Welcome
In the United States it is summer and children are getting out
of school. Often that means things are less hectic around home.
At least there is no homework to get done every night. Use that
extra time to do fun activities with your children or maybe even
read a book you have been wanting to read yourself. You can even
catch “lightening bugs”. Does anyone remember doing
that as a child? Fireflies are the technical term for “lightening
bugs”. As a child we would catch them and put them in a jar.
We would poke holes in the top of the jar and that would be our
nightlight for at least one night. Having fun with your children
doesn’t always have to cost money.
Come visit our CWM blog at http://christianworkingmoms.blogspot.com
and share what you appreciate about Dads.
Article – Celebrating Dads
In June we celebrate Father’s Day. Do you know the one gift
I think most Dads would appreciate and is free? An encouraging word
or thanks for all they do. A troubling trend for years in the media
has been to make Dads look stupid, irresponsible, and generally
clueless. The sitcom I last remember that presented Dads in a respectable
fashion was the Bill Cosby show. You knew that he had rules and
his children had to follow the rules. Also, you saw Bill Cosby and
his TV wife work well together as parents.
My dear CWM sisters in Christ I have received emails from many
of you who are frustrated that you have to work or your husband
wants you to work outside the home. Many women have shared they
cry about not being able to stay home with their children. We all
come into marriage with expectations and those expectations are
not always met. I think if your husband knows how unhappy you truly
are about working he must feel he is letting you down and is not
good enough for you. That can be a terrible burden to carry for
him. Please do not hear me saying you need to suppress your feelings
and get over it. That would be denying the facts. What I am saying
is be careful about how you express your frustration to your husband.
Make sure you let him know you appreciate how hard he works outside
the home and inside the home. In your family you may be the sole
breadwinner and your husband is a stay at home Dad. Make sure he
knows you appreciate all the things he does to support the family.
I also realize as a CWM you can feel that no one appreciates all
you do. I hear that and can understand that feeling well. Yet, as
Christians we are told to build one another up and speak kind, gentle
words. Our mates are not our enemies and they deserve our support.
Honestly, men often don’t hear kind words at work or from
friends.
Now, I am also aware that many of you are single parent Moms. The
father of your child may not be supporting them financially or emotionally.
You are in an extremely difficult situation and it can be overwhelming
and frustrating. May I offer a few words of wisdom I have gained
by being a therapist for over 25 years. Do not belittle or put down
your child’s father in any way, no matter how lousy a father
he has been. It is much better for your child to discover that on
their own than to be repeatedly told by their Mom what a loser Dad
is and has been. I know it stinks, but it may be years before your
children totally realize the truth about their Dad. When they do
learn the truth they will appreciate all you have done. God also
sees and acknowledges all you do for your children.
Our entire society seems to be focused on putting others down
rather than lifting one another up. As Christians we are called
to bless one another. We are called to be different. We all could
learn from Proverbs 16:24, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” As CWMs let us
be known for blessing our children, husband, and all those around
us.
Final Thoughts
Take time at the dinner table for everyone to go around the table
and share one thing they like about each member of the family. Your
children may think it is stupid, but you will find out how your
family members view one another. We can never encourage each other
too much.
