If you are hoping this post is about how to cure that rocky relationship with your Mother In Law...sorry....that is not what Kathy Peel is going for in this next chapter.
You can read more about this book, "The Busy Mom's Guide, To A Happy Organized Home" by Kathy Peel here, here and here.
To be honest I was not sure I was interested in reading this chapter. Any family has issues but right now my family might be a lost cause until we get past school age. I would change our last name to CHAOS. Nothing is easy here I kid you not. Cooking a meal takes precision timing and much patience or disaster could strike in any way. An almost two year old and the four year old twins can make any task seem like your climbing Mount Everest.
But enough about me and my problems.
Moving on...
As mother's we are responsible for so many people. With all the "taking care of" going on we sometimes forget that we are nuturing minds as well. I know I can honestly tell you I get so involved in the physical parts of taking care of the children that I can sometimes stomp on the most precious parts.
I found it interesting that the first thing suggested in taking care of our relationships is to invest in our marriage. I will not list the ways to do this, you have heard them all before and so have I, BUT I will ask you to put that plan in action. I know my husband and I are working hard on setting up a date night once a month. We just need to find someone brave enough to babysit our four kids!
One tip that is working for us right now is to let giftedness and time availability help you out in the exhaustion department. The author actually suggested something I have used in the past.
"Dear {speaking to spouse of course}, if you and the kids pick up the disaster in the bedrooms before bedtime tonight I will have more time for you later and will not be so tired so I can actually listen to your hunting stories and watch UFC with you"
Okay it was not exactly that conversation but that is for sure what would be said in our home. The point is we need to let our specific skills help us out so tasks can get done with the least amount of work and frustration. For example, in our house I pay the bills. I would like my husband to but the fact of the matter is he can't remember to do it. Just like I have no idea about mechanical issues with our vehicles or fix it type things. My husband is much more skilled at running our kids energy out too!
Building your family team was once again brought up. By the end of the book I should have a family team with all the suggestions she gives me. One of my favorite points in this chapter is how we should never feel guilty about giving our children chores. We are teaching them life skills, coooperation, and collaboration and the idea that they live in the home too and are responsible for certain areas of their living space.
Other suggestions that stood out:
1. Be Authentic in your mothering.
2. Be Fair
3. Be willing to ask for Help {we all know that is not easy sometimes}.
4. Be Available
5. Take 10 minutes for your family {get up 10 min earlier to make a breakfast you can all enjoy, take 10 min to research fun family things to do on the weekend, take 10 min to do something special for a family member}
6. Give Praise
7. Be Willing To Negotiate - find your family's clean comfort level
8. Develop House Rules - everyone must be of the same understanding.
9. Forgive
10. Be Open and Honest about your Faith to your children
There is much more detail in this chapter and you can visit Kathy Peel's website for much more information.
Next up, FINANCES!
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