The Art of Mothering

To be a mother is a woman's greatest vocation in life. She is a partner with God. No being has a position of such power and influence. She holds in her hands the destiny of nations, for to her comes the responsibility and opportunity of molding the nation's citizens.-Spencer W. Kimball

With Mother's Day just one week away, and with the impending birth of my fifth child just weeks away, thoughts on mothering have flooded my mind.
My role as mother is one I have always been grateful for, but I also have moments of struggle with all that being "mom" means for me as a woman. I believe that with the birth of a child there is an immediate and obvious paradigm shift in a woman from who she was pre-baby-- Priorities are different, expectations are different, life is different.
There is a definite need for a woman to become selfless- in some this is a minor adjustment, in others a major change. I have moments where I struggle against my innate selfish nature in order to be the mom my children need. Battle scars are all over my brain and my heart. I see women who are childless and look with envy on their time. They have responsibilities-- yes. But, their free time is THEIR free time. Whether it is a vacation, sleep, gym time, shopping, nights out with friends, alone time, or time to pursue their goals and passions -- these women are free to plan and do without the encumbrance of children.
I have sacrificed a lot including my time, my body, some dreams, and some would argue... my sanity.
And yet I know I am blessed. In the times where I get caught up in self-pity because of all that motherhood requires of me, I merely have to look at or think of the sweet faces of my children and I am overcome with joy and disbelief that I am the lucky woman who gets to mother them.

Motherhood brings as much joy as ever, but it still brings boredom, exhaustion, and sorrow too. Nothing else ever will make you as happy or as sad, as proud or as tired, for nothing is quite as hard as helping a person develop his own individuality especially while you struggle to keep your own. -Marguerite Kelly and Elia Parsons

I marvel at moms. I feel like I am just squeaking by every day juggling so many schedules, meeting so many needs, loving so many little humans. There are many mothers out there that just seem to be in their element. They seem to have mastered the art of mothering. I want to tell each of you... YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN! And I want to ask... HOW?!? How do you do it? How are you up at the crack of dawn with your little ones dressed perfectly, gourmet lunches with hand-written notes packed in their lunch boxes, houses clean and organized, ready to begin your day looking amazing, dinner already planned for the evening, juggling extra-curriculars and still find time to volunteer as homeroom mom or brownie leader? I don't get it. I don't know how you do it. I am truly in awe at your dedication, your tenacity, your selfless exuberance for your task at hand-- raising and shaping the lives of your children.

Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of her family.-Jean Rousseau

So if you are a mom please take a few moments to recognize yourself as the AMAZING WOMAN you are. Take a few moments to do something for you every once in a while, too. And for all of the men out there with mothers and/or a woman in their life who is a mom... please don't pass up an opportunity to recognize them for what they do. Remind them that they are beautiful individuals, that their thoughts and hopes and dreams and separateness from their role as mom is important. Whether it is giving them a special day, a thoughtful gesture or a simple kind word.... show the moms out there that they deserve recognition and gratitude for all the work the art of mothering requires.

No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love.  It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star.  ~Edwin Hubbell Chapin