On Being a Mom...

My niece, who is a new mommy, recently had a post on her Facebook page that read, "The next person who says that being a stay-at-home mom is easy is going to get punched in the face. With a hammer."

I couldn't help but laugh.  I  remember those early baby & preschool days and just how draining they were!  Even now, there are days when my children, precious though they are, take everything I have...and maybe a little more.  (Being a parent is definitely not for the fainthearted.) 

My little blessings have actually had the nerve to say to me, more than once lately, "You don't work; you stay at home.  You just do nothing all day."  Uhm. Hello???  They clearly have no idea that the words "mother" and "work" are synonyms. Who helps them with their homework, shops for the groceries, cooks their dinner, empties the dishwasher, and picks up the dirty socks they left on the floor for the millionth time??  Do they think there is a household fairy who washes/dries/folds their clothes, vacuums the house, mops the floor, packs the lunches, organizes the closets, shops for their clothes/school supplies/friend's birthday parties/teacher appreciation gifts, wraps the presents, bakes cupcakes for the class party, hems the dresses, plans the play dates, makes the appointments, takes the dog to the vet, pumps the gas, returns the library books,  deposits the checks, mails the packages and pays (at least some) of the bills??  Have they ever considered the amount of time spent driving them to and from Awanas, baseball practice, tech club, jump rope club, the playground, the library...never mind listening to way too many practices for the upcoming talent show, speech contest and science fair project presentation?  Grrh...

I honestly don't know how full-time working mommy's do it; they are my heroes & get the utmost respect.  Being a mom is hard enough, never mind having two jobs!  But working women cannot do what they do in a bubble, and those of us who don't work are often called upon to "stand in the gap" when there is a teacher planning day, school field trip or work-related crisis.  We are the ones who work our tails off for free on school-wide PTO events and classroom parties, send continual reminders to working parents who always forget to send the money in, and work on literacy and comprehension skills with each child, one-on-one.  We are the ones who are called over the summer when there's been a glitch in the day camp schedule...  (I may soon be one of those moms myself, as finances get tighter and thoughts of college are starting to loom large!)

But working one job or two -- we moms (and dads) do what we have to do.  And we wouldn't trade our kids for the world.  Still, I have to admit I'm really looking forward to the day when my grown kids become parents themselves.  I'm smiling to myself just thinking about the first time I hear one of my kids say, "Mom, I'm so tired.  The kids were sick, and I didn't get any sleep...  This parenting thing is exhausting."  I'll smile sweetly and say, "Well, you know, dear, it's not as easy as it looks. Bye, now, it's time for my Bridge game." 

Thoughts on the Chick-Fil-A Controversy

 Wow!  These past couple of weeks on Facebook have been interesting.  I have read posts that have encouraged me, frustrated me, angered me and challenged me.  I've spoken out at certain times, and decided it was best to be quiet other times.  But since I dislike having my intentions misunderstood, here's why I chose to support CHICK-FIL-A Appreciation Day on August 1st:

1.  Any Christian worth his/her salt would agree with Dan Cathy's statement:  "I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage".  As Christians, we are commanded - not just encouraged - but commanded to base our morality on the Bible.  It is the standard for Truth, which does not changed with the passing of time or popular opinions of society.  It may appear to be old-fashioned, critical, judgmental, unloving, unfair, bigotry, etc., etc.  But it is what it is, and Dan Cathy has a RIGHT to believe what does.


2.  Freedom of speech is part of the American constitution.  Nobody (not even vocal groups claiming discrimination) has the right to take that away.  We all agree that some things that are said are hurtful; some things are downright "hate speech" (although I do NOT think Dan Cathy was being hateful).  But whether we agree or like what someone has said or not, unless we want to re-write the constitution...it is still supposed to be a right!  Dan Cathy has the RIGHT to say what he said.

I understand the hostility & hurt feelings that come out of the situation.  But sometimes people need to take a step back, and use logic rather than just reacting on their feelings.  It is what it is, and not everything is a personal attack!  Having said, that, I do understand why some homosexuals may feel attacked by some Christians.  Not all of us are like that.  I have known homosexuals that I have liked very much; they are not lesser people because of their sexual orientation.

Having said that, I believe homosexuality is a sin because the Bible says it is a sin.  You can say, "I was born this way, I can't help it,", etc.  But people say that about any number of things, and if God calls it "sin", He promises a way out.  (I Cor. 10:13 - "No temptation has overtaken you but what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But...will provide a way out.")  Yes, it's easy for me to say.  Do I know what it's like to be gay or struggle with homosexual tendencies?  No! I would never presume to know that.  But what I DO know is that we all have struggles.  Our struggles may be different in kind or degree, but we all have them.  Homosexuality is no more sin than lying, cheating, stealing, premarital sex, adultery, gossip...and a million other sins that are more "acceptable" in Christian circles.  Sin is sin, and "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

The good news is that we have a God who knows all about it, and He still loves each and every one of us.  Gay or straight.