More Questions and Answers...

Hope you are all enjoying your week! With my girls being out of school since last Wednesday, we've been keeping pretty busy. Unfortunately, the weather hasn't been cooperating enough for us to hang out at the pool, but we've been in need of rain, so I'm not going to complain! Today, I've decided to answer some more questions, so let's get started!

OK, the next set of questions I was asked came from my sweet friend, Mommy Mac. She, first, inquired, "Do you think it is important for a mom to stay at home after her children go to school? Now, I'm certain that my answer is going to offend some of you, which is certainly NOT my intention! I'm only sharing with you my own opinion based solely on my own life experiences. Look out hot water...here I come!

Yes, I do think it's important, though not imperative, for a mother to stay at home after her children go to school. Why, you might ask? Well, when I was growing up, I had a mom who stayed at home with all three of her children. For me, there was no greater comfort than coming home from school in the afternoon to find her waiting for me with a huge glass of cold milk and a plate of chocolate chip cookies. She'd sit with me in the kitchen and we'd talk about everything that happened during the day. Those were special times because she made raising me (and my brothers) a top priority. She never complained about being a stay-at-home mom or "losing herself" because of it. She knew, we ALL knew, that it was her life calling...and we were very grateful. So, when I had my girls, I knew that I wanted to be at home with them, and for them, through all their growing up years. I've been blessed with the opportunity to go on field trips with them, be room mom, and to pick them up when they've been sick, or had a doctor or dental appointment. I think it's given my girls a sense of security to know that they can always count on me to be there. Now, this isn't to say that I don't feel mothers shouldn't have the chance to chase their own dreams, or that I don't understand that current economic times may not warrant a mother to remain at home. I'm not implying that at all! All I'm saying is that for me and our family...home is where I need, and want to be, until my girls are off on their own.
Do you have a housekeeper? Only in my dreams! LOL! Actually, I think I'm too picky about how I want my house to be kept, so I choose to clean my own house...free of charge! Well...ALMOST!

Do you live close to family or far away? The closest family we have nearby is Chris' mom and brother who live in South Carolina. It's about a 3-hour drive to their house. With my parents both gone, and one brother, I only have one brother left who lives in northwest Arkansas, so it's a long way from Georgia! I have many aunts, uncles, and cousins who live mostly in Arkansas and other parts of the south.
How do you keep your family dinners at the table TOGETHER with all your kids' activities? Well, that is not an easy task with Chris traveling 3-4 nights out of each week. Then, of course, the girls have all sorts of things going on all the time. So, we just do our best to eat an early or late dinner, if need be, so that we can have that time together without infringing on other plans and responsibilities. We do have a "tradition" of going out to dinner together every Friday night as a family. Brittany will even tell her boyfriend or friends that she'll have to meet up with them later because we're going out to eat. It gives us time to reconnect as a family.

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."~Desmond Tutu