What it means to be a MOM
What it means to be a mom is hard to put into a short writing. Mothers are an amazing gift from God to all the children that they touch. Sometimes we think that being a mom means you must have your own children, but that it just not true.
How many of us can remember a special woman or teacher who gave us the love and attention we needed? I could name so many ladies who helped raise me. Women who were either part of our family or close friends with it. I even have a couple of past teachers who have touched my life in a motherly way.
All men know they have no idea what it means to think like a woman. I can confidently say that we don’t even have the capacity to do what women can. I wish I could remember where I heard it, but there was a great word-picture put into my head a long time ago about the difference between men and women. When comparing us to computers, men have one screen open at a time and women have multiple screens going all at the same time! This also explains why they can switch from one subject to another so quickly, while driving men crazy!!
I watched my mom growing up and all she did and went through to keep our house a home. Keeping up with the baseball, basketball, football, and whatever else we could find to join and participate in was a true accomplishment. “Soccer Moms” are Super Moms! Many women work outside the home and then still find time to come home, cook, clean, pickup their kids, help with homework…AND do so much more.
All these years later, I now watch how my mom and all her female friends and family have achieved so much. It brings me great pride to see the tenacity and perseverance shown by every woman and mom out there. I also see this in my own home with my wife who stays home and homeschools our two boys. Teaching is a full-time job and then having to find time to clean and work on personal hobbies is almost more than I can comprehend.
I love watching two women on similar life paths talk about their days. You can see it in their eyes that they “get” one another. They know exactly what the other is going through and it brings a sense of peace to know they aren’t the only ones. God knew that men could raise children, but that they just weren’t made to handle everything women can.
I have so much respect for my wife, Anne. She is constantly homeschooling our two boys and then finds time to have dinner ready when I come home from work. She has clothes washing and drying, the dishwasher going, while at the same time trying to keep two growing boys from tearing up the house. Then when the night calms down and the boys are off to bed, she finds time to pull out her painting business and work on some new projects. I get tired just thinking off all she does! AND…to top it off, she looks amazing at the end of the night after all of that!
Moms are such a magnificent whirlwind of beauty. So many have to be away from their children for long periods of time, while others never seem to get any time away. The ability to nurture at home and be professional in the world is absolutely astonishing!
There are numerous days that I don’t thank my wife and my mom for everything they do and have done for our families. These two women are a couple of the most amazing ladies with whom I have had the opportunity to share my life. I could not end this without mentioning my mother-in-law who is also an amazing woman! After losing her husband to a long fight with cancer, she went back to school, got a degree, entered the workforce for the first time and has done amazingly well! She is one of the loveliest ladies I know.
I am blessed to be able to write this and even more blessed to have gotten to share in the amazing stories of all the women who have come into my life. Thank you, each one of you, for caring for me and showing me unconditional kindness…especially when I did not deserve it!
If you have or know of a special woman in your life please tell her how special she is and what an amazing job she is doing.
And that is what it means to be a mom!
Brad Rhame 