There is an old Mexican proverb: “The house does not rest upon the ground, but upon a woman."
MEANING: A strong woman is the foundation of a solid family; she holds it together and guards it. A woman leads and protects her children. She serves and tends her husband, and she preserves and respects herself. If a woman can ensure her own strength, she can secure the solidity of her home and her family.
So, how can a woman ensure her strength and abilities in order to keep her home functioning smoothly? The reality is that there are dozens of tools that can be used to ensure an efficient home and a well managed family.
Smiles and Greetings
We know the significance of a smile, even to a stranger. It is considered the smallest form of charity, so imagine waking in the morning and giving a loving smile to your husband and children. A warm smile and a sincere loving greeting can be the foundation of the day. Before the day has even started, you can reward your family, just by smiling. If this is how you start your day with your family aren't you already headed in the right direction toward a wonderful day?
But how many of us really take the few extra seconds to do this every morning? Or do we grumble as the alarm goes off, scuffle into the bathroom, put our kids in their clothes, feed them breakfast and send them off to school as quickly as possible? How often do you greet your husband in the mornings with a smile? Do we offer them a loving smile and kiss? Or do we just remind them that they need to pick up milk on the way home?
A smile is a simple tool that can fix so many issues. Not only does a smile brighten up someone's day, but it will make you feel better, as well. Try it. It is really hard to get angry with your kids if you're already smiling.
Serve and Protect
A smile, though, is just the beginning. It can’t get the kids dressed and off to school. To serve and protect is not just the motto of the Police Department; every mother agrees to this creed when she marries and starts a family. A woman must serve and protect her family from ills and evils too many to name. How she can protect them, however, is a bit easier to identify. First, she can serve her family well by respecting them, young and old. By providing her family with a clean, safe and secure home, she is serving her husband and her children simultaneously.
A woman who serves her children well is one who can bathe and clothe and feed her children without complications. A woman who serves her husband well is one who can run the house smoothly by being efficient with the budget and effective in her duties. A strong woman does not spend her time and money thoughtlessly. Rather, she is entrusted by her husband to manage the household affairs fairly and accurately. She is the head of the household while her husband is at work and so she is responsible for the steady course of the family. In serving her husband, she cares for what he cares about; she cares for his home, his children, and herself, as his wife.
Prayer & Living By Example
A strong woman alone cannot protect her family completely. Only God can offer complete protection. A strong woman knows this and incorporates God's teachings and prayer into her family. A woman who has built a solid foundation will teach them to ask God for forgiveness and for blessings. A family that prays together stays together. It is the foundation of a solid family and good family management depends on family togetherness.
Our children spend nearly six to eight hours of their day at school, the waking hours that they spend with the family together at home are limited. Therefore, the person that they see the most at home, usually the mother, holds a load of responsibility. In many cases, the children attend a public school and so the morals and education that children get on a daily basis is from their mother. She is the best example of what to do and not to do. So, mothers must be aware of this responsibility and make sure that they are setting the best possible example to their children.
Whether a mom is cooking a meal, reading, or changing a light bulb, her children are waiting and watching. They are watching even if they are not listening. That is why it is imperative that a mother knows that she is always ‘on’; She is always in her children's spotlight. Think about how you handle certain situations and then decide if it is time to change your actions. How do you handle situations of anger/happiness/despair/fear? What you do and say in such situations is very important.
The list is virtually endless on how we teach our children to be the best we can possibly be. Children watch and listen and then mirror what they see and hear. It is the mother whom the children will mimic and copy. Let it be something good that they emulate.
Twenty Questions
And there is one thing that even a mom can learn from her children. Ask lots of questions! A good mom is one who knows how to run her household efficiently. A great mom knows this and what her kids are up to, at the same time. Do you ask enough questions? How well do you know your children? How well do you really know your husband? You probably know what your family likes and dislikes, but do you know your husband’s weaknesses and how to support him? Do you know your children’s fears and do you help them overcome them? Kids always ask questions, especially ‘why’. We should learn to ask who, what, when, and where, as well.
A lesson I did not learn from my mother, is that it is not all about snooping and prying. You must take an interest in what your family is doing also. Ask your husband about his day at work. Take the time to really listen to how he felt during the day or how he handled certain issues that he faced. Ask your children about school. Find out what and how they are doing, who their friends are and what they talk about during the day. Ask them how they feel about the situations that happened during the day, and really listen to their answers. A good mom knows what and how her kids are doing without having to wait for the school Open House. Do your own homework and make sure you keep up with your family. The rewards for doing so are endless.
No one can say that a mother’s job is easy and it seems to get more and more difficult as the days pass. However, if we work hard, be the example and use these tools to manage our families, God willing, our homes will run efficiently and our family will feel loved and secure.
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