On Life at Home

We also had chores assigned that each of the kids
did on their own, and they also had to help clean
the house on Saturdays. They went with me to
the grocery store and we would eat out at one of
the fast food restaurants after grocery shopping.
Eating out was a big treat back then. This was
just one more way in which we created memories
without even realizing it.
The Power of Bedtime
One of the most powerful ways in which I connected
with my children and impacted their lives
was at bedtime. I actually looked forward to bedtime,
not to finally have some peace and quiet in
the house, but rather because it was a special
time of bonding. At bedtime, the kids would get all
comfortable in their beds as the stress and activity
of the day began to fade into the background.
I would sit or kneel on the floor by their beds and
they would talk about the happenings of their day.
Sometimes this special time of night would be conducive
to their asking questions about things that
were bothering them or we’d share a good laugh
about something else in their day.
The bedtime routine was a little different with each
of the children. There really isn’t any one-size-fitsall
plan for making these important connection
times and impacting our children’s lives. Every
family has its own unique set of dynamics. With
my son, I always sang to him. It began when I
held him as an infant and continued on into his
early teen years. Although he never wanted his
friends to know that. One of his favorite requested
songs was “How Great Thou Art.” We also sang
“Jesus Loves Me,” and “Frosty the Snowman.”
We were well balanced with quite a repertoire of
songs that we enjoyed.
As he got older, we prayed together for him, for
our family members and we also prayed for his
friends sometimes. One such time was when he
was a teenager and he left his buddies because
they were going to drive and try to find this one
church with an upside down cross on it that was
in some town not too far away. He was very worried
about his friends and he wanted us to pray for
them. He found out the next day that his buddies
got lost and never did find that church. This was
a strong witness to my son of the power of prayer
and of God’s faithfulness. Without our bedtime
ritual, this important and special time may never
have happened.
With my daughter, our routine at bedtime was to
play a little game. She liked having all of her many
stuffed animals in bed with her, especially the puppies.
I would take a stuffed puppy in my hand and
pretend to be the voice of the puppy and I would
make up a story. We would have a lot of laughs
with that little routine. We also prayed together
and read bedtime stories. Often, after our routine
was over, I would just sit with her until she went
to sleep, which gave her a lot of comfort. It was a
connection with no words necessary.
Just so that I show you a realistic and balanced
view of things in my life, I need to let you know that
as my kids became teenagers there were some
very difficult, stressful, and sad times. Many nights
I laid on my bed and cried to God to please pick
up the pieces that I dropped that day. Our faithful
Lord was there with me and with them all along
the way. My children prove out the scripture in
Proverbs 22:6 which says, “train up a child in the
way he should go and when he is old, he will not
depart from it.” As the rebellious teenage years,
thankfully, came to an end, my children found their
way back to walking fully with the Lord. They are
now each married and raising their own children in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
There are many ways that you can look well to
the ways of your household and be a good mother
who teaches her children well even if you must
work outside of your home. These little stories
that I have shared with you, give you a glimpse of
how I managed to balance my work life with child
rearing and, with God’s help, you will find your own
unique way, too.
Author Bio:
Erma Kummerer is from Northwest Ohio where
she lives close to her two children and five grandchildren.
She is an author of children’s books.
Her first book, “Someday I’ll Ride a Train”, Tate
Publishing, was released in February of 2014.
Her next book, “My Big Sailboat Adventure,” is
on schedule to be released at the end of 2015.
Her passion is to encourage children to use their
imagination.