My life is a garden

Weeding.  It's one of those things that I dread doing until I'm actually doing it.  Once I'm down in the dirt pulling those plant stranglers out of the ground, my mind and soul go into learning mode.

This is the most recent "learning experience" that I had while weeding...

My life is like a garden.  Because of the world we live in and because I am mortal, "weeds" are inevitable.  Weeds are corrupt things that are in the world all around us and sins that we need to repent of.  The longer we let them stay without working to remove them, the more damage they can do.  We have to be constantly vigilant to pluck them out of our gardens before they grow very large and stunt the growth of the plants that we want to grow to their full capacity.  As mothers, we are supposed to be vigilantly protecting our homes from those corrupt things.  We need to vigilantly look at the media choices we make and ask whether they are nourishing the values and habits that will lead us and our children down the straight and narrow path.

Weeds are not the only thing that can prevent our gardens from flourishing!  Sometimes we have the misconception that "more is better" and have to stand back and decide which "plants" (activities etc...) should stay and which ones need to be thinned out.  Just as a congested row of beets or carrots will make it impossible for any of the beets or carrots to spread out and grow correctly, congesting our schedules and lives with too many "good" activities will not leave the time we need to allow our relationships and daily family habits and traditions to spread out and grow correctly.

Vital learning and bonding times like family dinner, family work and skill building, family reading time and a non-rushed bedtime routine are compromised or completely eliminated.

Time to take a good look at my "garden" because these little "plants" are growing up way too fast!

"What's more important?"

Last week was spring break in our neighborhood.  At first I wasn't going to take a break from homeschooling but when Sunday evening arrived, I changed my mind.  Matt was heading out of town on Monday and I felt like the house was just too out of control for me to focus much on anything... and then I had a brilliant idea.  Actually, I was inspired with an idea.  I decided that I was going to focus on getting a few areas of the house cleaned up, but that wasn't the inspired part.  I've had these "let's get the house clean and organized" times before.  In the past I would gather the kids together and let them know the plan.  Sometimes they would go along with it pretty well at first but usually by the end I was grumpy that we weren't getting enough done or that the kids were being ornery or something.  This time was different.  I brought the kids together and told them I was going to be working to get the house cleaned up while Daddy was gone.  I was going to take lots of breaks and have lots of fun activities and snacks during the breaks for anybody who was being a helper.  We would take before and after pictures for fun.  And I had one BIG rule for myself... I would constantly ask myself "What's more important?"  Not like "is the kitchen or the front room more important" but rather "is finishing this task or holding and connecting with this child more important"...

"is getting back to work or taking an extra long break to have fun and make memories more important".

It was amazing.  The big kids took an area and went to work.  I didn't assign them an area- only gave suggestions if they wanted them.  Bethany worked so hard with a great attitude.

Jacob picked the garage first... then independently decided to mow the lawn.  He is getting so big and responsible!

  I felt very blessed while Matt was gone.The kids got along, they never complained.  The babies took GOOD LONG naps (somewhat unheard of lately), and I was able to stay calm, remember to be present and enjoy the precious little moments.

 We had so much fun on our breaks... bubblegum blowing contests,

 fun snacks that I don't normally buy, crafts & art stuff, going outside and enjoying the sunshine.

Hard work always improves their attitude and the way they treat each other.   The kids were happy because they were working hard and accomplishing something visible.

  They were happy because we were having fun and making memories.  They were happy because they were going to surprise their Dad with what they had accomplished when he walked in the door from his business trip.

 

Now let's be real here.  I don't want this post to give the inaccurate impression that my house is now clean and organized.  I have five children...three of which are three and under....the house is somewhat messy again.  We've had bad, grumpy days since these three days of amazing unity.  I have not been the best mom at times this week (probably a gross understatement).  I am such a HUGE work in progress as we all are; but I am trying to remember the lessons I learned: focusing on what is most important and doing what I can to inspire the kids to have fun and enjoy working together as a family.  

Nurturing family relationships: that's one of my most important roles as a wife, mother and homemaker because the relationships my kids have with each other will be the longest relationships of their lives.