Yesterday was one of ‘those’ days at our house. The kids were flip flopping between perfect angels and little monsters. They always know when Mummy is having an extra hard day, and they capitalize on it. By then end of the day I was wondering why they only go to school 3 days a week.
It’s because of my desire to be ‘Perfect Mum’, ‘Perfect Missionary’, ‘Perfect Wife’, ‘Perfect Friend’, and ‘Gifted Musician’.
Basically, I want to be ‘Super Woman’.
Growing up, my Mother, my sisters, my teachers, the advertisements on the city buses (‘Girls Can Do Anything!’) all led me to believe that I was capable of EVERYTHING. Even the Church Leaders sang that song: “I can DO ALL THINGS through him (Christ) who gives me strength“. Phil 4:13 (NIV)
The problem is that I can’t. I can’t be ‘Super Woman’. I fall short in so many areas. Being Perfect and Gifted takes A LOT of work. It’s exhausting.
This morning as we got the kids ready for school, the Mummy Guilt began to creep in. If I was a better Mum, I wouldn’t send the kids to school. I’d be able to do the house work, cook gourmet meals; I’d play guitar, piano and sing like a virtuoso; I’d enjoy every moment of every day with my children….
If I was just Super Woman…
But I am not. I expressed my doubts about sending the kids to school to Darling Husband. I was surprised and encouraged by his thoughts: “I’m glad the kids are in school. They enjoy it. We are not perfect. We’re not ‘Super Man and Super Woman’. I get more work accomplished. They are learning Thai (really fast), and even though Samantha is a little shy, she really does thrive there”.
For many years I have weighed the Homeschool vs. School options, and Homeschool always came out the favourite. Philosophically. They get to be in a secure home environment, away from bullying peers and teachers. I can take them to visit friends and we can go on outings like the park and zoo together. I don’t miss their ‘formative’ years. Homeschooling is cheaper – this is a HUGE advantage.
But Practically? Work suffers. Relationships suffer. Children suffer. I try to structure the day with homeschool activities and outings, but by the end of the day, the kids are beating each other up and Mummy is ready for Happy Hour. And Daddy is frustrated by constant interruptions from Little Monsters/Perfect Angels.
Okay, back to being able to Do All Things… for the sake of clarification, I do believe that I can Do All Things through Christ’s strength. But I believe that this is a learning process. Today, I don’t have the capacity to be Super Woman… perhaps I never will. But as I commit each day to Christ, and ask Him to be my strength for TODAY, I will slowly build up my Mummy Muscles, Wife Muscles, my Musician Muscles, My Missionary Muscles, so that each day I will be able to Be Better and Do More than the day before.
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. Phil 4:13 (AMP)
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt 6:25, 33, 34
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