Hey friends!  I hope you were all able to make it to Homecoming this year.  I heard it was phenomenal (as usual).  Listen, we know how to cook and eat, don’t we?  I missed it this year for good reason.  My nephew graduated from college and I, of course, wanted to go and support him in his accomplishment.  So today’s topic…it would be a huge foul if I didn’t talk about Mother’s Day since it is this upcoming Sunday.  So mommas…is motherhood a duty or a privilege?  Let’s talk about it.

Several weeks ago, Logan came to me and informed me he wanted to go skydiving.  He expected me to just lose it but instead, I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Just be careful.”  I mean, what could I really say that would stop him?  Not to mention, I have thought about skydiving myself.  I waited several weeks to tell my mom (his beloved granny) about him skydiving.  She ABSOLUTELY lost it. In fact, she called Logan and asked him to rethink his choices.  I had to have a talk with her and tell her that no matter what we said, he would do what he wanted.  She sighed and said, “Well, he is your child.” 😆  Sigh.  

As a kid, it was never my goal to stress her out.  It’s just that I live my life as a “we only live once’” type of mentality.  If it’s something I am interested in, then…I research it and do it or not.  But I put it to bed one way or another.  That’s Logan.  But after that comment, I worried that I upset her more than I should have because parenthood is hard!  We don’t have all the answers even when we are expected to have one.  There are days where task after task sucks all the joy out of your day.  Or your child acts out or is sick.  And you just run on autopilot.

This is going to sound cliche but it is so important to find the joy in your life.  And if you are a mother, especially find joy everyday in motherhood.  YES!!  Even those days your kid wants to skydive.  Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” You see…your child was given to you for you to take care of and raise.  But your child doesn’t belong to you.  Your child belongs to God.  God entrusted you with their soul.  

And the funny thing about kids, they are all unique (like fingerprints!).  And as they grow, they change every way possible (physically, emotionally, mentally).  As I am writing this, I think of a rubix cube.  When one thing changes, three other things change.  Think about that for just a second.  Slowing down just a little and realizing that stuff you have to do, can wait.  You don’t need a perfect house.  You need to make memories.

So to answer the original question, is motherhood a duty or a privilege?  Truthfully, both and I don’t think it a bad thing to admit that to ourselves.  The word “duty” sounds negative but why?  It IS our duty to raise, nurture, model faith and character, discipline and just be a positive influence.  Is that a privilege as well?  Yes.  100%.  But it’s all a mindset…your mindset.  

I absolutely love being a mother to Logan.  He brings me happiness and joy that I never knew I needed.  If you are reading this, you have a mother.  This mother might be someone who legally (or not) adopted you or birthed you.  Some of us have a lot of “mothers” in our life who would be there in a heartbeat if we called and needed them.  This Mother’s Day, make sure to tell all the moms in your life how much they mean to you.  Just like you, moms are also unique.  Some ok skydiving and others don’t…and that’s ok.

Love you,
Jennifer