Beyond Motherhood

Philippians 4:6 (Amplified Bible)

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

Today is the end of 2009. Looking back to the year that I decided to be a stay at home back in 2008, I can’t believe that 2009 my second year journey as stay at home mom has ended. 2009 has definitely brought bitter and sweet memories, and it was also a year for me to learn accepting the fact that I am a stay at home mom. I now can gladly say that I am 80% accepted the fact and 90% sure that I won’t go back to work again. However, if I do decide to work, I choose to work at home, and I am saying no to the job offer for next year.

So, for 2010 I wanted to enjoy the beauty of being a stay at home mom, enjoying my kids, the family time together, and be a mom who makes a difference not only for myself but in the life of my family, especially.

For my record, so far….

2008 – The year when I made a decision to be SAHM and also a year where I am adapting and adjusting my life as a newly SAHM. The first couple of months were wonderful. After that things started to look a bit different, the feelings of loneliness and how I missed my friends at work, I really don’t like that feeling. Not forgetting the doubts I have about whether I had done the right thing by leaving my job. However, the most exciting and wonderful about this year was that I make discoveries about myself and life in general. Not a unique discovery but I must say that my kids are not the only ones who benefit from having me to be at home.

2009 – It was a year of accepting the fact as SAHM and also my second year journey. It was hard to remember what it was like to go to work everyday. I am more a less adapted to the new lifestyle and the birth of my third child strengthened my decision of being a SAHM, and I really need to look deep inside me. Changes make us grow and I can say that this year has proven that for me.

I am ending the year of 2009 with an open heart, open mind and looking forward to the new discoveries in 2010.

Father, Thank You for the Year 2009! There is so much to be thankful for. It was a year of bringing something new and something unknown and yet you sustained us. I thank you and glad for the discoveries about myself and life in general. Thank You for the continual demonstration of Your Love! As we are entering the New Year 2010, I pray for joy, love and peace to rest upon my family, and Lord I’m praying for a new level of wisdom, understanding and revelations to come. AMEN!

Stress is part our daily life that we must go through. Sometimes stress is necessary for our own growth. Whether you are facing the stress at work, or at home it’s all required a solution. If you are a stay at home mom like me, I can definitely understand the stress at home that we are facing everyday. So what do you do? STOP NOW! You cannot think rationally when your mind is in a whirl!

Stop what you are doing.
Turn away from all distractions.
Open your Bible to a calming verse
Pray.

Nestle into the arms of your Saviour.
Open your heart to God so He can replace your anxiety with his peace.
When you are calm, return to what you were doing
- by Delwyn McAlister

Does it work for me? Absolutely (provided I condition my mind to deal with it right away!)  Try for yourself and if you have other ways of handling stress, I would love to hear from you.

Happy Beautiful Monday everybody!

Be Aware and Care
I am stating my intention to be a more aware and caring mom/parent.
I am making a commitment to be aware of my words and actions and the effect that they have on my child.
I am willing to be more caring and compassionate whenever possible.

In the promise, what does “Aware” means?
To be aware of our parenting is to watch what effect we have in our communication and in our interactions.
To be aware means to make a choice to “try another way” if what we are saying and doing isn’t working.
To be aware means to make conscious choices for the greater benefit of all involved.

In the promise, what does “Care” means?
“Care” means “to take care” in how we speak and how we act so that we are effective and achieve the most desirable results for the situation.
“Care” means to take that deep breath before we react in an inappropriate way and then ask, “Is this the most effective way to handle this?’
“Care” means to make opportunities to appreciate and be grateful for our children in order to foster the same within.

Phew…Knowing the fact that as a stay at home mom, my own behavior is on show 24/7 at home. I’m taking a deep breath right now praying and hoping that I could make it possible to be aware and care.  I was digging my old files, and I found the above article from my parenting file which I can’t remember where I got it from. What a Beautiful Monday to be reminded.

How’s your week been? Last 2 weeks were school holidays so a little relax for me. With my 6 years old son and 3 years old daughter at home, the house is full with their noises, laugh and fight. And there are house work, laundry, dishes, my 5 months baby and all the chores, which make me, feel exhausted. I am a very high “D” at home, so can you imagine a dominant stay at home mother? If you don’t know what D is, check out this Personality D.I.S.C overy

Anyway, it’s Beautiful Monday (BM) today, and I start with a fresh week. Sometimes I overlooked the inconvenience of stay at home with the kids. Rather than complaining I want to be thankful for the time I spent with them and for all the chores at home. I want to use this time to put my heart and mind in a state of joy as a stay at home mother. So these weeks I choose patience and kindness.

Happy Monday!

For many years I have been immerse myself in my work passionately and committed. I love working passionately on something that trill me and sometimes it doesn’t even feels like work. When I decided to become a stay at home mom lasts year, I find it hard to shift myself from a working mother to a stay at home mother. The process began slowly but surely and now I am in the process of a positive change.

One of the most challenging things for me as a stay at home mother is the fact that my own behavior is on show 24/7. Children listen to what their parents say but it doesn’t go into their brain if they see their parents do the opposite. Other word is they do not walk the talk. I have to take a deep look at myself and ask if I would be happy to see my kids turn out to be something. I also realize that my kids look up to me everyday.

I have been reminding myself to be their inspiration not just a good example that I am special for them and exceptional and that make me excited to wake up every morning. I think the best way to be an inspiration is to feel inspired.

Check out my other posts
Modeling marriage for our children
Take a parenting check-up
Children need us to take of ourselves

Yes I am, sometimes. No wonder people say stay at home requires 100% commitment and 200% patient. However, I have learned to stay calm and enjoy every moment with them. Being an impatient mom I have learned so much from my kids. Many discoveries about me from my first year as SAHM (Stay-at-home-mom) that will be another post sharing my first year experience as SAHM.

So, are you depressed at home with your children? Take it easy and enjoy them while you can.