I am a stay at home mom!

A typical, nothing planned, at-home day goes about like this: the children wake up at approximately 7 am. That of course means that I do too! We have breakfast. I clean up while they play, then I usually join them, and we do something together. Sometimes it is reading books, or dancing to some music, or whatever they are up for. Usually, though not always, I will get us ready for the day. This tends to be a rather drawn out process, as the kids like to run around in their diapers for as long as possible. Eventually, I motivate myself to get some chores done while they either "help" me, or continue playing. Chores and, odds and ends, are inevitably interrupted at a few points, in order to tend to the children in their needs. Sometimes we have snack time, and sometimes we skip it, because it is already lunch time! It all depends on how on-top of things I am that day I guess. After lunch, I again clean up while the kids play, and then we decide on some winding-down activity, to prepare them for nap-time. They love to read stories, but occasionally, I will allow them to watch a video instead, which they also love doing. So after we read stories, or watch a video, I will put them in their cribs and they will take a nap. Nap time does not always go so smoothly, but either way, they generally do go down for a nap. Since I am pregnant, I need as much sleep as I can get, so during their nap, I usually try to nap too. Otherwise, I will do other things that I can't do as well with the kids awake, i.e. showering, reading, computer stuff, finishing up chores, etc. When the children wake up from their nap, it is usually close to when Peter will get home, so I start planning dinner, and sometimes bake, while the kids and I interact and play. I usually try to include them in whatever I am doing, if it can be done. Then Peter comes home, we hang out with him and cook, eat dinner, sometimes have dessert, play and hang out as a family, then start bed time rituals, which sometimes includes bath time, almost always includes story time, and always includes song and prayer time. Again, bed time does not always go this smoothly, but we sure hope it does, and either way, the kids do eventually fall asleep. Peter and I then usually spend some time together. A lot of the time that means watching a movie or a favorite TV program, or perhaps just talking and catching up with each other on the day.
I love being able to stay at home with my children. I very roughly outlined our typical day, but what I am not able to express through this rather wordy overview of our schedule, are all the little things that make the day come alive... the times where I laugh at the adorable and hilarious things my little Dominic says. Or the moments that I turn around to see that my little Stella has dressed up in her favorite pink, fuzzy, sparkle scarf and blue hat with the rhinestone flower on the side, feeling and looking oh so pretty! Or the moments when Dominic wants to cuddle with me, or Stella picks out a book and brings it to me with a huge smile, obviously wanting me to read to her. Or the times when we put on music and just dance together. It is soooo adorable to see them dancing. Or the absolutely priceless times, when Dominic says: "I love you mama!" and hugs me. They never cease to amaze me, or melt my heart. Sure there are days that are, to say the least, VERY trying, but at the end of the day, no matter what has happened, I thank God for the blessing of their precious lives, and for the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mother, where I can experience and enjoy their presence on an every day basis; where I can be there for all of their firsts; where I can care for them in every way, and be the one who raises them.
The idea of writing this post came to me after I saw a show about mothers who had finally gotten enough "courage" to proclaim their true feelings about being stay-at- home mothers. Although they love their children, these women basically admitted that they found stay-at-home mothering to be extremely boring and not nearly as satisfying and fulfilling as it was hyped up to be. They talked about how they felt trapped, and couldn't stand all of the "mommy and me" play groups, and kids' books, etc. To that I would have to ask: what exactly is their motivation? I won't deny that there are times that can certainly be monotonous and mundane. There are times when things can get rather tedious and frustrating. If their goal, however, was to satisfy an urge to fulfill their life and put meaning to it, then they are going about the issue backwards. Children are a gift from God, not a check mark on your "fulfilling things to do" list. You glorify God in having children, not yourself. And yes, having children IS so extremely fulfilling, but the fulfillment it gives you comes when the aim to love and fulfill is directed at them.
The feelings in themselves are not particularly what I was struck by. Feelings come and go, and there can be such a huge range to them. Rather, it was their acceptance of these feelings; the fact that boredom and unfulfillment were apparently their overall experiences with stay-at-home motherhood. I just have to wonder how their children felt when they heard this. Any situation in life will surely bring difficulties, but if you have the right focus, you will be able to see the beauty of the whole picture and not just the small cracks in the paint . I want to make myself clear that whether or not one stays home with their children full time, is not the issue here. Each family must make their own choices and decide what works best. I am specifically speaking about what I heard the women on the TV program say in regards to their experience about stay-at-home mothering.
I suppose that after watching this program I was inspired to express my thankfulness at being able to stay at home and raise my kids. I know there are a lot of moms who would love to be able to do this, but cannot. While I have found myself very overwhelmed on more than one occasion, I have to admit that there is nothing in this world I'd rather be doing than raising my wonderful babies full time. And simply put, it is for them that I chose this, and in return, I have experienced the most wonderful moments of my life! God has blessed us so much, and one of the things I am so thankful for, is the opportunity to be able to stay at home with my children.