The Momifesto

I am a mother!

To the world, I am only one person,

but to my children, I am their world. 

I set the rudder on the ship to the future. Though my actions seem small, I have immense influence on eternity. 

Love is spelled T-I-M-E, and so I invest my time in the people I love—purposefully maximizing quality time through quantity time. My capacity to love is unlimited despite my personal limitations. I show and grow my love as I:

• Meet my children’s needs when possible.
• Compassionately accompany them through the needs I cannot meet.
• Teach them to meet their own needs as their capacities grow. 

I am not a superhero, because I do not have superhuman capacities. Nevertheless, I am a hero because, despite my humanness, I shape the lives of my children by intentionally nurturing their bodies and spirits. Through their lives, I contribute to the betterment of society. I am a hero because I bravely face unfamiliar territory every day. In my home, I wield the two-edged sword of mercy and justice! I shield my children from foes, both seen and unseen.

Since repetition is the mother of learning, I embrace it gracefully. The echo of my kind reminders slowly cements behaviors into habits. I patiently laugh, hug, tickle, kiss, sing, snuggle, and pat-on-the-back as many times as needed, for my own sake as well as my children’s. I use praise more than criticism to encourage positive behavior changes. I allow my children to experience consequences and guide them to transform those consequences into positive lessons. More often than not, my example transcends my words. 

“There [is] no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one,” and so I pursue progression rather than perfection. As my children see me struggle, they learn how to manage their mistakes with grace, trusting in gradual growth. We forgive ourselves and each other. I invite them to find hope of salvation by fostering faith in God, in our home and at church.

I practice motherhood like a musician practices an instrument. Regardless of my natural talent (or lack thereof), I seek out the guidance of mentors. I might hit a wrong note sometimes, but I am committed to my craft and keep trying to add harmony to the melody of my children’s lives.

I practice motherhood like a doctor practices medicine. I pledge to provide care that is likely to lead to the best possible outcomes, though there are no guarantees. I might make an incorrect diagnosis sometimes, but I continue my education, seeking out specialists as necessary. I practice preventive medicine, apply bandages, and study out and pray for cures.

I practice motherhood like an athlete practices his sport with his team. My family is my team! We gradually build our self-discipline muscles as we run drills and teach skills, in sunny heat or wintry chills. We win some and we lose some, but we’re gracious either way and focus on the fun. 

I am not alone on the mothering journey. I am worthy of assistance along the way. I ask for it humbly and hopefully and accept it gratefully and regularly. I seek help from people who have a vested interest in my children’s and my well-being: God, my husband, my children’s father, my parents and in-laws, my friends, and my children themselves! Their friends, teachers, coaches, mentors, and pediatrician. Together, we provide protection, nourishment, and rejuvenation for our whole family–including me! 

I choose to sacrifice. Yes, it means giving up something valuable now. Still, I trust that the potential results are more desirable than what I sacrificed. I require some goals to wait their turn, because if you chase two rabbits, you catch neither one. Motherhood gives me far more than it demands, and ultimately, the more I give, the more I have to give. My life is nobly centered on giving life, and I will give it abundantly through God, who gives it to me. 

Motherhood is repetitive, taxing, skillful work. With determination and enthusiasm, I choose to accept my maternal duties, as conscientiously defined in partnership with my husband. I commit my talents and capabilities to this worthy endeavor, optimistic that the world is a better place because of my mothering work. I gain my greatest satisfaction where I put my greatest efforts, knowing that even the best methods work only as well as I do. As my children grow and require less intensive efforts from me, I will dedicate these many skills, refined by motherhood, to the betterment of the wider world.