*This post and series is mostly for me in an attempt to keep track of what the logistics of life right now, but feel free to read if you’d like! 😀
So kind of sort of for the first time in 8 years I feel like I’m coming out a bit from under the ‘survive the day just do the basics’ mode and now I’m able to start refining some of the details of my vocations of mothering and housewifery.
I still have a long way to go but I think I’m getting a hold of a few things I haven’t felt I could get a hold of until now. There’s always been and still is my laziness, weakness, exhaustion, feeling overwhelmed, worn out, bored, etc. and all of those are fine at times, but I see areas I can do better in and it’s been a long time since I’ve felt I could start to tackle those areas.
God has helped us in these last 9 intense years and continues to help us. This is just one more season of His help.
I seem to finally have the mental strength and physical energy back. I’m feeling better physically. I’m taking steps to strengthen my body with some post-partum Physical Therapy, getting more exercise and trying to be more conscientious about how much I eat.
I’m also just now starting to feel settled after the upheaval we’ve been through over the last 2 years. Moving 2 times will do that. But I feel we’re finally letting our roots set.
And we are in a new phase of Babydom. Life is still babies, toddlers, preschoolers and young kids, but it’s a different phase of this mother thing. The phase where some of your babies are becoming big kids. And that changes the game.
They can do more, not only for themselves, but for Mama. Gerhardt can mop, take out the trash and replace trash bags. Clara can empty the dishwasher and wipe the table. Lily can wash dishes, put plates away, sweep and fold laundry. They all put away laundry and toys and books and love to vacuum!
When I’m not head down in all the grime and grit of work only I can do, I’m more free to Oversee, free to plan and guide my babies into what I want for them in life.
I’ve been inspired lately by some of my moms of many friends who are blazing the trail ahead of me. I’m eager to learn from them how they make their home work. For years I’ve weeded through what works and what doesn’t and learned that both of those change frequently. But routine has held steady, some kind of routine has to be in place.
8 kids has been hard. I think I’ve said it before, I’ve just felt like I’ve been going from one fire to another all day for months. And I have. With 8 kids there usually some kind of fire or another blazing somewhere. But it’s been the in between times that drive me crazy. Like I’m just standing at attention ready for the next fray when I should be cleaning a toilet or mopping or reading a book.
It’s a lot of balls to juggle in a day! Mom, wife, house and ME!
I don’t know how long this strength of mind and body will last but I’m enjoying for now and hopefully the ground work I’m laying right now will benefit all of us when Mama is back to that mushed into the floor feeling.
I’m very proud to be “just a wife and mother.” This is my life’s work, my babies are my magnum opuses (magnum opi?). I’m happy to help my husband and make a home for him. I want to be good at these things or at least do the best I can. This is a high call. I would say the highest call for a woman.
So I’ll jot down my plan of attack in this series. Here is how I’ll proceed for this season in my call of mother, housekeeper and wife.
God bless and keep you, Aubri, for knowing and accepting your vocations of wife and mother. So many women rebel against it. May you be renewed daily in the Word to fulfill your vocations.