The Joy Of Motherhood

When I was younger I used to think it was so unfair that women in the church were expected ONLY to be mothers and housewives. My thinking was, "Why does the church then tell us to get an education if we are expected to do nothing with it! So we get to see all the cool adventures we are missing out on?! How is it fair for men to be allowed to go out and have a fulfilling career and not have to take care of kids 27/7." I most definitely did NOT plan to be one of those silly girls that goes to a Mormon school and meets a boy at 18 and gets married and has kids immediately.  "What fools!" I thought. But, I was wrong. More than I was wrong, I turned out to be just that girl, except I got married at 20. As I grew in my testimony of the gospel and also in years I realized that womanhood and motherhood are not a burden placed upon us, but a blessing. We are asked to do the most incredible thing on earth! We are asked specifically to raise our children strong, independent, happy, and with a testimony of the gospel that will help them withstand peer pressure at all ages. The pressures to think I have to be just like everyone else to be liked and have friends. Sure, in the church women are held to high standards. This however, in my opinion, is not meant for us to feel guilty if we do not reach those standards, yet it is an opportunity to feel that we have goals to set and opportunities to grow. We are given the blessing of knowing that our Heavenly Father thinks so highly of us that we are given these guidelines. Now, I'm not saying that sometimes my faith doesn't waiver, nor am I saying that 24 hours in my 2 room tiny apartment with only a baby to talk to doesn't make me feel like I'm going nuts. I am saying though that, SERIOUSLY I think that being a lawyer is more important than raising a person to be strong in morals and loving towards our brothers and sisters on this earth? A person that know who she is and doesn't need anyone else to tell her, but she is still humble and can see where she can grow herself. I'm grateful for the gospel. For the belief in simple yet profound concepts such as faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In covenants, temple work, family history, kindness. Life isn't perfect, nor, most definitely, am I, But I am certainly trying my best to be my best. I'm grateful for repentance and the atonement. When I feel I can't do it on my own or feeling upset I can turn to Christ and I know he hears me and knows exactly the feelings I am feeling because He felt that before, He felt that exact thing so that He could tell me, Ashley it's going to be okay, we love you. I say all of this because I read an article just now about this non-lds women who liked to read LDS housewife blogs. Apparently, there is a huge following of this sort. And in it the girl says, that LDS blogs are uplifting, but she questions whether these women are truly THAT happy to be wives and mothers. And I answer, yes. Maybe not a constant happiness, but an over all joy. The Scriptures say, Men are that they might have joy. That's what the gospel brings to me in motherhood, being a wife, and in my own personal feelings about life, joy. Not just momentary, flighty happiness, but a contentment and a comfort that this life is bigger than men and I'm being loved and watched over.
Here is the article.

http://www.salon.com/life/internet_culture/index.html?story=/mwt/feature/2011/01/15/feminist_obsessed_with_mormon_blogs