My feelings regarding Mother's Day are really divided. While I understand that it was created as an idea to honour motherhood, an idea I am completely on board with, it also seems a little silly to need a 'set' day to so. Does it not mean more when someone decides to give thanks to you because they feel particularly full of gratitude that day rather than because that particular day dictated that they do so?
I feel pretty fortunate that the kids are pretty gracious and thankful all the time so it felt nice to get a few extra special touches on the day of Mother's Day. Besides, the kids were so excited about getting to do a few things to surprise mommy with, even when that meant sequestering me to the bedroom so that they could finish up a few things.
I guess when Jason asked the kids what they should get me for Mother's Day, the unanimous choice was tulips - there were no other options in their minds. They certainly know my love for tulips!
And for those smiles!
And for those little hands and their artwork!
And hugs and kisses and cuddles (especially when that ironing board in the background is beckoning for me to finish up so it can go away).
I also got some delicious french toast for breakfast. A treat that I have not had in a very long time! It was lovely.
I love motherhood. And I am grateful to have made the choice to stay home and rear these children. I know some mothers need to make the choice to help support the family financially and go back to work, often sooner than they would have liked, and I believe that their family will be blessed just the same for their sincere hearts and efforts in the realm of motherhood. But I also strongly believe that, whenever possible, mothers are needed to bless their children at home.
But whether we work outside the home or not, we must be actively and consistently loving, teaching and rearing our children. There are so many more faucets to being there for our children than just simply being in the same room as them. Motherhood is full of so much depth, beauty and meaning that can fill us with immeasurable joy, if we let it. I'm always trying to improve myself, particularly as a wife and mother. I feel like I stumble a lot, but it isn't about how much I stumble, it's about how much I get back up, dust myself off and let myself grow in the process. Mother's have an astonishing influence on their children by the example that they set to love themselves and those around them. We don't need to be perfect, we need to be sincerely trying and fully loving. Our children feel our love powerfully when we are giving our hearts in fullness and sincerity. I stumbled on this quote this last week about perfection:
“Would you suppose the Savior [would suggest] a goal that was not possible of attainment and thus mock us in our efforts to live to attain that perfectness? It is impossible for us here in mortality to come to that state of perfection of which the Master spoke, but in this life we lay the foundation on which we will build in the eternity” --- President Harold B Lee
As a mother, I am not only building my foundation but helping to build the foundation of my children. That is a pretty incredible opportunity that God has entrusted me with. I've really enjoyed reading the experiences of the women in this Coming Home Series that you can find over here. It is about mothers, listening to their hearts, and making the choice to be home with their children. Each story is different and I have enjoyed reading the different perspectives and circumstances. I've had more days than I would like to think about, that I have been on the receiving end of hurtful remarks about my choice to stay at home with my children (and, sadly, those remarks have often come from places where I would have expected support) and it just makes me sad to see that people feel the need to do that (and, in some cases, that they do it without even realizing!). However, I have been grateful for the peace and assurance that I have felt through my days that I have made the right choice for me and my family. It is not always easy, but when I let motherhood truly wash over me and embrace it with my whole heart, life feels more right than it ever has.
So, while this post has become much more filled with my opinion than I anticipated it being, I am grateful to be a mother and I am grateful to have two wonderful children who spoiled me with a few extra tokens of love (with help from Daddy) on Mother's Day.
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