Notes from this Episode:

Background:

• The motherhood journey is hard!
• Some moms assume that it isn’t difficult for other people, just for them, that there are secrets they don’t know
• What do we do if motherhood is hard and how do we feel about doing hard things?
• What motivates people to not only endure, but to live with peace and joy when they’re doing hard things?
• We can do hard things – we should be doing hard things!
• Hard things are what really matter in life.  When something is easy, we don’t appreciate it nearly as much as when we invest in something that challenges us
• Know your why and grab onto it whenever you need it.  Why did you become a mother?

Motherhood Requires…

• Motherhood requires sacrifice.  It requires giving up our will to not only do what we might want to do, but also what we don’t want to do
  • The sacrifice never ends, even when our children are grown
• Motherhood requires growing in virtues that we may not naturally possess:
• Patience in dealing with our children our husband and a world that doesn’t support or encourage family life
• Orderliness, committing to routines and schedules that serve us and create a peaceful stress-free homes
• Fortitude in the teaching of discipline and respectful behavior to our children; in getting up every day to usually the same challenges of the day
• Generosity in mind and spirit and action, all day every day
• Motherhood requires us to be proactive and thoughtful in how we take care of ourselves
  • Develop routines, habits, and schedules that serve you, rather than a day that enslaves you
  • We can’t do a good job taking care of our children and husband if all we are doing is meeting their needs and not our own
• If you work outside the home, motherhood requires heroic planning and intentional actions to really make your time with your children quality time
• Motherhood requires that long-view attitude, keeping in mind our end goal, remembering that each day, each moment and interaction builds up on the previous days and moments and interactions
• Motherhood requires us to depend on God
  • Mothering is about the closest action we have to identifying ourselves with Christ
  • Every day we live the corporal works of mercy: feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead

Final Thoughts

• “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” Matthew 16:24
  • The essence of motherhood – denying ourselves and taking up our cross without whining or complaining
• We can only do that with God’s help, but He won’t impose His Help on us, we need to ask Him
• Always remember your why.  Knowing your why and being committed to your long-term goals makes the everyday seem less difficult
• Spend a little time today and do a thought download of why you wanted to be a mother, make a list of all your reasons, think about what your goals were and are for your children, your family, and for your life
• Look at that list often and choose thoughts that support your why and give you the feelings that will generate the mindset and actions that will bring you joy today and accomplished goals in 10, 20, 30, 40 years