Unnecessary Guilt

Here are a few definitions of guilt...

• 1. The fact of being responsible for the commission of an offense
  2. The fact of having been found to have violated a criminal law
  3. Responsibility for a mistake or error.
  4. Remorseful awareness of having done something wrong.

• 1. To make or try to make (someone) feel guilty.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     Guilt should follow if you intentionally TRY to hurt someone. Guilt should not be present when you are TRYING to help.
     
     
     So if you are a parent or anyone for that matter reaching out with the intent to help... but the child is offended.
     
     
     Talk through it in your head. Are you feeling guilt or questioning yourself just because of their reactions? Or was their a better way for you to handle it?
     
     
     Decide beforehand how you will feel whether they go with or against your advice. Then you won't have unnecessary guilt.
     
     
     
     

GUILT

"Men are that they might have JOY, not guilt trips." --Elder Nelson

striving for perfection...  
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/10/perfection-pending?lang=eng

Enduring or Enjoying

I read this and LOVED it! Good reminder and steps that I have tried to live by even before reading it. I'm not great but I sure want to enjoy my role and life as a mom rather than endure it because I know for a fact, the moments that can be wished away are coupled with moments that we will miss and try to relive (in memory, pictures, or video) once they have come and gone.

Living in the moment and keeping in mind that are kids are doing the very best that they know how are things I hope to always implement so I don't have any regret on how I spent my days as a mom… especially in their young years….

"Little kids hate sit-down restaurants, shopping and waiting in line at the post office. Little kids love crafts, making messes and trips to the park. These days I shop and eat out a lot less, and, as much as it pains me, I’ve stocked up on glue guns and glitter."

Link is here

the art of homemaking

This book sounds so funny. A lot of the ideas are so funny, some irrelevant, some brilliant! Here is a write up and summary of this little gem. Got me thinking and left me inspired.

Christlike Mothering

I had just swept the final collection into the pile.”Pretzels, captain crunch, popcorn, cheerios, chips…” I spouted off to anyone listening. “Nope. I didn’t eat any of these things,” I continued, as I brushed the last of the pile into the dustpan.

The only person listening at the table said quietly, “It’s the mother’s atonement.”

... This is a snippet of a great article. Here is the link

Effective prayers

Nephi teaches us what to pray for. He doesn't ask the Lord to change his circumstance or to get him out of a huge mess, but rather prays for personal strength to change his circumstances.

Our prayers as parents can become more effective as we take accountability. Our children's understanding of prayer is increased when we teach them this concept.

“The journey of a lifetime, as described by President McKay, is to go from bad to good to better and to have our very natures changed. And the Book of Mormon is replete with examples of disciples and prophets who knew and understood and were transformed by the enabling power of the Atonement in making that journey. May I suggest, brothers and sisters, that as we come to better understand this sacred power, our gospel perspective will be greatly enlarged and enriched. Such a perspective will change us in remarkable ways. “Nephi is an example of one who knew and understood and relied upon the enabling power of the Savior. In 1 Nephi 7 we recall that the sons of Lehi had returned to Jerusalem to enlist Ishmael and his household in their cause. Laman and others in the party traveling with Nephi from Jerusalem back to the wilderness rebelled, and Nephi exhorted his brethren to have faith in the Lord. It was at this point in their trip that Nephi’s brothers bound him with cords and planned his destruction. Now please note Nephi’s prayer in verse 17: “O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound”. “Brothers and sisters, do you know what I likely would have prayed for if I had been tied up by my brothers? My prayer would have included a request for something bad to happen to my brothers and ended with the phrase “wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren” or, in other words, “Please get me out of this mess, now!” It is especially interesting to me that Nephi did not pray, as I probably would have prayed, to have his circumstances changed. Rather, he prayed for the strength to change his circumstances. And may I suggest that he prayed in this manner precisely because he knew and understood and had experienced the enabling power of the Atonement of the Savior. “I personally do not believe the bands with which Nephi was bound just magically fell from his hands and wrists. Rather, I suspect that he was blessed with both persistence and personal strength beyond his natural capacity, that he then “in the strength of the Lord” (Mosiah 9:17) worked and twisted and tugged on the cords and ultimately and literally was enabled to break the bands.  

Elder David A. Bednar, In the Strength of the Lord, BYU Devotional, October 23, 2001

Your Luster

"Motherhood polishes your own luster."- Julie Souter

Finding JOY as a MOM

My mom is the most incredible example of this! She is so happy to be home, home with her kids. Growing up, she would always squeeze me so tight and express to me how sad she was that summer was coming to an end. I have heard most mom's express the exact opposite. They are thrilled and counting down the moments for their kids to get back into school to give the mom a little extra freedom.

I was so blessed to have a mom that didn't see it that way. She found JOY in being a mom. It is what she looked forward to, It is what she planned her day around, we were the center of her world. I can't even tell you the security and love I have as an adult because of a mom that cherished her role and a father that honored his role.

It takes effort, but it is possible for every mother to enjoy what they do. And feel complete! Not needing or aspiring for anything more than the noblest of them all, a MOTHER!