I am a Mother

I read the book "I am a Mother" By Jane Clayson Johnson recently and it really got me to thinking about a lot of things. It got me wondering why I and other mothers allow the world to tell us that being a Mom is second rate to what we "could" be doing. I mean, we fight so hard against so many of the other influences of the world, but this one we seem to embrace a lot more readily than many others. It's pretty scary to me that we are so easily convinced--I bet it makes Satan do the happy dance. I will admit to being embarrassed that I don't have a career when I've run into someone from my past who asks me what I "do". Why, when countless prophets have told us that mothering is the most important thing we can do, are we still listening to the world telling us that being a mother just isn't enough? I would bet that if ALL of us mothers would stand up for ourselves and be proud to be mothers that we could change this misconception that we are second rate. What I realized is that we feed the idea that we are less by being embarrassed to admit that we are mothers and we believe it is important. I have defended my choice to not get a job--especially when the twins were both in school and I had no kids at home during the day. Many people (including family members of mine) would ask me, "Why don't you get a job?" I would tell them that I wanted to be home when my kids were home and I wanted to be able to have time to myself and all these other reasons, but bottom line is that I wanted to be a mother first and foremost. I think that when you work outside of your home you can't really focus completely on your mothering because you have this other responsibility in the back of your mind.

Now, before I start getting hate mail about this entry let me be clear that I DO NOT judge anyone else's choice to work outside their home. I don't know anyone's situation but my own and if this post makes you feel guilty that isn't my intent at all. I KNOW that there are many people who HAVE to work outside the home and I realize that I am greatly blessed that I don't have to. In the beginning of our marriage we made a lot of sacrifices so I could stay home and now because of some of those choices we made early on we are comfortable with the income that my dh brings in for our family. I hope that none of us judge other moms who aren't able to stay home because we really don't know their situation. That brings me to the other thing I've been thinking about...

Judging others...now I'll admit to my fault on this one. I don't think I necessarily judge others on this topic, but I know I'm judgmental sometimes even if its only in my head and I never share it with anyone else. She talks in the book about how we need to be supportive and caring for one another as mothers. That made me realize that I have been VERY lucky to have close friends and neighbors who value motherhood and have supported me through many of my trials so far in mothering and desiring to be a mother to more children even when I couldn't. I'm thankful for those friends and neighbors for their support and I hope that I have been supportive when they needed it. I also hope that I can share that support with new mothers that I meet. We need to stand together and let the world know that we know that this is the most important and valuable work we could be doing right now. So like the author says...next time someone asks what you "do" proudly tell them, "I am a Mother"