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Being Mama

(I took this picture the other night when I was working hard to get those patterns finished. My two babies had fallen asleep on me and I was working one handed at my desk.)

  I heard someone say once, when I was a very new mama, "Do you know what your kids think when they get up in the morning? They think that mama is the one that got up and turned the sunshine on for them." That makes me smile every time I think about it. I have the best job in the world! I get to be mama to these four little souls that God has blessed me with! I'm the one they want when they are tired, hurt, hungry, or sick. They think that I turn the sunshine on for them. This is the most important thing that I will do in my lifetime. Mama is who I was meant to be. I guess I'm just sharing this tonight because lately when I am in public people talk to me like being a mother of four (and adopting) sounds like such a burden. I think that more than anything they say these things out of habit, like it's common belief that children are a burden and if you have more than two the others are seen as accidents. Maybe if enough mamas would talk about how much they enjoy motherhood we could change the common belief...it's just a thought. What if people talked about children like they are blessings whether you have 1 or 14? What if that belief trickled down the generations of our families and children grew up feeling like they were blessings? This has just been a nagging question in my mind lately. Thanks for letting me share friends. :) xo, Sam

Comments

Ginny said…
Children are a blessing, not a burden. I didn't always think so when my two precious girls were growing up, but now that they are both 20-somethings, I look back and know how blessed I was to not only raise them, but to homeschool them as well. God may not choose for all of us to raise just two children (seems to be the magic number now), but He will equip us to raise however many He gives us.
I would do anything to have a fourth baby......and to tell people that I REALLY WANTED it...I did that with my third, as yes people tend to think that you werent meant to go more than two...it was always, oh what does your husband think about it? Well what do you think he thinks??? He was there when my third baby was concieved!!!!!!!!! and delivered and brought home and cared for and every day since.....I wonder why people are so judgemental and why they say children are burdens...I am a mother through and through, I stay at home and love every minute of the journey Im travelling with my family......and I dont think any number of children would ever be enough for me as I will never lose the love of babies and children and all that goes with it....
Unknown said…
First, thank you for sharing this!! What I have found odd lately is my families reaction that we want more kids (we currently have three) they think we are crazy but they came from fairly large families (my mom from 7 dad from 4). And then the general population I hear more then I care for "you have your hands full!" I know it comes from a friendly place but I always want to say nope we are doing just fine and loving the chaos that is a young family! I love being a mama, is it tiring somedays absolutely! Would I love an hour just for me once and awhile Heck yea! But I know these young days are fleeting and one day sooner than I would like they will have grown up, moved and start their own adult life and all I can do is pray I did my best to give them the tools they will need. And then I will have more time on my hands then I will want and long for those chaos days once again!
Meg said…
Amen! I am pregnant with our fourth. Nobody knows yet, but they are always asking if we are done. I just tell them that we love children. We do. What could be better than having a house full of people who love one another?
So true, I'm a mother of 4 and people's jaws drop when I say I would love to have more and, most hurtful, relatives say things such as "but then the ones you already have miss out on their quality time"...and that hurts because the majority of my time is devoted to my children...I go above and beyond for my kids and if my relatives knew me at all they would realise I have all the time in the world for each and every one of them. At the school gates other parents think I am glad the school holidays are over and don't understand why I look at them as if they're the crazy ones! Life would be such a lonely, black and white world without the colour and laughter of children! :)
Emily Monarch said…
Thank you for sharing this. I have been following your blog since right after Claire was born. My third child was born right about the same time, and I always enjoy your perspective. You have such a fantastic attitude. I am going to remember this quote when I feel overwhelmed.
Bonnie said…
I love the "turned on the sunshine" thought! What a beautiful mental picture it produces. I can't imagine life without each one of my very much wanted seven children. What a blessing they have been, and continue to be. We've had some interesting comments over the years ("trying to populate the whole planet by yourselves?") but the majority of people seem to think it's kind of neat.
Really lovely post - I agree, all children whether they're 1 of 1, or 1 of 14 should grow up feeling special. Contrary to most of the other comments on here, I have just one child, and am asked EVERY DAY when (not if) I'm having another. People find it very hard to accept that one may be enough for our family (and I'm sick of trying to justify myself). We feel complete and are thankful for her every day (and though this is our personal choice, some people struggle so hard for a baby, and I feel so fortunate not to be one of them, because these nosy comments could break your heart if that were the case). I would never want my daughter to feel like our family is incomplete because she's not enough. For this reason I would never presume to comment on the size or shape of someone else's family. Each to their own.
Mindy said…
I think being a mother is a very high calling! To be entrusted with a life created in the image of God, what could be more important? It breaks my heart that children are not seen by all as the blessing they are.
andreak said…
Well I just think I like you more and more every time I read a new post. It is an awesome feeling when our kids long to be with us. My youngest is 13 and the oldest is almost 20. I still hold them in my lap from time to time. It is a bond that God creates and I think gives us a small glimpse of how much He loved His son before He gave Him up for us!
kristine said…
As a mama to three toddlers and expecting our fourth next February, we get that a lot. God has so richly blessed us, and we can't imagine our life without our blessings. We are also a family uniquely created by God through birth and adoption and are thankful for other families like yours who show that all families are different and beautiful. Thank you for sharing your thoughts as they are encouraging. I would have to find the article, but was blessed upon reading one about motherhood where every time someone said "you have your hands full" she responded with "yes, and they are full of good things." We try to respond similarly :)
Emily Monarch said…
I was thinking about this post when my middle daughter woke up before the sun this morning. I asked her who turned the sunshine on. She said "I do." I guess she gets a check plus for self confidence.
Laurie said…
The greatest joy of my life was the opportunity to raise my three beautiful children. I always wanted more, but not my husband. I also had to work to keep harmony in the home. Oh what I would do to go back and be a stay at home Mom. I cherish every precious memory I have of those kids, (1 girl, two boys). And, I love being a grandparent. May daughter has a little boy 17 months older than her twin daughters. The girls were born on my birthday and I'm also a twin (Nov. 13). Hold then tight, cherish every minute and before you know it they are grown and on their own. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for that privilege!
Anonymous said…
This could not be more true! We have 7 and people just don't get it. No, all of them weren't "planned", but who cares?! I enjoy my job so much. I get confused hearing things like "better you than me!" (to which I wanna say "I agree!"), or even the nice "you're my hero", which makes me sound like some kind of saint. I'm NOT. I get annoyed, react in ways I shouldn't, I lay in bed for my 5 broken hours of sleep every night exhausted. But I am thankful every minute that I *get* to be these kids' mama. God honored ME with the responsibility of their care. Motherhood has smoothed out my rough edges and made me more like Christ (I have a long way to go!). It's made me able to extend grace to people and in situations I would never have been able to if I had not been a mother to so many, one of whom has special needs. So I'm not seeing the bad in all of this? I see only more love than I ever thought my heart could hold and numerous opportunities every day to bring up children who love God and love others. Call me crazy, but if that's what "boy, you've got your hands full" means, then bring it on!
I agree and I love being a stay at home mom there is nothing better in the world..I'm not going to say its perfect everyday...let me tell you once they get in high school you worry even more....but accidents never they are truly blessing that enrich our lives with joy!
Its refreshing to hear a positive spin instead of negative ones or what do you do all day...watch tv.
good lord who do they think cleans, does the laundry and cooks....things I take pride with a few dust bunnies in the corners...no one likes a perfectionist!
Kathya said…
I have heard that too so many times. I personally would love to have as many as possible and Hubby too BUT he says that because his parents has so many so quickly he left like something was lacking. Attention.
And of course, i understand that. We dont want any of our children to feel less important in any way but then we have to think that in LIFE there will be times were they will be less important to others and how would they cope with it makes me wonder and doubt what is best. I am not going to say that being a mom of 3 children under 4 at age 26 with no family around is easy, BUT... Ohhh my life will make no sense if i didn't have those little ones to make my days more interesting.
BTW... Is that Molly or Maddie?
Thumbsucker? or my eyes are seeing wrong?
if yes, i would like to know how do you think that is going?
Catalina my 5 mo baby girl is a thumbsucker since age 1 month and i am dreading the day i have to talk her out of it because her habit is causing problems.
Chelsea said…
I just found your blog via The Old Fashioned Baby. After poking around for a few minutes, I started picking up your story. All I can say is I'm there too only a few years behind. I have one beautiful son, two in heaven and am hopefully (if I don't miscarry again) going to have another in April. We want such a large family, including some adopted. I'm already getting comments on the way we "keep going". I too think of how full my arms will be in heaven and miss my babies. Thank you for sharing your story. I agree with you, being Mama is the best job! And I'd give up anything for my children, one or 20.
D-lyn said…
I know all about those people... When I am with my 5 children I hear it too. With my newest baby something inside me just bubbled up. I just grin and say isn't it just delicious, children are just Delicious! I feel like I snuck an extra cookie when I hold my baby girl and she is my 4th girl of my 5.
God bless and keep enjoying those precious bundles!
Children was always a blessing and I love kids too. They are like precious for me. Your post was really amazing. Thank you for sharing.



Michelle
what kate wore said…
I guess there is nothing better then killing all our extra time hanging out with kids...
Kids are always kids to the mother no matter how much big they grow and there is no love equal to mothers love ! Nice post by the way
carl can said…
I like your blog,and also like the article,and thank you for provide me so much information :)) krk realty

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