Mothers

Baby hungry? Me? Never. Okay, maybe once...

Motherhood is something I have looked forward to my whole life. And living in Wymount, where half of the women in my quad are pregnant or had a baby in the last two months, does a lot to remind me how close that stage of my life is. And I am so excited.


Shauna is one woman in my quad and the mother of an adorable little girl. She recently wrote a post titled, "Christlike Mothers." She begins with: "I am a wife, a mother, and a homemaker. We have been taught that these are among the most noble callings. But let's be honest, sometimes it's a bit of a struggle to find nobility in changing diapers, cleaning bathrooms, and sweating over home-cooked meals, (both figuratively and literally.) I felt this keenly when my baby was just a few months old. By then the novelty had worn off, and we were in the thick of it." Her post connects these "little" things to what Christ did on the Earth. I encourage you to read it! (Picture taken from Gospel Art Book)

I know that motherhood is a divine calling. But unlike a lot of other callings and responsibilities in the church, this one does not seem as spiritual. I think my feelings stem from a combination of the world's perception of being a mom and reality. Currently, I am looking through "honeymoon goggles" if you will. I think that having a baby will be as easy as I first thought marriage would be. (Actually, marriage for me is pretty easy... so that analogy doesn't hold, but do you see what I mean?). Obviously I know having children will be difficult, but I haven't yet experienced it; and I really only see the good things from the women in my ward.


So I guess what I'm saying is: Shauna's article helped me realize that even though being a mom isn't glamorous, it is apparent that it is a very Christlike thing to do. 

In conclusion I'll just say that I am so grateful for my mom. She planned on and prepared for motherhood way before she actually became one. I know that I wasn't an angel child (although now I am, right mom?), I know there were people who scoffed at her in the grocery store or on the subways, and I know there were many 36+ hour days. It's not like she couldn't have done something more lucrative, elite, or comfortable. She wanted to stay at home, teach us, and help us develop character. She knows the value of being a mom and she is the best mom in the world!


You can stop reading now if you want. Below is what I wrote about motherhood on 6/29/2009. (To me it's interesting to see how my perpspective has changed.)

Why be a mother? Why go through the physical pain of pregnancy and giving birth? Why put up with children who won't listen to you, or suffer from the sorrow that comes from children having gone astray?

I thought of the standard, generic answer: because there are rewards that come along with it, which ultimately outweigh the costs. Well, that is definitely true but the ideas my teacher and other classmates gave are much more insightful and I would like to share them with you. One reason that really stood out to me was that by being a mother, you gain charity. Let me try to explain. As you experience the physical and emotional pain because of your children, and through all the sacrifices you make for them, in some ways, you can feel how the Savior feels about us. Because He loves us, He suffered for us that he may know how we feel and that he can succor us. As we sacrifice for our children, we might be able to better understand the deep love the Savior has for us. Mothers make a special sacrifice, sacrificing their bodies and putting their lives on the line to bring life into this world.