From The Director, Kathy Irvin:
April 2007
Mother - I have one, and I am one which makes this topic a tough one. Just take a look at the "Parenting" shelves at your local bookstore and it is clear how well documented "Mothering" is. My thickest file in my desk drawer is labeled "Parenting" and most of the articles are about the female adult in the family. The internet is full of jokes and quotes about mother. Have you seen these from second grade students? *How did God make mothers? Magic, plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
*What ingredients are mothers made of? God made mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab mean.
*What is the difference between Moms and Dads?
Dads are taller and stronger but Moms have all the real power because that is who you have to ask if you want to sleep over at a friends. AND - Moms have magic. They make you feel better without medicine.
*If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be? I would like her to get rid of those invisible eyes in the back of her head.
So how to put into one page what others have written volumes about?
Then last Wednesday, March 14th, I flipped my "Day By Day" Kenilworth Union Church calendar and read, "The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." by Henry Ward Beecher. I do not have enough space here to struggle with what I hope my boys have learned from my heart, but I can easily share what I have learned from my mother in 4 words - Joy in the Journey!
First stop in the journey, find life in the wilderness. I was born in a Minnesota farm town, Blue Earth = wilderness. In one year she had two new identities, Mother and wife of a minister. Growing up I heard about the "adventure" often. But I know it wasn't always easy because I too journeyed to the "wilderness", a small farming community in Missouri, where I gave birth to my first child. So what did I do in the wilderness? I did what I knew my Mom to do. No Christmas pageant at the small Methodist Church, I created one. (My parents sent me the candles for the angels.) I wanted Bible School in the summer, I developed one. You have to understand that I am naturally an introvert, but I had witnessed my mother doing these things my whole life with over the top enthusiasm, so with fear and no little anxiety I stepped into her shoes. Second stop in the Journey, be there for others. My Mom is a MOM. She mothers every one and truly cares for others. As a child this was a huge embarrassment and a big time waster. My Mom seems to know every one and needs to stop and chat with them all. She is a cheerleader. What ever we do, where ever we are, she encourages, supports, cheers us on. She models with her every breath what is truly important in our day to day lives, others. Today my boys and husband tease me when they drop me off at the door of a store for a quick trip in for a needed item. "Hurry up. Don't make too many friends in there." I can't help but smile. She has rubbed off. Third stop in the Journey, be who you are. In other words, don't make yourself over to please others. I believe that my Mom has a strong sense of self. She knows what she likes, what she enjoys and what she won't tolerate. Sure she worries and is anxious about those closest to her - she is a mother. But, she ultimately tries to turn over her "mother worries" to God. And, perhaps that is her greatest gift to me. We are not in control. One much greater than us is walking with us and our children. It is in this letting go and trusting that we find the Joy in the Journey.