The Incredible Joy of Being a Mom

Motivational Bribes

Have you ever looked in to your child’s room and wanted to just….SCREAM!? Yeah, me, too.

It doesn’t take much–just a birthday, or a Christmas, or a day at the fair–to make a child’s room look like it is about to explode with toys, books, stuffed animals, and movies. *Usually* I can control myself, and, instead of screaming, I say those dreaded words, “Honey, it’s time to get rid of some things”. Not once has this sentence produced good results. At the best I’ll receive a frown or pout…at worse there may be tears and heartbreak. What to do?

I choose to bribe.

This is how it works.

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Chores, Routines, and Other Mom Mysteries

Yes, of course my children should be involved in taking care of the house! We all know that it builds responsibility and work ethic…yadda yadda. But, more importantly, it makes them an important part of the family unit.

It helps them feel like they are worth something. It builds self esteem.

Great….so if I don’t do this…or don’t do this well…I’m screwing up my kids!!!! (don’t you love it that I’m not subjecting you to the real words I want to use?)…just what I need! MORE GUILT!

All right, shaking off the guilt…shaking off the bad memories of chore charts and stars and things that didn’t work. Rolling up my sleeves. Big breath. I CAN DO THIS!

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Quality time Vs. Quantity Time

Two days before giving birth to my first child 12 1/2 years ago, I resigned from teaching middle school students speech, theater and journalism.

It was a hard decision because I truly loved my career and I was good at it…and I wasn’t completely sure I was making the right choice. My Mom did the same thing for me, only working full-time when she was my teacher at the academy where I went to school.

I have friends who have made the opposite choice for a million different reasons and I totally understand them.

I watch, though, as they struggle to mash “Quality Time” in to the weekends or after 5 p.m.

I am thankful that I don’t have to do that…that my husband works so hard to make it possible for me to be a nurturing mom. Our children and I are able to enjoy quality time at our leisure within quantity time.

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The Being in Human Being

These are just a few of the joys of being a mom.

And then there are the times when I was powerless. I couldn’t DO anything. I had no magical cure.

Heck, I didn’t even have the appropriate medicine!

I remember feeling so helpless and ineffective.

Once when one of the girls was feverish. She tossed and turned in her sleep. I had done all I could.

I really needed to go to bed -- it was in the wee hours of the night. Yet she wanted me there … begged for me to be there and panicked if I wasn’t.

What was I to her in those hours? I was simply being.

My being was with her being and there was great comfort in that.

So many times I get caught up with what I can do or what I can say but many times the hurting people in my life just need me to BE. Most children have a grasp of this and know to ask for it. My child even said so eloquently, “I just feel better with you here"

Yes, there's wonder in being a mom. Joy. Fulfillness.

And desperation.

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