Self Nurturing

A huge part of being a christian parent is knowing how to parent yourself. Allowing yourself to be nutured and cared for is critical to being the type of mother who can effectivly respond to her family's needs. Though it is fast becoming a parenting cliche, it is very much like the familiar analogy of crashing in an airplane. The airmasks drop and the intercom says to put your own on first before your child's. The idea is that if you pass out while trying to put your child's mask on, they have no one to care for them and you are both lost.

Parenting is very similar in that your child needs your understanding and compassion more than almost anything. But if you feel as though you have no time for yourself and as though no one appericiates you for the things that you contribute, when your child needs your compassion, you will have none left to give to them. You could get very angry and frusterated with life in general and take it out on your child or husband, since they are the closest people to you, generally.

Make sure and take time out for yourself, even if it is only half an hour during naptime, or fifteen minutes before the kids wake up. Spend some time with the Lord and in your Bible, almost nothing is as refreshing. Go outside and breathe the air. Take your kids to the park and bring snacks for them and a book for you. Learn to knit or crochet. It's something you no longer need to feel guilty about, for it for the good of your family.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said,
“and I will make you fishers of men.”