I've watched all sessions of General Conference but the Saturday afternoon session, so I missed this talk. My friend shared it on Facebook this morning.
Children by Neil L. Andersen
I especially loved this quote:
[Growing] up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood. … Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get.” She then adds: “Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.
I have always struggled with feeling lesser somehow, definitely judged, almost irresponsible, by having 4 kids so close together. It was so nice for me to hear this. It's okay, and it was the way our family was meant to be. It also makes me feel a whole lot better about considering a number 5, crazy as the world (and friends and family and husband!) will think I am. It also made me realize I don't take motherhood seriously enough most of the time. It's like I always have a measuring tape out and get after my kids about things that aren't really all that important. I worry too much about small things and don't appreciate them for who they are right now. I need to work on that, I need to focus more on loving them and not reprimanding them. Feeling loved no matter what is the greatest gift I can give them. It'll be a work in progress my whole life, but I need to make some leaps right now while they're so young and impressionable.
Read. Be strengthened. Enjoy. :)
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9 comments:
A great talk indeed. And I feel particularly grateful that SOMEONE was crazy enough to consider a number 5!
Love it, if anyone "should" have 10 kids, it is you, Dana.
I just wanted to put that out there. IT would be crazy for ME to have 5, not you ;-)
Dana you are an amazing mom...I know it!! And you're not crazy for considering #5...who would want to stop having babies when they're as cute as yours are?!? I don't know about you...but I can't imagine my life without babies in it. It will be sad when we grow out of this wonderful stage of our lives. Life is crazy with little kids but I love it and know someday I'm really going to miss it. Love you Dana!!
I don't think you're crazy for considering #5. In fact, I'll support you in it by considering #16 (grandchildren that is). Anyone else willing to push it to 17? Ultimate goal: > sands of the seashore.
Grandpa
woa, 10 Crystal? Don't wish that on me. I still struggle with feeling like I have quality time with all 4, and cant imagine how it would be with 5. Our first soccer season with 3 has kind of been an eye opener. I guess we will just have to figure out priorities and find a way. Good Post Dana, you do great! I love you.
Jason
from my perspective many years and piano lessons, and soccer games, and recitals, and school programs, and baptisms, and blessings, and birthday parties, and parent teacher conferences...later, it was the best thing i ever could have done with my life. and the most difficult, challenging and introspective time of my life. because of you and the precious 5 others my life is fuller and more wonderful than i ever could have imagined. five will be hard, but i think you will still all fit in your van. but, in 1 1/2 years you will have three children in school, which adds to busy-ness, but less physical demands, more emotional demands, though. you can do it dana, especially if it is what your eternal plan is. i love you, too. (the trying to be a good mom stuff will never end, either. the important thing is that you just keep trying.)
I just listened to this talk on the way to work this morning, what a great sense of peace it brings. I did realize that we have been blessed that the financial impact of having children has never been an issue or even a thought. The only concern has been the ability to devote as much time and love to them as we feel necessary.
Jason
Beautifully said! You are not crazy for all those kiddos so close together. I admire women (and men of course) who do it. In fact, I'm a little envious of those sweet families. That was also my favorite quote from his talk! You're awesome.
You're my hero, Dana. You know I thought you were crazy forgetting married so young. I remember Jason was scared to meet me, since he was the one making you do it. ;-). But it was the absolute beat thing for your life, and it has blessed my life too! Your kids have brought me so much happiness. I'm so grateful I got to know them so well those years you were in Texas and we were in Mexico. If that wasn't part of some plan, I don't know what it was. Now that I have one sweet little baby, I wish I could have 5! I don't think you're at all crazy. You've always known and done what's right. Maybe we can have our next ones together again. Love you!
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