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Can Working Moms Have a Mother's Rule Too?
Dear Holly,
I work outside of the home. We don't have the financial freedom to have me stay at home. So, I spend my days working, my evenings doing laundry and hosuework and cooking and cleaning, and then my husband wants my time too, but there is very little left of me. I am just so tired. I have just ordered your book. My question is, can working mothers have a rule of life too? Would it work for me too?
Labels: 5th P Provider
posted by Holly at 9:09 AM
2 Comments:
The reality is that many mothers in our society often do not have the option of 'staying at home' because of financial needs. Pope John Paul II calls this an 'economic injustice' and considers it part of our society's lack of appreciation for the mothering vocation. I know families where both spouses are working minimum wage, and with the rising costs of groceries, fuel and taxes, they are scraping by. I also know families where the husband is working minimum wage and the wife is home, and they are seriously scraping, but still surviving.
There is also a real difference between mothers who must work, or those whom God calls to work in a certain field (like Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla who was a working doctor while raising young children), or those who have been left by their spouses or widowed, as opposed to mothers who work to escape home or for selfish reasons. I once read something that said the children can intuitively sense what the reasons are and behave accordingly.
My heart goes out to those who, desiring to be home, cannot do so because of money. But with God, all things are possible, so I wouldn't stop praying for the opportunity to come home - our heart's desire can often be an indication of what God is calling us to. You might be interested to read in MROL the surprising realities I discovered about the supposed financial benefits of work when I left it and came home.
In the meantime, a rule of life is not impossible for the working woman, and may in fact be a real answer to prayer. There are no gender restrictions for a rule of life, no economic or employment situations which in themselves automatically exclude one from seeking God and His Will in our lives.
There is no real reason, why a mother's rule wouldn't assist you greatly in pulling together your home and job life. In fact, you might even want to make up a 'family rule of life', where you, husband and children help each other fulfill all the varied responsibilities of family life.
I believe that a Mother's Rule is essential when you work -- inside or outside of the home. I am fortunate enough to work out of my home, but I struggle with paying attention to my family (especially my husband) in the evenings when my hubbie IS home. Evenings used to seem like the only time to get work done but I felt like I was neglecting my family.
I've played around with different schedules to prioritize my P's in proper order and have found that (when I give Him efforts to bless - LOL!) that the Lord has really blessed my work time to be more fruitful when I spend proper time with husband, kids and with God in prayer.
For working outside of the home, maybe pray that Jesus may show you the best way to order the time that you are home with your family. Best of luck!!
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