Returning to blogging?

Okay, I am not making any promises, but now that I have started and then completely neglected this blog, I am thinking about working on it again. My baby is 9 months old and finally sleeping through the night (most nights) so I am coming out of that "first year" fog. I need to organize my house, among other things, but here I am blogging. Anyway, if anyone even checks this blog, hello again!

Good Things about Being a Mother

I just read I am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson. (I gave the book to my mother-in-law for Mother's Day but managed to borrow it right away...) It was a good book. The thing that it made me think about was all of the things that are better about me and my life because I have children. I think sometimes I tend to focus on all the reasons why having children makes my life harder. So I am going to make a list of the positive benefits of being a mother:

• I am much more empathetic, kind and patient than before I had children (and of course I am still working on these things)
  
• I am much less self-absorbed (I realize that before I had children I was not particularly aware of other people's problems)
• I understand sacrifice better
• I have more love and understanding for my own mother (and a better relationship with her)
• I can relate to children in general better which had proved quite helpful in callings in the Primary
  
• I can buy cute toys, DVDs, clothes, etc
• I have an excuse not to sit through long boring meetings (sometimes I get frustrated that I can't sit through sacrament meeting, but then when I don't have my kids with me for some reason, I get bored!)
• I am stronger emotionally, physically and spiritually. I realize that I am capable of doing a lot more than I thought I could (i.e. give birth, deal with stressful situations, etc)
• I know that if I can deal with what I have dealt with, I can deal with just about anything

What are the positive things about being a mother for you?

Seeing Our Children as Special Spirits

A woman in my ward shared a line from her daughter-in-law's patriarchal blessing that really struck me. It said something to the effect that her children were special spirits that have been saved to come to earth to aid in the winding up of this dispensation. Hearing this made me realize that my children are also special spirits that were chosen to come to this earth after me, so they are most likely more choice than me. (Don't you always remember being told as a youth that we were a special generation? So, our kids must be that much more special, right?) I need to remember that as I mother them. I need to treat them with the respect and honor they deserve. Granted, they don't always act like choice spirits...but neither do I! Hopefully this will give me some perspective.

Thought question: How can we better honor our children's divine nature, destiny and potential?

I read somewhere recently that looking at pictures of your children has a measurably positive effect on you -- it lowers your blood pressure and gives you an increased feeling of happiness and well-being. I think this is so true. I love looking at pictures of my kids, especially from when they were little. It really helps give me perspective and helps me remember how much I really love them. So of course I had to post this hilarious picture of Danny. He wore this sweatband the entire time he was in the stroller while Benjy was jogging.

Lesson 1: A Gospel Persceptive on Mindful Mothering

Look up the word “mindful” in the Topical Guide. Study the scriptures listed there.

• Psalm 8:4 “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?”

• Alma 26:37 “God is mindful of every people…”

Check the footnote on the word “mindful” in this scripture. It leads to:

2 Nephi 26:24 “He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him.”

Jacob 5:41 “And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?”

• Moroni 8:2 “… your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to his ministry, and to his holy work”

Thought questions:

1. What does being a “mindful mother” mean to you?
2. How can we use Jesus Christ as our example as we strive to be mindful of our children?
3. Think of yourself as the Lord of the vineyard in Jacob 5:41. What do you wish that you had done differently as a mother? How could you have been more mindful of your children?
4. How does it make you feel to know that God is so mindful of us? How can we give our children the same sense of love and security?
5. How can we apply Moroni 8:2 to ourselves? How does this make you feel about your calling to be a mother?

Write down your answers if it helps you better articulate your thoughts. Feel free to share any (or none) of your answers or feelings on this topic.