Guest Post: Author Anita Mellot {book giveaway}

I'm delighted to have author Anita Mellot as a guest on Making Home Work today. In 2003, Anita and her husband sensed God's call to homeschool their daughter. Shortly afterward, she felt a tug to write down her experiences to encourage other parents. These writings lead to her first book publication, School is Where the Home is: 180 devotions for parents.

Today, Anita shares an excerpt from her book and offers to give away a copy to one lucky reader! Read the excerpt and leave a comment to be entered for the drawing. Contest ends next Thursday, July 14 {open to U.S. Residents only}.

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Supermom?

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)

“Why are you so frazzled these days?” My husband, Jim, met my gaze over the rim of his glasses.

I almost choked on my latté. My delight at having time alone with him evaporated.

“You’re like a tightly coiled spring.”

I glared. “I’m just trying to keep up with everything I’m supposed to do.”

“Like what?”

I shrugged. “Cooking; cleaning; grocery shopping; taking care of the kids, you, my mom; and homeschooling . . .”

“You’re supposed to do all that? Says who?”

I paused as his words hit home. “Says me.”

His eyes twinkled. “Lower your expectations of yourself. Let the rest of the family pitch in. I’ll help, too.”

Could it be that simple?

He rattled off what he was willing to do and what we could add to Lisa, our tween’s chore list.

It’s worth a shot, I thought as we left Starbucks.

In the following weeks, I struggled to let go of my expectations of myself and how things should be done. When Lisa whizzed by sock-skating to clean my floors, I bit my tongue. When eighteen month-old Katy grabbed a washcloth to clean the floor, I sat on my hands to keep from pulling it away from her. When my mother took double the time than I would to cook a meal, I left the kitchen.

My family didn’t care if the banisters were polished every week or if the floor was shining. They were happy with a fairly neat house. My family wasn’t interested in elaborate meals, and when we had company, simple meals were fine.

They wanted me—a happy, not-so-tired Anita. That truth is setting me free.

Digging deeper: What expectations do you have of yourself? Reflect on John 8:31-36.

Excerpted from School Is Where the Home Is by Anita Mellott, copyright © 2011 by Anita Mellott. Used by permission of Judson Press, www.judsonpress.com.

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A homeschooling mom since 2003, Anita Mellott lives its joys and challenges. With post-graduate degrees in Communications and Journalism, she worked as an editor with Habitat for Humanity International, headed the Department of Journalism at Mt. Carmel College, Bangalore, India, and did a stint in public relations and advertising. Her articles have appeared in various publications including Homeschool Enrichment, Novel Journey, Crosswalk.com, The Christian Post, and magazines in India. When she's not homeschooling, chauffeuring her kids to various activities, or caring for an aging mom, she blogs at From the Mango Tree: www.anitamellot.com