Mother's Day

Today our Ward arranged for the Young Women to take over Primary so all the Sisters that serve in the Primary and Young Women's could go to Relief Society. It was nice to have such a full Relief Society. The Bishop even gave the lesson (assisted by the rest of the Bishopric). He took an interesting approach. He said that he knows a lot of Sisters don't like Mother's Day. He mentioned that men certainly don't feel this way about Father's Day and asked the Sisters to share their feelings of why. Of course there was a lot said about feelings of guilt or not quite measuring up to expectations, becoming a mother late in life, or being childless, having wayward children, etc. But there were a lot of comments about women feeling good about themselves, focusing on their own mother, not having to high of expectations (mostly for the men in their lives on Mother's day).


As I listened to this I thought back on my feelings towards Mother's Day. I have often gone home on this one Sunday a year and wondered if something is wrong with me because I don't hate the day. In fact I love Mother's Day, not that everyone of the last 30 years has been happy and wonderful. A couple of bad ones stand out- the year that Millie was born and Dave was out of town and it was Stake Conference and I took all four little to girls to SC by myself (Camille being only a couple of weeks old). The highlight- Every mom there got a cute little carnation pinned on them and there was a Priesthood choir that marched in for the prelude singing "Ye Elders of Israel". The year I hosted a Mother's day dinner for Dave's entire family and he didn't think to mention Happy Mother's day to me. Finally that night when he got the clue something was wrong and asked, I told him! That was the last time he forgot that I am a mother too, and has always made a positive comment when I host a big dinner and usually even little ones. I was very sick one year and in Albuquerque last year (although Dave came and the girls sent me beautiful flowers).


So why do I love Mothers Day?? Here a few of the things I love about this Day: the little treasures that the kids make at school and bring home to MOM- cards, flowers, cookbooks, plastic canvas tissue boxes, self portraits, pencil holders. The sweet little cards the kids make in Primary for their Moms. The Primary children singing in Sacrament Meeting (which I really missed this year!). The little gift the ward always gives the Moms. Flowers, lotion, plants, candy bars, books, trinkets are all things I have received. The cute little stories and poems about mothers. Breakfast in bed. A phone call from your Missionary. My phone call from Garry (no pressure Steven, at least not till next year). A quiet afternoon with a few minutes to blog if I want to. Not having to do dishes (even if I end up doing them on Monday). The attention, ok, I don't like a lot of attention, but twice a year it is ok, my birthday and Mother's Day. An excuse to get or buy something for myself that I need or wouldn't normally get.
But most of all is the reason I like all holidays- it reminds us of an important person or event.
We celebrate Christmas and Easter to help us remember Christ, the Fourth of July to help us remember the history of our Country. Why not have a day to help us remember very special people in our lives.


With all that said I will take this opportunity to think of the great mothers in my life. Of course first is my own Mother. I don't take nearly enough opportunities to tell her how much I love her and thank her for being a wonderful Mother. She is a great example in my life and I love her. I love my Mother-in-law and have learned so much from her. My Grandmas were wonderful examples of womanhood to me. I learn new things by watching my daughters as mothers. They have different challenges than I did as a young mother and they handle them so well. My sister is a great Mother who teaches me a lot of what a mom should be. I look to my aunts and sisters-in-law for their examples of great Mothers. I also have great friends who are wonderful Mothers and some that are teaching me how to be a Grandmother and others that are learning along with me. To all these women I say Thanks for your example and I love you!

To those that haven't had the opportunity to become a mother and have that desire. Know that your time will come. In the meantime realize your potential to be an influence in the lives of many. You are recognized, you are loved, and you are looked up. Your Heavenly Father loves you and has great things in store for you.


So to anyone that may hate Mother's Day here is my advice- take a different approach to it. Don't beat yourself up for the little things you may not do or think you should be doing. There is no perfect mother on the Earth today. We all make mistakes, and we all have kids that screw up at some time.


Take a minute to pat yourself on the back for taking on the greatest responsibility the Lord could give you, that of bearing and raising children. And thank the Lord for that opportunity. At some point you said "Ya, I'll be a mom. I know it won't be easy, but I'll do it!"