I'm Just a Mom

I'll never forget the conversation. I was talking with a friend about the activities my kids were doing at the time. As the conversation went on, we talked about each child and what "thing" they were really focused on, really good at at the time. One was enjoying praise dance and obviously had a gift for the movement and choreography. Another loved soccer and was doing well at a variety of sports. Another was a gymnast who had been competing and doing well. And another was a good swimmer, competing on summer swim team.

After we had talked about these things for a while, my friend asked "What are you good at? What's your special 'thing'?" I fumbled through an answer, and the conversation moved on. But I came back to it again and again. I'm not sure how the question was meant- in humor, in criticism, in real curiosity. But it made me think.

You see, I stay at home and homeschool my children. I don't have a job outside of the house, so I've never won an award proclaiming me to be outstanding at my job. I don't have a sport or hobby or creative activity that I'm good at. Most of the time I consider it a good day when I have time to dress and brush my hair. I don't have a career that defines me. I'm not a doctor, lawyer, realtor, nurse, marketer.

The truth is, I'm just a mom.

For years I wiped dirty noses and changed dirty diapers and cleaned and dressed little children. I nursed them and then fed them. I walked around carrying them against me in a sling because I wanted them to feel my closeness and grow up confident.

I was just a mom.

As they grew, I started teaching them- letters, numbers, rhymes, Bible verses. We read books over and over and over again. We played learning games that helped to teach letters and their sounds. I juggled teaching children to read while chasing a toddler and carrying a baby. I so wanted to instill in them a love for learning while they were young and impressionable.

I was just a mom.

When they were a little older, I signed them up for sports. We went on field trip after field trip with various homeschool groups. Often I came home exhausted from chasing four children eight and under around an apple orchard or a science museum. I wanted to give them opportunities to interact with others in a controlled environment, with me nearby to watch and teach and support and love.

I was just a mom.

As they all moved into the elementary and middle school years, life became extremely busy. Four children involved in four- or more- different activities sometimes felt like chaos. Each began to show talent and skill in different areas. And so we picked activities that would help them to develop those talents and skills. Life became a series of driving to various places, squeezing in homeschooling, cooking, and cleaning in the between times. I longed to give them the opportunity to try different things so that each child could discover the talents God gave him or her and find ways to use those talents to serve Him.

I was just a mom.

And now I have teenagers. Life these days consists of homeschooling to prepare kids to graduate- filling out transcripts, choosing required classes. I also have rising middle schoolers and I'm enjoying every moment of homeschooling together before they begin to work more independently like my older kids. In the midst of this is also taxiing kids around. Driving kids to work, to dance, to co-op classes, to social activities- "home"school is a misnomer, because we spend half of our days in the car ,driving someone to an activity. My goal is to provide opportunities for them to learn and do the things that will prepare them to do whatever God calls them to do.

You see, I'm still just a mom.

I'm in my 40s now, and my youngest child is ten. I still don't have a career that defines me. I haven't won any awards or received accolades for great achievements. I do have a little more time for hobbies now. I love to write and read good books and color. But I'm not really outstanding in any of these.

I'm just a mom.

I wouldn't trade a single moment of being a homeschool mom for any reward or honor or skill or talent. I answered God's call to stay at home and homeschool my children. I've loved them and taught them and prepared them. I've cried with and for them. I've prayed. Often. I have no regrets. I have a high calling.

I am a mom.

“You are as much serving God in looking after your own children, and training them up in God’s fear, and minding the house, and making your household a church for God, as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of hosts.” ~C.H. Spurgeon

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