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A small group of friends have decided to do something called a "Mothers Who Know Challenge" based on THIS talk, of the same name, by the General Relief Society (women's organization) President of our Church, Julie B. Beck. 

Every two weeks we take a section from this talk and study it individually, some are even memorizing it.  I keep printed and around the house and try to read it as often as I see it, making notes and pondering its words as I do so.  Then we get together after those weeks are up and discuss what we learned and how we implemented changes from our learning.

Our first section was this one…

Mothers Who Know Are Nurturers

Mothers who know are nurturers. This is their special assignment and role under the plan of happiness. To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Therefore, mothers who know create a climate for spiritual and temporal growth in their homes. Another word for nurturing is homemaking. Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home. Home is where women have the most power and influence; therefore, Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world. Working beside children in homemaking tasks creates opportunities to teach and model qualities children should emulate. Nurturing mothers are knowledgeable, but all the education women attain will avail them nothing if they do not have the skill to make a home that creates a climate for spiritual growth. Growth happens best in a "house of order," and women should pattern their homes after the Lord's house. Nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work. Helping growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role bestowed on women. 

One of the things that I loved was the emphasis on homemaking and order and their impact on the climate of the home.  I often find myself resisting or grumbling about the mundane chores and tasks that are part of my responsibility.  I don't like the monotony!  Or the frequency!  But this study helped me find greater meaning and importance in these seemingly ordinary tasks.  I recognize that they are part of the way I nurture my family.  That by doing them well I can create a climate for growth in my home…which is so important to me.  My friend, Emily, studied the parable of the sower in the New Testament and how it relates to our children.  I loved her thoughts and have spent time pondering on them.

This week we are studying this section…

Mothers Who Know Do Less

Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world's goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord's kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power.

I giggle to myself on this one, as many of you are probably giggling at me also.  This one is hard for me!  I come from the school of thought that says "mothers do MORE", "mothers do EVERYTHING!", "mothers do it ALL!".  I am guilty!  But I am also beginning to recognize the importance of stepping back, spending more time at home, spending more time pondering how to teach, how to help, how to raise my children.  I am trying to choose more carefully.  I am trying to allow LESS of what will not be meaningful and MORE of what will. 

I love this challenge and am grateful for the words of this inspired and righteous woman.

Just last night I was struggling with frustrations in motherhood.  Disappointments and discouragement have plagued me for the last week, as I watch the boys not meet expectations from loving teachers and leaders.  I was wondering if anything I say or do gets through to them.  I felt that they had stopped listening and were sailing off without life vest, paddles or even sails!  I felt that maybe my failures and shortcomings were making it impossible for them to succeed or progress. 

Before bed, I read a talk by another of our Church leaders, President Henry B Eyring.  In it he discusses the importance of teaching…how and what to teach.  It gave me hope that all was not lost.  I was able to recognize some things that I have done right and some things that I can improve on.  I want to be a better teacher…a more inspired teacher for my children. 

So much to learn…

Maybe, just maybe, my kids will survive me as their mother afterall.