Help With Your Mother's Rule

Help With Your Mother's Rule is a forum for women who want trouble-shooting help with their Mother's Rules or about any aspect of the 5 Ps of the married vocation.

Ask Holly: This blog is composed of your questions. Contact me at the address listed on Holly's Helpers page and I will respond. Please share your unique ideas as well. The more ideas and experience we share, the more successful every mother will be in designing her own unique Mother's Rule.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Church & Community Service

Dear Holly,
Where would you place service to parish or community? Is that just not one of the "Ps" at all? I am directing my church's Vacation Bible School this summer, and realize it is taking up a lot more of my time than I thought it would. I'm not sure that means I should never sign up for something like this again...or I am just not prioritizing it correctly. By way of background, I have 3 children under the age of 7 and I homeschool.
Posted by at 12:13 PM
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1 comments:

  1. Being a Mom does not mean we can't do other things. Our guide should be that we are generally meeting the needs of our selves, husband's and children - personal, physical, spiritual - and that this is not compromised.

    There are seasons in a mom's life when outside activities may not be feasible - but there is not hard general rule about it. It is something Mummy & Daddy must discern and decide based on their own temperaments, commitments and children's needs.

    Keep in mind too that there are also seasons and times when outside work takes a bit more of the parent's time - think about a farmer who has to harvest... for a short time, Mummy and Daddy are a bit busier.

    For the duration of a Vacation Bible School preparation, this could be one of those short times when you are a bit busier than expected, and I do not see how this is problematic, especially since most of your time is dedicated normally to them anyway in homeschooling. The key is to ensure your children are being cared for while you attend to these other tasks, one way or another. No outside work releases us from the duties of our vocation. And then, carry on with your good work.

    When this year's commitment is completed, "you decide" whether you and your temperament and your family can do this again or if you need to take a break next year. If you come away feeling tired but invigorated, then indications are you can carry on. If you come away stressed and exhausted, then remember this for next year.

    As for where do Church and Community service come into the 5 Ps? Well, they don't, because they are not essential aspects of the married vocation per se...

    However, I always liked to call them addendums to the 5 Ps - the 2 Cs - Church and Community. And the norm guiding our involvement would be - if I have attended to the duties of the 5 Ps and all is well, and I still have time for the 2 Cs, then carry on!!

    However, if I am hampered in my 5 Ps for any length of time,(anything from losing one's recollection and prayer or losing your peace to having children neglected or a house totally run down or a hubby who's discontented) then I need to reconsider if I am called to it.

    The 2 Cs only come after, when the 5 Ps are being competently fulfilled, just like all extra-ordinary callings outside of one's state of life...
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