on motherhood

I am a better mother because of Olga who spends 99.9% of her time in the kitchen making home-cooked and often individualized meals for her children for breakfast, lunch, school lunch, and dinner and inspires me to put more effort into my own meals for my family and even include (gasp) a side dish even if it is just frozen veggies heated in the microwave.

I am a better mother because of Christina who mothers the children around her and makes great efforts to share special moments with them and to supply them with special little items indicating to them that she cares about them and thinks often of them and who also reminds me of just how incredible my children are when I have difficulty remembering.

I am a better mother because of Claritza who may be the hardest working person I know and who loves her girls with an intense love and will do anything for them including sending them packages with anything they ask for no matter the weight of the item or the cost.

I am a better mother because of Maureen whose vast array of experiences and well-traveled life which she so gracefully and eloquently shares helps me to see things from a different perspective, helps me to understand another way, and helps me to gain a greater breadth of knowledge. Her insights into the gospel teach me and help me to grow spiritually. Her example of a parent's responsibility as a steward of their children in helping them to grow, to make the right choices, and to reach their greatest potential in this life has helped me to see my role as a mother so much more clearly.

I am a better mother because of LuVera who mothered four incredible boys turned men, one of whom I am lucky enough to call my own. She taught me that sometimes, when no one else is there to shoulder the responsibility, you should put your shoulder in and do it yourself. Joyfully and with grace and strength. Even when the responsibility might feel like a burden or may not be fun or glamorous with no great commendations or thanks in sight.

I am a better mother because of Janet who displays a level of patience that I never imagined was possible in a human being and who always puts her children first, sometimes at the expense of the laundry.

I am a better mother because of Allison who keeps going and going with incredible faith and determination and unconditional love even when things seem impossibly and unbearably hard and refuses to give up. She shows me through example that a mother is a person who does whatever it takes for her children to succeed and reach their potential despite great personal sacrifice.

I am a better mother because of Marcia who nurtures the children and youth around her with the true heart of a mother, who listens to them and supports them and gets up early for them and gives to them and teaches them and makes a great effort to understand them, but most of all, loves them for who they are.

I am a better mother because of Jenny who has reminded me of the anticipation of the sweet little baby and the unconditional love that is there right from the start which will grow and grow until it can no longer be contained.

I am a better mother because of Martha who continually shows me the true nature of service--quiet, simple acts done silently when no one is looking that bless the lives of others around her in great ways.

I am a better mother because of Claudia who showed me that sometimes motherhood only comes around once and that if you don't take care to experience and enjoy it in the moment, you might find out someday that you missed out on some choice experiences.

I am a better mother because of Jodi who is a powerful advocate for her children and taught me that when you have bright, determined, saucy, and perhaps even stubborn children, you better brush up on your negotiation skills and put them to work. Parenting sometimes means picking your battles.

I am a better mother because of Kristin whose great example of constant kindness will stay with me throughout my life. Her willingness to share secret family recipes also helps me the prepare wonderful food for my children.

I am a better mother because of my own mother whose example of sacrifice showed me time and time again throughout my growing up years that it is possible to give up one more want of my own for the needs of my children. Who showed me that I will survive it and that someday a new season will come into my life--one in which those wants can someday become haves or gots or dones or not so important anymores.

I am a better mother because of my Heavenly Father and Savior who have entrusted me with these incredible children which gives me confidence and assurance that I can be successful in this endeavor. They are there for me to rely on, to seek comfort from, and to gain experience and answers from whenever I need them in this adventure of molding these children into mature and competent adults. They are there when I fail at motherhood and when I feel inadequate as a mother and when I require vast amounts of help in raising these kids. They make it possible for me to receive forgiveness for my mistakes and faults as a mother and help me to get up from one more failure, to make it through one more day, one more hour, one more minute.