I love serving others.
I love sharing on this blog.
I love my friends. They are so dear to me.
I love my involvement in church + community.
I love my work.
I love my hobbies.
But nothing … nothing … brings me more joy and satisfaction than my little family. My husband. My children. My sacred role as a wife and as a mother. I love being a woman. I love being a homemaker. I love that I get to wipe noses, change diapers, counsel, teach, learn, and grow with these little people.
There is a news station in Salt Lake City that has just launched a two-week focus on Motherhood Matters. This is a campaign to inspire, encourage, and remind ourselves why motherhood matters.
You don’t have to be local to that area to go to their site, read the blog, snag the free downloads, consider the challenge, and feel inspired to further examine and appreciate your role as a mother.
At the end of the two weeks — on Friday, May 13 — KSL is putting on a live event in SLC and they’ve invited me to be a part of the show. I am honored to be participating with other women who care deeply about this topic. If you are local and want to join us for that, go here to RSVP. I’d love to see you there!
Tags: family, KSL, Motherhood Matters, SLC, tv show
Aaahhh! Thanks for the reminder. We’ve already had a rocky start here this morning and it’s only 6:40 a.m. I do love my family though, and my roll as a mother!
*role (ha, ha)
Interesting. Motherhood was not a role I ever really aspired to hold. In fact, I was raised to believe that being a stay-at-home mom was not the thing to do. My mom did it, and she was determined my sister and I would not follow in her footsteps. So we both went to college and had careers. Motherhood was a role I decided to take on after getting married in my mid-30s. But still, I didn’t know if I would want to stay home with my child. After being laid off from my programming job of 14 years in January, I was forced into the stay-at-home mom role while I’ve job searched. Now I’d like to stay home for good, but I’m well aware it is more of a “Head in the sand” approach to my dissatisfaction with Corporate America in general, than it is a desire to be home all day long. What I wish, is that Corporate America valued motherhood, or parenthood, more. It should be universally much easier to get the needed time off or work-from-home time to care for our kids. It should be easier to take the time off to actually HAVE a baby. But the fact is, Corporate America doesn’t care. I fully expect that when the world comes to an end, companies will expect their employees to be in a staff meeting rather than with their families. That’s the culture, and it’s sad.
The whole system of “Corporate America” is sad. BUT…I’m sensing thats not where some want to be anyway. I guess thats ok…BUT HONESTLY I could not imagine being anywhere else all day long than with my children. I mean really you make them, you deliver them, you choose to have them, then its ok to drop them off to someone else to raise.
For me the question is WHY does our society feel they need BIG houses, BIG cars, BIG “stuff” in general. I absolutely hate all the little comments. “Well it takes two today to run…work in the household.”
Lets just say this…if America would really look back…this country would be a MUCH much better place if we would all get back to some basics. Gosh how sad that a woman HAS to go back to work rather than raise her child. AND I am all for if Momma has a good paying job, then if Daddy agrees he could also stay with the child.
Good for this station to honor something that is so NOT appreciated in the country…wish I lived closer. As always Becky thank you for wonderful blog.
Thank you. I thoroughly appreciate reading a reply that is so brutally honest. Most people tend to tone down their disgust with women who work {well, if dad stays home then ok} – you’re clear as a bell.
I HONESTLY can not imagine staying home all day with my children. I made them with my husband, I delivered them, we dropped them off at day care & picked them up AND WE RAISED THEM. I made sure the day care center’s values and our values were similar if not exactly the same. I and my husband, as parents, have much more influence over our children than others. Even today – and our children are adults. One is 24, two are 18.
I worked full time. I frequently traveled. If I had the chance to do it all again, those are not the things I would change. I would find someone to teach me office politics! I was laid off a year ago. I really miss contributing in ways larger than my house and my children.
In my family, we decided that both of us would work full time because that is what works for us with our personalities and temperaments. Fortunately, we both have [had, for me] high paying satisfying careers. As a result we live an upscale life. We did not lust after the high life; desiring material things did not drive our decision.
I know and accept that there are people who have different beliefs. I do not tell people that moms should work. I do not tell people that both parents should work. A couple together should consider all the options and decide what’s best for their family at this stage. Whatever decision they reach is correct for them. At some later date, they may review the options and come to a different decision.
Motherhood matters. Whether mom works for monetary reward outside the home or inside the home, or works for other rewards, moms are important to every child.
From Motherhood Matters, Day 2 Challenge:
Recognize there are all kinds of mothers – those that work, those who
stay-at-home, single mothers, and women who have never given birth. Be
aware of how often you judge other women, and practice recognizing the
worth of all kinds of mothers.
“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
Love this post!! I just shared yesterday about my own struggles with motherhood and our culture…
http://candacemercyisnew.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-i-might-need-to-stop-reading-books.html
I saw this last night and thought it was a great feature. There are times when I wonder what I have gotten myself into, but I wouldn’t change my career as a mother for anything.
I’m not sure if this post was referring to being a mother or a homemaker. I am a mother to four daughters – a job I absolutely cherish. I also work outside the home in corporate America. I don’t work to make sure I have a BIG house or NICE cars. I work to help support my family and to be able to send my daughters to college one day.
I truly don’t think being a mother has to be viewed only as a stay at home job. Just because I work outside the home doesn’t mean I stop being a mom or that I let someone else raise my children. My husband and I are raising our children. That comment above is what really struck a nerve with me. Sending my littles to daycare does not mean I do not raise my own children. That remark is simply not fair.
I still get to be a wife and a mother. I still get to wipe runny noses and run my children around to various activities every day. I am still able to teach them and help them grow up. I LOVE being a mom.
I should have continued to read before replying to that post. Your reply conveys the same ideas but in a much gentler way.
Hi Becky, I love all the encouragement I get from reading your blog. Just wanted to pop in and say we just bought our first mac computer. Your post on your brothers questions and answers has been read by me several times over the last few days, I successfully transferred my iTunes library from my pc to my mac. I’m feeling so smart but really I have your brother to thank! Will you thank him for me? Keep those Mac tips coming.
I love that Sheri Dew quote and that graphic design you’ve used to show it off. Is that your work or is it part of the KSL series?
If it is yours, could you make it one of your free downloads? Pretty please?
(My husband needs 100 “somthings” to stick in 100 tomato plants for women at church this Sunday. This could be just the thing!)
Or, if it’s not yours, and if you have a spare moment this week, perhaps you could design us a Mother’s Day “free stuff” gift? Pretty, pretty please?
I also love this quote by Julie B. Beck:
To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow . . . Nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work. Helping growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role bestowed on women.
From “Mothers Who Know” Oct 2007
Hey Becky! So I totally saw you at Gardner Village the other day! Really wanted to say ‘hi’, but didn’t want to interrupt you and your friends, so I’m saying ‘hi’ now! Thanks for all your inspiration!
How amazing that Motherhood is being celebrated to this magnitude!
With Mother’s Day coming up, I had been thinking a lot about the role of Mother. My husband always feels so guilty because we are so busy going to our mothers and grandmothers (which we are still blessed to have one vibrant grandmother in our lives) and church so we never really celebrate me being a mother. Then, as I climbed into bed EXHAUSTED last night from a 7 mile bike ride with my older boys, tons of homework, and riding all 3 of my boys on the 4 wheeler (plus the usual, supper, baths, laundry…) I rolled over, looked at my husband and shared what one of my boys shared with me. A personal question he had and he felt comfortable coming to me with it. I said “That’s what it’s about. It’s not about me. God in His infinite wisdom saw it was good to put those 3 precious boys in my life and I am so thankful and overjoyed that He did!” What we do matters so much, but not for us as much as it’s for those little ones looking at us. My Mother’s Day is every day!
Happy Mothers Day!
michelle,
I love your comment. How wonderful for you after a long tiring day to think about how blessed you are. Thank you for reminding me to think more positive about my role as a mom to 4 and how amazing they are even when it’s been a day all about them. Happy Mother’s Day to you, enjoy those boys of yours.
I have also looked for Sheri Dew’s quote to print and frame, but have not found it on the Motherhood Matters page. Where did you find it? I am planning to be at the audience for Studio 5 on May 13th. Should be great…
shut up!!!! I was going to go but then realized I will be at another convention in SLC. Have a fabulous time! how long are you staying in town. would be fun to see you even more a moment
xo
I saw you on Studio 5 and I love the cover for the Chocolate and the saying. I agree Chocolate fixes everything. Cute ideas, thanks for sharing.
Shauna Postma