I’m glad to FINALLY have the time to document something systematically. It’s so easy to feel unaccomplished as a stay at home mum, because much of your work and effort isn’t documented and it seems to undo itself daily (housework). At the end of the day or week, you felt that you have done NOTHING despite working SO HARD! I find myself choosing between housework, napping (so needed as I don’t through the night) or having structured play (cough “lessons”). Some days, I find myself choosing the two former choices and I feel guilty about it. Why am I staying home when I’m not “value adding” to my children’s life. I’m sure working mums face the same questions and same guilt of not spending enough time with their kids.
But I believe that if we had time to sit down and look at our children, we can see the fruits of our labour in their lives. We may not all teach math and celebrate their mathematical success, but we teach them morality, virtues and good habits, we teach them to be brave, kind and good. There might be many days where you feel like your child has learnt absolutely nothing from you, but there are also times when you feel that your child is growing up well and you are so proud of him/her. Did your ever impatient child remember to say ‘please’ today? Can your child put own his own socks and button his own shirt? Did your child repeat an instruction or a house rule, reminding himself what is the right thing to do? Who else were their teachers but you, tired mama! Did your child who spilled milk all over the kitchen, (breaking three rules at the same time because of that) took initiative to mop up the mess? At least he is trying to do one thing right!
When I was feeling down as my son had been unruly, talking to a fellow mum who reminded me of what I do best is really uplifting and needful. We are all uniquely made, with unique gifts and talents. Our children are likewise unique too, some can grasp math concepts faster , but others listen to instructions and are so ever patient and loving. I believe we are all specially chosen and placed to be the mamas of our children! Let us believe in that and let’s be a community of mums who affirms each other, and most importantly, affirm and believe in our children.
“Behind every child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.”
May this post serves to encourage mummies that you can be the best teachers for your kids =) Children catch on to our joy easily! Make teaching fun for yourselves and learning will be fun for your kids=)
Shalem and Shekinah 