Happy Mother's Day

Yes, another post about motherhood, but it's okay because it is what I do. I wanted to share this article. I've seen this book around and resisted buying it because I mostly try to stick with books by General Authorities when I order from Deseret Book, but this excerpt was in my LDS living magazine and I thought it was right on. Jane Clayson, if you don't know, was the co-anchor of The Early Show-CBS's morning show. I especially loved Maria Shriver's quote. Once again, the thing that comes to me is that my identity as a woman, my talents, my individuality are enhanced by motherhood. The world tries to convince me that I am diminished by motherhood, but I am not. If I prioritize properly, I will have every opportunity that I need to become fully developed, to stay sane, and to COMPLETELY enjoy life. I am not settling for anything or putting off anything by taking this time. This is my life.

So, Happy Mother's Day to me and everyone else. I didn't use to love Mother's Day because I expected everyone else to honor me and give me a pat on the back. Phooey. I'm not here for pats on the back, I'm here to serve and grow become who I was meant to be. I no longer put that kind of pressure on my family or others. How on earth can all the work I do be summed up in a single day? Impossible. Why should a failure by someone else to make a big enough deal on Mother's Day negate all they do for us the rest of the year? I would rather have the 365 days of support and love and service that my husband gives me and the million every-day small joys and sorrows from my kids than one day of forced flowers and Hallmark adulation. I know women who do not have the former and the latter simply does not make up for it. A dozen roses from someone else could never fill a hole I dug myself because of my attitude. That is not a sour-grapes response. It is really how I feel now, and I'm grateful to be in this place. I like encouragement as much as the next gal. Maybe more. But when it comes from inside myself and from spiritual confirmations, it is enough to bear me up when I don't get it from outside sources.

When I honor myself first on Mother's day, it is a wonderful day.