Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The Role of a Mother

Towards the end of a very bad day yesterday, the oh-so-insightful Scientist made a comment that really made me realize that my responsibilities in the home do not just lie with making sure the dishes are clean, the dinner is cooked and the laundry is done. It even goes beyond bringing up the girls properly and teaching them well. In some ways I am responsible for the emotional tenor through the house as well. Of course the girls need to learn self-control of and responsibility for their thoughts and actions, but if Mom is mopey or snappish, that atmosphere, as it were, will carry over to everybody in the home. I need to think about what kind of tone I am setting for my children's days.

8 comments:

RPW said...

I've been really struggling with this one for a while, too.

Thanks for sharing

Anonymous said...

Or, as the old saying goes

If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

Anonymous said...

I've been thinking about this fact lately too. . .not that I've done very well in acting on it, mind you!

Elephantschild said...

Oh, but agnusdei, you've got two of the best excuses in the world! Baby + packing = ok to be a little frazzled!

Hugs to you, BTEG. We've all been there and will be again. In my case, probably tomorrow at 4:30pm. :)

Gina said...

I've noticed this too. I sometimes wonder if it's fair, but mostly I just figure it's what is.

skatey katie said...

yeah, i'm with you barb, and Ominous Anonymous's *momma aint happy* phrase...
music really helps me to be a nice person, and sunshine, and beach visits, and espressos, and candles, and the odd glass of port... X

Unknown said...

This is something I hate to really think about because it is so true. I hate to think about it because my "tone" is so often one of stress or frustration.

Cheryl said...

Barb, you have clearly hit a nerve with a lot of us. I have been overstressed and anxious and mopey for the last few years now and have been very worried about the effect on my kids (because I grew up on an emotional roller coaster in an alcoholic household with a manic depressive mom and I know what it feels like to tiptoe around one's parents).

Thanks for the commiseration. It's nice to know there are others struggling with the same thing I am.