A Model for Motherhood

Many woman have mothers they look up to and want to emulate. We all need these role models, but I believe that as a Christian Jesus is our model that we should strive to follow. There are many thing about Jesus/ Christianity that I think are important when it comes to motherhood and parenting. The first is love. Good parenting requires that sense of love and well being for our kids. It is the attitude of truly wanting what is best for our kids. Thankfully I think this comes easily for moms. The second thing that I feel is important in raising kids is having the mind of Christ. In Phillipians 2 we read that we should do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, and that we are not to just look out for our own interests (loose paraphrase here;). Obviously the context of this is not about parenting, but I think it is a principle that should be applied to all areas of our life, kids included. This one I think is a little bit hard for us to do. Yes we love our kids to death but sometime our own selfish motives can creep into our parenting. All our discipline, training, and teaching should be for the benefit of the child, not so we can look good as parents. Wether it is wanting our kids to do something a specific way, or wanting more sleep at night for ourselves, etc. etc. I think we must beware of not letting selfish motives creep into our parenting. Believe me I am as guilty as the next, so I have certainly not perfected this! The last thing that I believe is critical in our Christian lives that should flow into our parenting is self sacrifice. Jesus was the ultimate example of self sacrifice and we are called to die daily as well. I think that if we are truly loving and unselfish, self sacrifice should easily flow out of that. Any parent will tell you that raising kids is a sacrifice, and I believe it is essential to view how we raise our kids in light of sacrifice.

A woman is a mother before her child is ever born. Once she is pregnant, she is a mother and the sacrifices begins. This is one reason I spent so much time talking about birth, because i believe it can have a profound impact on mom and baby. Sadly I think it gets neglected when we discuss motherhood, but it is a vital part of motherhood. It is one of the most sacrificial acts a mother performs. I want women to see pregnancy and birth as part of being a mother, not that motherhood starts after birth. I think I have stated my opinions clearly that I believe natural birth is best 1) because God designed women with the ability to birth without medication or intervention ( though I realize it is necessary in some circumstances) and 2) that naturally birth as the most health benefits for baby and mom. But I want this to be about more than that. I want women to be informed about their decisions when it comes to all aspects of motherhood. Prepare for pregnancy, birth, and parenting with the ideas of love, selflessness, and sacrifice in mind, and I think you will find much joy and satisfaction in motherhood.