My Ramblings of Family..... Roles... Responsibilities...Sanity!!!

So I've been meaning to finish this blog entry, but I seem to always forget to do so.

      I'm married and I'm employed outside of the home, I'm a mom. I have married friends who also work outside of the home, and they are moms.  I have married friends who work in the home ('cause being a full time mommy IS a job too) and I have single friends who work outside of the home, and they're moms.

     We mommies all have responsibilities that consist of being just more than a mommy or employee. There's the cook, the maid, the negotiator, the chauffeur, the coach, the stylist, the exterminator, the nurturer, the kisser of boo boos and so much more. PHEW

        All of these responsibilities already drain you then add on a WHOLE husband!!! Good golly Miss Molly!!! I think that sometimes we take each others roles for granted in a marriage. There are these expectations that we have of each other and it seems that if A + B doesn't = C then you're not measuring up to what a wife or husband is suppose to be.

      I tell my family often, I'm not an employee of that M.M. service (the one that you call out to help tidy your unruly home)so I WON'T be cleaning up after them. What wife/mommy appreciates coming home from a long days work to pick up smelly socks, or that one legged baby doll that seems to find her way downstairs (she freaks me out)...ON A DAILY BASIS??? NOT ME! But then on the flip side, what husband wants to work all day to provide for his family (his wife doesn't work outside the home) to no dinner EVERY night?

       I really think that when life begins to get overwhelming, a family should create shared responsibilities. It should not be just mom cooking and cleaning. It should not be just dad (wait a minute what do they do again?? :-) j/k) disciplining the kids and taking out the garbage. We've learned to model the behavior and characteristics of our parents and lawd have mercy if your parents sucked at their roles and you weren't provided with the best example! That's when you learn that okay, evidently that didn't work and you TRY your best to be totally different, totally better with your family. 

                        WAYS TO GET THE WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVED

 1. Give the kids a task that is ONLY reserved for just them! 
2. Sometimes mommy may be running late from work, so dad can help get dinner started.
 3. Even if the item doesn't belong to you and it's not in the correct place, PICK IT UP, PUT IT AWAY, AND STOP WALKING OVER IT!!! (one of my biggest pet peeves...I've got a few more.) 
4. Okay so dad forgot to take out the trash and it's starting to build into this elaborate masterpiece of items being stacked up on top of each other, mom it's okay to take it out yourself.
 5. On that rare occasion when everyone is home, blast some music throughout the house and get the house cleaned together!! (no hiding things under the bed... O_o or throwing them in the closets..O_o BUT really cleaning).

  Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

  Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery --but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. 

Proverbs 31:10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.