As for me and my house....

Of course, we will serve the Lord, but that's not what I'm getting at here...

Last night I went to a mom's group that involved a lot of discussion about, well, being a mother and it gave me some things to think about....

I think I have written before about how the past few years I feel like I have had to figure out who I am all over again, now that I am a mom. It's been frustrating at times. I have felt pressure to do things that other moms do. One in particular that I have struggled with, is seeing many of my friends/peers have their children heavily involved in extra-curricular activities. It's kinda stressed me out a little, to be honest. You go through wondering" how on earth can I do that?" "How could I afford that?" "Will my kids be totally lame if they don't get those same opportunities?" "Why does everyone feel like their kids have to be overloaded with all this extra stuff?" I guess I am one who can get very easily overwhelmed.

Recently, some article was circulating around facebook. Something about Rage Against The Minivan....(can't find it now). It basically talked about how over the top everything has gotten. Valentine's Day treats, etc. And I was like, "Amen, sister!"

Well, this article came up last night and one mom there had a completely different perspective on it. She actually found it bothersome that so many women essentially responded the same way I did. And instead of wanting to criticize other mom's who get pleasure out of doing these ultra-crafty, ultra cute things, she felt like we should say "good for them!", that's their talent, that's what they enjoy. Basically, why should it bother any of the rest of us if some mom's want to go out of their way to make things extra special on the Holidays? I had never considered that outlook before.

So when I got home, I was trying to process some of the things going through my mind. I needed to pray, so I did. And I think, just maybe, possibly a little, tiny, maybe dim light when on in my mind...I struggle to get this out because I don't formulate my thoughts into words very well.

So, I decided that it's OK if I feel like Holidays have gotten a little outta control. Because deep down, I really do feel that way (at least at this point). However, it doesn't need to bother me if someone else I know, or don't know, wants to go crazy with it.  It's OK if I am not comfortable with my kids being in multiple extra-curricular activities, but it doesn't have to stress me out if other moms choose to do that.

Maybe in the past it has frustrated me because I wasn't really sure where I stood on certain things. But now I am starting to understand that as for me and my house....we WILL do certain things and we WON'T do other things. And that is OK.

I needed to remember that we are all "wired" differently and can all take on certain tasks at varying degrees. We all have different thresholds and mine is different than anyone elses. And that's OK too. 

DeAnne