Newsletter Issue 2

January 2006

The Sometimes (...ok, most days) Overwhelming Task of Keeping a Home

I recently read that it's vitally important for a Christian mom to keep her home clean, as a representation to her children that people who are washed clean by the blood of Christ cannot live in a place that is dirty.  While this is interesting, I do not believe that "cleanliness is next to godliness," and I do not believe that my children will be less Christ-like if the home they were reared in was not perfectly spotless.

That said, I do worry over the little details and think about those little crumbs that are deep in the corners under the cabinets & practically impossible to reach with an everyday sweep.  But ladies, we cannot obsess!  The same book mentioned that it's important for a mother to participate in many other domestic arts, not excluding: knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, gardening, cooking, etc.  Now, I don't know about you, but I've got 3 kids, ages 4, 3, and 2, and though I aspire to know how to do all of these things well, I've little time to accomplish all of them, let alone keep a clean house and a menu together. 

Today, after reading that, I had lofty goals!  I got the kids up, had them make their beds, dress themselves, put away the dirty laundry, and then we read the Bible together.  And I guess my 4 year old and 2 year old didn't get the memo that Mommy was going to accomplish a lot today, because they were fussy and demanding.  Breakfast was late on the table, because I was dealing with bad attitudes from the boys.  I think that training our children and being consistent is far more important than keeping a clean house or even getting a meal on the table at a certain time--so I dropped my schedule to discipline the children.  Breakfast was chaotic--the boys didn't like the scrambled eggs I made & only wanted to eat the waffles--so again, more training.  They put their plates in the sink, as usual, but then there was strawberry jam on the top and down the sides of the table, as well as all over the booster seat.  I was able to clean some overdue dishes out of the fridge, wash all of the breakfast dishes and clear out the dishwasher while the kids spent time working with the playdough they got for Christmas.  But then there was playdough on the table, floor, booster seat, and in their finger nails. 

I read them stories, sang hymns, made lunch, cleaned up more dishes and messes, started some laundry, started marinating our dinner, changed diapers, had many more "training" sessions, etc.  But notice--I didn't clean--I only kept up what had been messed up.  When naptime came, I had planned to work on my gardening ideas, to figure out exactly what seeds to order before February, when my peppers need to be started indoors.  I turned on my new Tchaikovsky CD and went to work.  After a while, the CD put me to sleep (though I do love it!), and I ended up taking a short nap.  Then my husband was home, the kids were awake, and it was time to start dinner.  It had been a full, and pretty typical day. 

And yet, if I truly believed that cleanliness was next to godliness, I'd be kicking myself for not having scrubbed the kitchen floor.  And I've got cupboards that need organizing because of all of the holiday baking (things were shoved back in place and are now out of order).  I'm certain there's dust.  We have white cabinets that constantly need cleaning off.  The bathrooms could use a touch up.  The rug could have been vacuumed.  But I can't feel like I failed, because the day was full!  And what would have I changed?  There wasn't really room for much else.

While it would be nice to be in a position where I could always keep my house spic and span, that's not where I am at right now.  'Tis the season to be training--over and over and over and over.  And that's where I find myself.  My children, and training them, and my husband, and loving him--are to be the most important things in my day.  Don't get me wrong--cleaning house is important.  If our home is clean, we can host and minister to others, we create a haven for our husbands to retreat to when their work day is finished, and we make a more peaceful atmosphere for our family to enjoy each other.  It is important.  But not at the sacrifice of the family. 

So when do I actually clean my house?  Well, I don't have a set schedule at this point--but it usually ends up happening on week nights or on a Saturday mornings, as needed.  I usually do vacuum with the kids, most days...It just didn't happen today.  This is the season that I find myself in, and I can't worry myself over the things I didn't accomplish.  And I guess I'm writing this so that you don't either.  Let's not put expectations on ourselves that we cannot meet.  We are not Martha Stewart, with a whole crew of people getting her jobs done for her so that she looks good when the camera comes on.  We are real-life Mommies, who are busy and have lots of important things happening throughout the day!

Focus on Him

This is the time of year when people around the world are creating "New Years Resolutions."  If you are creating such a list, or even if you aren't, let me encourage you to add "time with the Father" to your daily to-do's.  I know, we moms have a lot to do!  So let's not put this "time" in a box.  It doesn't have to be at 5 am, before the kids wake up.  It can be, but it doesn't have to be.  It doesn't have to be during naptime, or after the kids go to bed.  Again, it can be, but it doesn't have to be.  Even if you can take a moment to read the Bible with your kids--at the breakfast table, or before you do anything else in your day.  Or during dinner--or whatever suits your individual family.  (I've just started going through Training Hearts Teaching Minds with my boys each morning).  Or--write a verse down on an index card, hang it up somewhere you'll see it (like by the kitchen sink!), and then repeat it over and over to your children.  One good idea I heard is to emphasize to our kids what their identity is in Christ.  Maybe a nice starting verse would be Ephesians 2:10.  Whatever the method, my challenge this month is that each of us focus on the Father--for our own benefit, and for the benefit of our family.   

Last, but not least...

The drawing!  This month's winner is Kris C. and she has won a Serious Moms t-shirt!  Congratulations Kris!  Anyone who is interested in purchasing Serious Moms items, check out our store: www.cafepress.com/seriousmoms!! Or, keep your name on this newsletter list, and who knows, maybe next time you will win!