Oh my gosh Peggy, how in the world did I miss you posting this layout so long ago?? I came across it today and sweetie, I adore everything about it...especially the journaling. I think it's beautifully written, and I can tell it came straight from your heart. I feel the same way in being lucky that I met you. Our long online talks have meant alot to me during our friendship and I'm thankful for them. HUGE hugs girl!!
Really nice LO...it's simple, but the most important thing is the journaling. So important to tell your story, if not for yourself, for those that love you and really want to know you. Great job!
Such a lovely page, Peggy!!! You always amaze me. I was a sahm for those all important first years. My career came later. Enjoy, as it sounds like you are.
This LO is adorable and Peggy always remember that you have the must important job right now that you will ever have and one day when they are grown they will thank-you for always being there~~~
Awesome journaling, Peggy! I think you expressed yourself perfectly. Even here in America, women are sometimes "looked down on" for being SAHM. I've dealt with this for 25 years... sometimes even more so because I homeschooled my children for the last 11 yrs. Now that my youngest is graduating, people are starting to ask again - "so, what are you gonna do now?" I'm going to keep doing what i've been doing - being a wife and mother - nobody loves your family or takes care of them like you do! Be proud of what you do - it's the most important job in the world - don't let anybody tell you differently. We've had to make sacrifices over the years with only one income - but I wouldn't trade the time I've spent with my kids for anything - I truly believe it's what God intended for mothers. I know there are mothers who have to work, but there are many more who do so because we, as a society, want too much and want it all now. Didn't mean to write a book. Beautiful layout! Hugs, Betty
You are a GREAT writer. I understand many of the same feelings you wrestled with but have come to the same conclusion for our family. Beautiful lo. The clothespin fence is a great addition to the lo.
What you wrote about being a SAHM is so heartfelt and beautiful. I too am a SAHM. I have been for 12 years now. Thank you for sharing your struggles with us. I know how conflicting emotions can be because I've also struggled with many of the same issues. I'm glad that you are feeling so much happier now.
You are truly blessed to be able to stay at home with your children. I was a SAHM for 21 years while my kids were growing up...and I wouldn't trade it for anything!!! (In fact, I sometimes really miss those days!) Awesome journaling!
My dear sweet Peggy... I am sure that you have no idea how many of us SAHM feels exactly the same way you did. Some probably still struggleing with these feelings of uncertainty. I myself have had similar feelings, drowing myself in an unhealthy depression. Being a SAHM is not something to be taken lightly. Trust and believe that you are doing the most inmportant job in the world. And as you look back on the times you have had with your children, it will have all seemed worth it. For example I was working when my oldest was born up until he was about 6 years old. And when my oldest started walking, I remember saying to myself I missed his first steps:(. I have some may documented mile stones of my two youngest. And almost none of my oldest... That I am saddened of what I have missed in his life and what he feels that I have missed in his life. It makes you see things in a new light. You are such a sweet and Loving individual. And your lil ones are getting the best of it. xoxo. This is going into my faves!
Peggy, I know all too well what you are talking about here in your journalling... I feel exactly the same and have times where I doubt my self too. I am in exactly the same predicament as you and also feel ashamed whan people ask" What do you do all day?" as they frequently do! But, being a SAHM is the most important job of all, it just takes us a while to realise it ! Glad you have worked it all out!! Just love the LO! xx
this is amazing, beautiful, and completely inspirational! i love the collage effect and how you've cut your family out of a photograph and put them in a patterned paper scene. using the clothespins for the fence is a brilliant idea! :) great work.
Not much to tell about the how-to of this LO, I layered, distressed and inked the papers, and for the fence I painted and inked some clothes-pegs.
I will try to translate my journaling for those who are interested:
When I was young, I only had one vision of the future: house, garden, tree, kids, ... But when I had it all, I started to doubt...
Staying at home to raise the kids wasn't my idea, but my husband refused even to think about children otherwise. Against all expectations (I really loved my work...) I loved staying at home and look after the children. Still, I felt guilty most of the time. To me, it felt like I was "being kept" by my husband, and though I worked long hours - that happens when you have 3 children in a 2,5 year period - I didn't feel at all comfortable with the fact I wasn't contributing anything financially and with being so totally dependant on my husband.
When my third child started school, I immediately took a job to go cleaning houses several times a week, nobody was going to blame me to be a lazy wife with too much spare time on her hands! However, my life started to not feel right ... I was always cleaning, if not someone else's house, I was cleaning my own ... had I gone to school and get a nice diploma for that? The domestic chores which in the past I liked doing didn't give me any satisfaction anymore. On the other hand, I was feeling so guilty about my own negative feelings about my life ... I had a home, 3 healthy children, a happy marriage, what more can you want?
Now I love my life again and I'm feeling happier than ever. What has changed then? For starters, I've given up my cleaning work, and that has been my best decision ever! I'm back to enjoying my housework here in my own home, and I'm finally starting to realise that what I do here at home is important as well, and that how I feel and act has an effect on my entire family. Not everyone should stay at home to raise their children, but for us this has been the best solution, I realise that now. And should it ever be necessary financially for me to start working again, I'll try and find something I learned for, a place of work I can enjoy and which will satisfy me. I have spent to much time worrying about my duties, ignoring me in the process. I finally realise I matter in this family too. I'm finally making time for me (scrapping and fitness), something I haven't done for so long, and that has made all the difference in the world. I now realise how fortunate I am. I'm happy, my husband's happy, my children are happy ... I LOVE MY LIFE!
Well that's it. I wish I could have expressed myself a bit better, I'm not a very good writer, I tend to jump from one thought to the other without any structure at all, and that shows in my writing, but I think I've said it all here. This feeling of guilt about not going to work has been something I had been struggling for for years. There aren't all that many SAHM here in Belgium, and there have been times I was ashamed to admit I did not have a job. Long written conversations with some new-found scrapping American friends have made me come to terms with it though. More than that, they have made me realise how fortunate I am to be living the life I'm leading. I would especially like to thank April (scrappingmommyof2girls), Jodi (Ms. Fit) and Marta (Mama of 3), you have no idea how much impact you've had on my life! I feel so lucky to have met you!
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