How I survive and stay sane...

working, being a wife, and a mother to three kids.....

Since I have only 16 days to SAHMhood, I thought I would put up a post to explain how I've survived and stayed sane for the past 5 years of working. Of course, it was a LOT easier with one child, but now I have 3, so it is VERY difficult.

I've survived and stayed sane by:

1. Allowing myself to not feel guilty if my house isn't spotless (this took a LOT of time..in fact, I'm just getting good at this)

2. Keeping the house semi-straightened by spending about 5-10 minutes per room in the 'living' part of our house every day.

3. Divide my laundry into days. Monday is non clothing items, Tuesday is Towel/Washcloth day, etc.

4. My mom comes once a week and helps me clean some.

5. Sitting down and relaxing before bed

6. Having a one-on-one with each child every day (even if it's just a hug and a kiss).

7. The weekends!! I play catch-up on the weekends.

Basically, the MAIN reason I've stayed sane over these 5 years is:

1. God (I can't say enough about His goodness to me)
2. I have a great MOM who takes WONDERFUL care of my kids.
3. I have a GREAT Husband who is very considerate and is not demanding that everything be perfect.
4. I have GREAT, well-behaved kids who don't stress me out. I can't imagine coming home from teaching kids to my undisciplined kids. UGH!

And probably the main reason is:

I am a totally calm person who worries about virtually nothing. I thank the Lord for this. I credit my personality for the main reason I'm haven't had a nervous breakdown. I love my life and my Lord. Life has been and will continue to be blessed. I so look forward to my SAHM status!! I'm so thankful that God has allowed me to have the wonderful opportunity to SAH with my precious children.

Read Alouds

We do a Bible chapter every night as a family, but we also do a read-aloud chapter from a chapter-book. We have been reading on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and now are on Through the Looking Glass.

I.cannot.get.into.this.book

If it had been me only, I would've quit after the first chapter, but my son begs to read it every night. Alas, we have only one more chapter in this blessed book.

Thank goodness.

Next on our list is Aldo Applesauce by Joanna Hurwitz (?). It's got to be better!

Menu Monday

Well it isn't exactly Monday, but I wanted to post my menu for the week:

Monday: Enchiladas (see picture--YUM--recipe is pretty easy, and fresh cilantro, I love!!)

Tuesday: Fisherman's Fish (easy--marinate in Creamy Italian Dressing for a few minutes, put in a oiled casserole dish, sprinkle with crushed chips and shredded cheddar cheese), Hashbrowns, Sweet Peas

Wednesday: Something EASY since it's church night --frozen pizza or cereal

Thursday: Shrimp Gumbo & Rice

Friday: Hamburgers

The weekends are come what may! :) Sundays we eat at my MIL's usually (morning and night, bless her ;P )

Transparency

Well, in my hunger for being the wife/mother God wants me to be, I have come across many great books, one of them being, "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald. This is a great book that dispels the myths Satan would have women believe about their true role as women.

One thing the book touches on is being transparent (or, the lack of). I had to say "Lord forgive me" because I am so guilty of covering up my weaknesses because of pride. We (I) don't want anyone to think of us (me) as being less than perfect. I think we have society, namely, media to thank for the misconception that most women are and should be, perfect. We should all appear to have it together.

Also, I am guilty in my duties as a wife/mother of trying to achieve perfectionism for reasons other than doing my best for GOD. Of course, I should be doing my best for or because of my family, BUT I should first and foremost be doing my best to fulfill my duties for GOD. There is nothing wrong with 'having it all together'. We should be trying our best to, in fact, 'have it all together'. But if I am doing it for self-gratification instead of servitude then I am wrong. This is pride. I know a lot of women struggle in this area.

I so want to be changed in this area. It may be hard to do overnight, but God can help me. I want to serve my family for the right reasons. Of course, I do it because I love them, but I want any Pride about being Miss Housewife USA to be squashed out. I don't want to fulfill my duties to prove what all I can do as a homemaker or see what kind of great housewife I am (it isn't to be measured anyway--our best and abiding by God's word are what counts) but to serve my husband and children.

So I'm being Transparent. What do you struggle with?

PS. Megan, I have several books if you will tell me what you want to read, I'll ship you one.