I have heard it said that what is down in the well, comes up in the bucket. How is your well? In our modenrn world, many moms overscheduletheir families, leaving little time to think of enriching themselves. Charlotte Mason encouraged mothers to read and to learn. I call this momculture.
Momculture is a triple blessing. It blesses you as a mom, blesses your families, and all those with whom you associate. Homeschooling "how to" books often tell mothers that they need to take care of themselves. However, this message is usually found towards the end of the book, after everything about homeschooling. This seems almost as an afterthought. Your role as a mother is far more important than to be a postscript.
Consider the analogy of air travel and think in terms of it representing motherhood. Adults on a airplane traveling with children are taught that in case of losing cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop down and that the adult should secure theirs first. If they try to help their children first, the adult may not have enough oxygen to do so and may endanger both themselves and their children. With the oxygen mask on, the adult is better able to think clearly and care for those who are less able to care for themselves. So, put on your oxygen mask!
In homeschooling circles, I see a lot of moms putting themselves last, neglecting self, and burning out. I am not proposing neglect of children and husband, or selfish indulgence by moms. I am not saying to stop serving our families. However, even Jesus needed to withdraw from the multitudes at times, to replenish! Then He would return and serve others. .
What can you do to fill your inner well and cultivate momculture in your life?
9 Ways to Fill Your Well and Nurture Momculture in Your Life:
1. Pray always.
Carry a prayer in your heart. Moms can find great reserves and strength to do all they need to do, from taking time to cultivate their souls. I find that taking time to draw near to God early in my day, can replenish my soul, bring clarity of thought, increased my patience, and renew my strength. Then I can rise up to do what I need to do daily.
2. Study His word
Yes, study His word, even it you ponder just one verse a day.
3. Read Good Books
Take time to read something challenging and something inspiring, even if you read just one page a day. Have a book in your purse, diaper bag, or on your handheld device, and have another book to read by your bed. Improving your mind can be done in as little as 15 minutes a day! Then you can share what you learn with your husband and children, blessing them as well.
4. Take Time to Exercise
Enjoy a short brisk walk. Walk alone, with a friend, or with your children. Exercising with your children helps them develop good habits too. Work with your family in the garden.
5. Enjoy the Arts
Take time to listen to great music, go to museums, and listen to lectures (live or online). Take your children with you to cultural events; it will enrich them too. Play majestic music while you drive in the car or while you work with your children at home.
6. Establish a 90-minute Quiet Time
Everyone, including you, can benefit from quiet time. This does not have to be a nap, just quietness, such as resting, reading, drawing, writing, quietly building, or playing a quiet game
7. Get Your Beauty Sleep
Beauty Sleep are the hours before midnight. Take time to get the best sleep you can. This is more difficult when you have infants. If you have small infants or sick children, know that babies grow up and bodies heal. Grab what sleep you can.
8. Simplify Your Schedule
Less is more. Now is the time for a simpler schedule, as things improve, then you can do more of what is really valuable to you and your family. Simplify your schedule, declutter your home, and simplify routines, so you have more time for taking care of you and more time for your family.
9. Develop a Hobby or Talent
From the time you carve out, consider learning about and developing a talent. Perhaps it could be playing a musical instrument, blogging, developing a lost art, such as cooking, sewing, or creating with your hands
My Journey to Momculture
I studied Fine Art and Design in my undergraduate years. I collected the tools and supplies I needed to continue creating, but somehow with young motherhood and homeschooling, those tools began to rest dormant. One day, while my husband was out of town for an extended time (over a year), I felt the need to create. I had five children at home- 17, 10, 8, 4, and 1. I laid out a 4 x 8 foot sheet of plywood on the dining table and got my stained glass supplies out. I drew a huge Tree of Life and over the next months transformed the drawing, myself and my family. Routines were simplified and yet, we accomplished more! Even home school was transformed and streamlined. My children learned more and retained more.
At first, when my last baby was colicky, we moved homeschool to the afternoon and slept in. As I found ways to help her, we were able to move to a better schedule. I began ro rise early and had my daily time in His word, praying, seeking, listening, and learning. While my children slept I took early morning walks to jump start my day. I had a teen aged daughter there, so my children were not left alone. We ate breakfast together then sprang into action making the beds. We home schooled in the morning. I began with a family devotional and reading aloud from great literature. We had quiet time after lunch. I had a colicky toddler I was still nursing. Sometimes I napped and sometimes I worked on my stained glass piece. We enjoyed dinner together as a family, cleaned up together, and took time together in the evening. We tidied before bed, so we could wake to a clean home. By taking time to build my talent, I created an award winning 3 x 6 foot, 1000 piece stained glass window, developed a cleaner smoother running home, created "Power of an Hour: Gateway to a Classical Education" for my children (to simplify home school and create consistency), inspired my children to find joy in the learning journey, this enriched my soul, too, this also filled my loneliness with joy, and we all got better sleep.
Taking care of yourself and developing your talents can bring new life and energy into your home. Your example alone can help your children break out of limiting mindsets and can inspire them to try new things. You will find out quickly what things in your life that you just need to let go, as you carve out a time and space for changes that need to happen. I invite you to put your oxygen mask first, nurture yourself, fill your bucket, and enjoy the new clarity, reserve, calm and joy that doing this can bring. Start with baby steps and move forward towards victory. You will be amazed what good the little tiny changes can create in your life, in your family, and in your friends!
Enjoy the Journey!
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