Christian Working Mom Interview for
June
Welcome
Interview
Welcome
Are you having a good summer? I always
surprised every summer how I think it will be relaxed
and my schedule gets filled so quickly. My challenge
to you and myself is plan the must do things “fun
things” you want to do this summer and put them
on the calendar.
I just wanted to remind everyone that
if you want to read any past interviews or articles
you can find them at http://www.christianworkingmom.com/newsletters/archives.htm.
We are getting so close to our goal of 1,000 surveys
completed. Right now we have over 975 surveys completed.
Please let your friends know about the Christian Working
Mom Survey and ask them to fill it out by visiting
www.christianworkingmom.com
and clicking on Survey on the home page. We continue
to have good discussions at the Christian Working
Mom Blog. Please come join us and post a comment at
www.kimberlychastain.com/my-journal.
We can support and encourage one another.
Interview
Tina is a 38 year old married Christian Working Mom
who lives in the United States. She has a son age
13 and a son age 4. Tina is a front office team leader
in a pediatric night clinic.
Tina says the Joys of Being a Christian
Working Mom are: I just recently got a job again after
staying at home with my kids since I graduated college
in 1991. I’ve worked seasonal retail and a part
time job here and there, but I am really enjoying
this part time job. It feels good to use my skills
and talents pursuing something I enjoy. One other
thing my job is doing for me right now, is just getting
out of the house. We recently moved and I really haven’t
met anyone with which I have connected. So this job
IS my sanity right now. When I have too much time
on my hands, I get down about the situation.
Tina shares the following struggles
of being a Christian Working Mom: I still struggle
with being away from home when I know my job is just
part time and brings home only 6% of what my husband
brings home. I really enjoy it, but don’t know
if it is worth it. We need the extra money for tuition
right now, until my husband’s next raise, so
I will keep it at least that long. Also, I am working
evenings 4 nights a week, so for those nights, after
I pick up my oldest from school, we talk about his
day, I cook supper and leave it on the stove. My husband
comes home, I see him for 20 minutes, and then I’m
off to work. I didn’t realize how much I would
miss them just for those 4 hours.
Favorite Bible Verse: Right now it is
1 Thessalonians 5:18. After searching for God’s
will in this recent move, I found it. Give thanks
in all circumstances for this is God’s will
for you in Christ Jesus.
Tina says God is teaching her the following
things right now: Since this move, I’m in waiting
mode (not my favorite). Waiting to fit in, in our
new community. God accomplishes so many things in
our lives when we are uncomfortable. But he always
shows he is there. I knew this move would be a hard
one because of something that happened shortly before
we moved. I was on an airplane and reading the book,
The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers, by Amy Hollingsworth.
The author, herself, often turned to Fred Rogers for
advice. She had just moved and was really having a
hard time connecting in her new community. Fred’s
advice was, “Just as it takes a tree a long
time to begin to grow again once it’s transplanted,
so you can give your healthy roots time to find the
nourishment of your new soil in your new community.”
I immediately began to cry because I knew that was
just for me. God allows uncomfortable things in our
lives, but walks with us through it.
Tina gives the following words of Encouragement
for other Christian Working Moms: The world has its
idea of how we, as women, should live. We should be
able to work full-time at home, have a career, raise
a family, and take care of aging parents, all at the
same time, and do it all to perfection. But beware;
the church has its own mold of what is success and
what is not. Issues regarding home schooling, staying
at home with the children, etc. Our children are God’s,
on loan to us. We are to raise them to the best of
our ability. But He is not dependent on us for the
way they turn out. He is all powerful and capable
of reaching our kids, with or without us! When that
revelation, although simple it is, hit me recently,
I was set free! No more guilt weighing me down. No
more comparisons. My advice is to live in the freedom
Christ offers, enjoy your family, listen to the Spirit
to lead you, and don’t compare your family to
others, either INSIDE or OUTSIDE the church!
Tina thanks so much for reminding us
ultimately our children are not our own. I also appreciate
the reminder not to compare ourselves to others. I
think we as women are particularly prone to comparison.
Thanks for taking time to share today, Tina.
Till next time,
Kimberly Chastain
Kimberly Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian Working
Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
She is the founder of CWMU and author of 2 ebooks
that can be found at www.christianworkingmom.com.
For a free, initial coaching session send an email
to Kimberly@kimberlychastain.com
with free coaching in the subject heading.
