Double Duty

Mother's Day always makes me reflect on the great responsibility and privilege of raising our precious children. As my family pampered me with meals and gifts, I felt my heart swell up with how blessed I am to get to soak them in every day. I adore them.

A dear aunt of mine (who is really Troy's aunt but I claim as my own) wrote some inspiring words about motherhood matters a few years ago. She has five mostly grown children and a whole lot of perspective on mothering. I have often kept her words in the forefront of my mind as I've battled through my own trenches of motherhood.

"As a young mother with children tugging at me and needing my attention, I often longed for the day when I could really “get something done.” Now, those years of caring for little ones are past, and I actually spend most days alone with that coveted time to get things done. 

Yes, now I can shop without having to also load children in and out of car seats along with the groceries. Now I can often bake without having to let others have a turn stirring, and now I sometimes can clean without having to teach others how to stick to an unpleasant job. 

But the irony is that now I probably spend the same amount of time, or more, doing those things. And to be honest, the accomplishments feel just a little hollow at times because I’m not doing double duty. Before, I somehow managed to run the house while nurturing little ones. Without nurturing being the larger portion of my day’s ingredients, somehow at the end of the day my to-do list seems just a little less fulfilling and meaningful. Before, my demands were double but so were my rewards.

May young mothers who are struggling to manage a home and family also manage to recognize the double portion of love, satisfaction, and meaning that is rightfully theirs."

I try to remember these words from a wise mother who was in my shoes whenever I find myself longing for "me time." Doing double duty is no doubt a tough job. But the rewards of soaking up moments with our children are among the greatest. I am trying my best to recognize the double portion of love, satisfaction, and meaning that comes with the noble task of mothering.