Have you ever felt like a robot?
Moving from one activity to the next - day in and day out – meeting deadlines, giving reminders, picking up debris – going through the motions … void of emotion.
Mothers are the ’heart of the home’ – but we can perform like a machine! And in so doing, we send a message to our family that we have no feelings, are immune to pain and can perform on command. Like a wind-up toy! In turn, when they expect us to keep moving as if we’re super human – we struggle to convey the pain. They struggle to understand.
Weren’t we the mom capable of working around the clock without complaint – just yesterday? Skipping meals, burning the midnight oil, winding ourselves back up with caffeine!
I marvel at the ability God graces us mothers to keep moving – regardless of ourselves. This emergency response system keeps life on course in hard times, we’ve all been there. It’s a gift! But in everyday life, robotic mothering can rob us of life’s rewards and literally wear us out – before our time.
Like you, I like to taste my food, feel the beat of the music and ‘hear’ myself think. I like textures, fresh breezes, and the sound of little feet across the floor. The familiar rhythm of basketballs thumping, wind whipping through the trees, laughter coming from the back room – these are all part of life’s symphony playing out around me.
But, when I’m all wound-up, the sounds of life – elude my senses.
When I find myself caught in this vicious cycle of motion - I have to awaken my soul. At times, I have literally stopped everything possible to reengage as a mother. I’ve called off ‘school’ and headed to the park with everyone – just because.
I want my memories to be sweet – not a blur. When I quit my robotic ways – I start to feel again and return to a real-life person, equipped with emotions, limitations and flaws. By design.
I love this scripture ~ written for moms, like us.
”She who refreshes others will herself, be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25.
How do you reengage as a mom? I’d love to hear.
Joining Thought Provoking Thursday @ Some Girls Website
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Thanks.
Oh! How often have I become that robotic mother! I just can’t anymore. Life is too short this side of eternity and I want to be alive to hear the voice of my Father and all my precious little ones! Thank you for these words of wisdom and the grace that saturates them!
Oh I just love this. Thank you for speaking truth to my soul and putting words to how I have felt. So helpful to know what is robbing me of the joy of mothering and to have a solution. Thanks Debi!!
Thanks Debi! What a great reminder and food for thought. I’m going to need to ponder this and figure out how to apply it in my life now.
I have a good book on this subject that I’m going to offer as a giveaway soon.
Written by Emily – the author of http://www.chattingatthesky.com/ This is a topic that’s close to all of our hearts.
Dear Debi-
Thanks for the insight and the refreshment! May God continue to refresh you as well!
Blessings, Susan
http://whatevermylord.blogspot.com/2011/10/ordinary-disciple.html
I reengage by trying to remember my greatest responsibility in life – raising my children to the Lord. It can be very hard sometimes, but knowing that I’m taking care of the children that He loves makes it much easier. This doesn’t mean that I allow them to do whatever they would like, but I try to discipline the kids how I think Christ would discipline His own – lovingly. I like to remember what you can find in the Bible that says after chastening to follow through with love. That’s how I try to “chasten” my children.
I loved this article, and the little robot at the top too, haha. I also really love your list of one thousand gifts, what a great idea to see how blessed we are!! I just found your blog on the ultimate homeschooling blogroll site and i love it and will be following you from now on!! I hope you become a follower of my brand new mommyhood blog too, we just started up with just a few followers so far and would be delighted to have such a cool mama!! have a wonderful day in the Lord and a nice christmas. Petra.