My Roles on Earth

As I write this morning I am hoping that a topic will come to my brain other than the one I know I need to write about. Why you ask? I don’t want to write about this but for the last three weeks I have been putting it off. I need to write about my role on Earth. I know this is my blog and it is about me, but this topic is a little too personal. On the other hand maybe someone out there needs to read my feelings on this topic.

We all have different roles on Earth; mine include (in no certain order) I am a mom, (well that is first) I am a teacher, I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father, I am a leader at school, I am a librarian, I am the first VP for our local Delta Kappa Gamma group, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I am a woman, I am a friend, and I am the director of the after school program. This might seem like a long list but most of us would have more. I am sure that I forgot something but I only listed what I could think of in the amount of time it took me to type.

Why are these roles important? I really don’t know. Some of our roles in life are more important than others. Being a mom is my most important role. I would do anything for my kids and sometimes that is not always a good thing. Teaching is something I love to do. You might think it is easy, but trust me not just anyone could do this job. It is tough and some people that spend 4 years getting that degree find out it was not for them. The friend role is an easy role most of the time, but sometimes especially if things are tough this role might be harder. Being a daughter of a Heavenly Father is something that was natural. We are all children of God, that role to a given but it does come with responsibility.

Today I would like to focus on my primary role a mom. The last few weeks the girls and I have started school and Tyler started college. Monday was tough for me because it was a day I have been excited yet nervous for a long time. Tyler is a grown up in the eyes of the world. He is 18 and can make his own decisions. Yet, he lives at home and has to follow my long list of rules. I am sure all of the kids think I have a long list of rules but they are pretty easy to live by. I wonder if our Father in Heaven thinks that about His rules.

I love my parents and we have a different relationship than we did when I was younger. I am able to make more decisions, but I do go to them for advice. I don’t have to follow the rules I did growing up, but it amazes me when I go “home” that I still ask permission to do certain things. I would say my parents and I are now more at the friendship stage than we were when I was living at home growing up. My kids and I are close; one of the blessings that has happened over the last few years is that I have a close bond with Katie. This did not exist when Jason lived at the home. It did not have to because she had her dad at home full time.

So what is my role as a mom? I need to teach my children wrong from right! I need to teach them that they are also children of God. I need to teach them the importance of work. You need to work hard and not to expect anyone to give you anything. Help is always nice and welcomed but, sitting on your rear is not going to get you anywhere. The importance of money, not that it is important to have, but that you need to spend it wisely and save what you can. The other thing I need to teach my kids is that sometimes it is okay for mommy to come first.

This last part is the hardest thing for me. I do not ever come first like most mothers. I am sure it might be that way for some dads, but I know my mom friends will agree. We will go without shoes if our kids need them. We will wear the same pants for 20 years if it means we can afford to get our kiddos new jeans. However, doing something that I like to do to make me feel better about myself is not a bad thing or a selfish thing. It does become selfish if it takes the place of being a mom. Hopefully, this weekend as I spend it in bed trying to get over this crud my kids will understand that mom loves them, but their wants will have to wait for another weekend so that I can get feeling better.