What is a Mother?

I asked my children to write down what they think a mother is or does. So, on top of the paper is written "A mother is..." and they proceeded to make a list of things.

K writes:
1. kind and nice
2. cook food and take care
3. loving me and my family
4. moping the floor and swiping (sweeping) the floor.
5. reading the story book to me and my brother.
6. get me ready for school.
7. sayang me, kissing me and hug me.
8. open the door when I back from school.
9. knows how to teach well.

KokoD writes:
1. numb (meaning number 1)
2. cook Bule (barley) for me
3. and read to Me
4. and hug

As you can see, the girl has more needs than the boy. Hahahah. No, she probably can write better that's why. Anyway, it's an interesting activity that serves two purposes:
1. Encourage them to write and to give them writing practice.
2. Helps me to understand what's important to them so I can be better mother.

Interesting to note they did not mention any materialistic thing. There is no mention of mommy buying things for them or sending them to countless enrichment activities. More important are the physical touch, caring and quality time spent together.

This reminds me of a blog post I read recently titled "By Small and Simple Things". She encouraged some children in her church to share with the congregation something about their mother. Similar to my children, they remember the small things like playing together, reading together, personal time together and working around the house together.

Mamas Bag of Tricks.
1. Everyday we try to give the best to our children. Take some time to think if your interpretation of "what is best" is the same as your children's interpretation of "what is important".
2. Don't get too busy that you eliminate or overlook the small but important things.
3. Have you pondered lately what it means to be a mother and do you fulfill that criteria?
4. Are you trying to do too many things? Don't exhaust yourself with other things that you have no more energy left for your children.
5. Take pride in motherhood. It's NOT a 2nd grade job.

Like Chocolate on My Cranium, I too would like to share the following excerpt:

"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." (Julie B. Beck, “Mothers Who Know,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 76–78)

(Clipart courtesy of Kids' Turn Central)