Why do you “just” stay home?
Short nights of sleep…long days of crazy….messy hair, no make up and lots of coffee….snack after snack, diaper after diaper…tantrums and giggle fits. A never ending pile of laundry and dishes…a war zone of foam swords, nerf guns, hot wheels, dinosaurs and duplo blocks…laughter, squeals, screaming, yelling…just loud…it is so loud…all while receiving multiple comments in grocery stores about how brave or overwhelmed, or maybe a little crazy I must be to have three little boys underfoot…with me everywhere I go.
I know our world generally sees women as kind of wasted if they “just” stay home. I mean, it’s ok if I want to and all…but it’s kind of giving into old fashioned ideas of what women ought to do, right? And good gracious, look what I’m giving up…just to stay home and do what I described above, day in and day out? Wearing myself flat out when I could be doing so much more! What about my dreams, my ambitions, making a difference, a mark in this world???
Oh my heart, y’all. When did something being hard, make it not worth doing? When did giving greatly of ourselves become toxic? When did pouring every ounce of ourselves into little people who will one day go out and impact the world, become meaningless somehow? When did motherhood become something that we are expected to see as a side job? When did children become a burden rather than a blessing?
Am I hating on working moms? No. (I get it, everyone’s situation is their own.) Could we use more money? Sure. Do I have other interests? Yes. Unfulfilled ambitions? A few. Is it always a beautiful picture in my home? No. Do I have days where I just want to crawl back into bed and quit? OH, YES. Do I feel totally up to the task of motherhood? Far from it. (By the grace of God, y’all, by the beautiful grace of God.)
So how can I stand to “just” stay home. Day in and day out. Giving up unfulfilled dreams…for THEM?
Because THEY are my greatest earthly blessings. THEY are the greatest wonder I have ever known. THEY have taught me more about walking in kindness, wisdom and humility than anyone else on this earth because to care for them well, I have to. THEY were given to me to care for, to guide and to love. THEY look to me for things that no one else can give. THEY are loud, crazy, stinky, messy, beautiful, smart, incredible gifts from God.
So, why do I “just” stay home?
Well, I “just” can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing.
My Family Freedom 