Showing posts with label help. Show all posts
Showing posts with label help. Show all posts
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sponsoring a child...
Sponsor a child today!!! We did this years ago and the kids really enjoyed knowing they were helping a child and hearing how they were doing...time to do it again!!!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
HIRED HELP...
HIRED HELP…
People frequently ask me if I have help…I usually say yes; an amazing husband who helps with cooking and grocery shopping, and teenagers who watch the kids, not to mention the endless hands in the house that do chores.
Of course there is my very helpful family, especially my single sister who lives close by and my wonderful (I got the best) mother in love!!! They are my right hands...
One of my best qualities (sorry to sound conceded) is that I have no problem asking for help!!! Maybe it is the youngest kid in me… (I am the baby of 9) I have come to accept that it is my job is to give others grace by service…(or just serving me…)I also have convinced others that I am trying to save the earth, conserve energy, and help the pollution problem by asking others to help me out with carpool!!! They fall for it all the time…God Bless their generous souls. My kids even made a Mother’s Day “Carpool Mom” sign for a friend of mine who drove them everywhere!!!
Well, years ago my very poor and generous mom thought she would do me the FAVOR OF A LIFE TIME and offer to pay for my kids to go to the local Catholic School down the street. In astonishment I had to explain that first of all, Catholic School isn’t $20 a family like it was in the old days, and secondly and most importantly…I LOVE HOMESCHOOLING and I wouldn’t stop for all the money in the world!!! Yes, there are days…lots of days…that I second guess myself and wonder what in the world I am doing!!! What I was thinking!!! Wondering how much damage I am causing!!! But the best advice I can give is to talk with your spouse and decide together, WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY AS A WHOLE?!?! Even if you think that one would do great in the school down the street, and another would do great here…you have to remember how it will affect everyone, down to the nursing baby that will be dragged around carpool, to the toddler who won’t get to spend special time with their older siblings due to being gone all day…homework all night, etc…
Back to hired help: So, my sister, who knows and appreciates my homeschooling, suggested to my mom to send some money my way to help hire someone to come in and help me…at first we had a Sister from Nigeria, then a single mom and her daughter, then a friend(we call her Mary Poppins), now a retired homeschool mom who has decided to start a ministry to help homeschoolers for cheap!!! ($5 an hour) I have asked her on a daily basis to move in full time, but her husband won’t let her!!! She is just what I prayed for…I have the school books laid out and she sits and helps the kindergartner and the second grader. I clean and play with the one and two year old. (Really the two year old is on her lap as much as possible) We just love her and we all get so much done when she is here. She usually comes twice a week from about 8:30-10:30am.
So my advice is…pray hard for someone to help!!! Relative, neighbor, friend, god parent, etc…they are out there just waiting for you to ask. Have a list of needs, so when the old lady from mass comes up to ask if there is anything she can do for you, you can look her in the eyes and say, “yes, thank you. Can you come over and read to my two year old? How about picking up some milk for me the next time you are at the grocery store, or could you please take this to the post office for me?” Yes, I do that!!! So, when you ask me how I do it…
THIS IS WHAT I WILL SAY!!!
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Mt.7:7
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Lk. 11:9
It is even in the bible twice to remind us!!!
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+
People frequently ask me if I have help…I usually say yes; an amazing husband who helps with cooking and grocery shopping, and teenagers who watch the kids, not to mention the endless hands in the house that do chores.
Of course there is my very helpful family, especially my single sister who lives close by and my wonderful (I got the best) mother in love!!! They are my right hands...
One of my best qualities (sorry to sound conceded) is that I have no problem asking for help!!! Maybe it is the youngest kid in me… (I am the baby of 9) I have come to accept that it is my job is to give others grace by service…(or just serving me…)I also have convinced others that I am trying to save the earth, conserve energy, and help the pollution problem by asking others to help me out with carpool!!! They fall for it all the time…God Bless their generous souls. My kids even made a Mother’s Day “Carpool Mom” sign for a friend of mine who drove them everywhere!!!
Well, years ago my very poor and generous mom thought she would do me the FAVOR OF A LIFE TIME and offer to pay for my kids to go to the local Catholic School down the street. In astonishment I had to explain that first of all, Catholic School isn’t $20 a family like it was in the old days, and secondly and most importantly…I LOVE HOMESCHOOLING and I wouldn’t stop for all the money in the world!!! Yes, there are days…lots of days…that I second guess myself and wonder what in the world I am doing!!! What I was thinking!!! Wondering how much damage I am causing!!! But the best advice I can give is to talk with your spouse and decide together, WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY AS A WHOLE?!?! Even if you think that one would do great in the school down the street, and another would do great here…you have to remember how it will affect everyone, down to the nursing baby that will be dragged around carpool, to the toddler who won’t get to spend special time with their older siblings due to being gone all day…homework all night, etc…
Back to hired help: So, my sister, who knows and appreciates my homeschooling, suggested to my mom to send some money my way to help hire someone to come in and help me…at first we had a Sister from Nigeria, then a single mom and her daughter, then a friend(we call her Mary Poppins), now a retired homeschool mom who has decided to start a ministry to help homeschoolers for cheap!!! ($5 an hour) I have asked her on a daily basis to move in full time, but her husband won’t let her!!! She is just what I prayed for…I have the school books laid out and she sits and helps the kindergartner and the second grader. I clean and play with the one and two year old. (Really the two year old is on her lap as much as possible) We just love her and we all get so much done when she is here. She usually comes twice a week from about 8:30-10:30am.
So my advice is…pray hard for someone to help!!! Relative, neighbor, friend, god parent, etc…they are out there just waiting for you to ask. Have a list of needs, so when the old lady from mass comes up to ask if there is anything she can do for you, you can look her in the eyes and say, “yes, thank you. Can you come over and read to my two year old? How about picking up some milk for me the next time you are at the grocery store, or could you please take this to the post office for me?” Yes, I do that!!! So, when you ask me how I do it…
THIS IS WHAT I WILL SAY!!!
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Mt.7:7
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Lk. 11:9
It is even in the bible twice to remind us!!!
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
THE ABC AND D'S OF HOME ORGANIZATION
WE NEED TO RECLAIM OUR VOCATION AS WIVES AND MOTHERS
A) ASK FOR HELP: Push away pride, give others the opportunity to receive
the graces to serve. stop trying to be super mom!!!
1. God- be specific. The widow in the bible who kept asking the judge...beg!
2. Kids- responsibilities
3. Others-in-laws, godparents, neighbors, people from church, and especially people who ask if you need anything or offer their services. Examples:
Carpooling, wash, ironing, pick up groceries, barrow from neighbors.
4. Try not to ask your husband...I want him to be happy to come home, be open to life, and continue to want to homeschool
B) BLESS YOUR FAMILY: Rethink cleaning as blessing your family. BE A PROFESSIONAL OF YOUR HOME!!! Look like a pro too...do your hair, make up, and look nice. (especially for your husband)
1. FLYLADY- a. Get dressed to your shoes in the morning.
b. Keep your sink clean.
c. At night review next day schedule and lay out your clothes.
d. Declutter (27 fling boogie)
e. Hotspots
f. SHE (sidetracked home executive)
C) CHARTS & CALENDERS: think about what you need help with and schedule yourself and others to do it.
1. Job charts- personalize
Husband’s pet peeves (ask)
What you wished you could accomplish each day.
2. Calendars- things we forget
Specify a day for errands, etc...
Break down your day (schedule)
Planner
Meals
Exercise
Family fun
3. Routine!!!!!
D) DE STRESS YOUR LIFE!!!! This is easier for parents with little kids because they are involved in less activities and homework. BE FLEXIBLE!!! It definitely changes with out state in life...pregnancy, moving, construction, etc...
What has helped me: (discern your state in life)
1. Early bed time.
A. gives you time with your spouse
B. gives you one on one time with other kids
C. gives you time to do evening activities
D. get to sleep early yourself (pregnant or nursing)
F. those of you who have lots of children it gives them
Quiet time, personal space, and opportunity to read
2. Narrow down unnecessary activities!!!!!
a. discuss with spouse
b. limit/combine with other kids
c. kids appreciate the opportunity more and don’t take for granite
d. pray about the virtues you want your child to have
3. SERVICE
a. your state in life
1. spouse
2. children-nursery, Sunday school, CCD, sports
b. use your talents
1. offer your services to your pastor
2. volunteer at your child’s school
3. help a new mom out
All these ways take time and discernment. Just because they work for me doesn’t mean they will work for you. Take small steps and laugh alot!
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