Everyone that knows me knows that I adore my kids and that being a mother is very meaningful to me. A huge part of that, I'm sure, comes from having lost my mother at an early age. I've watched my children and I cannot even begin to imagine how it was for me at the age of 4 to wake up and no longer have my mom there with me. Funny to say, since that *IS* actually what happened. But it's hard to comprehend how a child copes with such a loss. And the reason is because being a parent is such a rewarding experience and you have so many opportunities to deposit into the life of another....and when this is actually done, it's baffling to consider how a child would adjust when those deposits are suddenly...taken away. But knowing and understanding that the possibility of such a loss exists, I make a concerted effort to invest in my children's lives as much as possible. Why do I love being a mother? Because on a daily basis, I am reminded that what I do and who I am matters...
It's all in the little things...you look up one day and you realize that these little creatures that you feed and clothe are developing, learning, maturing right before your eyes...and that every sacrifice you've made is manifesting itself in a most undeniable way. You love on them...and in return, they become loving little beings that lavish the world with their kindness and thoughtfulness. You're humbled when you realize that your demonstrations of love have produced another loving person that will benefit the world. You teach them and read to them and make learning fun...and in return, they become knowledge seeking wonders that ask questinons, strive to solve problems, and digest information like a mid-day snack. You're honored to attend their awards ceremonies, knowing that their grades and academic achievements are just a snippet into their marvelous little brains that are growing on a daily basis. You give them life lessons and it seems like it goes in one ear and out the other, always finding yourself repeating the same things over and over and over...ad nauseum...and then one day, it CLICKS! And you realize that....THEY'VE GOT IT!!! You watch them independently demonstrate what you've instilled in them and you're amazed that they actually WERE listening to you. You spend time with them, even when you'd rather be sleeping or watching TV or cleaning the massive mess they've made in your house, or just to escape the incessant bickering or unwavering pestering, but then you discover that you know them inside and out. Every day is like a first date, as you peel back layer after layer of their personalities and discover their quirks and nuances, their uniqueness and all the things that make them wonderfully made. And you begin to feel honored and privileged to have the opportunity to spend that time with them. And now sleep, tv, and even a clean house seem not as important. You watch them blossom and it's more awe-inspiring than the first rose bud opened by the spring. You see that their development is no less inevitable than the dew falling each morning. And for a second, you want to just FREEZE THIS MOMENT IN TIME, to cherish who they are RIGHT NOW. You see their eyes light up with wonder as they discover things about the world and life, and those "aha" moments become as meaningful to you as they are to them. It becomes addictive to you and you look forward to the "hit" of their next smile or that gurgling laughter that is more powerful than any drug induced high. Monsters, Inc certainly got this one right, for surely, an entire city can be powered by the sound of a child heartily laughing. For me, being a mother is the most rewarding part of life and I woudln't trade it for the world!
I love being a mother because while it *seems* as though I am doing for them, the reality is, my kids give me more than I could ever ask for. It is a privilege to be a parent, one that I will never take for granted. Last night, I was reading to Warren and AJ was going through his Awana book and "read" one of the scriptures "God made everything beautiful" and at that moment, I heard him, looked up at my two children and thought "He surely did!" That, my friends, is why I love being a mother...