Mom Advice

This week I received some motherhood advice from a well-meaning friend that really got me thinking...a little bit about what she said, but mainly about my opinions regarding such advice.

It seems when a woman becomes a mother she joins the largest women's organization on earth--the Mom's Club. Suddenly there are millions of caring hands there to catch her child just before she falls backward off a chair. Moms exchange knowing looks when one of their children is throwing a tantrum at the library. There are ladies in the store willing to entertain another mother's baby in the grocery cart while she digs through the diaper bag for a tissue or toy. Members of the Mom's Club don't have to know each other. They don't even have to speak the same language. They all understand that they're in this thing together, and they jump to one another's aide whenever one is in distress.

However, one ground rule was never laid when the Mom's Club was founded thousands of years ago. Perhaps it is the single crack in the foundation of this incredible organization. That rule is that no mother will ever give another mother advice on how to discipline her children unless she is asked. If all members of the Mom's Club could only adopt this fundamental rule, mothers everywhere could live in continual peace and harmony.

Now, don't get me wrong. I myself have never lived by this rule, and have undoubtedly offended several amazing mothers with my lame ideas on how to discipline. But, let's face it, every child is different. Every mother-child relationship is unique, and no form of discipline is absolutely failsafe. Furthermore no one knows a child better than his mother.

I found some counsel given by Elder James E. Faust in 1990 while he was serving in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He said the following:
"I do not know who is wise enough to say what discipline is too harsh or what is too lenient except the parents of the children themselves, who love them most. It is a matter of prayer-ful discernment for the parents. Certainly the overarching and undergirding principle is that the discipline of children must be motivated more by love than by punishment."

Isn't that great counsel! I guess the main thing to remember as mothers and as members of the Mom's Club is that we are all trying to do our best to fulfill the important responsibility with which God has entrusted us. As long as we are motivated by love, and guided by the spirit, we can all be GREAT mothers. We can all pray for guidance when we are unsure how to discipline our kids, and we will be given answers. With that in mind let's all take the approach that we will always be there to support another mother. Let's allow her the space to listen to guidance from her Heavenly Father, and stop trying to give her advice that may not be as helpful as we think.

And as for the advice other mothers give us: we can all take that advice with a grain of salt, judge whether it applies to our child, and move forward with confidence that our children are ours, and we will do what is best for them.

Eden...Camera...Floor...Oh, Oh.

Kids are really hard on things. Eden accidentally pulled my camera from the counter onto the floor. Looks like I won't be taking any pictures until some $$ rolls in. (Big sigh)

Pizza Rolls

Eden has decided she really likes Pizza Rolls...But with only four teeth, she has a little trouble eating them.

Four Generations

Four generations of powerful women: Grandma Barbie, Linda, Eden, and Charlotte.

Edie and Liz

Edie loves her Aunt Liz. This picture was taken
at Grandma and Grandpa's house over Christmas. She's such a ham!