Mother's Day

I rarely say that I love social media. Mother's Day is one of the days I actually enjoy it. It's so fun to scroll through and see so many pictures and tributes to women. I hopped on the bandwagon and posted a picture after taking far too long deciding what the caption would be. Soon after, I deleted the picture because it was a little blurry. I wanted the post to be perfect for my mom.

This was the caption: Mom, @j5denning thanks for teaching me: to love reading, to value education (she's graduating with her master's degree this summer), to always make room for dessert, to attend the temple often, to obsess over pizza, and the real meaning of the word love.

I'm so grateful for my mom. She is such a big part of my life. I told her she fits many roles in her life: nana, friend, mother, sister, teacher, organist, student. She fulfills all of them well. It's comforting to know that I can ask my mom for help at anytime. 

I saw "Momma Bear" come out several times growing up. My mom would do anything to protect her kids and go to great lengths to ensure our happiness. Over the years, I have seen my mom experience hard things and deal with difficult people. I don't know of someone who is more forgiving than her. 

My life will forever be blessed by how my mom raised me. I hope to be as selfless as my mom was and still continues to be.

Mother's Day takes on more meaning for me now that I'm a mom. Being a mom brings me so much joy! James is so happy and adds such a fun dynamic to our home. I'm not going to sugarcoat my life and say that motherhood is perfect or that I love it every second of it because that is not the case. Like all jobs, there are hard days. I will say that the good, far outweighs the hard though!

Blowing kisses to daddy

Reality... Taking pictures with a toddler is hard work!

Being a mother requires so much patience which is something I lack. It's sometimes easy to forget that James is small and doesn't quite understand or know better. For instance, yesterday, I taught sharing time. I had so many props and materials for my lesson that we had to drive to church instead of walk like we usually do. I had ten wrapped presents in a basket in the back seat next to James' car-seat. He immediately tore into a present, ripping it. I wish I could say that I was patient with James, but I definitely raised my voice and went into sacrament meeting irritated.

Someone gave a great talk in church about how no mother is perfect. We are all just trying our best and I should not expect perfection for myself. I'm so grateful to be a mom and to learn from James daily. He is adorable. (He now says "hi" and waves constantly, even to strangers, which melts my heart.)

I have strong feelings on women and know many women who have motherly qualities who aren't "mother's" by definition. I have a single friend who would love to be a mother someday, but it hasn't happened. She is an amazing aunt to her niece and nephew who she babysits frequently. She also watches her friend's kids for free all the time. 

I have another friend that has been trying to get pregnant for years. Being a mom is what she desires most and I can see how hard it is for her that her dream hasn't come true. She has worked with children in church for years and is the epitome to me of a nurturing, loving mother. 

Another person I know doesn't necessarily want children right now. She works with kids all day and gives her whole self to her job. She is being a mother.

No matter what our circumstance is, women all have the power to influence children's lives.