“So what do you do
all day?”
Have you ever had someone ask you this when they find out
you’re a stay at home mom?
I have to admit I often wondered myself, and even asked
on occasion, before I had kids.
Now, I could
give you a play by play, of exactly
what I do each day. In fact I often do, in detail, for my husband at the end of
most days.
Do you do that?
Why do we do this? Is it to feel accomplished? important?
To give meaning and purpose to my day, and myself?
Because in an itemized list, you’d find that I change diapers,
dispel tantrums, make meals and sing songs at tuck in, etc…. but that’s not really what it’s all about.
Recently I was encouraged to write a personal mission statement,
as a mother.
I was a little reluctant at first. The task seemed a
little daunting, because I have a deep testimony of the essential, wonderful, and significant role
of a mother… and I suppose I worried that I wouldn’t do it justice—or that in
my attempts to sound profound, I would just sound silly?
But I decided to do it anyway.
Here are some of the things I included in my statement:
(I have italicized the mission statement prompt given to
me)
I believe I was
created by God for a purpose. I believe my unique purpose as a mom is:
*To co-create with God within the sacred bonds of
marriage
*Care, prepare, nurture and strengthen all my children
*To just love them
*To love their father
*Provide for their spiritual and physical needs
*Teach them to love and serve one another
*Establish a home maintained on principles of: faith,
prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome
recreational activities. (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)
*To teach them correct principles, mainly by example
*To be a window to the Savior (His love and example)
*Nurture their relationship with Heavenly Father and turn
them toward Him.
*Guide them on the path in our Heavenly Fathers great
plan of happiness and bring them home to Him.
*To have joy in them.
My mission statement isn’t perfect (like me), and it isn’t
an exhaustive list. But I love my mission statement. It fills me and the
seemingly mundane tasks I do each day with purpose; and helps me maintain
eternal perspective when I start to lose my bearings.
It reminds me that
that I’m not just expecting another baby, but I am co-creating with God; one of
his precious children.
Or that I am not just enduring another toddler meltdown,
but I am showing the Saviors love and long-suffering.
Or that I am not just sitting around playing with blocks
and reading children’s literature all day, but I am having joy in my children!
Being a mother is the hardest thing I ever LOVED to do.
It fills my day with learning, joy and many wonderful things that I am thankful
for each day. And I know that what we do each day, ‘just being a mom’ is so
important!
Every mothers mission statement will be different as we
contemplate the unique talents, circumstances, and children we have been given.
What would be in your mission statement?
