A new Season

I have had several different thoughts about what to include on this post...still not sure what it will turn out to be by the end. This summer was so busy and went by fast. We had a ton of fun and also challenges to. To be honest when I thought of this summer in early June, I pictured relaxation and fun. Yes, those things happened, but I soon discovered that with more freedom and less structure came many unattractive behaviors in our children, and in myself as well! This was not my plan...to deal with these things, remember, it was to have fun.
Well, in reflecting on the summer I think I could have done many things better to help curb some of these selfish behaviors in us all...not trying to do so many fun things or "too much Disneyland". No, we didn't go down to FL or CA, but we did do a lot of fun stuff. I am all for having a good time, but not at the expense of breeding more selfishness in us all.
Here is an aside, but hopefully it will tie things in in a minute....many of my friends have started to get in tune with their inner "pioneer woman"...they have started gardens, canning, making things more homemade, educating themselves on the harms of processed foods, etc. I too have felt a pull towards doing some of these things and have taken some small steps in that direction. What I have seen in my friends is that they feel more purposeful...they are busy at home, not doing things that pull them away from their kids, but things they can do together (hard work helps curb selfishness in the process), while helping their family budget and health too.
Another aside, I read "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris, and in it they tell about two sisters who went to a camp out west in which they were experienced what it would be like to be a refugee. These girls did not forget their experience and began a ministry to the homeless because of what God did in their hearts through the camp.
Okay, the tie in...I think in our American culture we cater to selfishness in our children especially...our culture screams "entertain me, make me feel good, keep things exciting and busy, what's in it for me?...."...hmmm, and we wonder why we struggle with selfishness, are not as generous or others-focused as Christ desires, feel discontent, and are envious, etc. So, do I want to have fun? Sure. Do I want to have wonderful memories with my family? Of course. But, I don't want my children to be greedy, lazy, and rude. So, here are my brainstorms about how to make next summer better:
-Not let go of so much structure (not be rigid, but keep some things more consistent)
-Serve others more (bake for them, watch others kids, offer to help others in their yard- whoops I guess that means I need to weed mine better too)- ask Jesus for His eyes to see the needs of those around us.
-Have a family garden, that we all help take care of
-Can more (this year I am doing tomatoes, next year jam too?)

I'd love to hear your thoughts about all this...about how your summer went and if you too saw some of these things and what your solutions are.

Some of you may not like the next thing I have to say, but I have been mulling it over in my mind (I am speaking to myself here too)...Could it be that we moms (especially of young children) sometimes schedule so much stuff for our kids and families, or let our children run a little too free (a.k.a. don't have healthy boundaries for them according to their ages) because it is easier to keep them busy or entertained than really dealing with the behaviors we are seeing and also because it means a lack of "freedom" for us? A friend this summer spoke some wise words as I was expressing some frustration about not being able to use gifts/talents God has given me in this season of life. Don't get me wrong, I love being home with the kids, teaching them, and living out Titus 2- but sometimes it is really hard, especially when you see others doing many things now. She reminded me that I can use those gifts/talents with my children, and also that just because God is saying "no" now, doesn't mean He is saying "no" forever. She pointed out women in the Bible and other modern day woman who did/do things much later in life (after the kids are grown and they have more time). We discussed how in our culture there is this trend to try and do all these things while your kids are young, but really there is wisdom in waiting. Why do we try and be Superwoman? I don't want to have regrets when my kids are grown that I wasn't present or available to them. I am sure when the time comes to minister and spread my wings with various gifts/talents/interests that my arms will ache for my kids and this time in life- when I got to hold my kids in my arms, hear them yell for me to come snuggle with them before bed, pick up their endless piles of stuff, cut their hair, receive daily "masterpieces" of art/crafts, hear them all talking at once with loud enthusiasm about this and that, hear them fight and pick on each other, and melt when they come give me backrubs. Now, hear me, I think it is important to have down time, couple time, and time to do some things for you too Moms, but more often than not, I see that we all need the reminder to slow down, take deep breaths, and give our best to God- by giving our best to our family. May we all enjoy this crazy, once-in-a-lifetime season of being mothers of young children and may our kids remember our smiles and that we took time to listen to them.
Proverbs 27:23 "Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds."

With Love, Katie