A Manifesto for Joyful Mothering

My SIL posted a link to this on her blog a few months ago and being in need of some encouragement as I deal with a rather fragile child lately*, I decided to make it my own. Moments ago, I spent a little time rewording it a little bit to fit me and our family a little better, printed it out, and hung it in the kitchen where I'll see it often. There's lots of great encouragement to raise kids the way I long to-with joy, grace, lots of hugs, and aware of God's constant presence. Here's the original version, hope it's an encouragement to you too!

*I think the anticipation of the new baby is affecting Ella (and all of us) quite a bit. She's had a hard time obeying lately and been tearful and tantrum-ing more than ever in life in the last couple weeks. She's also been much more clingy to me and MUCH more affectionate than ever in her life (that's been a positive thing!) It's nice that rather than just acting out, she can verbalize things like "Mom, I just need as much time with you as possible before the baby comes" or "I'm worried you won't have time for me when the baby comes" except that it's completely heartbreaking!! Anyway, we'll get through this transition but I needed some hang-it-on-the-kitchen-wall-type encouragement!


A
10 Point Manifesto for Joyful Mothering



1. Today, I will make our home a house of prayer. I will pray at set times. And I will invite our children to come move into an interior space that lives with God.


2. Today, I will transfigure all things into beauty, and I will refuse to see anything else.


3. Today, I will not have any emergencies. There are no emergencies! Only amateurs hurry.


4. Today, when stress mounts, I pray to dismount it with gratitude. My stress management plan will be intervention with verbal thanks. I can only feel one feeling at a time, and I choose to give thanks at all times. Fight feeling with feeling!


5. Today, I will pray to speak words that are only STRONG words, words that make these children feel strong. Grace words. Grace is the only non-toxic air. All other words I breathe are death words.


6. Today, I will pray to be consistently consistent. I will create safe rhythms that our children can find security in. I will create daily ceremonies because everyday we are CELEBRATING the gift of now!


7. Today, the moment when I am most repelled by a child's behavior, that is my sign to draw the very closest to that child.


8. Today, I will hug each of my children as many times as I serve them meals -- because children's hearts feed on touch. I'll look for as many opportunities to touch my children today as possible --- the taller they are, the more so.


9. Today, my priorities will be all Things Unseen.


10. Today, I will laugh! And I will let the little children laugh! I will create a culture of JOY!