Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Roles

It's been a while since I've posted!  Like 5 years!!!  Too many social media outlets are getting more political than I like, so I'm going to try this out for a while again!  I think it's a little more my speed. 

The husband and I took a trip to Washington D.C. and Maryland a few weeks ago and had such a great time.  This was a kid-free trip, which is hard for me because I LOVE being with my kids.  I enjoy talking to them, playing games with them, and like to hear about their day after school.  So many people have warned me about how fast time goes when kids are young that I have tried to make it a point to savor every moment.  So, this little four-day trip was a hard decision for me.  I didn't want to miss out on anything.  I didn't want them to miss me.  But, at every marriage retreat and any marriage-related book that I've ever read, the common theme seems to be that kid-free trips are important for marriage.  So, I went...so our marriage could continue to grow and we could get a taste of what life is like without changing a diaper, getting out of a car without unbuckling a car seat, and eat a meal without chopping up someone's food into bits.  As much as I missed my kids, I enjoyed our little trip.  And I learned a little about me.  It was relaxing and I realized that in order for Mom to stay sane, sometimes she just needs to get away and get refueled to be a better Mom.  So, my new encouragement when I see new moms is to get away once in a while.  Leave the kids with grandma or a babysitter...even if it is just for a few hours.  You'll find out that you are not only a Mom, you are a wife, a daughter, a friend.  We shouldn't let one role define us.  Think about our ultimate role model...God has so many beautiful names throughout the Bible.  Those names define His character.  Blessed Redeemer, Savior, Father, Messiah, Emmanuel.  I could go on for a while.  He doesn't get stuck on one name, one role.  He embraces them all and He desires the same out of us.  Be the best Mom ever, but also be the best of all your roles.  Your kids are watching and they want to be just like you.