Hope Acts - Being a Single Mom 7

Planning, strategizing, order and organization can be arduous tasks to many. They simply do not know how or where to begin. They never learned the simple elements of planning, or they did but life’s trials and struggles have come to overwhelm them and the basics of implementing change now seems impossible. They’re swamped. They do not know how to begin.

The first priority, as we previously mentioned, was for a family to be focused on the essentials – life and godliness. Life cannot be lived without grace enabling the godly choices needed to bring about a blessed life and changed circumstances. We acknowledged that a perfectly maintained home, although nice, did not equate with the need of spiritual growth and strength. The latter being the essential goal any parent should want for their children. Perfection is not the goal, progression is.

For a mom wanting to implement structure in her home she should begin with diarizing the most important family events on a calendar. We stress a daily focus on the Lord – Bible reading, hers and her children’s. The listing of birthdays and other important dates is a must – you have to do it! The relational dates are more important to remember and are the ones your children will recollect the most – they will remember because you did! This is how memories are made!

When the year’s important dates are listed, begin with monthly projects. Make them simple and involve your children as much as possible. Plan for Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, and holidays. Plan for light cleaning chores and time intensive ones too. Allow your children to have responsibilities, this is their home too. If the task is not completed to perfection – encourage them (dependent on age). A toddler can pick up toys, they can help clean their space. They can help you wipe a table, and stack some books. They can even attempt to sweep a floor! They love to be included and to be a part of what you do.

Once the monthly tasks are listed, break down to the weekly requirements. Remember none of it is written in stone, calendars and scheduled tasks should not rule you, they are intended to give you a goal and within that some flexibility. Plan what is reasonable, plan what is wise. Trust God with the life He has given you, and the children you have.

“Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], and by knowledge” the rooms – every area, every recess – the deepest parts of a life, a home, a family are “filled with all precious and pleasant riches” (Pr. 24:3-4).

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