I have started to take a more natural approach on parenting as well as eating and everyday living. And, supposedly, this makes me abnormal!
I decided to quit my job when my son was born and become a stay-at-home mommy! {this is a dying breed in and of itself} I knew I wanted to be a full-time mommy even before I was married and had kids. It has been a passion; a desire of my heart, for as long as I can remember!
I breastfed both of my children *gasp* and continued with my son well past the 12 month mark! {oh the horror!} I was unable to, unfortunately, go past 10 months with my daughter. I enjoyed every second of breastfeeding my children and if God were to bless me with more children, I will do the same with them! It is the natural way. God intended for it to be this way! Why do you think formula fed babies suffer with acid reflux?? Hello! It's not natural! It's powdered milk. Would you drink powdered milk? {as always, there are exceptions to the rule. I know many mamas who would have loved to nurse their tiny infants, but just simply could not! I am referring to people who just turn their nose up and think it as "eww...gross!".}
I became a bona fide babywearer starting when my son was 2 months old. I sewed my own baby carriers and eventually invested the money in some really good, supportive, in for the long-haul baby wraps and carriers. I enjoyed every last second of carrying him close to my heart, outside the womb, and miss those early newborn snuggles inside my stretchy wrap. We still, when the need arises, babywear, but not as frequent as we once did and I miss it so!!
Now, this one gets me a lot of weird, strange, looks...I cloth diaper!! *double gasp* And I love it!! Seeing my sons little toosh covered in cute cloth just melts my heart. It really is not that bad and it saves a ton of money!!
I enjoy cooking. I bake homemade bread and dinners at least 5 nights a week. {the dinners, not the bread}. I try, when I can, to use the freshest of ingredients to make delicious, healthy, satisfying meals for my family! It's one of my favorite things of being a housewife.
Books....you have to know by now that I love books!!! I love reading them...for fun! I love browsing the shelves of a used bookstore looking for a treasure of a find. I could spend literally hours just loooking. Libraries are like a second home to us...and I love it!!
I recently found the love of knitting. I want to knit everything! From scarves, hats, and mittens, to sweaters and socks! I get teased that I am "old"...whatever that is supposed to mean! I think I should have been born in the Little House on the Prairie era!
I have sewn my children clothes!! From dresses and pants to booties {when they were little} blankets and even a handbag for myself!
I don't drink or swear. I don't go to bars or nightclubs just to hang out with friends! I turn off tv shows that support homosexuality and haven't listened to secular music in over a year! {love K-LOVE} In fact, my hubby and I are thinking of cancelling cable altogether!
I believe marriage was meant for a man and a woman! It is a sacred bond that is taken way too lightly these days! Once a month date-nights are a must in our house!
We read the Bible to our children every night and my three-year-old can tell you the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah and the Ark, Jonah and the Whale, Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors, David and Goliath, and Daniel in the Lions Den. {that is more than, sadly, some adults can remember!!}
We are seriously contemplating the idea of homeschooling both of our children and if we decide against it, christian education it is!
We attend church services every Sunday! {and we actually look forward to it!}
I have read through my entire Bible in just 90 days and am currently working my way through it again!
I could go on and on, but maybe the most abnormal thing about me is the simple fact that I love Jesus Christ! I believe He died and rose again on the third day and that He is coming back, for me! I believe that a life filled with His love and forgiveness is a life well-lived! I believe the Word of God is true...even to this day. It is our handbook; our road map of life; and many of us do not take it seriously anymore! It is what our country was found on and sadly our country is being destroyed because they are taking Him and His Word out of it! I have the hardest time understanding the basis of atheism when I look at my children and see the work of God in their little faces. How can you not believe??
It saddens me what is happening to America and the families that fill it up! We are getting away from the idea of family and becoming more interested and involved in things and the likes thereof! We hardly spend enough time at home, parenting our children, playing with our children, nurturing our children. We are relying on the world to teach them, but then get mad when the teachings are all wrong.
Why my little rant? I'm not really sure. I just felt led to tell you all a little about what makes me not normal in others eyes and that I don't plan on changing a thing! I am a blessed child of God; a sinner saved by grace; and He made me and loves me just the way I am!
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:2
Amy
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9
I definitely agree with the sentiments here and I love that you display for your love for your family in this way.
ReplyDeleteI would point that some people actually don't produce milk (*I wave my hand in the air on that one!*) and so bottles ARE the option. And my son never had any issues with it and is actually quite....mentally ahead of where he should be. So I don't really worry about giving bottles. I've come to see that children live and the can be developmentally advanced anyway. God is good in both situations and I think a little grace is called for.
Sorry. Just got stuck on that point because I've been lectured endlessly about giving my children bottles and usually I smile and nod. However, with baby no. 3 I'm feeling more confident to just say, "Hey! I don't produce. And my children are pretty well developed here!" Again, God is very good to both types here.
But yes, on all your other points I agree that this is our God-given role in life as women - to be life givers. And I wholeheartedly am in agreement with your conclusions here.
Reading a book right now on "The Price of Motherhood" which is kinda fascinating and I'm hoping to start talking more about motherhood here very soon. It's been on the brain. For more reasons than the one!
Wow, so much of what you said is right down my alley! Actually I just went past a year nursing with my 5th child, and am very proud of myself : ) Love to cook naturally and hope to try the baby wearing thing someday! Great post, so agree with it. I will have to admit, I use disposable diapers *wink*
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Beautifully written and real! There is nothing on here that I don't agree with (although I haven't completely decided about breastfeeding solely because I haven't needed to think about it yet).
ReplyDeleteThank you for being so open!
I'm right there with you on all these points! I CHOOSE to be a stay at home mom. I nursed my son until he was 16 months old, and firmly believe that mamamilk is a perfect substance that God created us to make for our babies(that's not to say that bottle feeding isn't great for when nursing doesn't work, of course...and that bottle-feb babies can't grown normally, of courrse they can, mamamilk is an unmatched nutritional substance, that was prefectly created for our babies!). I wore him around in a sling. I cloth diapered for about four months (but gave up when our washer broke! Haha) I read my bible daily (only for the past year and a half) my children will either be homeschooled or go to a private school. I believe in the institition of marriage and have gone to battle for it on multiple occasions. I look forward to church on Sundays. And we do not have cable inour home (partially because we cut corners where we can, and partly because we are just fine and dandy without it, lol) I love cooking and baking and cleaning and making my home cozy for my family. Our meals are a mis of the comfort food my husband looooves and the healthy food I try to push, lol. I enjoy crocheting and sewing. I don't go out, don't drink...because I don't enjoy it. (Not to say I don't love me a glass of wine some evenings!) Well said. Women like this...we have our little nitch in America, but we are quite a dying breed!
ReplyDeleteLovely post, dear!
Amen! We should stay focused on Gods Word in everything we do!!
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of date nights...my husband and I try to regularly spend "couple time" together...whether it be Friday while the kids are in school (as we are both off that day) or ask his parents to keep the kids for a few hours. its very important.
I also love that your kids know who some people in the Bible are...it is SO important for us to teach our kids the Word!!
I love the photos. So precious! I started up blogging again, so thought I'd stop by and say hello. Look forward to keeping up with you.
ReplyDeleteUs too! Oh but I can't sew! I SO wish I could sew! I can't knit either. But we always talk about how strange our kids are going to be compared to all the other kids. And then we ask ourselves with all the crazy things that go on in the world why in the world would we want to be normal? I love the simple life, and I want our live to be made even simpler if we can. We didn't have cable for a long time. I kind of miss not having it. We cut up all our credit cards too! We are so strange! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteHey Amy! It's Beth from MOPS. This is a great post. I didn't know you did cloth diapers. Me too! I'm with you on all of this...well, except the sewing and knitting - I'm hopeless there!
ReplyDeleteHope you are enjoying your readings!!
ReplyDeleteMy weekly post from my notes for the Ninety Day Challenge (again its a long version) is at http://jessicaslilcorner.blogspot.com/2011/01/bible-in-ninety-days-week-2-leviticus.html and to comment you can go to http://jessicaslilcorner.blogspot.com/2011/01/bible-in-ninety-days-week-2-leviticus.html#comments
Have a blessed week! :0)
I am not "normal" either, but being a Godly woman who is committed to glorifying the Lord in all that I do makes me seem a little freaky to many people. Some have said that if you're a freak (a Jesus freak more specifically) then you are doing something right in this world. We are intentionally raising and discipling our children opposite of the world's ways. We homeschool our children because we think that is the only way to train our children up in the way they should go.
ReplyDeleteI have breastfed all 3 of our children and plan to with the one that is on the way this fall, 2 of them for a full year. And, as I usually have an overabundance of milk, I was able to provide about 2 bottles of milk a day to a baby with a heart condition whose blessed Mama (a dear friend of mine) wasn't able to produce enough milk at the time. I will say, that all 3 of my children (despite being breastfed) had some degree of acid reflux (and more than most babies) and were all HUGE spitters. Our second child had the worst form of GERD possible and had some blue episodes because of his spitting up. He was breastfed for a full year, so formula isn't always the culprit with this condition.
I love babywearing! I discovered it with our third child (wish I had found it sooner) when I was looking for a way to carry my reflux baby who was unhappy unless I was holding her straight up and down. I have fibromyalgia so I needed something that would help me, not hurt me. After many carriers, I found that I am solely a baby wrap Mama. I now have 2 stretchy wraps, a woven wrap, and a Maya tie wrap (for back carrying, otherwise I can't get the kid on my back because of my shoulder tightness), this one has a pouch area but still the wide straps like a wrap.
So all that being said, be encouraged that you are among many out there who are being abnormal in the world's eyes. God has brought me to contentment being home full-time with my children, homeschooling them, and serving my God, husband, and family. It is a process that is still on-going and many blessings have been bestowed upon me because of my obedience to my God. God continues to change for me the better!
In Christ's Love,
Andrea
What a beautiful post! I am not "normal" either :) I wish we could get together and share "being weird", lol. I don't mind standing out with my convictions but sometimes it would be nice to have more like minded women in my life....
ReplyDelete