This week the 4 Moms of 35+ Kids are discussing homeschooling through bad attitudes, and we don’t mean the kids’ attitudes.
Yes, that’s right. Sometimes Mama’s got a bad attitude. And, as the saying goes, when Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.
The cold, hard truth is that the way Mama continues homeschooling when she has a bad attitude is the same way she continues doing anything else when she has a bad attitude.
Put on your big girl panties, put your shoulder to the wheel, dig in, and get’r done.
There are many, many times that I do not feel like doing the grocery shopping, or teaching second grade Bible class, or hosting company, or getting everyone ready for church, or getting dinner ready, cleaning up a poopy mess, or paying bills. But I do not live my life by what I feel like doing. I proceed according to what is best and right.
I think often of the accounts of Jesus withdrawing to another town to get away from the crowds and be alone, or rowing to the other side of the lake, and what does he find over there? MORE people!
What does Jesus do when he wants to be alone, but instead finds more people needing him? He meets their needs.
He doesn’t lecture them about how he needs “me” time. He doesn’t have a meltdown or yell, or pitch a hissy fit. Yes, these are all things I sometimes have the urge to do when I feel overwhelmed with my own bad attitude.
Instead, because I am a Christian, a Jesus-ite, a Christ follower, I must do what He did. I meet the needs of those around me because it is the will of my Father.
Jesus shows me many times in the scriptures that it is possible and necessary to do things I do not want to do, and do them with a serving, loving attitude.
I must follow His example and pray for the strength to do what must be done, to do what’s right, and to do it right. With a good attitude.
I think of Jesus dying on the cross and I look around me at what I am trying to do. It isn’t dying on a cross. No one is torturing me. I am only dying to myself in my own comfortable home.
And sometimes I call my friend, Michele, to confess my weakness and ask for a pep talk. If you don’t have a friend who will tell you to get off your booty and do the right thing, GET ONE. An honest, encouraging, Christian friend is an invaluable need at times when you don’t want to do what you know you should be doing.
Now, it’s time to see if any of the other 4 Moms of 35 Kids ever have bad attitudes:
What about you? How do you overcome a bad attitude?
Other posts in this series
- How to Easily Cut Homemade Bread
- The 4 Moms Head to Church With 35 Kids
- 4 Moms Answer Reader Questions
- 4 Moms Teach History
- 4 Moms Eat Inexpensively While Traveling
- How To Keep Kids Still and Quiet During Worship
- 4 Moms Answer Reader Questions
- 4 Moms Reveal Where Babies Come From
- Summertime Company Meals
- How to Lose Baby Weight
- Large Family Moms Answer Your Questions
- 4 Moms Choose a Church
- Favorite Naptime or Bedtime Read Aloud Books
- Homeschooling a Child With Learning Differences
- 4 Moms Picnic Linky
- 4 Moms Announce a Book Club!
- Teaching Children Diligence
- 4 Moms Discuss Lunch Menus {Linky}
- 4 Moms Interview Kim Brenneman, Author of Large Family Logistics
- 4 Moms Discuss "Large Family Logistics"
- 4 Moms Discuss Managing the Week ~ Large Family Logistics
- 4 Moms Review Chapters 28 - 47 in Large Family Logistics
- 4 Moms Finish Reviewing "Large Family Logistics"
- The 4 Moms Keep Our Patience in the Midst of Chaos
- 4 Moms Pack a Lunch
- 4 Moms Discuss Memorizing {and 2 GIVEAWAYS}
- Keeping Up With Housework in the Midst of Homeschooling
- 4 Moms Tackle Large Projects
- 4 Moms Q & A
- Food Storage For Large Families
- Best Vehicle For a Large Family
- 4 Moms Celebrate Thanksgiving
- Preparing Children to Deal With Differing Beliefs
- Favorite Holiday Recipe {Linky}
- 4 Moms of 35 Kids Go Christmas Shopping
- 4 Moms of 35 Kids Answer Reader Questions
- How Do You Organize ALL Those Clothes?
- 4 Moms Q&A
- Encouragement For Homeschoolers
- 4 Moms Share Favorite Desserts
- 4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Your Questions
- 4 Moms Discuss Storing Keepsakes
- Ebook SALE! {Goes Live at 11:00a.m. CST}
- 4 Moms Answer Questions From Readers
- 4 Moms Make Time to Manage the Budget
- 4 Moms Manage Blogging Time
- What Do Large Families Do About Tithing, Saving for College, and Saving for Retirement?
- 4 Moms Q&A Time
- Large Family Moms Homeschool Through Chronic Illness and Pregnancy
- Large Family Moms Serve Leftovers
- Favorite Frugal Tips of Large Family Moms
- How Do Large Family Moms Manage Everything? {4 Moms Q&A}
- Homeschooling Through Bad Attitudes
- Teaching Children to Cook
- How Did Large Family Moms Know They Could Handle a Large Family?
- How Do Large Family Moms Keep Their Energy Up?
- Favorite Freezer Meals
- 4 Moms of 35+ Kids Discuss Dating and Courtship
- How Do You Manage the Home While Nursing a Baby?
- How to Begin Homeschooling With a 5 Year Old
- How Do Large Families Handle Older Children Disciplining the Younger Children?
- 4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Reader Questions
- What To Do About Tattling
- Favorite Fruit Recipes {LINKY}
- 4 Moms Discuss First Weeks With a New Baby
- 4 Moms Answer Questions About Sharing, Boys, College, and MORE!
- 4 Moms Handle Different Standards Between Husband and Wife
- Kids and Electronics - What Age and How Much is Too Much? {4 Moms}
- 4 Moms Discuss Food Preservation
- 4 Moms Discuss Laundry, Labor, and Clothes Management
- Large Families Keep Up With Technology
- Giving Food as Gifts
- 4 Moms Answer Questions About Christmas
- Quick and Easy Christmas Crafts
- Quick and Easy Holiday Recipes
- 4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Questions on Preschool, Homeschooling with a Newborn, and More
- On Encouraging Self Sufficiency in Children
- 4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Questions
- 4 Moms Answer Reader Questions
- 4 Moms Talk Buddy System, Dinner Recipes, Hand-Me-Downs, and Sharing
- 4 Moms Q&A - Birthdays, Switching Seasonal Clothes, and Grieving a Stillborn Baby
- 4 Moms Discuss Difficult News Stories, Naptime, and Sleeping Through the Night
- 4 Moms Answer Questions About Personal Space, 15 Passenger Vans, and Dawdling
- 4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Questions About Seating Arrangements, Snacks, and Books
- 4 Moms Answer Questions About Sharing, Church, and Extreme Honesty
- 4 Moms on Bedtime, Home Construction, Forced Association, and Favorite Read-Alouds
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 4 Moms Answer Questions About Road Trips, Bedtimes, and Cool Meals
- 4 Moms of 35+ Kids Discuss Tattling
{ 8 comments }
I have to obligations at church this afternoon, today is shopping day and I have friends stopping by in between chores. And we still have unfinished school work that needs to be done.
I was trying to decide which one to cancel just so I wouldn’t have so much to do when I came across your post. Should I put off cleaning the church for VBS? Should I put off fellowship with my dear friends who are in need of Gods word? Should I put of shopping and feed my family peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and dinner?
I love my family, my church and my friends. I have been given some pretty important duties. I feel I am very capable of fulfilling those duties. I won’t let laziness or self pitty get in my way. I may not be superwoman but you have just given me the strength to at least try on the cape.
I’ve often wondered about that too – Jesus just needed a little alone time, but everywhere He went there were more people!!
I like my alone time too (and need it) but the other nine people in the house make it difficult… Yet He served, He didn’t point out how they were being selfish, etc, etc. Thanks for this needed reminder, Connie!
One other Jesus example:
My pastor pointed this out in a sermon once, and it’s always stuck with me. Mark 10:32. “they were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way…” (NIV). Jesus knew exactly what he was walking into. He didn’t mope, procrastinate, complain, or dilly-dally. He led the way. He walked in front. He was obedient and completed his service. If I love Jesus, I need to get in line behind him.
I often think of Jesus’ example when he rows away to find solace and finds more people. He must have been exhausted, but he responded with compassion and met their needs. Such a wonderful example to moms, especially homeschool moms whose kids are “always on the other side of the lake”.
Thank you Connie!
“I think of Jesus dying on the cross and I look around me at what I am trying to do. It isn’t dying on a cross. No one is torturing me. I am only dying to myself in my own comfortable home.”.
Oh. Connie. We are so stinkin’ spoiled….my biggest problem is that my 7 yo won’t pay enough attention??? Seriously, I love this post, but this quote is unforgettable. Thank you for the jolt back to the only reality that matters….Jesus.
So often, I am that friend. I realize that God has made me an encourager, and when my fellow homeschooling moms are feeling a little beaten down, over-whelmed, and ready to hide in the closet and self-medicate with chocolate, they call me. I don’t have another mom I can call, but God has blessed me with a husband who will listen to me vent, help me get refocused on God, and move forward.
Excellent post, my dear!!
Rhen, can you give us your phone number? ;o) You are a gift to your friends indeed – encouraging, tell-it-like-it-is friends aren’t easy to come by.
the story of Jesus trying to get away, yet being met with more needs to fill, really hit it home for me. thank you for this perspective.
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