The Life of an LDS Woman: Motherhood

Guest blogger: Jen L'Heureux

Almost 12½ years ago, I became a mother. I never imagined that it would be the most rewarding, uplifting, yet challenging, and frustrating, growth experience of my life. You would think being the oldest of seven I would have been a little more prepared for what was in front of me.

I never knew I would cry and laugh so much. I have learned that boys can literally pee anywhere, especially while they are sleep walking. They love dropping fake spiders/bugs in inconspicuous places to look real. Permanent marker when drawn all over the living room walls isn’t decorative. The dog gets scared when the boy bites him on the ear. White shirts are only worn once—somehow ketchup is always served for lunch that day, art projects are completed, or the only mud puddle is found. Burping has become a second language in our home—the more, the cooler.

It is amazing how all this disappears when you see them performing in a concert or play, smiling ear-to-ear because you are there; when you go on a field trip with them for school and they stand proud because you are their mom; when they still kiss and hug you continually and tell you how much they love you.

At those moments, motherhood is all worth it.

It is such a wonderful feeling to have that unconditional love, so forgiving of your shortcomings. I understand that may change as the teenage years hit, but I will take all I can get until that time comes. (For those with teenagers, I attended a seminar once where it was said if your teenager doesn’t like you, then you are doing a good job.)

Yet, at times, I get caught up with this crazy impossible idea that I need to do it all and be this perfect wife and mother. Sometimes I wonder if a mistake was made, because there is no way I could possibly be cut out for this responsibility. It is not always easy to keep a positive attitude and to think that the Lord has this plan for me and actually wants me to succeed.

I find it a relief, though, that I am not expected to be the “perfect mother.” I have realized that there is no exact formula for having the laundry done, dishes clean, floors mopped, work responsibilities taken care, and kids where they need to be...let alone do it all at the same time. (I have tried, though, numerous times, to make one up.) I do need to have my priorities in check sometimes to remember what is truly important, and what really does and doesn’t matter.

I have learned however that all things are possible with the help and strength of the Lord. If we want to truly fulfill our motherly roles we cannot do it without Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in our lives. Through the love of our Father and the Savior we can have the strength to endure and accomplish all things.

Emily Watts talks about a formula for feeling God’s love in her book titled, Confessions of an Unbalanced Woman. She states,

There is a way to feel the Lord’s love more fully in your life. The simple, three-step formula comes from D&C 90:24:

Search diligently – search the scriptures for answers
Pray always – we can pray anytime, anywhere, and any place
Be believing – that your search is not in vain, that you will find what you are looking for

In turn, Heavenly Father promises that ‘…all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly.’

Gordon B. Hinckley says,

Rise to the great potential within you. I do not ask that you reach beyond your capacity. I hope you will not nag yourselves with thoughts of failure. I hope you will not try to set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. I hope you will simply do what you can do in the best way you know how. If you do so, you will witness miracles come to pass. (One Bright Shining Hope, Messages for Women)

I truly do love my boys, and hope that I can find my great potential, especially as I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store as we add number three to our family.