Saturday morning I woke up feeling super tired and irritable because I had another sleepless night due to kids. I got up, got the kids breakfast and started making a couple salads and dessert for tomorrow's dinner at Braithwaites. As they were eating I hear Ella yell, "Alissa!". I looked to find soggy Rice Krispies rubbed into her chair and flung all over the kitchen. Feeling frustrated I grabbed her and sat her on the couch for a time out. As I start to clean up I hear Ella asking over and over for me to get her something and Molly bawling her eyes out wanting to be held. My voice gradually got louder and louder until it finally woke Dustin sleeping in the bedroom. He could tell I was upset so immediately calmed Molly and helped Ella so they would be quiet. I started venting my frustrations about being a mom and this is why I wear sweats every day, etc, etc.. when I realized they were all just needing some attention from me. So I sat down on the couch, grabbed the May 2011 Friend magazine and opened to the first story which read:
The Most Important Job
By Alisa McBride
(Based on a true story)
Maddie watched as Mom ladled raspberry jam into canning jars. Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, making the dark red fruit sparkle like rubies in the glass jars. Mom’s face was also red. She looked tired and hot. Maddie thought about some of the important jobs her friends’ moms had. One was an accountant. Another was an engineer. Maddie wondered why her mom didn’t have a job like those. She couldn’t help thinking that if she did, Maddie’s family would have more money. Maybe Maddie could even have some new clothes for school.
“That’s done for another year,” Mom said as she placed a lid on the last jar.
“Why do you do all that work?” Maddie asked. “We could buy jam at the store.”
Mom swiped a hand over her forehead and sank into a kitchen chair. “What’s your favorite kind of jam?” she asked.
Maddie didn’t have to think about it. “Raspberry.”
“And Dad’s?”
“Raspberry.” Maddie was beginning to understand.
“I make raspberry jam because you and your brother and your dad like it so much,” Mom said. “It makes me feel happy when I see you pulling out a jar of my jam and knowing that I made it just for you.”
Maddie thought about how Mom helped her whenever Maddie got stuck on a math problem. And how Mom was always interested to hear about how the school day went.
Maddie wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist. “Thanks, Mom.”
Mom returned the hug. “For what?”
“For doing the things you do,” Maddie said. “Being a mom is the most important job in the world.”
As I read the story outloud to my kids I had an overwhelming feeling of Heavenly Father's love for me as a mommy. I sobbed through the whole story. About half way through Ella stood up and grabbed me a tissue. I felt sad for the way I had acted and so grateful for the opportunity I have to stay at home with my girls every day. I'm so grateful for how hard Dustin works to provide for our family and make it possible for me to be here.
A few hours later the mail came and there was an unexpected card from my little sister that said:
I'd offer to take over for you on Mother's Day, but HOLY CRAP! Do you realize how much you DO? She got to get my kids ready for the day a few weeks back and experience a tiny portion of life as a mommy which was a bit of an eye opener for her I guess. Anyway, the card was another tender mercy.
That evening I was surprised again by my mom and grandma who showed up with beautiful pink roses and a cheesecake. They stayed and visited for a while which meant a lot.
Earlier in the week I got my gift from Dustin which was a Bartlett Pear tree planted in my back yard which is just what I wanted along with 5 blank coupons. :) Ella gave me a beautiful card she made at her school with a picture of her cute face inside of it.
On Sunday Dustin got to talk in church along with the rest of the Elders quorum presidency. He did a wonderful job and we had 2 grandmas and 1 grandpa there to help with kids. YAY!
After church we went to Braithwaites to eat dinner and play. Grandma Carol let all the moms eat first and all the dads had to help their kids. The kids had a blast playing in grandma and grandpa's back yard together and I had a blast taking tons of pictures of all the kids.
It turned out to be a pretty perfect weekend.
It has made me reflect on those moms who have impacted my life the most. A few specific people come to mind.
MY MOM: I have always been a "momma's girl". When we would go shopping I would stay right by her side with one hand on the cart and I still do. My mom is the one person I know I can call any time, any where and know she will show sincerity for whatever I am telling her. She plays the biggest role in what kind of mom I am because I have just followed her example.
MY MOTHER IN LAW: I have had dreams that Dustin and I are no longer married and I cry because I still want to be with his family. I love his family and I love his mom. She is wise and experienced. She had 8 kids and 7 of them were wild and crazy boys! She is full of love and compassion but tough too. I am so grateful she raised a good baby boy to be my husband. :)
MY GRANDMAS: I love my grandmas not only for raising my parents, but for helping raise me. They are always so supportive and loving to all us kids and all of my grandma's have been amazing examples of motherhood to me.
DR. VISICK: I know this sounds pathetic, but Ella's pediatrician in Logan was such a good teacher to me and influenced me so much in my journey becoming a mom. I met him in the delivery room about 5 minutes before Ella was born. Dustin would make fun of me and say that I would take Ella into the doctor every time she would sneeze. Sadly it's pretty much true. Dr. Visick would drill me on all the developmental things Ella should be doing which motivated me to try really hard and be able to pass the next milestones with flying colors. When I would show up and give him the update he would encourage me so much that I would want to do it again. He is a great man and an excellent doctor.
MY FRIEND HEIDI: Heidi was my visiting teacher when I moved to Logan and became one of my best friends there. She was a mother to 3 boys and I just had my little Ella. Because I was a new mom I watched her and learned so much from her example. One of my very favorite things I learned from her was as she complimented and encouraged her kids. She has such a gift of making people feel special.
MY SISTER IN LAW CINDY: Ever since I married Dustin I have admired his sister in law Cindy. She is married to his older brother Brian. They moved to Idaho Falls so I have had an opportunity to get to know her even better. She is an excellent mom, an excellent wife, strong in the church, a good cook, sews, coupons, scrapbooks, budgets, has smart kids who like her, runs, you name it she does it and she is good at it! To top her off, she is humble and teaches me to be better.
