When my children wake in the morning, what do they see?
Do they see me ready to greet them with open arms?
Or do they see me — with my back to them — on the computer?
Do they see me joyful?
Or do they see me fretting, worried, or busy with my head down typing away?
Do they see me preparing for the day?
Or all of a sudden racing around, complaining about all that needs to be done?
How do they see me?
This was our second week of school. As the week wore on I started to pay attention to what first impression I gave to our children. I noticed that my tendency is to get Samuel, to walk downstairs, and “quick” check my email. For 40 minutes.
That’s not right.
They deserve more than just seeing my back. They deserve more than just dry cereal plopped in a ceramic bowl splashed with milk. They deserve more. They deserve me.
Am I starting my day right? Am I praying and dedicating the day to the Lord? Or am I becoming a slave to media — and all the things that I’m deeming important? When, in reality, they are not the true important.
So what are the boundaries?
For me, I either wake earlier or stay up later. I don’t want the tone of our day to be set by my back turned to those seven blessings. I desire to be aware and present for each of them. Joyful to see them. Managing the day. Not racing around after my “quick email check” to get back on task for the day.
I putting my foot down.
Family first. Media second.
Are these words antithetical to a blogger? Absolutely not. In fact, I believe appropriate boundaries will strengthen a writer. They provide a framework, and make writing intentional.
So tomorrow, Monday morning, I will still be linking up to Carissa’s Miscellany Monday, but I will NOT be doing it with my back to the kids. Maybe I won’t be linked till 11 pm, and that’s okay. Remember.
Family first. Media second.
That’s rightly ordered.
16 comments
Good for you Rachel! I am proud of you. Seven little blessings should come first…as you say.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
This is a great reminder. It’s so easy to just “sit down for a second” but it turns into much longer than that. Thanks Rachel!
Thank you for such an important reminder!
Good job, Rachel. You are doing the right thing. I tend to do the same thing, minus picking up Samuel *wink*
xoxo,
~bree
This must be in the spirit – I know the Lord has convicted me of this (and several other moms too). Wonderfully put!
Awesome post that we all need to read. i heard an older mom of 6 say years ago that she always tries to greet each of her children when they wake-up with a smile-no matter how early it is or how hard it is. I know that I have to start everyday with prayer and time in God’s word or my day just doesn’t go right. I don’t ever let myself get on the computer first, unless there is an emergency : ) blessings!
I’m so glad you posted this, Rachel, for I often have the same problem. “I just check me email quickly” often turns into 45 minutes when I could have been completing schoolwork, playing with my siblings, or doing chores. And they DO deserve more than that. They deserve to not see me glued to the computer all the time, even if I’m just their older sister, and not their mother.
Which reminds me, I should get off Blogger and get back to some schoolwork that needs completing! 🙂
Love,
Elizabeth Rose
I loved this post. Its an excellent reminder to all just whats most important…. our children, our family! I’ve had to do just that myself lately. Thanks for sharing!
Oh God has been tugging at my heart with this one. The other night I “watched a movie with my daugther” while I was blogging. Not right. I was so convicted. I will be setting some boundaries for “family first, media second” as well. Love ya!
I couldn’t agree more with your point in this post…and I think it’s an important one to remind ourselves…DAILY. 🙂 The Lord first, others second, and only last, to take care of ourselves and our interests.
Lots of love on this beautiful, final Sunday of summertime.
xoxo Caroline
Thanks so much for sharing your heart and your decision. I am in the midst of changes in my own life. They are big changes when piled altogether. But I want to tackle them all. I want to “do” Maximize Your Mornings (#HelloMornings on Twitter). I want to wait to spend time at the computer until we are done school for the day. I want to greet each child at the very least pleasantly each day. I want to either save my blogging for early in the morning (my better time of day) or later at night (still working on which will be better).
you are so RIGHT!!! boundaries are so good. and if you need to miss misc, feel FREE! : ) but linking up at 11pm is totally allowed. and i would really miss your misc.
luckily, i don’t have the internet to use unless kelly is home from work with his laptop… so for me, the boundaries are there without a choice. ha! it’s probably a really good thing.
by the way, praying that you have a wonderful week and that the Lord strengthen’s you as you teach and train your beautiful kids!
xoxo!
Oh those eyes!
Know that you’re in my thoughts and prayers!
Isaiah 25:8-9 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
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I’ve realized too that blogging has become too much of a priority and it’s the first thing I want to do in the morning. Now I need to focus on God first in the morning to start my day off well and then blog. I need to be IN Christ so that I can pass that along to my kids, so that I can treat them with grace the way that He treats me with grace. I’m a work in progress. Here’s to less media!
Thanks for the encouragment to remember to keep my priorities straight. What you wrote was a true blessings.