Motivating Mother – Julie Clark

It is my honor to have my good friend, Julie Clark, guest post for our Motivating Mother Moment today. I have known Julie for many years and have looked up to her for what seems like forever! She’s always been so beautiful {inside and out}, so kind and a GOOD mom. I remember sitting at her sister’s wedding a few years ago and I was holding her newborn baby while her other kids were running around. I said, “I just LOVE this newborn stage! I think it is my favorite!” and I will always remember what she said to me at that moment. She leaned over and said, “Newborns are so wonderful. But to me – EVERY stage is my favorite.” Not only did she love the cuddles of a newborn, but she found the good in every stage her children were in. She told me her favorite things about each one of her children and why she loves them so much.

Julie changed my perspective of motherhood that day. She helped me realize what blessings children are – whether they are 1 hour old or 80 years old. A mother loves her children ALWAYS – at EVERY stage. Now that I am a mom, I often think of that day and Julie. I couldn’t agree with her more. Now when someone asks me what my favorite stage of Laila has been, I reply, “EVERY stage is my favorite.”

I am so glad that Julie wrote this beautiful article for us today! After going through a recent divorce, she has been an anchor of love, support, kindness, gentleness, faith and hope for not only her family, but for everyone around. I have so much respect and love for single moms – they are incredible women. I love Julie and know that her words will motivate all of you as she has motivated me. Julie is such an example of how to go through trials with faith. Her example has motivated me to be better and I am SO glad that she is our Motivating Mother today.

I introduce you to Julie Clark! Take it away Julie…

I have been a mom for 8 years. I have 4 beautiful children 3 girls and a boy. Jenna is 8, Peyton is 6, Cason is 4, and Chloe is 2. I call my house organized Chaos. I like to have things planned out and know what is going on in the week, month, year and have it on the calendar, but with kids there always seems to be something that pops up that you didn’t expect. It could be they got sick and you have to take them to the doctor and there goes your lunch date with your friend that you had been planning for weeks. Or it is you are about to walk out of the door to see that someone has decided to totally undress themselves (thank you Chloe for always wanting to be naked) when you had just dressed them 10 minutes earlier. My kids have taught me to just go with it – that you have to adjust the plan and not be upset.

As a mother I have come to realize how judgmental I am. Not of others; I am actually quite forgiving of others – I am judgmental of myself. I am constantly comparing myself to all mothers. The mothers who are crafty and make cute bows, home décor, etc., or the mother with the perfectly dressed children with (not a hair out of place) perfectly done hair. Or the mother who seems like she has it all, handsome husband beautiful kids the whole family is always looking perfect and they all seem happy all the time with the perfectly decorated house that is always perfectly clean, and she somehow has time to make homemade healthy meals for her family and look perfect herself. I am envious of you all. I am not crafty, my kids are often a mess, and my life is far from put together or perfect. I am learning that it is OK, in fact it is AWESOME! I have also learned that those same women I am envious of, are looking at someone else and doing the same thing. We are all blessed with special gifts and talents and we are not meant to be perfect or have it all together all the time. How exhausting it is to have it all together all the time, and BORING!

Through HUGE life changes of my own recently I have come to realize that we need to be happy with what we have and where we are in our life. The Lord has blessed us each with our own talents and abilities. He also has blessed us with our own challenges. He blesses us each and every day. Even in the midst of a trial he is blessing us. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a hard day or feel like the world may crash in and I get a special picture from one of my kids, a secret kiss, or one (or four) of them have had a bad dream and I wake up with a bed full of kids all wanting to be close to me. Even on the days you feel like you are failing, look around, I promise your kids still think you are the best mom in the whole UNIVERSE.

I have not been able to be a full time stay-at-home mom for most of the 8 years I have had children, but I will tell you it is my favorite job. It is the hardest most draining, amazing job I have ever had. I thank my Father in Heaven each day for the blessing of my four beautiful spirits in my home and that I was chosen to be their mom. I feel honored that the Lord entrusted me to care for them here on this earth.

So we each need to remember that we are each different and the lord has blessed us with special talents and challenges in our lives. We are no BETTER or LESS than any other mother. We need to find happiness in whatever stage we are in. When I am asked what age has been my favorite I tell people, “every age.” There has been something I love about each age that my kids have been.

 

Motherhood is definitely not all peaches and cream. There are days where I have done nothing, but clean up mess after mess and the kids all have thrown some kind of tantrum that day, and I have gone to school to soccer and dance, and somehow I cannot remember if I brushed my hair that morning and I am still wearing gym clothes from that morning when I either did actually make it to the gym (so gross I have been in my stinky sweaty clothes all day) or I had every intention to go, but life happened – either way I am not feeling pretty. I know those days. They are more frequent then the peaceful days full of laughter and tickle monsters, but I love it just the same.

I am not a perfect mom. I lose my patience and there are many times when a sausage corndog is breakfast or mac and cheese is what’s for dinner. There are moments when I am too tired to fight them and I just give them the sucker to get them to stop and let there be peace for a moment. I am almost always late wherever I am going, no matter how early we set out to leave something always happens or there is a melt down and we are late. After all the kids have gone to bed, I sit on my couch and enjoy the quiet for a moment. But always on my way to bed I go to each of them and kiss them one more time and remember why I wanted to become a mom and am ready to start the madness again. This is my ongoing challenge in my life as a mother. To remember I am good enough even though I am not perfect, and my kids think I am #1 MOM.

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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day!

May 22, 2014 by Danielle Davis | 12 Comments