Mothers are more like a pitcher than they are like a well. A well stirs up the vision of a never-ending supply of water. One goes to the well and with little effort, the well provides life-sustaining water to all that come seeking it. A pitcher, whether simple or ornate, can only pour out a limited amount of water. That source of nourishment is supplied from a source outside of itself. A well is self-reliant. A pitcher relies on refilling for its usefulness. Mothers need of constant refilling as they continually fill others with their outpouring.
To preserve the time required of mothering it is vital to effectively establish boundaries around one's time. Demands of a mother are as countless as the hours. Cook, maid, teacher, doctor, mediator, comforter, provider, and referee are naming only a few of the roles of a mother. The ability to say no to the things that are not top priority is guarding the time for the things that are.
Happy Mother's Day Mom!
Waiting on the porch on Mother's Day 2007
Young Woman Mother with Daughter GirlRecognizing that we, as mothers, cannot be superwoman is to begin to organize our lives to reflect our priorities. It is said that where one spends their time is where one's true priorities lay. School committees, church functions, and community volunteering need to be carefully balanced to provide the woman adequate time to be a mother. There will always be a cause or need that has to be filled. A wise mother practices a careful balance between managing her home life and the pulls of the outside world.
Mothers that are a source of enrichment to others must acquire external stimulation for themselves. Mothers are constantly enriching the lives of those around them through activities, adventures, and stimulus. A misconception is that learning stops at a certain point in life. One cannot give what they themselves do not have. Each of us posses the ability, if not the responsibility, to stretch and deepen our understanding throughout our lives. There are several avenues one can enrich their own lives that work into most time and financial budgets. Joining a book club, taking up a walking regiment, beginning a new hobby, or returning to school are several different paths mothers can take to enrich their lives. By engaging in activities that ameliorate mothers can be an example to their off spring.
Finding a regular time to be in solitude cultivates inner peace and harmony that extends to those nurtured by mothers. There are few quite places in a mother's world. Mothers are often found retreating to the bathroom to find momentary solitude only to be bombarded with children knocking at the outer door of the sanctuary. Solitude can take shape in a daily walk, a quite bedroom corner, or simply retreating away from the family for a period of time. When moments of silence are found it give one the chance to process, reflect, and come to a better understanding of oneself and their life. The benefit of simply sitting in solitude gives a much-needed rest to a mother's weary soul.
Mothers have a humble and rewarding job. It is a source of great joy and frustration for many of us in the field of mothering. To come fully prepared we must tend to ourselves mind, body and spirit so that we can be all that we are intended to be in our children's lives. Our pitchers may be small but when they are filled, they are mighty.
Anticipation: A baseball player making a pitch pre...
Queen Wilhelmina & Juliana
Mother & The Commonweal