Saturday, September 25, 2010

...Of Motherhood

The most challenging job I have ever had (and will ever have) is being a mother. There is nothing profound about this statement. Every parent knows this. The rest of you can at least acknowledge it.

Each tear shed by one of my children breaks a little piece of my heart. When my little boy says he is too big to hold my hand, I hold back the hurt as I tell him it is okay. When my little girl withdraws from a hug because she is mad at me, I fake a smile and tell her to let me know when she is ready to talk.

I have never had my heartbroken as much as I have as a mother because every heart break my children feel, I feel 10 times more. It is so deeply engrained in me to protect them from all the world's hurts and I feel helpless when I cannot do that. I used to tease my mom about crying. She cried at all my proudest accomplishments and she still cries sometimes when she heads back to South Florida after a visit. Now, I understand why.

I truly believe that women's tear ducts open a little wider the day they become mothers.

The conversation has come up many times with my children that I want to be their friend but right now, it is most important to be their mommy. They are continually reminded that I love them exactly the same at their very best and their very worst. They know that I sometimes have to do hard things and be "the bad guy" (aka mom) instead of their friend because I have a job to do. Each decision I make carries significant weight in determining the man and woman they will one day become. It is a scary thought but I try to take it in stride. I make mistakes and I tell them when I do. I pray with them every night and tell them how much I love them every day. I pray that the decisions I make are shaping them into motivated, generous, kind, selfless, financially responsible, loving followers of Christ.

And just when I feel like everything I say is going in one ear and out the other I get a glimpse of the impact.

My little boy says that his mommy is the only girl for him. At night, his prayers sound just like he's talking to His Friend. Thanking God for "this wonderful food and this wonderful family" and asking Him to "shoo away the bad dreams."

My little girl smiles when she sees a picture of a child, thinks she is looking at a picture of herself and then realizes that it is a picture of me and says she "wants to look like mommy".

My little boy is not embarassed (yet) when I kiss him in front of his classmates and tell him I love him.

My little girl talks to God at night and tells him she forgot her tithe money but she will bring it to church next time.

They both sing worship songs as we head to school in the mornings and work together to clean up after dinner.


The paycheck I get for being a mom won't get me on the cover of Forbes but I like to look at the bright side...

Hugs and kisses are way better for the soul than hundred dollar bills.

Weigh In
If you are a parent, what is your single greatest moment as a parent? If you are not, what is the single greatest thing your parents did to mold you into who you are now?


Words of Wisdom (W.O.W.)
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it"
~ Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

5 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful post Ana, its been too long! I really like the name of your new blog ;) I haven't weighed in yet and I might.. but for now, keep on writing! Being a parent is really something. I am so FAR from being ready for it. I'm also impressed with SuperMoms, I know you're one of them.

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  2. As we've talked before, the single greatest thing my mom ever did was exactly what you are doing... not being a friend, but being a mom. When they are older, you can be a friend, and then they'll still come to you and say, "I need you to be mom right now."

    Loved the post, and I'm so glad you are writing again!

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  3. I love your post! Motherhood is not easy but it is the most rewarding. Love to see how God has blessed you so abundantly! Keep sharing!

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  4. Not too long ago, Micah (5) told me, "Mommy, while I was in time-out, I asked God to help me obey." And I breathed a sigh of relief, it had been a hard day, and was grateful to know that maybe, just maybe, I had done a few things right along the way.

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  5. I loved this post Ana! You are a wonderful mom! :) The greatest thing my own dear mom gave me was the gift of faith, the kind that runs deep and sustains. This is the same faith I'm passing on to my own three daughters. Loving God and loving others. It doesn't get any better, and it will get you 'through'.

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