FamilyLife Forums

I'm looking forward to being a SAHM/W in beginning in November.  It's been 9 years since I've been home full time, I'm out of practice.

And I'm so excited I just think it will be fun to think about, talk about & plan.

Any routines?  Suggestions?  Advice?  Funny stories? Etc, etc, etc?

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Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground...

BcauseHeLives:

I'm looking forward to being a SAHM/W in beginning in November.  It's been 9 years since I've been home full time, I'm out of practice.

And I'm so excited I just think it will be fun to think about, talk about & plan.

Any routines?  Suggestions?  Advice?  Funny stories? Etc, etc, etc?

 

Just get up when the kids do..Or before and run your coffee..EAT something..even a little bowl of cornflakes..KEEP T>V"S off..Suggest to the kids they eat something..

Plan your  menu...

Then plan an activity(for all of them and make them do it) ..be a chauffer....make doctors appointments ..Say EXCUSE me Im in the BATHROOM (dont forget to take a bath)..OOH I forgot get dressed..

Its not that hard..

Love

Dallas

The only "routine" I have is to plan my day the night before. My work here is unstructured enough that normally I don't plan a precise daily schedule. Just along the lines of "laundry, bake cookies, vacuum, and go for groceries". If it's something that might involve my dh, then it's something we can talk about then also - if I'm going to the hardware store, what do we need? Things don't *always* work out as I'd planned, but it gives me something to aim at. We have enough food here so that normally if I don't make it to the store that day (for instance), it can easily wait for another day.

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"More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..." (Phil 3:8,10)

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*No opposite gender PMs, please!

My only funny story isn't funny, I suppose. It's a gripe. I hate it when I go places - to the doctor or whatever - and the receptionist writes down my occupation as "unemployed". Um - I may not work outside the home, but you bet your little buttons that I work!

By the way, if you are interested in a fun fiction book to introduce you to the world of being at home, you might try "SAHM I am", by Meredith Efken. It's a somewhat humorous and somewhat spiritual perspective on staying at home. Several books in the series; that is the first one that I read.

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"More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..." (Phil 3:8,10)

_________
*No opposite gender PMs, please!

BcauseHeLives:

I'm looking forward to being a SAHM/W in beginning in November.  It's been 9 years since I've been home full time, I'm out of practice.

And I'm so excited I just think it will be fun to think about, talk about & plan.

Any routines?  Suggestions?  Advice?  Funny stories? Etc, etc, etc?

First off congratulations that God answered your prayers for you to stay at home! I remember how long you have been wanting this. Now I work, but I am home in the summers. I loved being at home full time.   

It`s exciting.

I have a few hospitality tips:

Hospitality should start with your family - your home should be as wonderful, welcoming, and comfortable for them as it is when you prepare for guests. They deserve the very best.  Treat family like company and company like family.   I`m sure you already do this, but I just thought I would throw it out there.

H- honor those around you

O- observe the needs

S- serve willingly

p- plan ahead

I- invite people in

T- thank God for daily opportunities

A- allow for mishaps ~ abandon fear

L- listen to what people are saying

I- instill a sense of value and importance

T- treasure each  moment

Y-yearn to be a good example

* Hints on making your house more a home*

Front door entry

1.)  Put something on your door ~ a wreath, straw hat, or a basket of flowers.  This says "welcome".

2.) keep your doorway swept and clean. Use a doormat that represents the season.

3.) After your in the front door; if you have an entry way with a small table you can make it real inviting. Simply place fresh flowers, a bowl of candy, a family picture, candle, or a little lamp on top.

Aroma

1.) keep trash bags emptied and buy scented trash bags.

2.) candles, not a luxary item and not something to save just for guests. Light & enjoy!

3.) potpourri - place in any kind of container

4.) carpet fresh- sprinkle on carpet before vacuuming. Plain baking soda works too.

5.) put lemons and/or limes down your garbage disposal. The citric acid in the fruit cleans the gunk and the smell is fresh and clean.

These are just some ideas, whether being a SAHM or not.

My routine is, I get up, make coffee, fix h`s breakfast, and lunch, send him off with a kiss, and then get the kids out the door.  Then I would finish my coffee while reading on the computer, (that is like my newspaper), then clean the house, get laundry done, get dinner prepared, shower, make dinner, etc...   I would try and have things done before the kids got home.   I love the days when everything is done, (laundry, cleaning) then I could relax more.     I LOVE being home.  I think you will too.

 

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smile... its summer!

Also making a house a home is that the wise women builds her house, but the foolish one tears hers down.

"To build" means, literally, to make and to set up a house. This word not only is the structure and upkeep of the home, but also to the family itself. A home is not only a place; its also people.

The wise women diligently and purposefully creates the atmospher. She doesn`t just hope it will happen.

Creating the atmosphere-- go to God`s word each morning (remember God is first) and pray, giving Him the oppertunity to set the temperature of your heart to match His.    "a soft answer turns away wrath" Proverbs 15:1

"The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" James 3:18

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Proverbs 12:25

"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance" proverbs 15:13

Build a refuge-- a safe place. As the center of the family life, the home ministers to our family far more than we might imagine.

Avoid the negatives -- To pull down a home means to "break or destroy it, to beat it down, to ruin it".

1.) A women can cause great damage actively by working destruction. ie: anger out of control.

It throws, it slams, it tears, and it rips. It breaks things.

2.) The second way to ruin a home is passive: by simply failing to work. We can slowly erode the foundation of our home by our laziness, by never getting "around to it".

Begin building - it`s never too late to begin--or begin again. To build your house, to create an oasis called "home".

Your family is not an interuption-- they are your greatest work and the best invvestment of your time.

Don`t bombard your husband with issues from the day the minute he walks in the door.  Instead, make sure the house is non-chaotic, and you welcome him with a hug and a glass of tea.    I hope this helps...  sorry so LOOONG.   ~Cherina

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smile... its summer!

Thx everyone!

Cherina, I'm going to print those out...thank you SO much for sharing your thoughts with me. 

My goal is exactly that, to make our home a safe haven.  It's been a place of chaos for several years because of the extreme busyness of our lives.  I'm amazed...and I know it's truly through the grace of God...that our girls are as level headed & good as they are.  But I also know we're living on borrowed time & that Satan would love nothing more than to keep us captive to chaos so that he can continue to destroy our home & our family.

I feel total peace in making this move, each day my hubby becomes more peaceful about it. 

It won't be as though our lives will be perfect, but my hubby & our children will have a warm, inviting, safe & comfortable place to go at the end of the day & that is going to go a long way in furthering their walks with the Lord. :)

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Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground...

BcauseHeLives:

Thx everyone!

Cherina, I'm going to print those out...thank you SO much for sharing your thoughts with me. 

My goal is exactly that, to make our home a safe haven.  It's been a place of chaos for several years because of the extreme busyness of our lives.  I'm amazed...and I know it's truly through the grace of God...that our girls are as level headed & good as they are.  But I also know we're living on borrowed time & that Satan would love nothing more than to keep us captive to chaos so that he can continue to destroy our home & our family.

I feel total peace in making this move, each day my hubby becomes more peaceful about it. 

It won't be as though our lives will be perfect, but my hubby & our children will have a warm, inviting, safe & comfortable place to go at the end of the day & that is going to go a long way in furthering their walks with the Lord. :)

YW! I`m glad you liked it.   I hope you being home will be a great time for you all to be able to re-group..etc.   Your h will probably be glad your home too, once he see`s the difference in being home can make. 

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smile... its summer!