Mothering

This term in my sex & gender class we talked a lot about womanly roles. We had a very intense discussion on women working in the home and the workforce at the same time vs. mothers who stay at home with their children. Most of the people in my class are working mothers and so they believed that a woman can be an effective mother and provider at the same time. Last night I was watching Gray's Anatomy and was very impressed when Dr. Bailey had finally "seen the big picture" and realized she couldn't have it all and get 100% out of all of it. It really impressed me that Hollywood finally showed that we have limits and that sometimes the things that are most important in life (families) are not worth loosing to successes in the workplace.

I believe that no achievement in this life will give me more satisfaction than that of being a mother. I would love to go out in the world and help counsel all the psychological disorders out there, but to do so I would have to sacrifice my biggest priority, my children. I am not trying to say that a person is wrong for wanting to make successes outside of the home, everyone has the right to their opinion. All I am saying is that for me, and I wish more women, my role as mother and nurturer is the most gratifying and sustaining job I could ask for. There are two quotes that I love about mothering. One from J. Reuben Clark,

"motherhood is near to divinity, the highest holiest service to be assumed by mankind."

The other from Jane Clayson Johnson,

"The world can only value mothering to the extent that women everywhere stand and declare that it must be so. In our hands we hold the power to transform the perception of motherhood...we should no longer allow a mother to be defined as 'just a mom.' It is on her back that nations are built."

If any of us are doubting our roles as mothers or are, as we all feel from time to time, overwhelmed with this role we have taken on I recommend reading Clayson Johnson's book, I Am A Mother. Motherhood is the most divine calling and I would ask what are we as women and mothers doing to change the perception of mothers in this world? Are we finding joy in our work and showing that joy to others? Or, are we just treading through the muck of daily life? Are we taking on every new day and every new challenge with excitement and inspiration because of the Lord's trust in us as mothers? Or, are we allowing ourselves to feel overwhelmed and exhausted by our challenges? The Lord gives us challenges to show us who we are, are we ready to find out? Sometimes I struggle with these things, but in the end I have realized the joy of discovering just who I am and what I can do as a woman, wife and mother. I am grateful for these discoveries!