There isn’t a perfect picture to describe motherhood. Although, a quick look at Instagram may seem otherwise. The perfect pictures don’t show the sleepless hours, endless diapers, and limitless prayers that are given for our children. But did you know that negative experiences are easier to recall than positive ones? After hearing this I decided to make more of an effort to remember the good- and to learn from the negative. I never want to completely forget my faults or the challenging times when I’ve locked myself in the bathroom and cried because I thought motherhood was hard or served chicken nuggets to my toddler for lunch, and then again for dinner (who’s with me on this? Anybody?) But instead I chose to change my focus. To grow from the challenging times, but turn my FOCUS towards the good.
I consider having the opportunity to stay at home with my children one of my greatest blessings. I use to have so much anxiety when I’d fill out forms about what to write in the box that says “Occupation.” Now I have so much pride when I hear my daughter say “Please and/or Thank you” and when she waits her turn or shares with a little, “Here you go!” Now does this happen every time in our “perfect” life? Absolutely not. In fact it probably happens less than it probably should. But when it does, I want to remember it and think, I taught her that. Because if not me, who would?
My role as a mother, has in turn, taught me so much about my role as a woman. We, as women, take on so many responsibilities and obligations but sometimes it’s hard for me to remember my greatest commitment is to my family, and to my children. This past weekend I came across a quote from a church leader during the 2000 General Conference that said, “Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.”
When I think about the woman and the mother I’d like to be, the words that come to my mind are: tender, kind, faithful. And while there are many women who I look up to who are “tough” and even “famed” (let’s face it!)-I think it’s also important to remember balance. Women are given so many divine characteristics and talents, which is why womanhood is such a beautiful thing. I simply choose to be a woman of God, and a mother, and shouldn’t be looked down upon because of it. And maybe one day my daughters will be able to look up and want this same desire for themselves too.
