Repurposing.....

So...I haven't posted for a while. Really, I've been thinking about this blog a lot. When I started it, I just wanted a place to put my thoughts on this whole thing. As I've gone through the last couple of weeks, I've found myself searching for something to give me a lift. I've searched for articles, blogs, books, anything for the working LDS mom. Not a lot out there. Sad. There are so many of us.

So...while I'm sure the ranting and venting will take place, I am going to make an effort to turn this into something more positive. Great experiences. Supportive comments. Scriptures. Articles. Talks. Anything I can find. Maybe there is another working LDS mommy out there that needs this too.


So...here goes tonight's find.

"As mothers, perhaps our most important responsibility toward our children is to love them, to teach them, and to nurture their spiritual and emotional growth. Fortunately, we do not usually bear that responsibility alone, for the Lord gave that privilege to men and women alike. (See D&C 68:25, 28; Moses 5:12.) This, then, is a first priority.

The temporal welfare of the family is another responsibility that men and women share. From the beginning, women have worked to help support their families. After Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, “Adam began to till the earth, and to have dominion over all the beasts of the field, and to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow, as … the Lord had commanded him. And Eve, also, his wife, did labor with him.” (Moses 5:1; italics added.)"

Jan Underwood Pinborough, “Working Double-Time: The Working Mother’s Dilemma,” Ensign, Mar 1986, 22

I'd never really thought of this before. For thousands of years mothers have worked beside fathers to provide temporally for their children. It's just been relatively recently that the choice to share this role involved the possibility of leaving home for work.

So...Could I stay home and work? I could probably find something. A home-business, teaching music, there would be a couple of options. But, I felt very strongly about seeking the education I did. I prayed about it--a lot. At various times since finishing graduate school I have had those "TaDa!" moments. My education has allowed be to contribute to providing for my family, in ways that would NEVER have been possible otherwise. I'm not talking luxury here; I'm talking the basics.

Are you a mom like that?

Give yourself a high five (or some M & M's)for getting that education...

Do you know a mom like that?

Give her a hug (or some M & M's) and tell her she's awesome.

You can read the whole article here. Give yourself a hug tonight. You're fabulous.

Positivity!!!

I found someone to watch Sweet Angel (1 year old) while I'm working. It was great. The friend who is going to watch her said yes immediately and was so POSITIVE about it. Even more, when I explained to her that I was going back to work, she was excited for me. She was so supportive and had nothing but POSITIVE things to say.

I ran into another friend at church this week. While talking, I told her I was going back to work. She gave me and hug and told me how wonderful it was that I had this degree and job I could use. She was so POSITIVE.

While talking to another friend, making plans for playdates, I mentioned I was going back to work. POSITIVE again!!! She said she knew how much I love what I do and how great it was I had the job opportunity and shift options that I do.

Go back 7 years....I finished grad school, got a job, and 8 months later became a working mommy. Brutus was in grad school and couldn't work, so we chose for me to continue working to support our family. We lived in a ward full of similar families---hubby in school, young kids at home. But the vast majority chose to have mom stay home and lived on student loans. Nothing wrong with that, just not what we felt was best for us.

But, why couldn't they be POSITIVE, too? Or at least be quiet. "Don't you want to be with your kids?" "How can you stand the thought of someone else raising your child?" "I could NEVER be apart from my kids all day--I love them too much" (Umm...so I don't love mine? Is that what you're saying?) And my personal favorite "In my family, we believe in following ALL the teachings of the church, not just those that are convenient. " (I kid you not, someone actually said that to me...several times....)

What a difference a litte positive comment can make......