Mums

I interupt my travel log for some important thoughts about moms. I am not a mom, and its not mothers day, so the timing may seem a bit odd, but perhaps thats a good thing.

I had some good conversations with a couple of my friends yesterday that are moms, and it got me thinking. Now that i am a bit better rested, I thought I would  share those thoughts.

1. There is no cooler, more important or influential job in the world then that of a mom. There no job on the planet that requiers a broader range of general knowledge, good instincts, or hard work. Moms weave daily the fabric of society and good mothers and fathers are the threads that bind that fabric together. Nothing is more important or influential than home. Good parents give their kids the foundation, saftey, and security to meet and exceed their full potential as human beings and children of God, that potential may differ from the world view of sucess,
But the world view is often limited and short sighted.
There is no better use for your tallents, inteñligence, creativity passion, and love than building that foundation in lives, primarily in the lives of your children, because you have greatest influence on them, but this influence extends to friends family, and anyone else in
Your circles.

2. As long as you are providing for basic physical, intellectual, spiritual and emotional needs, and love your kids, you wont mess them up beyond repair when you human weaknesses, imperfections, and limitations get in the way.

God is the only perfect parent. Love your kids, do the best you can, and things will work out eventually. You cant controll everything, you cant teach everything, and you cant do everything. Nor should you. The Most important thing is that you genuinely love your kids, if thats true, they will have an adequet foundation to launch into life from.

3. Fill your bucket.

I learned on my mission that you cant expect to do a good job helping or teaching anyone else if you have depleated your energy, emotion, spirit, or intellect down to nothing. Keep your life balanced, take care of yourself, recognize your limits, and respect and work within them, and have some fun.

4. If you are like most moms i know, you are doing a better job than you, or sometimes your children think. Pat yourself on the back, look in a mirror and say, «im good enough, im smart enough, and dog gone it, i like me.»

I am in no way shape or form an expert on any of this, but as the child of a mom, and an outside observer, i think these are the observations i would like to share. Stay home, or working, to all you moms out there, thank you for all you do. And to my mom, thank you for all you've done and continue to do. And to my aunts, friends, and others (including those who reacently yelled at me for going out with wet hair) thank you for applying your mommy skills in my behalf, weather or not you are a mom, and even though you are not my mom.  Its great to have so many people to learn from and be loved by. Keep up the good work.