Motherhood

Me as a young 20 year old--before my mission. Likely considering my future.

My friend, Karen, posted on her blog a some beautiful reflections about motherhood in her own life. She referenced an LDS talk, which I read over and loved too. I wanted to share a few things from the talk as well.

Karen is on the left. Taken at my pre-mission party.

A FEW THINGS ABOUT KAREN: I met her when I started college (when I was 18) and she soon was my friend. Karen has a very soothing voice, great height for enveloping friend hugs, and best of all--a desire to seek out humor and joy. I liked going over to her house back then. Currently, she's a middle school math teacher who will post about some of the student's middle school drama from the teacher's perspective. She makes me wonder what my teachers were saying about me. (I could be weird sometimes...)


Now onto my thoughts on motherhood. Honestly, I don't have a relationship of trust with my mother.  So, when people talk about the role of a mother- I think of an imaginary woman in my head, not my own mother. I see the ideal mother...made up of all the traits I liked from different women in my life. When people say, "It was so good to talk to my mother..." I say, "Yeah." I say it not because I relate, but because I could IMAGINE how that could be nice with the ideal mother. I didn't realize I was doing this until I was married. 


Karen, and several other women in my life, have given me the nurturing I needed. I deeply appreciate mentors and strong women who pass though my life--sometimes just for a few days. I've had protectors, nurturers, coaches, pushers, jesters all whom weren't my own mother. 


Now here I am, a mother of a 22 month old little boy. I feel so blessed to have been able to have gotten married to the perfect husband for me--someone who I get along with, who I trust, who loves me, who shares the same big goals with me. Without him, I can't picture being a mom.


A quote I often think of as a woman is the following from a October 2000, General Conference Talk by Maragret Nadauld:
Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.


The guidance from this quote humbles me and causes me to reflect on my intentions, and reset my focus towards my eternal goals. I feel energized and ready to take action again.


The talk that Karen referenced was by Sheri Dew. She said:
Have you ever wondered why prophets have taught the doctrine of motherhood—and it is doctrine—again and again? I have. I have thought long and hard about the work of women of God. And I have wrestled with what the doctrine of motherhood means for all of us. This issue has driven me to my knees, to the scriptures, and to the temple—all of which teach an ennobling doctrine regarding our most crucial role as women. It is a doctrine about which we must be clear if we hope to stand “steadfast and immovable” ² regarding the issues that swirl around our gender. For Satan has declared war on motherhood. He knows that those who rock the cradle can rock his earthly empire. And he knows that without righteous mothers loving and leading the next generation, the kingdom of God will fail.


Shaun and I have read this talk and agree that mothers have a great influence for good---and for bad if they are not careful. As Enoch gets older, I know the problems will get more complicated. I am glad to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I know that I am loved and that I have an responsibility to make a good faith effort to positively impact in the life of my son, and also in the lives of those meet.


I wasn't thinking much about mother's day until this last hour, but am glad I did.