First year being a stay at home mom is not easy

     For the past six years I have been a working mom with summers off.  I love being home with my girls in the summer and am able to stay busy and productive.  It has been a much needed break from the crazy life of being a working mom.  This year I did not go back to work at the end of the summer as our family was finally in a position where I could stay home and care for my girls.  I substitute a little and have been blessed to pick up some students to tutor in the evenings.  I seem to have more energy on those days but more often than not I have found myself feeling that horrible feeling of unmotivation.

     I am hoping that this lack of energy has been mostly due to seasonal depression.  As the weather gets warmer I am seeing my energy levels rise.  But I can't get over how little I have been able to get done over the past two monhs.  When I was working I had a reason to stay awake everyday.  I missed my kids when I got home so I almost always took advantage of the time I had with them.  Not to mention the fact that I had to get food on the table and little time to accomplish any other tasks I needed to get done.  Now with the entire day looming ahead down time has become all too familiar.  It has become all to easy to let the kids watch a movie or pbs while I take a nap.  I find myself being greatfull for the obligations I have throughout the week that help to keep me going and to get my house clean.  And yet I also haven't had the will to increase those obligations giving me more reason to get up and get going.

     Ultimatly I really do feel with the changing of the weather I will be fine.  I have already gotten outside and really enjoyed the time I have spent working on my yard and watching my girls run around barefoot in the 50 degree weather.  I am confident that for various reasons next year will be better and that I won't feel as down as I have this year.  I have plenty of ideas in my head to keep me busy and with just a sliver more motivation I am sure that  next year I will be able to do better.  Being home is not easy, and I have often thought of going back to work but I know my children are being blessed and there is'nt anyone better than me to care for their needs. 

The Family

President Gordon B. Hinckley warned that a small minority may “make their voices heard until those in our legislatures may come to believe that what they say represents the will of the majority.” He reminded us that “we are not likely to get that which we do not speak up for."  I read this quote in the February Ensign put out by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  There are many issues in our country today to which I can see this happening.  I see minority groups fighting so hard for what they believe that the majority seems to be loosing their own rights.  We in the majority seem to be so complacent in our actions that maybe we think since we are the majority we will be ok.  Or that the issue doesn't affect us directly so why bother.  It is sad to see that some of these issues I myself have sat back on are begining to affect the way I live and have to raise my family.  The values I live by and want to teach my children, values I believe and know to be instituted by God are being challenged by a small minority of the American population.  Their views are becoming more and more acceptable by the public and while I don't wish to discriminate I do not want my children to believe it is o.k with God for them to live in a way contrary to his commandments.  My goal is to become better informed and more vocal in standing up for my beliefs which are based on Gods teachings.