Day 5 is then focusing on your own talents and skills as a mother/nurturer:

Make a list of the skills and attributes that you bring to the role of a mother.

“I looked on child rearing not only as a work of love and duty but as a profession that demanded the best that I cuold bring to it.” ~Rose Kennedy

For a different twist on the Motherhood Matters series, here’s an interview with Jimmer Fredette who talks a little about his mom.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

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Alas, we are a day behind…. Oh, well. Maybe we’ll catch up. (Or maybe we won’t…we’ll see!)

Day 3: Today’s challenge:
Practice answering the question “What do you do?” so you can confidently say “I am a mother.”

This is something that I have struggled with over the years, particularly when people find out I have an MBA. I have done some volunteer work that has given me opportunities to associate with others in the business world, but I do not have any job title to use when people ask this question. Sometimes I’ve felt uncomfortable in such situations. But I have become better about responding with “I’m a mom” with confidence. When I mentor young women in high school and college about their life planning, I also encourage them to be proud of their desire to be a mother, regardless of whether that desire is a current reality or possibility. I don’t think we do enough to celebrate motherhood in the work-a-day world. I like how this community effort is encouraging women to own their role as mothers.

There were some gems in the discussion on today’s topic, including some great advice on how to avoid identity crises when raising one’s own children. Those of us in the throws of motherhood can a lot from the generations before us:

Our mothers and grandmothers got it right. Today, we live in the “me” generation. We are more concerned with asking questions such as: What about me?What about my life, my fulfillment? rather than being concerned about the welfare of others. A truly happy person does not pursue happiness. Rather, happiness is a by-product of their service to others. In the process, you end up finding your best self, because there is more of you to find.

I think if we think less in terms of personal fulfillment and more in terms of service and the significance of motherhod, we will be more prepared to also be wise about how and when to do things that allow us to also be individuals along the way, which they also addressed in this segment.

As a side note, how to balance family needs with personal needs is a topic being discussed in posts this week at Empowering LDS Women (if you aren’t LDS, I think you will still enjoy these posts, including one from a mainstream Christian mom which I think is a must read):

Finding Balance in Motherhood: Celebrating Mother’s Day With a Mini Blog Series

Finding Balance in Motherhood: Pam Shares Two Helpful Principles

Finding Balance in Motherhood: Joni’s Mainstream Christian Perspective on God and Motherhood

Finding Balance in Motherhood: Heather Shares Three Lessons That Helped Her Learn To Find Happiness At Home

Finding Balance in Motherhood: Sara’s Story of Finding Balance as a Widow and Mother to Luke

Speaking of balance, I heard an insightful comment recently that the idea of balance is actually a bit of a myth (even though I think it’s a good word to use because it’s familiar). The idea was that ultimately, we have to decide what matters most and then live accordingly. That has stuck with me.

Video for day 3:

The post Motherhood Matters: Day 3 – Smashing the Identity Crisis appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

“I think we all have that mothering instinct; and we desperately need each other, especially as women.” – Dr. Liz Hale, clinical psychologist.

The challenge for Day 2 of the “Motherhood Matters” campaign is summarized below:

Recognize there are all kinds of mothers – those that work, those who stay-at-home [sic], 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.

The quote for the day was from Oprah Winfrey: “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.”

Those who have adopted children could attest to the reality of this statement, as well as those of us who have women in our lives whom we call our “second moms” or who have a motherly role in our lives. (Oh, how I love the women who have walked my stage of life before and can offer me support, love, and insight!)

I stumbled on this post on the Christian site “Women of Faith” the other day, and think it’s fitting for Day 2’s topic: Other Mothers.

You may be a woman who needs an Other Mother. You might be a woman with Other Mothering to give. Truth is, you’re probably both. I hope you will seek out the Other Mothers you need and give Other Mothering liberally to the girls [and I would add boys] coming up the path behind you.

As a woman of faith myself, I think this concept of mothering others is a legacy that Mother Eve left for us. It hit me a few years ago when I was pondering her title as the “mother of all living” that I needed to adopt the same title, and seek to have a mother heart toward all those who cross my path — particularly children. I remember Eve when a neighborhood child knocks on my door for the umpteenth time. Or when a child is sitting in a grocery cart behind me in line. Or when someone does something that I let get under my skin.

Who has been or is a mother figure in your life? When have you felt that blessing of being able to nurture those who are not your own flesh and blood, or not part of your immediate family? What helps you have a mother heart toward others who cross your path?

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

The post Motherhood Matters: Day 2 — What makes a mother appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

I’m not sure how I ended up on the mailing list for this postcard, but I did. As is often the case, it got buried in my paper pile, but Monday night, I found it. And I wanted to share it, especially because I realized Mother’s Day is sneaking up. I thought this was a good way to get a lot of people involved in celebrating motherhood — and considering all the many ways women can be mothers.

From May 2 to May 13, you can join in the effort by a news station to celebrate “the power of mothers to influence, inspire and impact the world.” On the Motherhood Matters about page, we can read more about what the goals of this effort are. Note that the definition of motherhood here is broader than just women who have children of their own:

Motherhood Matters is a campaign to inspire, encourage, and remind ourselves why motherhood matters. More than just a stage of life marked by the presence of children, we are celebrating motherhood as a way of life that empowers our best selves. The dictionary defines a mother as a female parent, yet we all know female parents who are not mothers and we know mothers who are not parents. The true definition of a mother is a woman who teaches, inspires, nurtures and loves those she comes into contact with.

I was struck by one of the reasons this news station is doing this Motherhood Matters effort:

The recent cover of a popular woman’s magazine shouts that we are entitled to our ideal body, a better job, more energy, more love, and less stress. While there is nothing inherently wrong with any of these things, the pursuit drives us inward. We end up investing our time and energy in girlfriend getaways, spa days, updating our Facebook profile, and other activities that have become benchmarks, or at least distractions, for a fulfilling life. Popular culture promises that by recognizing and focusing on our own needs, we will find empowerment. In reality it creates a culture of comparison, distraction and discontent, none of which lead to empowerment. The act of mothering … caring for, teaching, and nurturing, has just the opposite effect. It emboldens us with confidence, contentment and purpose.

We invite women everywhere, of all faiths (or no faith at all) to celebrate motherhood with others who are taking this community challenge. And any of you men reading, please feel free to join us, too. Celebrate the women in your life as we approach Mother’s Day. (And remind us that we need to do the same for the men in our lives when Father’s Day rolls around!)

Each day, there is a theme/topic to focus on. You can start on Day 1 now, or catch up and start on whatever day you happen to find this post!

Day 1’s topic was simply to declare that motherhood matters, share that message with five people. Also, we invite you to invite others to join in this effort. The quote for the day was, “Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” – Lin Yutang

Here’s the video that went along with Day 1: Motherhood Matters

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

We’ll post Day 2’s message in another post, and get caught up with Day 3!

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