were running with the busy-ness of the day and we were both ready to pass out. My youngest at the time wanted to go out to play and neither one of us could see straight, let alone think straight. 

Of course this was a problem because it created tension and strife.  When the two of you are tired it can create anger and resentment toward each other. This is important to keep in mind and why you both can’t be tired at the same time.  Don’t let resentment build.  Get rest when you need it.  

The demands of raising a family take a lot of work, sacrifice and discipline. Your family must be a priority, but so should your marriage relationship.  Keeping love alive is the key to a successful marriage and in doing so you keep the family well and strong.

Traditions!

Today I want to talk about traditions.  What are traditions? Traditions are the handing down of opinions, doctrines, practices, rites and customs that are passed on from generation to generation.  When my husband and I first got married we used to alternate between families’ in order to celebrate our respective traditional holidays. He had traditions that he grew up with and I had traditions that I wanted to follow. 

After many years of family gatherings and raising a family we soon realized that we needed to incorporate what was meaningful to us. Our traditions were the templates used to create traditions of our own.  Two of our favorite celebrations are Christmas and Birthdays.  Although birthdays were not celebrated in my husband’s home, they were very important in my family.  Growing up, we only had cake on special occasions like birthdays and weddings. 

How do you break away from traditions without breaking them all together?   You incorporate a little of his-story and a little of your-story to find the value in those celebrated traditions.

It may seem that traditions are unraveling, but they are not. It is what links the past to the future allowing your family the chance to create traditions of your own.

Let love be your guide...

Teaching moments:

When my youngest daughter was just a toddler she loved to play hide-and-seek.  One afternoon, I remember picking her up from grandma’s house and found her playing with her best friend.  The mother of the child was so taken by my daughter’s act of grace.  She said that my daughter knew where her friend was hiding and yet she would prolong the search and announce, “She’s not here, she’s not here”. All the while knowing exactly where she was hiding.  What was she doing?  She was extending grace.  

I learned something that day: first, I learned that we always have an opportunity to show grace.  Secondly, we may know of people’s flaws and be aware of their insecurities.  Sometimes people are doing the best they can for the stage of life they’re in.  We should extend grace, not judgment.  By extending grace we can be an example to them by allowing love to be our guide.

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Networking!

Today’s culture focuses on the importance on networking.  Your relationships at home are equally important as those cultivated outside of your home.  It is important to build relationships, but they should start at home with your family.  

I took a long ride recently with both of my daughters.  It was a spur of the moment event and it was fun. We literally had a laugh fest. It seemed as though everything was funny that day.  We took time to leave the routine of our day and made it fun.  

Take time out of your busy schedule and schedule some fun times with your family, whether you’re a single mom, or a family of four, take some time to have fun.  This is how memories are made.  It’s those spur of the moment events that they will long remember. So take time today and play!

Throw me flowers

Tirar me Flores – It’s a Spanish phrase I taught my husband which means: whisper sweet words to me.

My husband is a driver and has worked the night shift since the day we met.  I have always worked the day shift.  We are like two ships passing in the night.  When I go to bed, he is still at work and when I get up he is still sleeping.

When responsibilities differ, one may not fully understand what the other person has experienced that day or that week. I try never to call him at work, unless it is an absolute emergency.  I need him to drive safely and get home to us safely.  So 

I try to handle it the best I can. 

Speak soft words not harsh words: a soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up strife -Proverbs 15:1.   I can complain when he calls or I can ask how his day is going, I choose the latter. 

Remember to speak kind words at the right time, edify each other often. You see it’s easy to let our days get the best of us.  I have been the one home with the children Monday through Friday, and the burden of responsibility has been overwhelming at times.  Thank goodness they grow up!  

When I say to him, ‘throw me flowers honey’, I am reminding him to speak sweet words to me and I to him.

Be Mighty!

If you give up when trouble comes it shows that you are weak: Proverbs 24:10

Being a strong woman has more to do with our mind then our physical strength.  We women need to be strong not for the sake of it; but because we need to be examples to our children.  We need to leave them a pattern for which they can follow.

Being strong gives them hope for the future, it helps them realize that no matter what happens, we must persevere, we must keep living and look forward to the future.  I like to think of my mom, she’s my hero.  She is my example of one who perseveres: to persist in anything undertaken, to maintain a purpose in spite of difficult circumstances.

My mom is the reason I can keep moving forward. She has been a great example to me and to my own children.  When challenges come, and they will, don’t give up, be mighty and keep persevering.

(read more at:  http://www.womensavemoney.com/faith-and-life/be-mighty  

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How are you watching?

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness (she doesn’t waste her time). Proverbs 31:27

How does she watch?  By listening, by keeping her ears and eyes open to see what is going on in her home: she is aware of what the kids are watching on the television/computer.  She makes sure she knows who their friends are and with whom they are keeping company. She makes herself available to her family. She loves her family and shows it. 

She is not so preoccupied with her tasks that the children don’t have her attention.  She guards her home from predators; those that would come to bring harm whether by words or deed, neither by friends, family or foe.

She guards her family like the lioness watching her cubs. She is not idle (lazy) she takes care of herself, husband and children.  She takes care of her home making sure everyone has what they need.