This morning, my son Ethan asked James with great sincerity, “Do you like being a dad?”
James belted out, “I LOVE BEING A DAD!”
I love that brief interaction that means so much. When we as parents love what we do, we pass that positive expectation on to our kids. By the grace of God, Ethan will grow up to love being a dad too someday.
So in honors of Mothers Day coming up, here are 10 reasons why I love being a mom.
1. I am needed and valued. If I didn’t exist, three little people around my house would miss me a great deal.
2. I get lots of hugs and kisses. If physical touch is your love language, motherhood is your gig. My youngest Lucy is the big hugger in the family. I must get 20 “HUGGIES!” a day from her, as well as plenty of kisses on my cheeks, forehead, arms, and even hands.
3. I get the amazing privilege of teaching my kids about God. My proudest moments are when my kids tell me, each other, or their friends stories from the Bible in great detail. This morning, Noelle wrote “God is awesome!” on the whiteboard. Too cool.
4. It makes me a better person. When you have three little lives following in your footsteps, you walk more carefully, prayerfully, and intentionally. There’s always so much to learn. Plus you try to eat more vegetables since you’re trying to get them to eat more vegetables.
5. It shows me the loving nature of God. My kids have a very special place in my heart. Amazing to think that God thinks of me in this way too (and even more!). I am His child.
6. It’s hilarious. Every day something happens to make me laugh. The way little Lucy snorts like an elderly person. The silly faces Noelle makes with her big eyes. Ethan’s imitations of comedian Tim Hawkins.
7. It keeps wonder alive. The word “wow” is a wonderful use of three letters.
8. I can guide my children to change the world. Noelle is receiving a character award at school for “justice.” I wonder how she will stick up for the needy when she gets older. Ethan is reading biographies of great people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie Ten Boom, and Gladys Awylward. I truly believe Ethan will become a great person of character, used by God to help others.
9. I’m never lonely. Voices always fill the house. Lucy is singing at the top of her lungs right at this moment, a made up praise song… “Our church is very pretty. We can get through things with Your Spirit…”
10. It fills my life with “I can hardly waits.” The zoo field trip next week. Disneyland. A day at the beach. The kids are always looking forward to something and that gives me bright spots in the calendar too.
Whenever you ever feel overwhelmed with the responsibilities and challenges of being a mom (and who doesn’t), re-read this list again. Pass it along to a friend. Let’s remember the great blessings of being a mom. Happy Mother’s Day, highly privileged one!
