Stay at home moms

   As a stay at home mom you struggle with many different things like... Am I good enough? Should I be doing more with my time? Are these meals nutritious? I just spent way to much on groceries. (How is anyone really supposed to eat healthy when the price tag on anything healthy is twice what the unhealthy version is.) Why can't I keep this house clean? If you have decided to get really brave and home school you have the added questions... Are they learning enough? Why cant I get them to understand this? At what age should I start teaching algebra (my oldest is 4 but I still tend to think this way.) When your husband comes home from work and adds, "what did you guys do all day?" Even before that my last two and final questions at least in my mind is... Where did my day go, and what did I not do today?
    First of all, as a stay at home parent you are accountable to yourself and your family. You do not have a "boss", a designated schedule, a deadline, you have to create all of these things on your own.  Well, I don't know about you, but I did not go to school to be a stay at home mom and I have no idea if what I am doing is right. I like to be a productive person but I get discouraged easily when I don't see any progress. How does a stay at home mom measure progress? I'm not really sure if there is a way. With homeschooling added to this there is a far higher level of planning, etc. You have to choose what you are teaching your kids. You have to decide when to teach them. What days are best for a field trip. What days and times are best spent at the table doing work. You also have to be flexible with your schedule(something I think I will never really get.) because it might rain when you were going to go to the zoo, or be so beautiful out side when you have chosen a set day to get caught up on things around the house.
     I struggle daily with all of these things. I am not a creature of habit. I am not great at changing plans. I worry everyday that I am completely ruining my kids. Then I realize that my 4 year old is adding and trying to learn how to read. Even better she loves, loves, loves, school!! She begs me even on the weekends to do school. Isn't that what this age is supposed to be about? To teach the love of learning. To create a positive schooling atmosphere. Even my two year old who is learning letters and numbers, shapes and colors loves it sings the alphabet and counts to 15 (we are still working on learning colors), but she is doing great listening during school time. I think that is amazing for a 2 year old. My husband has clothes to wear and food to eat. Some days the dishes even get done first thing and I keep up with them all day. The girls get fed, have consistency at home, get plenty of sleep, are happy and healthy, and have two loving parents who love them and are bringing them up in the ways of the Lord.  As far as I am concerned my job is being done. It still helps to remind your self of this. I don't think that stay at home moms should ever stop worrying though( wouldn't happen any way.) worrying is why our kids are doing so well and why our home is taking care of. I think that worrying reminds us to care.

Sincerely,
A mom around the clock