Addiction is in my Personality.

I've read before that Sagittarians are easily addicted...whether it be food, alcohol, etc.  I get addicted to things easily, so I know it must be true. If I hear a song and LOVE it, I will listen to it for SO LONG.  So, I can openly and honestly admit to another addiction as of late.  Making Garlands and Banners.  It's true. I can't stop.  Do they have a garlands anonymous?  Anyway, Today is Day 2 of Tessa's Attitude of Gratitude.  I have so much to say about this one.  So, if you are up for the reading, here we go. 

But, before all that, this is the 30 days of Thankful banner I made to add more things I am grateful for.

The scalloped circles are sewn on at the top so I can pull them up and add things I am grateful for!

Which brings me to what I am grateful for today. Which will not fit on this banner!!!

Today I am grateful for being a stay at home mom.  For a long time I've struggled with the fact that I bring no income in for my family.  Until I had Isabelle I had worked from the time I was fifteen and could get a worker's permit.  My parents taught me early on the value of a dollar. I bought my first car and made the payments until it was paid off. I paid my way through community college, and even got an associate's degree in something I'll probably never use(although if I do go back to work, I will try!!)  At 21 years of age I still had no clue what I really wanted to do...what I wanted to be.  Even after Lucas was born when I was 23, I went back to work part time at the pharmacy.  My parents and mother-in-law watched him for me until Anthony got home from work...usually they only had to watch him for a couple hours, which was good...he was with me all day and with Anthony until I got home.  But even for six hours, I hated being away from him, missing anything new that he did.  Then, when I got pregnant with Isabelle we had to make a decision.  The schedules didn't work out and we would have had to find daycare.  Which, even if I went full time at the pharmacy would not be ideal.  It would take about all of my paycheck just for daycare, and they would be with strangers.  So, we made the decision for me to be a stay at home mama.  It was really an easy decision.  However easy the decision was, I did struggle for a long time with the fact that I was bringing in no income.  And we still struggle from week to week, but that's okay.  Because I have realized by staying at home with my children that the amount of money you have or what toys you can buy them really DON'T mean anything to them.  All children want from their parents is time and love.  And they just know the necessities, like food and clothing, will be provided.  How wise children are.
Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" and

Matthew 6:27 " Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

I believe that children are so wise because they are so fresh from God.  As we get older, our views get tainted by so many things.  I am re-learning the big lessons of life from my kids.  And this I am grateful for.  As stay at home mom's we also tend to worry, are we doing it right? Are we teaching them what they need to know...right from wrong, the basics, how to treat people the way they want to be treated, how important family is, how to love unconditionally, how to stand up for what they believe in, etc etc.  And the answers may not always be clear. But what I do know is we try our best.  Believe me, when I sit down at the end of a day to read a night night story and hear "My love you Mommy.", I know I am doing something right.  And when they are playing together and Isabelle puts her arm around Lucas and he says "My love you Izzybelle", I know I must be teaching them something.  And when I hear so many please, thank you's, and just plain good manners, again I know I must be doing something that is sticking with them.  And it will stick with them for their entire lives.  That's the power of being a good mommy.  I don't consider myself super-woman, or the best mother on earth.  But I know that my time is well spent with my children, so I do not worry about not bringing any money in anymore.  Because I'm bringing my kids something I know they wouldn't necessarily be learning from a daycare worker...the big lessons of life.  I am happy staying with the kids.  Anthony is happy that they are with me, someone he trusts, rather than some daycare where you never really know what's going on.  He is glad I spend time with them, playing and teaching and just being silly with them.  And, I trust that our God will provide.

So even if some days I end up in tears because the kids won't listen to a thing, or Lucas refuses to take a nap(or even just be quiet for five minutes), or it's just been an all-around rough day...I am still so grateful to have this time with my children and be a stay at home mom.  This is the time to enjoy. Now.

And if you are still with me a couple layouts to share from my goodies at For the Luv of Art. 

The dare over at efferdares.com is all about mantra's or motto's.  Lately, I have been repeating to myself breathe in, breathe out, as I concentrate on taking deep fulfilling breaths.  It's really made me so much more aware of this moment, and enjoying it.  It also helps to calm me down if I lose start to lose my temper with the kids or Anthony.  And to just relax me. 

And this one I wanted to keep centered and simple.  Meditating and really concentrating on focusing my energy toward the breathing have really helped me to become happier and more centered.  And I have learned as I get older that I have to make myself happy before I can make anyone else happy!
I have a couple more to share, but this is already so long, I'll wait until tomorrow!!!  Thanks for sticking with me if you read all of this:)
Love, Jess

You have read this article with the title Addiction is in my Personality.. You can bookmark this page URL https://playing-home.blogspot.com/2010/11/addiction-is-in-my-personality.html. Thanks!