Essays, Motherhood, Motherhood and Baby

Why Motherhood is Important

August 11, 2015

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I have about a billion drafts about various topics on motherhood lurking about my draft folder. Apparently I have a lot to say about that subject 🙂 But the one that has been really at the forefront of my mind is why motherhood is important. Why I feel blessed to be a stay-at-home mom, and why that has always been the goal for our family. A lot of what I feel centers around my religious beliefs, so I hope you’ll understand as I share some quotes and links from the leaders of my church.

First and foremost, I believe that the family is central to God’s plan of happiness for us. If you haven’t read the LDS church’s Proclamation to the Family, I urge you to do so right now. I’ll wait. It boldly outlines what we as members of the Church believe about the family and roles of men and women, and I would guess that a lot of my Christian friends believe in most, if not all, of what it says.
Having grown up in a church that puts so much emphasis and importance on family, I have learned to know and believe that it is true. Kyle feels the same way — that is why he decided to become a marriage and family counselor. Being a spouse and a parent are the most important roles you can have on this earth. This year in our third hour of church (Relief Society and Priesthood — post coming soon about the three hour block! I’m bringing back LDS Faith and Beliefs!) we are studying teachings of the 13th prophet of our church, Ezra Taft Benson. In a recent lesson, which was centered on marriage and family, this quote was shared, and I think it sums up perfectly what I believe:
“Some people as me as a church leader why we place so much emphasis on the home and family when there are such larger problems around us? The answer is, of course, that the larger problems are merely a reflection of individual and family problems.” (read more)
I believe I am called to be a mother. I know that it is the single most important thing I can be and do right now. I love that I am able to stay at home, and raise and nurture my children and home environment. I am grateful that I have a husband who supports me in this, and is able to work so hard to provide for our family, so I can be home.
Rachel Jankovic, a Christian author, wrote a wonderful article over on Desiring God in 2011 entitled Motherhood is a Calling. I highly recommend that article to any mother — but I want to share a quote pulled from that article. You may have heard it before:

“Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.”

Basically all I can say to that is AMEN.
So have I answered the why questions from the beginning of this post? Perhaps not. So here they are: Motherhood is important to me because it is literally preparing the next generation. If children are not taught to have a moral compass, if they are not taught the principles of kindness, courage, love and forgiveness, what hope do we have for the future? Who else will teach them right from wrong? Who else will teach them to love God and their fellowmen? I feel so blessed, so humbled to be able to (along with my husband, of course) be the one to teach them. Can it be overwhelming? Heavens, yes. But it is, and will be, so SO rewarding. By being a stay-at-home mom, I am better able and more available to teach my children, to make every moment a teaching moment. Again, I am so thankful that I am in a position to do that.
Being a mother has always been my dream. And while I am in no way a perfect mother, I am trying, I am striving, and I am succeeding — at least most days 🙂
I do not write this to belittle anyone who does not want to be a mother, nor do I write this to offend those who do want to be mothers but can’t due to circumstance (or to cause contention with any on that falls in between). I simply wanted to write about my thoughts and beliefs. It’s ok if you don’t agree with them.