Divorce: What My Son Thinks About It, If You Don't Have to, Don't. - YouTube

Divorce: What My Son Thinks About It, If You Don't Have to, Don't. - YouTube

Why Being a Mom is So Hard Sometimes: Thoughts to Make Your Life a Little Easier | Gomestic

Why Being a Mom is So Hard Sometimes: Thoughts to Make Your Life a Little Easier | Gomestic

Mothers & More | Moms Group | Connections | Power of a Purse | Website for Mothers | Support

Thought this group would be helpful to those of you seeking a reputable mothers' support group.  I personally met with women from this group and was impressed.  They were warm, friendly, good listeners, and we exchanged stories and solutions about our motherhood issues.  Visit the website to see if there is a group meeting monthly in your area.

Mothers & More | Moms Group | Connections | Power of a Purse | Website for Mothers | Support

7 Tips When It Comes to Her Children...

There are some things that mothers should remember when it comes to "other people's children".

1.  Not every child is going to get along with your child.
2.  A mother of one plus children doesn't necessarily feel up to or want to watch your children as well as her own.  So don't be offended when she says, "I will have to pass on the play date...the birthday invite...and a lunch date with all the kids."
3.  What you might permit your child to do at home, doesn't apply when your child is staying at someone's home.
4.  Don't insult the host by piling up food on your child's plate knowing full well he or she isn't going to eat it all.
5.  What might work for your child when it comes to raising him or her, doesn't apply to everyone else.
6.  No one likes the person who always has something negative to say about one's children.
7.  Don't brag about how great of a parent you are, because it's only a matter of time that children will make you out to look like a liar.

How Many Burdens are You Willing to Place Upon Your Shoulders for Your Family?

No matter what you say, some mothers will not listen to sound advice.  The biggest problem for many moms is that they think they know-it-all when it comes to all things related to parenting.  But upon closer inspection of many families, you will quickly learn that there are a lot of mothers, especially if they are busy moms, that can tell you everything about their jobs, civic groups, child’s school, etc. yet very little about their family’s personal needs or struggles, they simply don’t know-it-all.

Some moms will quickly take offense when asked  the question “why” about their family situation.  They will start hiding truth, telling lies and snap back with how they know this and that about their intimate relationship, sons, daughters and challenging situations on the home front.   They don’t need anyone to tell them otherwise.  Meanwhile, interview the family members and they might say something different (that is if they aren’t fearful of mom or worried about being disloyal).
 

Being busy is to blame for why a mom is not up on her family needs (the kind of busyness that was never God ordained, but more like being covetous and desiring to be all that society demands a mom to be).  Some moms are more concerned about getting one’s own needs met, goals accomplished and appearances kept up; rather than really sorting out whether her thoughts and deeds are conflicting with her family.  The truth of the matter is there are those moms who are listing everything they want to do for their children while the sons and daughters are quietly saying, “That’s what you want mom, but what about me?  Do you hear me?  I’m not interested in going to college…I’m not interested in your associations…I rather not go where you are, work at your company or even wear what you buy me!”  But is mom listening and stepping back?

God doesn’t put any more on a mother than she can bear.  But what do most moms do?  Take on tasks that are better suited for her family while ignoring all sound advice.  What should we do?  Let loved ones fail sometimes.  That’s life!  Permit your family to make choices without your input periodically.  Create an atmosphere where everyone isn’t dependent on you.  But nope, mom is superwoman!  She upsets her stomach and head trying to do everything for her family who can do for themselves!  Then she cries out to God, “Why?  Why don’t they listen?  Why won’t they meet me half way?  Why do they cause me so much grief?”  May I just remind you that you brought many things on yourself including an insatiable need for more money, more money and more money!  Instead of delegating responsibilities, reducing work hours, asking others to step up to the plate, and more.  Everyone has a responsibility to manage self and household from picking up toys to running errands but the question is, “When will you step back?  When will you feel comfortable to let people in your household do some things on their own?”

Moms are supposed to TRAIN a child, yet some did everything for their children, who are now adults, hoping that one day they will reap the rewards of all their sacrifices from their children.  But can I say that from my personal observation of many families, most sons and daughters create families of their own who become busy and have little time for moms.  So if you are waiting for the big payback, keep waiting, you may never see it in this lifetime.

There is a difference between a parent training, and a parent doing for his or her family.  Why is it so easy for a career mom to get that point when it comes to the workforce, but when it comes to her household she is at a loss?

A number of moms are currently so stressed and angered about their family situations and struggle with the question of “Why did things go from bad to worse?”  Could it be, for some moms, that all their preaching and bragging about how much she loves her family and “we never have any problems like those other families…” has now come back to haunt her?  Could it be that she has become a slave to her family because she took on far too many roles and gave her Creator just a little lip service in the process?   “Help me Lord…sorry don’t have much time for prayer…can’t remember when I last read your Bible, you know my kids and all…I mean I know you gave me my family, and when I have time, I will check in--just answer this prayer for me, thanks.”  Meanwhile, her husband isn’t permitted to live out his role, because she is running everything, so he just sits back and watches TV, hangs out with friends, etc.  She doesn’t need him she thinks, because “I got this…”  The sons and daughters are not allowed to live out their roles because “Mom will take care of it.”  So mom feels like she has to be all things to all people.  Then when she is informed of all of her unwise decision-making, forgetfulness, and busyness, she wants to throw a fit?  She cuts conversations short.   She yells and curses.  She gossips to friends about “the nerve of some people…”  She goes for weeks at a time ignoring wise counselors.  Why?  Because she doesn’t want to hear the truth, because she thinks she knows-it-all.

Think about this mom if this blog entry describes you, the next time you do your child’s homework, write your child’s essay to get into college, lie on an application to get some benefits, take on yet another task for your husband or boyfriend, put yourself in further financial bondage to help someone, rob yourself of peace of mind because you just have to do yet one more thing, make negative comments about how others deal with their families, brag about yourself and family… know that God sees all!   Allow Him to make your burdens light and if you don’t believe in Him or can’t hear from Him, at least, listen to his messengers before you have no family, no good health, or nothing good to say about anything simply because you choose not to change the way you think and do some things differently in your life.

We falsely assume that stress and opposition always has something to do with the devil or evil, when sometimes these things arise as warnings to let us know the following:  that the time isn’t right, we aren’t making the best decisions right now, we ought to save time and money for a future pressing need, or slow down because a crisis is ahead.  If we just pay close attention to the red flags, we could easily make our burdens light.  Take a moment to think about those things that are causing you some difficulty and start lightening your load. 

   

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:30, NIV

Nicholl McGuire, Author of When Mothers Cry, Amazon.com.  She also has another parenting blog, besides this one here.