Each Saturday Stephanie, over at keeper of the home , hosts "Living Simply Saturday". It's a time for us women to share ways in which we have learned, or are learning to keep it simple! Check it out!
When Lilly was first born and I was adjusting to life as a stay at home mom, I got bored being at the house all day. I look back now and say "Bored!! Ha! I can barely remember what that was like!" But at the time I was the only one of my friends who had a child. Almost all of them were working or still in college. So most days it was me and Lilly. John and I didn't have a lot of money, in fact, we had hardly any money to spare. To occupy my time....I'd go window shopping. Shopping not because I actually needed something but just to look and see what was there. Do you know that shopping is the #1 form of entertainment in the U.S. today? Since then, we've moved out into the country and, in doing so, I have kind of been weaned from that. But it's also given me time to reflect on how shopping, window shopping, had an effect on me.
First, and probably the biggest effect, was that it made me very discontent with what I DID have. I'd go to target and see all the cute baby stuff, all the fashionable clothing, the trendy things I could be buying to decorate my house and I'd want it. Of course! But what does the Bible say about it??
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11
"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" Ephesians 5:20
And trust me...I was not content or thankful!
Another reason, which at the time I was rather ignorant of, was that I really should have been at home. There were certainly things that I could have been doing at home. But maybe it was more that I didn't want to do that laundry so I'd go shopping instead. In hindsight, I can think of lots (and LOTS) of things that would have better occupied my time. Just a thought.
So, a few suggestions for those times when you are at home and bored:
~take a walk
~invite a friend over for tea (I've got a post coming up on coffee...just wait!)
~bake
~read a book to your children
~pray
~organize something (believe it or not, I do this quite a bit when I'm bored!)
Any other ideas of ways to beat boredom??
Thanks for reading!
Running the race,
~A
5 comments:
When I started my stay at home life I got overly interested in certain hobbies. I taught myself to can, to crochette, to make cloth diapers, etc. What ever it was I threw myself into it...I think it's more of a personality trait, that has served me well, than a way to not get bored. Now with my children older and my business growing I am feeling more well-rounded. I'm a SAHM that can work when I decide to. I can use my time how I like and how I'm guided.
Maybe it's more about what we are called to do and learn than what we want to do...?
Thanks for stopping buy my blog today!
Blessings,
Kara
Amanda, glad you joined in today! :)
Great post! I think that when I only had my daughter, I wasn't as good about keeping myself productively occupied either. I would sometimes take her on walks to the mall, for the exercise and so she could play at the indoor play center (it's very rainy where we live), but we would also walk around and look, and it was a bit of a waste of time.
Since the birth of my second one, and especially since starting a business, I don't think the word bored ever enters my vocabulary anymore! Ever! Not once! :)
I agree, though, that even when there are less things that "need" to be done and there is free time to be had, there are so many things for a young wife and mom to do. Start reading up on child training and homeschooling. Learn new skills, like sewing or crafts or gardening. Get really good at cooking and baking. Spend time encouraging other moms, or inviting single women into your home.
Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home
http://www.keeperofthehome.org
This is great. I have to bookmark it. Although for me it needs to be, before I turn on the internet and get lost, try these things instead.
AMANDA WASHBURN YOU BETTER NOT SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT COFFEE OR I WILL NEVER READ YOUR BLOG AGAIN!
Ok that's not true. I would.
Oh, and P.S. I liked what you had to say today. I finally finished reading through Hebrews and the author was talking about "the love of money" and how it originally starts from fear of not having what you need or not trusting that God will provide for you. I originally did this whole "wait and be surprised about the baby" thing primarily because no one thought I'd actually go through with it, but I'm actually learning to really trust that God will provide for this new baby.
Love you. :)
Glad to see there's no coffee post today. Hopefully you'll get too busy and will forget all about it!
P.S. Just in case you didn't see the comment on my page: Thank you very much for the offer for baby clothes. You don't have to give me everything if there are people who could use it more than me. It would be sort of neat to have my kid wear some of the things that Luke and Bradley wore. I am still glad we decided to wait and find out, even if it does make planning a little stressful. I know it saved us a boatload of money these past 8 months!
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