Mommy or Maid?

My friend Burgess' blog inspired me to write some of my thoughts about Motherhood. There's not much I regret in my life, mostly because any decisions I've made in the past, good or bad have brought me where I am in my life now. And although things aren't perfect I am married to a man I'm madly in love with, and due to his incredible cuteness I have two gorgeous children. I do however regret a moment in my life when I was a teenager. I told my mom that I never wanted to become like her, that I was afraid I wouldn't go on to be a famous rockstar and I would be stuck at home with children doing the "mormon mom thing". The funny thing is I don't remember her looking upset, maybe a little disappointed, but mostly the face I remember her giving was one of knowledge, a smile of wisdom. She knew what I didn't know then that I know now. And that was...

Being a mom is the most rewarding, difficult, fulfilling, enjoyable, peaceful, challenging, closest to our Heavenly Father I ever felt responsiblity. Growing up I believed society, that you had to have a degree to be thought of as smart, you had to have a career to be viewed as valuable, and you had to make your own money, have your own free time and be completely independant to be "somebody".

My definition of "The Mormon Mom" has changed from uneducated baby maker to a Divine calling from God himself. A crucial parent that will raise our future leaders. A loving, nuturing, essential character in our children's lives. -That how I raise them determines how they will raise their own family and generations to come. I feel honored to have a son who will one day serve a mission and bring the light of Christ to others. I am blessed to have a daughter who will have a family of her own. And in the words of President Hinckley "When you save a girl, you save a generation." I am so very thankful to my own Mother, and the example she set of loyalty to her family, love for the Church and respect for herself have taught me many lessons.

Some days are like this... Us on Thanksgiving - trying to get a family photo - trying is the key word here.

I set out to write a debating blog if all the mundane things we do as moms (clean dishes, do laundry, wipe faces, wipe dirty bums, play dinosaurs, fight to change a two year old, spend almost 8 hours a day breastfeeding) make us moms or merely maids (wet nurse for the last thing mentioned). But I've realized very early on that there is no debate, because
You can't pay someone to do what a mother will do for free.


So, to all my Mommy friends out there - YOU ARE AWESOME - keep the faith.


And Other days are like this...