by R. Herbert | May 10, 2015 | Family, Updates, Women of Strength
A few months ago, the research and polling agency Barna Group published their most important findings from the surveys they conducted in 2014. Those top findings included a fascinating (one among many) survey that looked at the satisfaction and stress levels of mothers – with children still at home – compared to other women.
The image snip below (part of Barna’s graphic summarizing the survey) shows a few of the survey’s findings we felt were particularly interesting. It shows, for example, that while most mothers tend to be a little more dissatisfied with the balance of their work/home life than other women, they are significantly more stressed (80% as opposed to 72% for all women), tired (70% as opposed to 58% for all women), and overcommitted (56% as opposed to 48% for all women).
These statistics are informative and interesting at any time, but they are perhaps especially relevant for us to consider on Mother’s Day. Barna’s research shows clearly and empirically that motherhood does indeed involve sacrifice. The additional stress, tiredness and feeling of over-commitment faced by the majority of mothers is something we need to keep in mind as we celebrate Mother’s Day. All too often the potentially deep appreciation we should all show on Mother’s Day is muted by well-meaning but perhaps inadequate store-bought cards and other forms of ritual acknowledgment.
This is not to say that motherhood does not bring its own rewards. It does, of course, and most mothers are happy to make the sacrifices they do. But when we consider the ongoing and very real nature of the sacrifices made by so many mothers on a day-to-day basis, we should perhaps look at this day a little differently. Barna’s excellent survey reminds us not just to see Mother’s Day as another day on the calendar – like birthdays and anniversaries – to send a card, but to see it the way we should: as a day in which we honor those who so often sacrifice for their families.
You can see the survey and Barna’s other top findings here.
by R. Herbert | May 6, 2015 | Family, Updates
A few months ago we ran an article on “Christian Adoption and Foster Care” which proved very popular and drew a number of positive comments. This month is Foster Care Month in the United States and we decided to bring you a small update in that area.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in the United States more than 400,000 children are presently in foster care, and many more children are waiting to be accepted into foster care homes. Some 114,000 children presently in foster care are waiting to be adopted.
If you are interested in fostering a child needing a temporary home (most child welfare agencies cover many of the costs associated with fostering), there is a wealth of information available online regarding Christian fostering. The Christian Alliance for Orphans is only one example, but it is one we feel is particularly helpful with lots of links to further information on fostering as well as adoption. The Alliance unites more than 100 respected Christian organizations and a national network of churches so it can be very helpful in finding contacts in a person’s local area. Another good resource, giving state foster care contacts, is the U.S. government’s National Foster Care Month page.
Also, you may find that there are people in your own church who are already providing foster care or who have adopted or are in the process of doing so. You may find such people invaluable sources of current local information and opportunities.
Even if you are not able to consider fostering or adopting, there are other things you can do to help. We recommend CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) which promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy to help ensure children in foster care or adoption are safe and properly protected.
If you decide to try foster parenting, or know someone who does, there are many good books available on the subject. One very new book that we have seen and highly recommend is the unique and very helpful What’s a Foster Family? by Anne Garboczi Evans (author) and Helen Cochrane (illustrator), which helps even young children of existing families understand and accept a foster sibling. Published just a couple of months ago, it’s well written and illustrated and perfectly pitched for the children who will be helped by it. In the US It is available here, and those in the UK can find it here.
Finally, if you didn’t already read our full article on “Christian Adoption and Foster Parenting,” and it is of interest, you can read it here.
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