We've all heard the saying- "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy... and guess what... I believe there's some truth to that. Recently I've been so convicted about how my mood sets the tone for the whole family, whether I like it or not. And add to that that the way I start my morning sets the tone for my entire day!! Sooo therefore if I wake up and I feel a step on behind from the get go, or if I feel overwhelmed first thing in the morning... I'm probably going to respond negatively to nearly any situation that arises and just like that I've set the tone for 5 other people in my house (well make that 6 since hubby's office is in the basement and the way me or the kids are feeling usually affects daddy as well). Wow! That's a lot on one's shoulders!! So whether I want to set the tone in my home or not is not really the question, the bottom line is: as a mother I do set it. I have the ability to create peace or calm, stress or chaos, joy or sadness, positive or negative. Why? Because my ACTIONS are being WATCHED and my WORDS HAVE POWER- power to bring life or death!! Proverbs 15:1 also talks about the WAY in which we respond has an affect on people... "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." So it's not just what we say, but HOW we say it... softly or harshly. UGH! I don't think I signed up for that much responsibility when I took the plunge into parenthood...
Being a mother is job that needs to be taken seriously!! It doesn't have to be a burden, but it needs to be something that we are doing with help from a Higher Power. But since I tend to "wing" things, I find myself trying to "wing" mothering too. I find myself trying to snag an extra few minutes of sleep in the morning instead of getting up before the kids to have quiet time with The Father. THAT is usually my first mistake of the day!!! Despite the fact that I KNOW the importance of "turning to Jesus" first thing, and I KNOW what a difference 5 or 10 minutes of prayer, before my feet hit the floor, can make... I LOVE to sleep a little longer in the morning... but is it worth it?? Is it worth it to sleep longer, skip my quiet time, drink my coffee on the go, AND try to juggle breakfast... all the while kicking myself for starting my day like this AGAIN? Every time I do this, the frustration mounts, I snap at my kids to get moving and get started with school and wa-la... I have once again succeeded in creating a tense, hurried, frustrated atmosphere!! I'm speaking to myself people!!! I'm being transparent here!!
As a homeschool mom I have flexibility... I CAN sleep a little longer if I choose to, and sometimes I do. BUT I am keenly aware that often times my lack of discipline causes me to be stressed or frustrated, thus causing that kind of atmosphere in my home, and ultimately creating children who respond to each other in ways I never dreamed "my children";) would.
Am I ok with the role we mamas play on a regular basis? NO! I told my kids recently that "It's not fair that we can't just have a day where we can be grumpy and it doesn't effect everyone else!!" I said, "Just because I'm talking in this tone of voice doesn't mean anyone else can!!!" But it doesn't work that way!! We can't tell them how to act, we have to model it. And I know we can't always be happy, all the time... but the truth is- a mamas attitude affects her entire family.
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