Not Just A Mom
 

In this politically correct world we live in, being a mother has been delegated to its lowest status ever. In the years since World War II, women have increasingly been putting the status of being a mother at the bottom of the list of things that they would choose to be. Many women have sought careers, leadership positions, and fame at the cost of motherhood.

I would like to bring the focus of this particular thread to where you can speak out and say what you think about being a mother. Share whether your mother there for you... are you able to be there for your children... and what do you think about the "profession" of motherhood?

Do you feel that society looks at you as if you are "just a mom" if you stay at home, and take care of your family?

If you are a mom who has placed your highest priority as a woman on being the best mother to your children and wife to your husband, please share your thoughts.

If you feel that motherhood is not the highest calling for a woman, and that a career should be placed ahead of being a mother, or another view I have failed to illustrate, please share why you feel this way.

I look forward to the responses :)

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

The reason I open this thought for discussion, is because I was blessed to have the most loving, compassionate, giving, unselfish, hard working mother anyone could ask for. I consider myself highly blessed that she was there for each one of us growing up, and gave of herself until she was exhausted. She was always there when we came home from school, and we were blessed to eat the fruit of her labors as she gardened, canned, and baked wholesome wonderful food for us. I consider myself truly blessed to have such a godly wonderful mother.

I just recently finished reading a book called "Not Just A Mom" written by Lisa Anderson. In this book, Lisa seeks to encourage women to not be ashamed to be called a mother, but that it is really our highest calling and original God-given design. A great book to read that encourages women everywhere to realize that being a mother is not something to be ashamed of, but something that God places great value upon.

It was a refreshing read to be encouraged that being a mom to my children, and wife to my husband is a calling that God has designed me for, and I am thankful that I have been blessed to stay at home with my children, and work in a family business with my husband.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Mom's suffer a lot

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

My mother was always there for us. She did work outside the home, but without ever discussing it, we always knew we were her first priority. The jobs she had were always taken around our school schedule. She was always there for every concert, parent teacher conference, or anything else she was needed for. She faithfully drove us all over. She was a small branch bank manager and her hours were from 9-3, same as school. She always cooked, cleaned and did whatever needed doing. She is a great Mom. :thumbsup

I was at home for my kids and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

I think that motherhood should definitely be further up on the scale in people's priority lists.

Yes, for sure.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

I'm not sure I know what you mean, but I am assuming you mean that mom's tend to carry a big responsibility in the care of a home, and are willing to make sacrifices in order to see that their family is taken care of?

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

That is so awesome. You are blessed indeed!

I'm thankful I have been able to be there for my kids and husband too. I have worked outside the time for a short time, and found it very difficult to juggle all the responsibilities of home and work. My hat is off to those women who have no choice but to do so. It's so tough. Being home and taking care of my family is where I'm happiest.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Mom is one of the few words spelled backwards that still spells the same word....:icecream

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

WOW, thanks for that! I always thought I was spelling it wrong. :gaga

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

:happydance

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

My mom personally feels that motherhood is not the highest calling for a woman. She wishes she had been a man. She is a staunch believer in abortion, having had one herself. She will tear you a new one if you ever challenge her on it. She has abused alcohol, drugs, cursed and swore, very arrogant, heady, high-minded, interrupts conversations, I could go on. She despises church going people. Yet, despite all this, I consider her my best friend because I can talk to her about anything. And, when my dad died when I was 12 and it was just her and me, she didn't abandon me. She never spanked me, and kept my father from spanking me as well. We always talked through everything. She's a character, read every book in the library, deaf as a board, loved by many. I'm fairly certain, though, that she wishes she could have had a fulfilling career, instead of being "pushed" by her parents into motherhood, and not encouraged to get an education.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Me too. Some women claim they are happier working. I've never understood that. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

WOW is the same thing. :)

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Thanks for taking the time to respond Adam.

In essence from what you've said, your mother feels that her lack of education caused her to miss out on good things in life, and the fact that her life wasn't so great was in part was because she felt she was "pushed" to choose motherhood over having an education.

I can see the struggle she must have had when your dad died, and then having to be the breadwinner, on top of the fact that she didn't have an education. It must have been very hard. Give your mother as much love and respect as you can, because she did the best she could under the circumstances. It does sound as though you have a working relationship, and that is wonderful.

Adam, how do you feel about motherhood? Do you feel it is a woman's highest calling, or do you feel it is okay to put a career/education/job ahead of family?

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

LOL is the same thing too.... :lol

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

MOM and POP LOL! :lol That's about as deep as I can go on this subject. :hmmm

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Level

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

MOM and POP were on the LEVEL and LOL!

Sorry, KeptByHisWord. It's ILG's fault. :heeheehee

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

I think I am going to change my name to ILGLI. LOL!:heeheehee

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Every woman is different. Some are not cut out to be mothers. There are girls that are tomboys, and others that play with dolls and doll houses. One woman may want to remain single and join the military or have a career. Another will want to be a wife and mother. Some women want to rob banks and kill people. We are all individuals, you cannot apply a broad generalization of "all women should be wives and mothers because it is the greatest calling a woman can achieve" to all women.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

I better add something to the discussion. :heeheehee

I am glad that my mom was a stay at home mom. With eight children, someone needed to be home all the time. We did have a maid, but she mostly did the laundry, ironing, etc. And my mother was a great cook!

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

What about BOB?

:heeheehee

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

We have a working relationship so long as I don't go down the road of becoming a religious person. Last time I did that, our relationship terminated.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

MOM and POP have a TOT named BOB that likes to LOL :lol

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Prax... this is ALL your fault! Now I'm going to be thinking in three letter words all day! :heeheehee

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

I'm sorry to hear that. That must be a really tough place to be.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

:heeheehee:thumbsup

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

MOM and POP have a TOT named BOB that likes to LOL and drives a RACECAR.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

But what if someone has children and then wants to have a career? (Not to be confused with having a "job".)

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Um, that's my son's name. LOL!

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Well, that's pretty much the boat I am in with my family too. Our relationships are MUCH better since I left the church. Most of us are spiritual in our own ways. My Dad is into American Indian spirituality, my sister is into Buddhism, my Mom is into Catholicism. we just can't talk religion too much!

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

I didn't know Bob was up to so much! LOL!

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Oops, okay, MADAM then? :heeheehee

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Yes, it is. I'm essentially waiting for her to die before I can really devote myself to religious study, something that I'm looking forward to doing once I retire in a few years. If I have any kind of personal religious revelation, I tend to keep it to myself rather than share it with her because she usually lashes out. She is 85 with health problems and currently in an assisted living facility. To be honest, we are all waiting on her to die. Currently, though, her health has been on the upswing.

A side note... this past Christmas, she was the only one that gave me a Christmas card. I even have a brother, a sister, and 3 grown kids. One of my kids is a devout Christian. Only my mom gave me a card.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

'Bout time you started addressing me with some respect there, No-Gnisserp!!

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

BOB is certainly on the RADAR as a busy TOT. LOL!

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

LOL! Isn't MADAM an occupation? :heeheehee

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

There is a special word for these types of words. It's called a Palindrome. Impressive that I know a fancy word like palindrome, isn't it? That makes me pretty impressive.

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Only in the minds of people who think about those things. :throwrock Why, do you have any experience? LOL!

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

GAG! :heeheehee

Re: Not Just A Mom
 

Yup... I'm impressed! Palindromy is kind of fun ;)