A humble woman prays

When I think about the most important job in the world, a doctor, lawyer, policeman, teacher, and many others come to mind. However C.S. Lewis explained it best.

Moms do much more than keep the home fires burning. They may be the 1st:

Friend

with the new born baby. The baby knows their mother when they get near their Moms. They may remember the smell, heartbeat and sounds that they associate with the first experiences they had before birth. If they are around an adopted, Foster Mom, grandparent or dad who fills both parental roles , then they will learn those new experiences with the one who nurtures them.

Cook

the new born baby associates with food and nourishment. Most babies feed every 2-3 hours or a total of 8-12 feeds in a 24 hour period. We must always include any prep time required for those feedings. The Mom may choose to breastfeed which entails caring for her body which produces the breastmilk. The Mom may choose formula which requires sterilizing, shopping, mixing and measuring the correct mixture for the nourishment of the infant.

Bonding with the new born begins immediately.

Tips for Bonding with your Baby

1. Breastfeed. …
2. Bottle-feed. …
3. Hold your baby, especially skin to skin when you can.
4. Make eye contact with your baby.
5. Respond to your baby when they cry. …
6. Play with your baby.
7. Talk, read, and sing to your baby.

Nurse

~ Moms are watching for any sign that something is wrong with their child. I can’t tell you the number of times I called my Mom asking questions as a first time Mom.

1. He didn’t wake up and it is time for him to eat. What’s wrong?
2. He won’t eat. He just looks at me.
3. He won’t stop crying.
4. Is it Tylenol or aspirin that you can’t give a baby?
5. It looks like his is starting to get a rash. I am the world’s worse mom ever!
6. What is the white stuff in his mouth.
7. He is putting his foot in his mouth.
   • And I apologize to the poor pediatrician’s office even 4 decades later.

Teaching

Moms teach even when they don’t realize that they are teaching. From tummy time, to eye contact, talking, bonding, crawling, walking, talking and that is just the beginning. Moms, along with Dads, install beliefs and ethics, in their children. Habits, likes and dislikes, reading to a baby and then as children, Spiritual beliefs and practices, and so much more. They learn by watching our actions and words.

Unfortunately children also pick up our negative words and biases even when we don’t think they are listening. How many times did a child repeat bad words, dislike for a person or group of people or behave in a way that they should not know?

We will not even touch the homework that parents have to tackle. haha

It takes a village!

Moms/Step Moms/Grandmothers/Aunts/Neighbors/ and all who mother children, young and old.

Do so much for us during our entire life. The work that they have done or are currently doing in the life of their children is so important. Without it there would be no doctors, nurses, teachers, solders, pastors, policemen etc. But always remember that it truly does take a village to raise children.

Moms do so much for their children. Thank you for all of your time, energy, fears, actions, sacrifices, sleepless nights and even the worry you have for your grown children. Being a Mother never stops!

Without you, what would this world be like, I dare to imagine.

Let us pray..

All knowing God, You have wisdom that is too vast to understand. We do know that you created and are in control of all., seen and unseen. We also know that you choose your child Mary to carry your only begotten son and to raise him here on earth. You knew that your Son, coming to walk on this earth, as a baby, needed a Mother to nurture and teach him. He was fully human and fully God. and you trusted Mary to follow your guidance. Amen