Comments on: On Being a Mother http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/ Thoughts from my jungle to yours Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:45:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: bumbo http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/comment-page-2/#comment-105025 bumbo Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:27:20 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=996#comment-105025 <strong>bumbo...</strong> [...]On Being a Mother « A Brave Writer’s Life in Brief[...]... bumbo…

[...]On Being a Mother « A Brave Writer’s Life in Brief[...]…

]]> By: Terrible Twos http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/comment-page-2/#comment-104292 Terrible Twos Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:31:23 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=996#comment-104292 <strong>Terrible Twos...</strong> [...]On Being a Mother « A Brave Writer’s Life in Brief[...]... Terrible Twos…

[...]On Being a Mother « A Brave Writer’s Life in Brief[...]…

]]> By: mares vs agbeko tickets http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/comment-page-2/#comment-104082 mares vs agbeko tickets Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:19:39 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=996#comment-104082 <strong>mares vs agbeko tickets...</strong> [...]On Being a Mother « A Brave Writer’s Life in Brief[...]... mares vs agbeko tickets…

[...]On Being a Mother « A Brave Writer’s Life in Brief[...]…

]]> By: Liz http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/comment-page-2/#comment-56873 Liz Sun, 24 May 2009 23:42:22 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=996#comment-56873 Thank you so much for writing this piece. I know that motherhood can sometimes be the stuff of jokes (and laughing aboutleaking breasts, diaper explosions, temper tantrums, and jelly donuts on the new carpet is a far better approach than ranting about them), but in the end it is also about joy. As my daughter approaches the birth of her first child, our first grandchild, I try as much as possible to convey the joy that's ahead. Your piece and some of the comments also stirred up happy memories for me of things like hatching eggs for a homeschool project, and my babies sleeping on my chest. Motherhood has its share of aggravations of course, but many of them simply become funny stories to tell on your kids years later. The joys of a baby pulling of your breast and giving you a milky smile can be treasured at the time and in memory as well. I often said that I learned as much during homeschooling as my kids did and that I felt guilty sometimes for having so much time to sit and learn about stuff I was interested in while my poor husband had to spend his day in an office. What other job allows such variety, such scope for the imagination, such opportunity for physical affection. I've been a teacher, I've worked in an office, I've done sales, and I've never had a job that stretched me as much or given as much back as being a mother has. I must admit I am looking forward to grandparenting with an incredible eagerness because it looks like a place where you get many of the benefits, but skip most of the tough stuff. But grandmas don't get to nurse babies or sleep with them. That's for one season of life only. It's too bad that some people try to rush through that season without really appreciating the joys it brings. This isn't just looking through rose colored glasses of memory. I remember waking up with the family sleeping in a sort of H pattern (son across the middle of the bed, daughter next to mom, daddy hanging off the other edge of the bed,0 and thinking that as uncomfortable as it was in a way that it was the best of times. We had our bad moments too, but if I had it to do all over again, I'd do it all over again, only I'd have more kids. Thank you so much for writing this piece. I know that motherhood can sometimes be the stuff of jokes (and laughing aboutleaking breasts, diaper explosions, temper tantrums, and jelly donuts on the new carpet is a far better approach than ranting about them), but in the end it is also about joy. As my daughter approaches the birth of her first child, our first grandchild, I try as much as possible to convey the joy that’s ahead. Your piece and some of the comments also stirred up happy memories for me of things like hatching eggs for a homeschool project, and my babies sleeping on my chest. Motherhood has its share of aggravations of course, but many of them simply become funny stories to tell on your kids years later. The joys of a baby pulling of your breast and giving you a milky smile can be treasured at the time and in memory as well.

I often said that I learned as much during homeschooling as my kids did and that I felt guilty sometimes for having so much time to sit and learn about stuff I was interested in while my poor husband had to spend his day in an office. What other job allows such variety, such scope for the imagination, such opportunity for physical affection. I’ve been a teacher, I’ve worked in an office, I’ve done sales, and I’ve never had a job that stretched me as much or given as much back as being a mother has.

I must admit I am looking forward to grandparenting with an incredible eagerness because it looks like a place where you get many of the benefits, but skip most of the tough stuff. But grandmas don’t get to nurse babies or sleep with them. That’s for one season of life only. It’s too bad that some people try to rush through that season without really appreciating the joys it brings. This isn’t just looking through rose colored glasses of memory. I remember waking up with the family sleeping in a sort of H pattern (son across the middle of the bed, daughter next to mom, daddy hanging off the other edge of the bed,0 and thinking that as uncomfortable as it was in a way that it was the best of times. We had our bad moments too, but if I had it to do all over again, I’d do it all over again, only I’d have more kids.

]]> By: Cheryl http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/comment-page-2/#comment-56156 Cheryl Sun, 10 May 2009 13:20:42 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=996#comment-56156 What a lovely post. That Oprah show has always bothered me. Yes, there are days when it sucks 80% of the time but those are the days where I am gifted the opportunity to practice patience and hone my skills. I am going to pass this one on. What a lovely post. That Oprah show has always bothered me. Yes, there are days when it sucks 80% of the time but those are the days where I am gifted the opportunity to practice patience and hone my skills. I am going to pass this one on.

]]> By: Max Arthur » Blog Archive http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/comment-page-2/#comment-56124 Max Arthur » Blog Archive Sat, 09 May 2009 19:51:03 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=996#comment-56124 [...] honor of Mothers Day, here is a beautiful post on motherhood. “Being your mother has been the single greatest joy and privilege of my life: not [...] [...] honor of Mothers Day, here is a beautiful post on motherhood. “Being your mother has been the single greatest joy and privilege of my life: not [...]

]]> By: babz http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/comment-page-2/#comment-56067 babz Fri, 08 May 2009 17:15:54 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=996#comment-56067 recently my thirty one year old son said to me, "you always seem to know the exact right thing to say to me , to make it all clearer."my thirty six year old daughter calls me at work,to leave the message, "wanted to tell you i love you ."and we see each other daily , in person , as we share our house.i am grateful for all the things granted to me , and i am grateful for the continuing job of mothering. recently my thirty one year old son said to me, “you always seem to know the exact right thing to say to me , to make it all clearer.”my thirty six year old daughter calls me at work,to leave the message, “wanted to tell you i love you .”and we see each other daily , in person , as we share our house.i am grateful for all the things granted to me , and i am grateful for the continuing job of mothering.

]]> By: Helen http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/comment-page-2/#comment-55931 Helen Wed, 06 May 2009 14:35:50 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=996#comment-55931 It's nice to know that I am one of many women who have not lost the focus of family life. Yes, this job of mothering does not bring public recognition, but how long does that last anyway? Now, that I am past the sleeping baby, tea party stages and into the university preparation stage, I will say that not one moment of the time I spent with my children was wasted. I am blessed with intelligent, interesting young adults, with whom it is fun exciting and interesting to spend time with. Yes, I miss the quiet times, but now we share books, music, vacations and (and for this I thank the Lord daily) they really want their parents to be part of their lives. Keep at it through the tough times, they don't end they are part of every stage of life. The good things just breed more good things that keep getting better. It’s nice to know that I am one of many women who have not lost the focus of family life. Yes, this job of mothering does not bring public recognition, but how long does that last anyway? Now, that I am past the sleeping baby, tea party stages and into the university preparation stage, I will say that not one moment of the time I spent with my children was wasted. I am blessed with intelligent, interesting young adults, with whom it is fun exciting and interesting to spend time with. Yes, I miss the quiet times, but now we share books, music, vacations and (and for this I thank the Lord daily) they really want their parents to be part of their lives. Keep at it through the tough times, they don’t end they are part of every stage of life. The good things just breed more good things that keep getting better.

]]> By: Amy Lu http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/comment-page-2/#comment-55847 Amy Lu Mon, 04 May 2009 22:08:44 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=996#comment-55847 Amen! Amen!

]]> By: Nancy http://blog.bravewriter.com/2009/04/27/on-being-a-mother/comment-page-2/#comment-55765 Nancy Sun, 03 May 2009 14:03:35 +0000 http://blog.bravewriter.com/?p=996#comment-55765 Being a mother is the most blessed thing I could EVER attain. Thank you for your thoughtful description of the "hardest job you'll ever love." I am a homeschooler and mother to 7 children (and 4 others with Jesus). I just graduated my oldest from high school yesterday! There are MANY long nights rocking babies and listening to the woes of teens, but it is SO worth it. At almost 41, I feel blessed to be holding babies, wiping noses, preparing meals, patching boo boos, cheering on my baseball players, driving teens, and having coffee with my young adults. Psalm 127 says children are a heritage from the Lord. They sure are that!! Being a mother is the most blessed thing I could EVER attain. Thank you for your thoughtful description of the “hardest job you’ll ever love.” I am a homeschooler and mother to 7 children (and 4 others with Jesus). I just graduated my oldest from high school yesterday! There are MANY long nights rocking babies and listening to the woes of teens, but it is SO worth it. At almost 41, I feel blessed to be holding babies, wiping noses, preparing meals, patching boo boos, cheering on my baseball players, driving teens, and having coffee with my young adults. Psalm 127 says children are a heritage from the Lord. They sure are that!!

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