I am a Mother

A few days ago i reread an awesome book. It's called "I am a Mother" and was written by Jane Clayson Johnson. Jane was a foreign correspondent and news anchor for CBS- rich and famous. But she gave up her career to become a stay-at-home mom. I loved reading her story. She has some incredible insights into the eternally ordained mission of motherhood and how being a mother is of much greater importance to her than money or a career.

I definitely recommend reading this book. It took me just a few hours and had me in tears nearly the whole time. I'd like to share with you just a few of my favorite quotes.

"Mother is the word that will define a righteous woman made perfect in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom." -Sheri Dew

"It is divinity that makes women nurtures, that encourages a woman to pursue motherhood- even when that means sacrificing her own comforts for those of her children... and loving those children with a fierceness and loyalty that is incomparable."

Speaking of her career, "I know what i gave it up for. I traded fancy lunches in fancy restaurants for rice cereal and bunny-shaped mac and cheese... They don't give awards for best diaper change of the day. And I don't get a paycheck that can be cashed at a bank. Now my compensation comes in packages money can't buy."

Jane's story has become such a great example for me. My story is much different than hers, but i think we all have those moments sometimes where we think, oh i could have been rich or i could have done this, but she puts it all in perspective.

And i boldly declare:

I am a Mother

None Can Take Her Place

It's been an incredibly busy and hard week for me. I want this to be a blog that gives strength to anyone in need of it, but of course it helps me more than anything. Its been a while since I've had time to reaffirm my testimony of my eternal calling and i was desperately in need of a boost. Here are the quotes that stood out to me the most this past week.

I read a story from President Howard W. Hunter who talked about his decision to switch professions after he and his wife had already started their family. He worked full-time during the day and went to school at night. He finished his undergraduate and law degree in this manner. And all this time his wife remained at home raising their children. She did not work at all.

President Hunter admitted these were not easy years for them but praised his wonderful wife saying, "What she gave in love, encouragement, frugality, and companionship was far in excess of any material contribution she might have made by taking employment."

I relate so much to this story. Josh is not in school, but is still in the learning stages of his profession- making little money. And he doesn't go to school at night, but he does work on his second job most evenings and weekends. I know there are several things i could devote my time to that would make money for our family in these difficult times, but I also know that my place is in the home raising our children.

I also love that Pres. Hunter mentioned his wife's frugality. I was raised to be frugal and feel that i am a very frugal person. There have been people who have discouraged this lifestyle choice of ours, but when we don't have money for something- we don't spend it. And i am grateful that Pres. Hunter admired that quality in his wife.

One last quote that reassured my position as a Full-Time Mom:

"The greatest job that any mother will ever do will be in nurturing, teaching, lifting, encouraging, and rearing her children in righteousness and truth. None other can adequately take her place." -President Gordon B. Hinkley

Not Just a Mom

I got this story from one of my BYU professors. I just love it!

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office,
was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

"What I mean is, " explained the recorder,
"do you have a job or are you just a ...?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman.

"I'm a Mom."

"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation,

'housewife' covers it,"
Said the recorder emphatically.


I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself

in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
"Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."

"What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know.
The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in m midair and
looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest,
"just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
"I have a continuing program of research,
(what mother doesn't)
In the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers

and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom."

Motherhood!

Grateful to be a Mom

This Thanksgiving as we went around the table to share with our family what we were thankful for, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for my role as a mother. This blog has helped me so much to recapture the spirit of motherhood. I am so grateful to be a mom and for the example of all the other wonderful moms i know! I am also so grateful for a husband who understands the importance of having me stay at home to raise our children. I couldn't do it without his support and all of his hard work.

"To the mothers of this Church, every mother who is here today, I want to say that as the years pass, you will become increasingly grateful for that which you did in molding the lives of your children in the direction of righteousness and goodness, integrity and faith. That is most likely to happen if you can spend adequate time with them." -President Hinckley

“We have often said, This divine service of motherhood can be rendered only by mothers. It may not be passed to others. Only by mother, aided as much as may be by a loving father... can the full needed measure of watchful care be given” -President Kimball

“Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind.” The priesthood cannot work out its destiny, nor can God’s purposes be fulfilled, without our helpmates. Mothers perform a labor the priesthood cannot do. For this gift of life, the priesthood should have love unbounded for the mothers of their children." -President Hunter

"No more sacred word exists in secular or holy writ than that of

mother.

There is no more noble work than that of a good and God-fearing mother." -President Benson

What We Do

An awesome Mom emailed me this story. It is a great anecdote about all the hard work moms do. The mom who shared this story with me is an incredible person. She is a great mom to a little girl who has had a great deal of medical problems. But she is always so positive and an awesome example to me.

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.

Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?' 'Yes,' was his incredulous reply. She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

An Eternally Ordained Mission

With the holidays approaching, i have been struggling with the fact that since I choose not be employed outside of the home we have no money for anything but the basics. This past week my world was turned around with unexpected expenses. I felt not necessarily unsatisfied with "just being a mom" but as horrible as it sounds, i felt a longing to have more money to pay for not only our necessary expenses, but just a little more money to buy things like presents for my family, Christmas decorations for our home, or even a vacation once in a while.

I felt so uneasy. I kept trying to justify the possibility of only working outside the home just for a short time. But in my heart i couldn't. So I turned to the Lord for comfort. I got out an old manual from one of my religion classes and found quote after quote after quote reaffirming my faith and testifying to me that my work as a mom is more important and noble than any job, hobby, or any item i could purchase.

I'd like to share with all of you what i found, in hopes that it will strengthen all of us.

*This one cut me deep- as Nephi says, "the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center."

President Gordon B. Hinckley- "I think the nurture and upbringing of children is more than a part-time responsibility. I recognize that some women must work, but I fear that there are far too many who do so only to get the means for a little more luxury and a few fancier toys."

President Kimball gets right to the point. "The husband is expected to support his family andonly in an emergency should a wife secure outside employment. Her place is in the home, to build thehome into a heaven of delight."

****I will keep this first post short and end with what was for me the greatest words of comfort and eternal perspective.

President Ezra Taft Benson- "Do not sacrifice your preparation for an eternally ordained mission for the temporary expediency of money-making skills which you may or may not use."