"Teach your daughters to prepare for life's greatest career- that of homemaker, wife, and mother. Teach them to love home because you love home. Teach them the importance of being a full-time mother in the home.
"My eternal companion has wisely counseled mothers: 'Radiate a spirit of contentment and joy with homemaking. You teach by example your attitude toward homemaking. Your attitude will say to your daughters, 'I am only a housewife.' Or it will convey, 'Homemaking is the highest, most noble profession to which a woman might aspire.'"
-President Ezra Taft Benson
I have an acquaintance who is putting off having children. This is a topic that I have never discussed with her in any way, but she is very open about her decision (I sense she gets heckled by family and closer friends). One day she sent out a mass email that included an article by a single woman explaining how unappealing motherhood appears, due to the fact that all she ever hears mothers talking about are their frustrations, the yuckiness, etc. that go along with being a mom. My acquaintance found great validation in this article. I was bugged by the article, but mostly bugged by the fact that she had sent it to me. Especially, because I am not in regular communication with her, and certainly never about this topic.
As I read President Besons's quote, this article came to mind. Could there be validity in this woman's attitude? From my personal experience, I know when a group of mothers get together we seek comfort, support, and common ground with each other concerning the struggles we face as mothers. There is no denying that it is a hard job, and there is no denying the struggles and yuckiness that are all part of the job. But how often are we caught "radiating a spirit of contentment and joy" in what we are doing? Or at the least, a belief in the importance of what we are doing? Are we doing a bad job selling other women on being a homemaker?
Is Pres. Benson's quote an impossible expectation for us? If we aren't finding joy and contentment in what we are doing, how do we find it?
A man's perspective...
ReplyDeleteI think that most children who have stay at home mothers know that their mother loves what she does and does find contentment and joy in her responsibility. They know this because of the little things that a mother does like reading stories to them, doing projects with them, helping them with different tasks, etc. Love is easily felt when a mother enjoys her work. Hopefully, mothers don't complain to their kids about the trials associated with motherhood. I have no idea but would guess that when mothers get together they probably talk about the hard stuff to find sympathy and strength. When single women hear these conversations they draw conclusions. I imagine mothers don't talk about the precious moments as much because they are personal.
So, if the question is how mothers sell motherhood to their children I think they do a great job. If the question is how they sell it to other single women they could probably improve.
I love that quote from President Benson. You have a knack for finding great quotes that I've never heard before!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I really liked the idea of radiating joy in homemaking and in being a mother. I think I just assume that my children and friends will know that I love being a mother, but I'm now going to be sure that I express the joy and love I have for my job to them!
Gina--did you know that I love being a mother?
Man-
ReplyDeleteThanks for your perspective.
Rebecca-
No way! So do I!