Opportunities

I honestly think it takes a lot sacrifice for working Mums and I have been wondering of late what opportunities are there for us to make use of to bond more with our children.

I have observed for a while a few children waiting for school busses in the morning with the house helps but in some cases the parents are sleeping – which I find a bit disheartening and this made me think further.

Granted after a day in the office- sometimes I am so tired I sleep like a log and I could even slip out of my bed in the morning without even having to make it much coz I wake up in the same position that I slept in.

But you know I think we need to sacrifice a little more because God has given us children to take care of. They are His- we are just but stewards and within no time they will be out of our homes and we must therefore make most of every opportunity to spend time with them even if it means freezing at 5:30am outside with them as they wait to catch up on their bus.

So I have a few suggestions on opportunities that we can use and I hope you can add a few more, let me be clear here that I am not taking  working mum on guilt trip but. These are opportunities depending on your availability

a)      Can we try and bath our children, it s great bonding time- this is when I get to hear all the “I love you Mum” and the hugs from Naked kids. The kids just love it and you get to know where is hurting, you see all the bruises and the like.

b)      Can we try to have dinner together – you get to hear all about the day and those disciplinary issues of table manners can be settled here. It is a good negotiation place.

c)       Can we try to keep our weekends as less busy as possible – spend quality time with the children, play, laugh cook, clean up the car, go for a walk and the like

d)      Can we try to dress them up for school? It is very sad that some parents never get to see their children in the morning and I understand because of Jams you may need to leave early, but if possible, can we dress them up and see them off.  This might mean waking up at 4am but it is a worthy sacrifice

e)      Can we cut down on church activities – this may sound pagan but some of us spend the entire week in the office and then the entire weekend in church related activities. My husband and I have gone on a break on Church activities. When we did our survey on the best disciplined teenagers’ in church, we realized that their parents took time off from activities to take care of their children in their formative years. I remember one of the senior ladies telling us that she would never even attend a bible study when her children were young.  

She now has bunch of God fearing young adults who are serving in church today and she is serving as a church deacon too. She says there is time for everything. So young Mums do not be deceived when you see senior ladies as church leaders and think you need to grab one of those positions now.  A WISE WOMAN UNDERSTANDS HER SEASONS IN LIFE! UNDERSTAND YOURS!

f)       Can you attend functions with them- if you must be out on a Saturday and Sunday and if the function can accommodate the children, carry them with you. Why leave them at home? I know it is work to have a bunch of kids all over you everywhere you go? But they are yours for heaven sake! So get on with it. Carry food, a rod and discipline and get it moving. They get to experience your world too. When I get invites over the weekend, my first response usually goes like this “ I hope you don’t mind , but  I will be come with my three kids too”.

g)      Don’t try to please the boss by staying in the office after 5pm – unless you are honestly working and you must. Get going home.  My advice on this, is make use of your day in the office, avoid chatting aimlessly and idling, spending all your time of facebook and the like- meet your targets so that you can confidently leave at 5pm or whatever time working hours end knowing that you have accomplished your daily work.  If it means working over lunch hour work. Because you need to balance home and office. You must emerge the best in the office and you must take care of your family to the best of your ability (children).  

How else can we make use of our opportunities? Let’s share.