AREN'T WE ALL MOTHERS?

Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Heavenly Father gave us.

There are women who give birth and raise children but never “mother” them. Some women give birth but for reasons of death or circumstances which lead to adoption, never get the chance to “mother” or raise those children. Others, “mother” all their lives yet have never given birth at all. To “mother” or nurture certainly is not limited to ones own flesh and blood.

A mother can be someone who has sacrificed, someone who has cared for and loved, someone who has taught, or taken the time to stop and listen, or given a much needed hug, all for the sake of a child.

As women we have an overwhelming obligation to be models of righteousness and nurturing, because some children may not get that anywhere else. Each and very one of us need to be an example, not just by word but also by deed. “We are all mothers in Israel, and our calling is to love and help lead the rising generation through the dangerous streets of mortality“.

Many people pay tribute not only to their own mother but also to the many women in their life who helped them to reach their potential. Through example, love and nurturing.

The subject of motherhood is a very tender one, which evokes some of our strongest emotions, both our greatest joys and heartaches.

Often times as women we put so much pressure on ourselves to be that “perfect mom” or a “super mom” who can do it all. We compare ourselves to other mothers and families, which more times than not just leads us to focus more on our failures and shortcomings. Instead we should remember not to try and compare ourselves to others, we are all unique with our own talents and strengths, challenges and problems, we need to choose the best way to form our family into a tight knit unit, that works together, who loves and supports each other.

Some mothers feel as though they have failed if their children make mistakes or stray, however we must remember that we are never failures if we do our best to bring up our children with love, teach by example, pray and care for our children.

Personally I celebrate this day more as a celebration to the Mother who raised me, and all the wonderful women who have “mothered” me during my life, and less about my own status of “Motherhood”.

I feel very fortunate to have been so blessed as to have such wonderful and strong examples of “motherhood” from the women in my life.

My own Mother, who was a total stereo-typical 50’s style Wife and Mom.
Always there when we got home from school with yes the cliché after school treat.
Dinner always ready to go on the table when my Dad got home.
She always had a pitcher of kool aid chilled for us. She made us kool aid ice cubes when it was hot, and gave us hot liquid jell-o if we were sick. She had some crazy old fashioned “remedies” when we were sick too.
She always put her children first, matter of fact, she still does that.
We had the sit down family dinners, family vacations, and the traditional holiday family get togethers, we went to church together as a family on Sunday's.
She was a great cook (however maybe not always the safest).
She was a loving Daughter who sacrificed much for her parents in their later years, she was always the caring big sister.
She taught us compassion, giving, love, prayer, and faith.
She loves to talk, a lot, and sing (even though as my Dad would say “she can’t even carry a tune in a bucket, or, what did you do with the money your parents gave you for singing lessons).
She loves Elvis, ice cream and jewelry, she hates the feel of velvet.
She has a wonderful sense of humor, she can be quite the prankster.
She loves to wear crazy things, and often sported some wild hair styles.
Once she even kept a lizard in our freezer, (don’t ask).
She saves everything, literally. She has been known to clip coupons for items she didn’t even need, like diapers when us kids were all long out of the diaper wearing age, or cat liter, even though we never had a cat, she would leave them in the respective isles at the store so that someone else could use them.
She carefully takes the label off from cans of food to use as stationary, I’m serious I’ve received several myself from her over the years, quite resourceful.
She loved doing little things for us like put notes in our lunch sacks, and do fun things like green mashed potatoes for St. Patrick’s day and red and green jell-o cake at Christmas time.
She is a chocoholic.
She used to have a bad habit of saying one curse word, S - - T, usually that would come as a prefix to my dad’s first name, I often tease her that I was 12 years old before I realized my dad’s first name was Claude and not S - - T. This same word apparently got her into hot water when I was around 6 years old, back then often times when she said it in front of us kids, she would just spell it S - - T then quickly say sugar afterwards. So one time at a large family get together, I proudly announced to my Grandmother that I knew how to spell “sugar”, you all see were this is going right? Yep, after my Grandma requested that everyone be quiet so they could hear me spell “sugar” shyly I spelled out... S - - T, my poor Grandma almost died.
Way too often when us kids would fight with one another she would make us all start singing a song called “Love At Home”, man did we hate that.
I only remember getting one (well two) actual spankings in my life time, (see kids, I told you I was an angel child) and she used one of her many yard sticks that were laying around the house, (never quite understood all the yardsticks she didn’t even sew) well she hit me just right and it snapped the yard stick in two, apparently this was her favorite and it made her so mad, she spanked me again this time for breaking her yard stick.
She can not stand to let a phone ring, she worries too much, and she can not tell a lie.
She endured through the loss of three of her babies after their birth, and found comfort in the knowledge that she could be reunited with them some day.
She taught me so many things during my lifetime that I am truly grateful for, I could never began to thank her enough for the wonderful example and Mother that she is.

I was blessed to also have the “mothering” of a sweet, gentle, faithful and loving Grandmother, as well as a feisty, faithful and a high society Great Grandmother. Both of which were truly wonderful examples in my life.

Along with countless other wonderful women who helped “mother” me during my life.
My Sister, who I really never fully appreciated until she moved out of the house, and then she became one of my best friends, my go to girl.
My Sister-in-law, who taught me how to play “look” one of the first times I met her, who is so talented and a blast to hang with.

My beautiful, sweet and fun loving nieces (which include one’s by marriage too), who are each such wonderful mother's in their own special ways.
Several of my Aunts, a Fantastic and fun seminary teacher, women from the ward I grew up in, teachers, friends, and co-workers.

My one and only Daughter-in-law for the love and "mothering" she gives to my Son and her children. For her faith, and for her fresh prospective in my life. Also for excepting me so graciously as a additional "Mother" figure in her life.

My two beautiful Daughters who have given me so much joy, who are so crazy and fun to be with, who are now loving and caring mothers, you girls have no idea what an absolute honor it is to be your mother, you make me so proud in so many ways . What a thrill it is to now watch you as you raise and love your own children, which by the way those precious, sweet spirits are one of the best present you have ever given me. You are truly examples to me.

All of these women have helped mold me into the person I am today, (so if someone doesn’t like something about me, you now know who to blame).
Some of them, not even aware of the impact they have made in my life.

To all these wonderful women, to all the women in my life and to all women every where, I want to remind you of that very important role you play in the life of children every where.

Happy Mother’s Day to you all.

(some excerpts and quotes above are from various talks and articles I found on the internet by Sheri Dew)