I am so pleased to publish an interview with Susie Wales, a homemaker and writer who is also an adoptive mother. Susie left the paid workforce after adopting her oldest child as a newborn. She has some very special perspective to offer on adapting to both the big and small waves that we all face in what Shakespeare once called “the tide of the affairs of men.”
Your labor is meaningful--yes. Simple and very true, and an encouragement for you and others.
The constant nature of motherhood... *sigh.* Learning when to work and when to rest, and learning what real rest is, are ongoing challenges for me. On the verge of welcoming another baby and also balancing the emotional needs of teenagers, with kids in between with all kinds of growth and challenges, means I absolutely have to prioritize how my time is spent. I’m still not great at this, or at least as decent at it as I feel like I should be. But sitting in a pew on Wednesdays or Sundays or in between (there are services every day at my kids’ classical Lutheran school), sitting in a Bible study, a (or a few) book studies, talking to real Christian women and men with their own lives...these are moments of rest that I have come to really cherish. A short answer to a huge topic, but I’m so glad it was brought up here.
I particularly loved Susie's observation that being a mother is an "always on" job, so of course we - as human beings - need sometime when we are "off." I myself am extremely prone to keep going when I need to rest, often with (what should have been foreseeable) bad consequences.
Exactly. It’s hard to stop when the work never ends, but the work never ends, so rest is absolutely necessary. God grant us the wisdom to know what to do when, including rest.
Wow, you certainly have multiple loads happening at once, ESO! I like your list of things that replenish you. It sounds like "sitting" is a key component. That and rich conversation. I hope you continue to take rests even as you enter another taxing season with caring for a new child!
How beautiful. "When I see my husband and children developing personally and bonding together as a result of my efforts to establish a sense of stability and care, it motivates me to continue to serve. It also reminds me that my labor is meaningful in the lives of my family."
Yes I loved that! I believe that all jobs -- rightly seen -- involve service to other people. When I was a practicing lawyer, it was often repeated that we were in the "service industry" to our clients. It is good to see being a mother and a homemaker is also a "service job," but one in which you get to see your meaningful impact on the people you love most.
Dec 9, 2023·edited Dec 9, 2023Liked by Ivana Greco
I am much better at seeing ways I have *not* helped my family than ways that I have. I may need to get better at looking for evidence of the good things rather than being down on myself about perceived failures! Susie's words inspire me.
Ah, yes. In fact, this post took me some time to write. It took time for me to weed through my struggles with shame and an unhealthy perseveration on my shortcomings and failings. I was able, though, to see some shimmers of real meaningful work shine through. I think those glimpses are graces from God that help me to keep going in the day to day grind. I'm glad you felt encouraged!
"It took time for me to weed through my struggles with shame and an unhealthy perseveration on my shortcomings and failings." Good for you for taking the time! This i how we grow insteaf of treading water. Again, I feel inspired!
Your labor is meaningful--yes. Simple and very true, and an encouragement for you and others.
The constant nature of motherhood... *sigh.* Learning when to work and when to rest, and learning what real rest is, are ongoing challenges for me. On the verge of welcoming another baby and also balancing the emotional needs of teenagers, with kids in between with all kinds of growth and challenges, means I absolutely have to prioritize how my time is spent. I’m still not great at this, or at least as decent at it as I feel like I should be. But sitting in a pew on Wednesdays or Sundays or in between (there are services every day at my kids’ classical Lutheran school), sitting in a Bible study, a (or a few) book studies, talking to real Christian women and men with their own lives...these are moments of rest that I have come to really cherish. A short answer to a huge topic, but I’m so glad it was brought up here.
I particularly loved Susie's observation that being a mother is an "always on" job, so of course we - as human beings - need sometime when we are "off." I myself am extremely prone to keep going when I need to rest, often with (what should have been foreseeable) bad consequences.
Exactly. It’s hard to stop when the work never ends, but the work never ends, so rest is absolutely necessary. God grant us the wisdom to know what to do when, including rest.
Amen!
Yes, I often go to far and everyone feels the edginess.
Wow, you certainly have multiple loads happening at once, ESO! I like your list of things that replenish you. It sounds like "sitting" is a key component. That and rich conversation. I hope you continue to take rests even as you enter another taxing season with caring for a new child!
How beautiful. "When I see my husband and children developing personally and bonding together as a result of my efforts to establish a sense of stability and care, it motivates me to continue to serve. It also reminds me that my labor is meaningful in the lives of my family."
Yes I loved that! I believe that all jobs -- rightly seen -- involve service to other people. When I was a practicing lawyer, it was often repeated that we were in the "service industry" to our clients. It is good to see being a mother and a homemaker is also a "service job," but one in which you get to see your meaningful impact on the people you love most.
I am much better at seeing ways I have *not* helped my family than ways that I have. I may need to get better at looking for evidence of the good things rather than being down on myself about perceived failures! Susie's words inspire me.
Ah, yes. In fact, this post took me some time to write. It took time for me to weed through my struggles with shame and an unhealthy perseveration on my shortcomings and failings. I was able, though, to see some shimmers of real meaningful work shine through. I think those glimpses are graces from God that help me to keep going in the day to day grind. I'm glad you felt encouraged!
"It took time for me to weed through my struggles with shame and an unhealthy perseveration on my shortcomings and failings." Good for you for taking the time! This i how we grow insteaf of treading water. Again, I feel inspired!
Thank you! It's hard work. Your encouragement has reminded me that it's worth it.
I agree - well said!
Thank you, Dixie!
Thank you, Ivana, for sharing this and for adding your kinds words at the beginning and end. And I love the art you chose!
Thank you Susie, it is so fun to pick out art for each of the different authors!
Very inspiring 👍
Well said that 'my labour is meaningful in the lives of my family ' . It holds true for each one of us who strive to make a happy family 😊
Thank you, Mona!
"It is gratifying to know that my work is not just nice, but essential to our family culture. "
I love that. We need the dignifying reminder of being an integral part of a whole.