Motherhood

February 7th, 2016

In Relief Society this week our lesson was on the April 2008 Conference talk by Elder Ballard - Daughters of God. And boy did I need to hear everything that was said!

Apparently there is something I need to learn because I have had more encounters lately with people calling me out on my lack of confidence as a mother and a person in general.

First, in December when Nate and I were asked to meet with a member of the Stake Presidency and finding out that Nate was being called to the High Council - at only 29 years of age - I was feeling a little overwhelmed knowing that there would be some Sundays I would get to fly solo at church with 4 little ones in tow. I was feeling excited and proud of Nate and I knew "everything would be okay" thanks to our dear Bishop. (A week and a half earlier, as we were leaving Tithing Settlement, our Bishop looked Nate in the eyes and said, "if you get a call in the near future for a calling just remember, everything will be okay.") The kids and I had a hard few days and I we went to our appointment feeling down and frustrated. Apparently the Stake Presidency member sensed something was wrong. He mentioned a few times that Nate can't do the calling on this own. That it takes a supportive, loving wife. It's the wife that makes the husband. Blah, blah, blah!! Then he said it, the words that made tears stream down my face, "You're a good mom and you're doing a good job"


Second, back in January at my Carpal Tunnel Surgery follow up appointment the surgeon told me that one reason I was still in so much pain was probably because I was doing to much. I need to let people help me more. He asked how I feel when I do things for others. After I told him it made me feel good He said, When you don't let people do things for you you are taking away the opportunity for them to feel that way. Again, the tears started falling! I couldn't help it. I again had been feeling so overwhelmed with everything that had been going on and was feeling a little down on myself and my abilities when this conversation happened.


Then this lesson happened this week! Again, coming at a time when I was feeling down and lacking in my mothering skills. Some things that stuck out to me.....

- Satan tries to suck the joy out of motherhood. He makes you compare yourself to other mothers.
-What can you do as a mother to reduce the pressure and enjoy your family?
                 1- recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments!! Moments - my word for the                            year!! Sometimes we have good days and the good moments are easy to come by.                               Other times we have bad/crazy days making the good moments harder to come by.                               They are there though and it's important that we search them out.  It's usually the                                   unplanned moments that end up meaning the most in our lives.
                 2- Don't over schedule yourself or your children
                 3- Find time for yourself
                          Don't be afraid to take a little timeout - take a deep breath. Take a pause to regroup                             during the chaos of the day. Don't get caught up in time wasters!
                  4- Pray, study and teach the gospel
                            You are not alone. Lean on the Lord
- The chapters of our lives are not all easy! Some chapters are really, really hard. But the best thing about chapters is they each eventually come to an end leading to a brand new beginning! We just need to get through each chapter.
-The timing of the Saviors blessings isn't always the timing we would like or think is best. But thank goodness there is someone who knows better than us and can bless us when we really need it most!

"You are doing better than you think you are"

Don't be so hard on yourself. Give yourself a break.