POST NINE - BEING MOM

i want to encourage you moms. i know for me there are plenty of ups and downs. days i feel like i'm at least taking steps towards being the mom i want to be, and other days i am ashamed of the mom i am being. thankfully God is gracious to us!

as i have mentioned in previous posts i am attempting to make some changes in the way our family lives life. one has been trying to establish some routines, with the goal of being more intentional - especially with the ways in which we interact with our kids.

a book i have been reading is called steady days by jamie c. martin. you can find her blog at http://www.steadymom.com/ i came across the book on a few blogs and decided to check it out. shortly after i started reading it, simple living media expanded to include simple homeschool http://simplehomeschool.net/ , of which jamie c. martin is the editor- cool huh?!

now, i haven't finished the book but i have found some practical advice, and encouragement to think about the way i am choosing to parent. here are a couple quotes for you....

...if we don't love what we do as mothers, our children notice quickly. our attitudes, positive or negative, influence them in a matter of minutes. how can we convey our love for them? by choosing to enjoy the daily tasks we perform, embracing the moments that will never be back again...

...this is a daily process and a daily choice...

i really appreciate the honesty with which jamie writes, and the heart she has for helping moms.

another mom i have been encouraged by is megan at http://sortacrunchy.typepad.com/sortacrunchy/ . (megan was previously the editor of simple kids- it was through her site that i ended up finding simple living media.) one post in particular i appreciated was this http://sortacrunchy.typepad.com/sortacrunchy/2010/03/when-the-fruits-of-parenting-begin-to-ripen-.html i find myself surprised sometimes at how strong my emotions can be, so this post made me think.

i don't know where each of you finds yourself today, but i hope that you may find something here to be of help~