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Tuesday, July 9, 2013

A Mother's Purpose

Crazy Housewife  Maid Cleaner With Sponge
I want to share some of my thoughts about what it's like to be a mom today.  Thanks to the wealth of ideas on the Internet the expectations of a mother have become a little... unrealistic.  We feel pressure to:
  • cook yummy meals using all the latest healthy ingredients; create edible creature snacks for the kids and fancy festive treats for the neighbors.
  • maintain a clean and organized home, decorated with homemade crafts for every season. 
  • rear our children with our sweet peaceful voices and artsy activities..... AND SO ON
Yes, I have participated in this latest practically-perfect-mom trend, until I remembered what my real purpose as a mother and wife is. The most important task I have is to teach, nurture, and love my children.  Everything else is secondary.  Even the cleaning

In Today's Family: The Eternal Role of Mothers Elder Ballard says, “What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else.” 

Above dirty dishes, and homemade soap? 

I think so. 

Don't get me wrong, it is important to live in a clean home and participate in wholesome activities, just not as important as spending time with our children.  Certainly most days have time for a little of everything, but let there be some days where the lessons learned and memories made take up more time.  Nothing terrible is going to happen if you read a book with your kids instead of mopping the floor.

So please, don't be embarrassed if the house is a little askew.  And do not feel sub par when you look at other moms who seem capable of doing everything. 

Be reassured in knowing that your children feel loved and valued, and when they are all grown they will fondly remember the love we gave them and the lessons we taught them.  Motherhood is such a divine calling.  I am grateful to be a mother, and I know that a mothers job is so very important. 
Credit: Edgar Barany (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

8 comments:

Amy C

I really appreciate you sharing this. I needed to hear this, in fact, I should probably read it daily. :)

Launna

I think more mothers... actually more people should follow this.

I am taking 4-5 days to really get my house organized and clean... but I am doing this with my daughter and then we can hopefully maintain until we move in less then 2 months.

I would rather take a walk with my daughter then worry about dishes/laundry... they will always be there, since housework is never ending :)

Lesa Snyder

Oh maria...how I have missed you. If you are ever in Provo come see me!

Maria

Thanks for your comments ladies!
Amy- I really needed to understand this myself which is why I wrote it. I felt so much pressure and so down on myself for not being able to do EVERYTHING.
Launna, I love your point, there will Always be housework!
Lesa- dear friend, I miss you too. We should have gotten together way more often when we lived in AZ huh?

Unknown

Thanks for sharing this! I think it applies to so many of us today!

Britney @ The Princess & Her Cowboys

Maria

Britney, I LOVE the title of your blog. There was no link, please share it so we can all check it out :-)

DA Cairns

Beautifully said. I just shared your article with my Facebook friends, and Tweeted the link as well.

Maria

Mr. Cairns thank you very much for sharing! I appreciate it. I'm glad you agree with me.

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