Maureen Swinger 1978 –

Maureen is a writer and editor at Plough Publishing House, and also a mother of three.

My husband, Jason, and I took a three-year break from the community when our children were young.  During that time we lived in rural Connecticut and decided to homeschool the kids. Jason found a good job so we had the means. I loved it, but I really missed my job and the adult conversations that are part of a normal work routine.

Now that we’re back, one thing I really love is that a good work–life balance is built into our daily schedule. Whether you’re working in the communal kitchen, the workshop, or the publishing house, it’s a given that if your children need you, that comes first. If it’s time to nurse the baby, or if an older child is struggling and needs some time with mom or dad, off you go. You can really just leave.

There’s also no overtime expected from parents. If we do work overtime, someone’s likely to say, “What are you doing? The day’s over.” The work will be there for us tomorrow, and we’ll pick it up with new energy when we get back. But meanwhile there’s a family to raise, and children to guide, and that’s my most important task right now. God gave us these children and what could be more important than to raise them to contribute well to the world?

Both Jason and I grew up in homes full of love and security. Without a lot of talk, our parents demonstrated daily faithfulness through good times and tough times. Now, as our children grow toward their teens, we’re determined to take up our parents’ example, and make sure our home is full of laughter, music, openness, and trust. If the house looks like an unnatural disaster, but the homework got done and we sang and prayed together, we’re going to call it a good day.