Last week, some of the regular readers of my blog completed a survey. I highly appreciate all of your comments. If you didn’t get a chance to share your feedback, you can click here. I’d love to hear from you!

I would like to respond to some of the questions. I realize some of these are questions you’d like to ask an expert. No, I don’t consider myself an expert on everything related to being a mom. But my kids and being a mom has been a HUGE part of my life over the last 17 years!

Healthy Meals

Reader: nutrition, food, how to cook healthy meals.

Bona: Being a mom can be so hard. I remember what I did at some points making sure that we always had good healthy meals. At other times, it became hard to keep up with all the demands of life. 

I think that cooking good healthy meals is such an important thing. And then sitting around the table together. That is such an important time for us as a family. 

Recently some other people suggested that we try to have light dinner topics, so Josh and I have been taking turns coming up with something. This week we answered “What’s one job you’d still like to have and another you wish you could have but know you can’t?

Shout out to Bannockburn Elementary School where Sarah went for grades K-2 and Joanna for kindergarten. They gave us questions like these that we had used for years 

Involving Children in Tasks

Reader: Maybe how to involve the children in tasks around the house. (To teach responsibility).

Bona: Whoever has the answer to this question, please tell me!!!

Forgetting Who We Are 

Reader: While being a mother is decidedly the most valuable thing I’ve done with my life, it isn’t my whole identity. As women, I think we can forget who we are as women, the person God made me to be outside of being a mom….I think a good topic would be how to maintain your personal identity as a woman, and how to balance that with the sometimes mundane, sometimes chaotic days of being a mom. 

Bona: I’m so glad you mentioned this! This is one of the reasons that I started this blog. I don’t think I knew who I was until after I became a mom. I remember our girls were young. I was so busy with the kids and cooking and ministry, going up flight after flight of stairs to hand out tracts. I started to notice that I had forgotten who I was. 

And then I realized that I had never really known myself! That’s when my self-growth began to take place.

How to Inspire?

Reader: What do you think is the best way to inspire your kids to do their best and try hard to succeed yet letting them know they are good enough for you no matter what they accomplish?

Bona: This is such an important question. I would start with this – lead by example. I haven’t always done this but when I have, I think it has meant more than anything else.

Inspiration comes as parents find time to listen to their kids’ dreams and desires. To ask the right questions. Then, it’s important to let them try even if they make mistakes. Even if they get disappointed that something didn’t go right, it’s important that they try again. It’s important to affirm them for not giving up, for their character. It’s not about their behavior.

I remember one year when our girls were young that one of them didn’t make the Student Council even though she had a great campaign. We went to celebrate together that she tried.

Pray with our Teens?

Reader: How can we pray with our teenagers?

Bona: Routines. Ongoing routines are best. If you do this, hats off to you! It is so hard! Make it a practice to talk to them about what’s going on in their lives. What’s something that they have been encouraged about? Discouraged about?

A couple of days ago, one of my kids was pretty hurt. We talked, and in the end, she was much more ready to pray.

Which “battles” to fight?

Reader: Which “battles” with your kids are the most important?

Bona: Not all battles can be won. One that is important is being truthful, telling the truth. Another that is important for me is for the kids to have friendships that are good. Being surrounded by people that uplift them rather than put them down.

Your Personal Story

Reader: This may not be MOPS related 😉 but I’d love to hear more of your personal story. You have truly undergone a transformation since I first met you, and I’d love to hear the story behind that. Much love to you!”

Bona: I’m so glad you said this. It’s so special to hear about what you have seen! 💜💜💜I started the blog to write my personal story. But then I realized that we didn’t have a way to make it possible for just people I know to read some of the sensitive parts. We are working on getting another site and then the people I know will have permission for the content that is more about my personal story and journey.

What’s Next?

Thanks for joining me as I responded to these questions and comments!

If you didn’t get a chance to share your questions or comments with me, please comment below. Or you can complete the survey here.