Absent Mothers

Absent mothers are not just those who go out to a job and leave their children in the care of others...And let me say, this is not to run-down those mothers who have been left unwillingly in a state of singleness against their desires...

There are mothers who remain at home in body, but they are not there mentally or emotionally.  There are many ways to leave the home without leaving it.  Some mothers turn to the TV.  Well, the TV is on, so the children are left to themselves while Mommy watches her soap opera or talk show.  Some mothers even look forward to their favorite shows so much that they make extra efforts to be sure the children are in bed or napping so their favorite show is not interrupted.  Some mothers send their children into other rooms and ignore when discipline is needed because they don't want to miss what is going on, on the TV.  Of course, there are also mothers who use TV as a babysitter for their children while they do whatever they want "without interruption".



With some mothers, it is the phone!  Oh, Suzy calls and everyone has to hush, hush and leave Mommy alone!  Catching up on the latest gossip can surely not be interrupted.  The phone conversations can go on and on for hours.  Meanwhile, the children tear down the house because Mother is too busy talking about the latest home school book or how her husband is just the most lazy spiritual leader and she just cannot believe it!

With some, it is Facebook, Ohhhhhhh, Facebook!  Yes, they have to log in and see what everyone has posted, and well, maybe make a comment here and there, maybe send some gifts to those cyber friends, and well, those games are sure nice for a break!  Well, the break lasts 45 minutes, an hour, or two, oh dear....

Then other mothers have email, email, and more email!  There are newsletters, and blogs, yes!  Even blogs!  They must be read!  Oh, you might miss something if you don't sign up for all those newsletters.  Never mind that there is never enough time to read them all, but....!  And the internet is SO full of good, helpful information...If you just spend a little more time reading those articles, maybe, just maybe, you'll get how to be a good mother and housekeeper!


Meanwhile, Little Johnny, Sam, and Madeline, are all waiting for Mommy to come back to reality...come back home!

Part of Proverbs warns against the woman whose "feet abide not in her house"  (Proverbs 7:11).  If I have just described you in the above paragraphs, do not despair!  I have been there too.  But, we have choices to make...Are we going to make choices to be home with our family, being busy serving them and keeping the home?  Or will we sinfully wander about from house to house (1 Timothy 5:13)?

This is not to say that the above things are bad.  But they are bad when we have other things we should be doing.  They are bad when we enjoy indulging gossip about others.  They are bad when our husbands have asked us to do something and we haven't done it because we're too busy chasing after other friends and more information that we were not asked to take on.  They are bad when our houses are filthy and our husbands and children have no food cooked for their next meal.

If your feet abide not in your house, consider taking a technology break.  I know there is a turn off TV week, and this applies to the computers, too!  Take a time out and enjoy life without these time-stealers.  Yes, there will be days when we need to access information and it is also nice to read encouraging words from other ladies who are striving to serve the Lord; I am not saying these things are bad.  But...set a timer for how long you should be on the computer, or visiting with a friend on the phone.  Make a time in your schedule.  But don't waste away your days there, somewhere, other than your home sweet home!


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