I Believe in the Work of Mothers

I had to write an essay for my class about something I believe in. I got an A and really loved the final product of my essay so I thought I would share...

The Work of a Mother

I believe in the work of mothers. I believe being a mother is the hardest, yet the most rewarding and fulfilling job a woman can ever have. It was a dream of mine from a very young age to grow up, get married, and have a family of my own. Now I am living out that dream, it is just a lot tougher than I ever thought it would be. No one ever said dreams would be easy though, right?

The mental, spiritual, and emotional investment it requires to be a mom can break a woman down to her very core. Moms don’t get paid overtime, take holidays, or receive sick days. They are required to work twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. I know the job of a mother is difficult because I’ve experienced its hardships firsthand.

I definitely have days where I question whether or not I am doing a good job, days that seem to pound at me with one thing after another, after another. There was one day that I can recall specifically, which started out just like any other normal day. I set my alarm to wake up early enough to take a shower, but reasonably could not muster up enough courage to pry myself out from underneath the warm, comfortable covers. It did not matter anyway because a few minutes later the boys woke up and were yelling from their rooms for me to come get them. I throw my hair up in a messy bun and pull on the same sweatpants I’ve been wearing all week. I groan when I come downstairs to see a sink still full of dishes. I make a bottle for the baby and breakfast for the 3 year old, before even considering what my own needs are. Then I notice there’s milk spilt on the floor, along with leftovers from last night’s dinner that I, of course, haven’t been able to clean up yet. Later, the toddler wets his pants, even though he’s been potty trained for months, and the baby needs a diaper change. I still haven’t had the chance to take that shower, so I might as well forget about the pile of laundry that needs washed and folded. After that, the toddler pushes the 10 month old baby down because he was grabbing for a toy he didn’t want his brother to play with. I try disciplining him, but it turns into a power struggle and my patience is quickly diminishing. I have to resort to spanking again because time-out didn’t work, which makes me feel like the worst mother in the world. All of this and it’s only 9 o’clock. The day goes on and on in a never ending cycle of diaper changes, tantrums, and chaos.  By the end of the day, when bedtime has finally come, I feel utterly drained. Days like this make me wonder if I’m doing any of this right, or I’m a complete failure to the world as a mother.

However, when I look at things from my toddler’s point of view, my thoughts of failure seem to disappear. To him I am super mom! I am a nurse to that little boy who fell and bumped his head, and comes straight to me for those magical, instantly feel better kisses. I am a teacher. I am a play-mate acting as his imaginary dinosaur or tiger, whichever he’s decided at the moment. I am a chauffeur, which sometimes means I’m on all fours as I pretend to be the horse to his cowboy galloping around the house. I am a cook, even if some days it is just macaroni and cheese or chicken nuggets. To him, I am the best mother in the world, and that is all that matters.

Although some days are difficult, and often times we mothers just want to cry, scream, or pull out our hair, we know it is all worthwhile. A member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Mormon faith, Jeffrey R. Holland, once said, “The work of a mother is hard, too often times unheralded work. Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever.” I know it is worth it and I know being a mother is the most rewarding, significant role I will ever have.  It’s especially reassuring and worthwhile when your baby first says “ma-ma,” or your young toddler says, “I wuv you,” particularly on days when he senses you need it the most. Those moments let me know I am not a failure and remind me I am doing something right.

I believe that raising children who become good, decent, God-fearing people in today's world is a huge accomplishment, and something only a mother can do. I also believe there is no greater blessing God could give me than the opportunity I have to stay home and raise my two boys. There is nothing more exhausting, yet rewarding, more frustrating, yet incredible, or more discouraging, yet fulfilling, as being a mother. If I don’t teach my children to love God and be good people, the world will teach them not to. That makes it my job and my responsibility. God gave me this responsibility because he believes I can do it, and having two little souls who look up to me, rely on me, and love me, despite all my shortcomings, makes me believe I can do it too.