10 Habits of Happy Mother’s
[amazon_image id=”0345518071″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers: Reclaiming Our Passion, Purpose, and Sanity[/amazon_image]
Chapters
- Understand Your Value as a Mother
- Maintain Key Friendships
- Value and Practice Faith
- Say No to Competition
- Create a Healthier Relationship with Money
- Make Time for Solitude
- Give and Get Love in Healthy Ways
- Find Ways to Live Simply
- Let Go of Fear
- Hope Is a Decision-So Make it!
Review
I really enjoyed the first chapter. I feel that I do a very good job of making my children feel loved and loving them. My dream is to one day make a big, positive impact in helping parents be better parents!
The second chapter, however, made me feel really bad. I grew up with a best friend and for many years we were practically inseparable. Life has taken us both in two totally different directions (and continents many times). We are still and always will be there for each other, but so many things have changed. Since I felt uneasy after reading this chapter, I decided to take some time and reflect upon it and then decide on actions on how to accomplish this habit. However, this habit will take lots of time, effort and patience! I have a game plan in mind, I am going to try and deliberately ask to have play dates with my friends and their children.
The third chapter, I feel like I have gotten much better at this year (after all, it was one of my goals). Even though I’ve gotten a little behind at times, I’m still pluggin’ on! I have also found that I really do feel so much better about myself when I take the time to serve. It’s not as much time as I would like, but what I have given has made me feel better. About 3 times a month I go and volunteer in my son’s classroom while the other children are at Mom’s Day Out and we added more to our “Give” budget and have been able to give more money to causes that are important to us!
When I first started reading the competition chapter, I didn’t really think it applied to me all that much. I really didn’t think I was jealous. However, after reading it, it did open my eyes and I realized that I am jealous of a couple of things that one of my friends does. I have just formed a new friendship with her, so I find that when I encourage her, it’s harder to be jealous. I think I’ve now moved from jealousy to being envious. However, whose to say that this friend can’t help me get to where I want to be, I mean she knows the steps, she’s been there!
Dave Ramsey is the person I recommend getting advise from as far as getting your finances under control. His Financial Peace University is amazing and we would not be where we are today without it. I do feel like this is one area where we are doing a great job for our children.
I need lots of time alone! This is one reason why we have a routine in my house. I know that during nap time, I will get to have some alone time. I have trained even my older children to stay in there room during quiet time, because I need it. There have been seasons of life where I would take long baths/shower for solitude. I usually also go grocery shopping by myself. If I am very stressed, I have even started turning the radio off in the car and just have silence if the kids are not with me.
I found the love chapter to be pretty simple when I applied it to my immediate family and extremely difficult when I tried to apply it to extended family. We are going through a rough time and at this point, I have to step back before I try any steps she recommended. For more info on how to love and be loved check out the 5 Love Languages and 5 Love Languages for Children.
The Simplicity chapter ended up being much different than I had anticipated, however, I have found that setting goals (and blogging about them) has really helped me in this area!
Good tips in the last two chapters.
Download her 10 Habits Tool kit here.
Meg Meeker was on Family Life Today this week, check out her broadcasts!
Here is her broadcast from Family Talk.
Follow her on Facebook.
Her website.
