Monday, June 09, 2008

Frustrated

I'm looking for some encouragement because I'm tired of being put down for being a stay-at-home mom who doesn't "work" (regardless of the fact that I take care of our home and children and working on a home business...but no of course I don't "work") and for the size of our family. We are talking about going to get a 15 passenger van. We've found a couple we are going to go look at tonight that might be what we are looking for but apparently we don't know what we are doing because a lot of family members say well you can still fit in a mini-van, one of those 8 seaters. What they don't think about is when we have to put something other than people in said mini-van. Plus, here's where they get even more mad, we might still have more kids! What would we do then, go out and buy yet another vehicle? That's just silly. We need to get into the right size vehicle now so we can start paying it off now. Then years down the road we can just own it outright. What a novel concept wanting to own something without debt attached to it. Grrr... I'm just so frustrated. I know our life is much different than the average Americans but it's MY life not theirs. What they don't see is what is beneath the surface. Like when I'm asked when my youngest will be put into preschool in the fall. I simply told that family member, again, that I will be homeschooling her. She is already so smart and she loves to learn, I don't want that to go away. We have four older children who we have to allow the state to educate (due to our family dynamics it's not something we can do anything about). I won't allow the next one to be state educated too. Our children our blessed to have a father who loves them so much that he is willing to do all he can to give them their mother/stepmother at home with them all the time. These children don't know what it is to have to be separated from their family all the time. Plus the cost alone would make it not feasible for me to work, my income would go negative due to the daycare costs. Alright I'll stop with my rant. If anyone has any suggestions on how to handle family members who just don't understand please offer some suggestions.

4 comments:

AnnK said...

You really can't make difficult family members understand your decision. They can't make you change yours, can they?? :)Its best to just say that this is what you have CHOSEN for your family, that you all are very happy with the decision and just leave it at that.Explaining yourself over and over again to people who really don't want to hear your side will only make you more frustated. I think your children are very lucky to have you as their mom.

Blessings!
-Ann

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear your having such a rough time. It doesn't help when baby hormones are acting up. I had some of the same issues w/family. In our state we have to test the kids so I told them that the are doing fine. I even told them that if they are so worried about it that they should pray for us. The Lord will do what is right. Now you & I know what they will be praying for but you know how God feels about our children & homeschooling.

Now as for s/a/h you no as well as I do what they are missing. Tell them that you feel sorry for them at missing out on the best job you ever had. Our job isn't easy to being with. But we benefit from what the good Lord gave us. We sow our own rewards. Heck I think they are jealous of you any way.

Take care. Don't let them get to you.

Merrilee Stevenson said...

Melissa,

Hang in there! I just wanted to encourage you to not get so frustrated with your current situation, but to trust in the Lord, who knows all your needs, and IS the answer to all your needs. It sounds like you have plenty of people who are nay-sayers, but you need to focus on this very high calling that He has given to you, and trust that He knows what He's doing! God bless!
Merrilee

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for such inspiration! It's just what I needed! We are in kinda a rough patch finacially but I know it's soooo much better for my kids to have their mom home with them. Thanks for the suggestions! May God bless you all!