Steady Mom

Portrait of a Steady Mom's Bad Day

Photo by Paul Downey

A note from Jamie: We survived Hurricane Irene, with only the loss of a tree in our front yard. While we do a little cleanup, here's a post from last year. It originally published on August 30, 2010. Be kind to yourself if you're having one of "those days."

7 am - Morning starts off just a little too late (I pressed snooze instead of getting up straight away), so I have to remind myself not to rush or feel frazzled.

10 am - Elijah proceeds to throw a 20 minute tantrum (Imagine non-stop panther screams inside your house.)

I go to furthest corner away from him as possible, muttering things like "Help me, Jesus" and "Kind, detached policeman, kind detached policeman."

Are You Taking Responsibility for Your Energy?

Photo by tom@hk

Written by contributor Megan Tietz of SortaCrunchy

Are you on Pinterest yet? I love the daily dose of inspiration it brings into my life. I’ve found project ideas for my girls and myself, sewing tips and tricks, imaginative recipes, and amusing social commentaries.

As someone who believes strongly in the power of words, some of my favorite pins are quotes that speak powerful truth into my life, seemingly always at the moment I need to hear it.

A few weeks ago, I came across this pin of a sign proclaiming a message from Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor:

Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space.

Such a simple statement, but it touches on a profound principle: we are creatures composed of energy, and that energy is always radiating outward into the space we inhabit. We simply cannot minimize the impact of our energy on those around us.

Moreover, as adults, we have the benefit of fully developed and matured emotional, physical, and psychological systems, which equip us for taking full responsibility for the energy we exude in our homes.

Does this thought frighten or excite you?

I have to admit, when I first began to ponder it, I felt convicted of another way I was doing things wrong as a mother. Sometimes I revert into Survival Mode and it’s all I can do to make sure everyone is physically safe with tummies fed and bodies clothed and shelter provided. It can be daunting to think about how to reign in my energy so that our home is an emotionally and spiritually safe place to be every day, too.

But then I remembered that the other side of the responsibility coin is privilege. In a season of life when I feel that I am being tugged on in a dizzying number of directions, this is something that is completely mine. I don’t have to be a victim of the energy of others. I can experience the joy of being able to nurture, guide, and direct how everyone around me experiences me in any given moment of the day!

Photo by AJ.Mat

As I’ve been more mindful of taking responsibility for the joy I bring into my home, I’ve found a few practices that make the process fun and fulfilling.

Don't Sit on the Sidelines

Photo by joelk75

You can't win a game from the sidelines.

You can't win in parenting either.

You have to get in the game.

So when your kids say, "Mommy, can you come and xyz with us?"

You say, "Yes!"

When things are not going well between siblings, you start building a Lego tower in the living room and watch how fast they join in.

The past month or so has been unpleasant at home. Not how I once imagined or hoped it would be. This lifestyle takes work, and dealing with sibling bickering is a big part of my current job description.

But part of the reason for the unpleasantness is that I've been sitting on the sidelines.

Wanting to read my book and can't you just get along while I do so? Wanting to finish up some blog work, and why are you guys arguing again? Wanting to finish this recipe and why must I constantly be interrupted?

Busy with the Living