{Day 8} The Intentional Mother

Welcome to Day #8 of the 31 Days to Professional Homemaking series.  To learn more about this series and to see the list of topics, click HERE.  Please know that I am not an expert in marriage, motherhood, or homemaking.  I'm just a woman {who happens to be a wife, mother, and homemaker}, trying to figure it all out, by the grace of God.  This series is just as much for me as it is for anyone reading.

Before we get started, I'd like to offer you the following button, in case you want to share this series with your readers:

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We're now in the framing phase of our home building project {inspired by Proverbs 14:1} where we're focusing on defining the three main roles of a woman: wife, mother, and homemaker. Yesterday, we talked about the fact that, as wives, we were created to be a helper to our husbands.  And, today, we're focusing on motherhood.

How does one become an intentional mother?  Well, friends, I must confess, again, that this is not an area of strength for me.  I am much more comfortable with some of the content coming up in this series {you know, the more practical stuff, like: practicing hospitality and feathering the nest}.  But, homemaking is about relationships.  Therefore, our husband and children deserve our attention before we get to the in's and out's and managing the home.

So, let's focus on the smallest/youngest members of our household today:

“Instead of pursuing a career with mothering tucked in around the edges, I have chosen to focus first on the mission of motherhood. My reward for this decision has been both simple and profound. I have been able to know the joys of mothering without a divided heart.”

{Sally Clarkson, The Mission of Motherhood}

My son is the reason I became a stay-at-home mom, mainly because I couldn't stand the thought of someone else witnessing all the milestones.  Plus, I knew that God had given him to me and I needed to be a good steward of this precious gift.  If He has wanted someone else to have that responsibility, He would have just given the child to them in the first place.

But, what has happened in the last two-and-a-half years of being at home with him is that I've forgotten to strive for intentional stewardship.  I make so many other things more important in my life, when I need to focus more on this child that I've been given.  I need to dedicate some quality and quantity time with this child who will become an adult in the blink of an eye.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

If I teach my son nothing else, I need to teach him the Bible.  If I'm going to be an intentional mother, I have got to dedicate more time and effort to this task.  One way to do this is through Circle Time {something I'm going to implement in the coming weeks}, which is basically just a time of Bible reading, prayer, scripture memory, and maybe singing at the beginning of the day.  It kind of kicks off the day and ensures that the most important thing {the Bible} is taught first.

Something else I want my son to learn about is Christian character, which is also something that can become a part of circle time.  I pray that he learns what it means to obey God, to show compassion to others, and to be respectful to those in authority.  Godly character is something severely lacking in society today, but if men would step up to the plate and determine to display Christian character, it could change the world.

Think about it, moms: if you have boys at home, you have the awesome privilege of influencing the next generation of men!  {As a mom of a boy, may I say this to the moms of girls: please teach her that her worth is only found in Jesus and not in the attention she'll receive from a boy by wearing a mini skirt.  May the next generation of women - who are presently girls now - be one of decency.}  

As you can see, no matter which gender you have at home {or maybe you have both}, you have an opportunity every single day with your children to teach them what it means to live out a genuine Christian life.  If we all diligently taught our children this lesson, there is no doubt that our kids will make a mark on the world.

INDEPENDENCE

The second most important thing to me is that I teach my son how to be a responsible member of society.  He needs to learn to take care of himself, as well as provide for a family one day.  This is no easy task, but it's one that definitely needs attention.

In a few months, he'll turn 4.  So, obviously, at this point in his lifetime, the idea is to focus on the basics: learning to dress himself, tie his own shoes, clean up his own messes, make his own bed, brush his own teeth...  You get the idea.  These things, as simple as they may be, set the foundation for learning.

Ten years from now, I hope that he'll know how to do yard work, change the oil in a vehicle, clean his entire room {a mom can dream can't she?}, and yes, even cook and do laundry.  I want him, when it comes time to leave home, to be confident in his abilities to care for himself and his possessions, to have a good work ethic, and to treat those around him with respect.  In other words, I want my son to grow up and be a man, not a man-child that lives in my basement playing video games all day long.  {Just saying...}

CREATIVITY AND PASSION

Another thing that I hope to instill in my son is to have a passion for something.  To pursue an interest that he can use for the glory of God.  He already loves instruments because his Daddy is a musician, but he is always free to choose something else, like art or photography or woodcarving.  It doesn't matter what it is as long as its done as his avodah.

Now, because I know that these three things are of importance to me, I need to make a plan for communicating their importance to my son.  If I never read Bible stories or teach him memory verses, why should I expect him to treasure God's word or hid it in his heart?  If I always hover over him, how will he learn to become an independent and responsible member of society?  And if I never encourage him to pursue his hobbies, how will he learn to become passionate about something?

Today's Challenge:

Each day, I'll give you a challenge: one small thing you can do to apply each day's topic to your life and your home.

Here's your challenge for today:

1. Make a list of things you want to teach your children.  They can be general things, like "teach them the Bible" or more specific things, like "teach them how to peel an egg".  If you write down some general things, though, be sure to jot down some practical ways to communicate that lesson to your child.

2. Choose one of the things on your list and teach it to your child today!

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FOR DAY #7: THE INTENTIONAL HELP MEET
CLICK HERE.

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FOR DAY #9: THE HOMEMAKER'S JOB DESCRIPTION
CLICK HERE.

God Bless,

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Linked To:
Better Mom Mondays at The Better Mom
Anti-procrastination Tuesdays at New Nostalgia
Titus 2sdays at Time-Warp Wife
Teach Me Tuesdays at Growing Home
Titus 2 Tuesdays at Cornerstone Confessions
Heart + Home Link Up at Mercy INK
Women Living Well Wednesdays at Women Living Well Ministries
Homemaking Link Up at Raising Homemakers
Works For Me Wednesdays at We Are THAT Family