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Mom celebrates Independence Day in November

No, I don’t have my holidays mixed up people. Today, I am writing from my mobile office where no one in my family knows how to find me and I have wonderful surroundings, safe, quiet and most of all, no one here knows me as Mommy. Should I feel bad about the excitement that’s running through my veins? Should I lessen the grin on my face? Nah. This is the beginning of new beginnings.
I first want to thank the women in my life who are redefining what it means to be wife and mother. As much as I would say to myself, “I am not going to be like my mother and centered my whole life around my family.” Well, images are powerful and I recently looked up and guess what…I was my mother. Even though I was coaching, writing, working in ministry, I wasn’t committed to a schedule, so if something else came up, I would bail on what I had to do. Some would say that this is compromise/sacrifice and it’s all part of life, but we, as mothers, have to be careful about the examples that we are setting for our children.
Children are always watching and they take seriously what you take seriously. For example, if you tell them that they have to make up their bed EVERY morning and when you wake up, you see them watching TV and the bed isn’t made up, but you let it slide because it’s the weekend/they had a late night/the sheets have to be changed anyway. Then, they don’t believe you, they don’t take your requests seriously. Now, maybe I’m the only inconsistent flake reading this, but when you’re tired/distracted/overwhelmed, then you know what you do…you miss out on the REAL life lessons like showing your children who to build a full life.
I used to get frustrated when I would be sitting in the tub or on the phone with my door closed and the kids would pass by my husband, come and find me to ask me a question like “Can I have a cookie?” Even after I tell them only interrupt me if its an emergency, they swear its an emergency that one of them sat on the others toy and now it smells like “boo-tang.” Yeah, that’s a quote. I let it happen or I snapped at them with some remark like, “Can I get just one iota of privacy?” or “Leave me alone. I’m hiding. Go ask your dad!” Well, I understand that my attitudes about this and other related household matters have to change, so here’s my new response: 1) I’ve made some signs to put on doors where I am taking my private time and the rule is See Sign, Don’t Knock! 2) I am saying to them: You all are so blessed to have 2 parents. Don’t ignore your father. He’s part of your life too, you know.
See, we, as women, set the tone, set the atmosphere in the household and until we realize that we have to make peace in our house by being peaceful ourselves. Then, guess what, you are going to be more committed to your massage, your mobile office, your bath or whatever it takes to make your full life.
Don’t you want your children to independent of at some point? Don’t you want to empower those around you to care for themselves just in case, God forbid, something happens to you? How will they learn if they are never given the opportunity? It’s independence day yall. Not just for me, but for my loved ones too. I know it will go well…if not at first, eventually. Consistency is the key to developing any new habit, right? Leave a comment and let me know if you are due an Independence Day.

© 2007 DahGurl.