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Parenting

"The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work." Author Unknown.

I came across this quote in one of my emails and it hit me like a brick between the eyes. You see, since our baby was born 2 months ago, I've been feeling overwhelmed and chronically behind in most of my areas of responsibility, just because babies require so much time and attention. I've managed to get some school done, but not every subject every day. And my housework and other chores seem to need more attention than ever.

So, of course, my initial reaction is to get try to work harder to keep up, getting more and more cranky as time goes by. When my children want my attention for something "less important" than whatever chore I'm working on, I get irritated with them. Sometimes I'm even short in my responses to them. After all, with everything I have to do, how can I possibly take time to play with them?

But God is faithful to bring us back into line when we get ourselves off track. He used this quote to remind me that after glorifying Him, my whole purpose is to raise my children. He reminded me that my job is not just about chores and pages of schoolwork completed. My job is to grow children!

Growing children is similar to growing a crop like wheat or corn. You can't just drop the seed in the ground and let things go "au naturale" and expect to get a profitable harvest. You have to fertilize your seeds, and remove the weeds, and water the plants when the sun gets warm, and protect it from parasites. THEN you will have a profitable harvest.

In order to raise my children for the Lord, I have to invest time and energy into their lives, and not just into the chores of our home. Only by doing that will I reap the reward of children who want to serve the Lord in their own lives. So I'm trying to focus on raising my children even while I work to catch up on my chores. I'm getting better. Today I even took some time to play a game with them!


From the Kids, by Tasha French

After hearing from my mom, some of you may be wondering what the quiver-full life is like for us kids who have to live it.

My mom was on birth-control for a long time, so I was actually an only child (and the only grandchild - imagine the presents!) until I was 9, so I know what it's like to be in a small family. However, if given the chance to go back and live my life as an only child all the way through, I would turn it down.

When I was an only child, and even when my first couple of siblings were babies and toddlers, it was really lonely. Sure, I had friends at school, but the fun stopped as soon as I got home. I'd busy myself with other things, but there wasn't anyone to play (or argue) with.

It was pretty rough transitioning to the new life, but it got a lot easier as we all got bigger. Especially in the last year or two, a lot of the older kids have grown to be mature enough to have actual conversations. Looking back, I wish that I had more siblings closer in age to help fill that gap.

We have our bad days, but so does everyone else. I wouldn't trade it for anything.


Quick Tip
K.I.S.S. -- Keep It Super Simple

One place where I try to keep it simple is when we are getting ready for church on Sunday morning. It can be a time where everyone gets stressed, and you run late, and by the time you get to church you aren't in a very good mood for praise and worship.

We use the KISS policy on Sunday mornings. I buy a box of frozen waffles for breakfast for the kids. Some eat them frozen, and some eat them toasted, but they are finger food on Sunday morning - no syrup allowed! And we give the kids their baths on Saturday night, which makes for a shorter list of things to do in the morning.

We also have a simple wardrobe for the children. My daughter has only a few dresses to choose from, so she doesn't have to think hard about what to wear. My boys have simple outfits, that happen to match, that they can wear most of the year. I only have to pick out something different if it's really hot. I keep all the parts of these outfits in my room so they don't get lost during the week. That saves me from having to hunt for a tie or belt or sock.

Most helpful, though, is our policy of being VERY early to church on Sunday mornings. We plan to be there 15-20 minutes early. That way, if we run later than normal, we still aren't late, and we don't need to get upset or stressed.

Oh, and take a few minutes to pop lunch in the crock pot before you leave and you'll come home to a wonderful lunch and a home that smells fantastic!


Philippians 2:3 (NKJV)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.