Like this:

I don’t rant very often on my blog, and I’m not quite sure that this will really qualify as a rant when all is said and done.  Lately I’ve noticed an alarming number of stay-at-home moms who seem resentful toward their children and bitter about how their life has turned out.  I’m not saying I don’t have days now and then when the idea of a job isn’t appealing.  The grass sometimes looks greener on the other side.  But I’ve done the working mom thing, and trust me, that grass is brown and dead!  I’m not saying I don’t have days when I’m frustrated and feel like a failure.  I’m not saying there’s not times when I feel unappreciated.  These things happen from time-to-time, and all of us have experienced those emotions at one point or another. 

Being a stay-at-home mom requires a lot of sacrifice.  I would know.  I gave up my career, my car, and my nice house to do it.  I believe that giving my son this time is more important than any of those things, and I acted on that belief.  And while I have a bad day from time-to-time, there is not a single moment that I regret it.  I know many other moms who have made the same or a similar decision.  I’m also noticing that many of those moms are bitter about the life they lead and the things they have given up.   

If it weren’t for Ethan, I wouldn’t be surprised if I felt that way.  In America, we feel like we’re entitled to all sorts of things.  So many of those things we feel entitled to are blessings.  Time for ourselves for example.  What a wonderful blessing when we get it!  But not necessarily something we are entitled to.  A job that gives us a sense of fulfillment and purpose.  Once again, a blessing, not an entitlement. And if any job were able to give us this, certainly it should be motherhood!  Spending time with our kids.  Once again, a blessing, not an entitlement.  Their days are numbered.

So many of the things we spend our time complaining about are truly blessings.  When you lose one of those blessings, the ability to spend time with your child for example, it all starts to come into focus a little better, and you realize what a blurry lens you were looking through before.

Stay-at-home moms out there – treasure this time with your little ones.  Make it fun.  Be creative.  May your patience and wisdom grow each and every day!  Take on the challenges with a joyful attitude.  Wipe off that blurry lens, covered with the dirt and grime of daily struggles, and see your little blessings more clearly.  There is NO better job than this!!!  Stop playing the “could’ve” game.  Yeah, you probably could’ve, but you would’ve missed out on a much bigger blessing that God had in store for you – your children.  He has chosen you to watch over these little lives He created.  He has blessed you with the ability to be their primary caregiver.  Even though He created them, He has placed their care and their fate in your hands.   You are not persecuted.  You are blessed, cherished and entrusted with possibly the greatest task a person could ever be given by a loving Creator and God.  It really doesn’t get better than that, even on a bad day!  It can all be taken away in the blink of an eye.  Don’t waste it.  Don’t spend your time building up resentment.  Don’t lose sight of the treasures you have been blessed with.  Persevere.  His mercies are new every morning.  His faithfulness is great.  His love and His blessings have been poured out on you.

I want to hear a lot more moms bragging about their kids and the fun they’re having with them!!!!!!!!

Here we are, rather frustrated, trying to get Owen to sit still for a family picture. There is such beauty in the "bad" times!

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