The 3 G's

I have figured it out .  . .

 

How to handle everyday moments of motherhood,

while being screamed at by an almost 8 year old,

with a quiet, soft and happy disposition.

 

I sincerely do not want my children to remember their mother as one who resembled the wicked witch, nor do I like myself when I am flying around on my broomstick. So, ever since I wrote the post awhile ago on my experience with motherhood my thoughts have been consumed with how to fix change my situation.  I can't change my kiddos, trust me I have tried and it is an uphill battle that is easily lost.  So that means I must change me, the mother!

 

In all my searching for the magic potion to change things around here I stumbled upon three key ingredients, the 3 G's.  They are not new ingredients, nor are they unfamiliar ones.  But I am learning that when mixed together in just the right way and at just the right time, miracles can occur.

 

The first ingredient is GRACE.  I stumbled upon this one as I was preparing a lesson for my Beehive class (the class of 12 & 13 year old girls that I teach each Sunday at church).  The light bulb clicked when I read the following in the LDS Bible Dictionary:

 

"It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means."

 

Feel free to read that again; I had to, to fully grasp what was being taught. This was my answer, this is what I needed, and so desperately wanted!   I needed the Savior's grace to work in my life.  Motherhood, surely is considered "good works" and doing it on my own clearly was not working. 

 

I stumbled upon the next ingredient while listening to a talk given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, in the most recent general conference: GRATITUDE.  While listening to the talk, the Spirit whispered to me, "Say thank you for your children when you pray."  That may seem odd to some because as a mom aren't we constantly praying for our children.  But I realized that in my prayers I have focused on the "please bless" when it came to my children and very rarely said, "thank thee for . . ."  This was especially true for the ones that have given me the most grey hairs.  Over the next several weeks my prayers where short but specific; finding at least one reason that day to be thankful for each child.  Some days I felt I it was an exercise in the "fake it 'til you make it method", but if I searched my mind and heart long enough I could always find at least one positive for the day.

The final ingredient may seem a little odd, it's GARDENING.  Did you know there are great lessons to be learned in the garden?  Motherhood is all about nurturing. And what better place to learn how to nurture than by taking care of tender young vegetable plants.  If my little plants aren't growing like I would have hoped I don't yank them out of the dirt and throw them away, but instead work hard to determine if they have the right amount of water, sunlight and nutrients.  And then provide them with the needed element, patiently waiting to see how they respond.  Gardening is all about being gentle and patient.  Hmmm!  I realized that if I approached nurturing my kiddos like I do my young vegetable plants things would be different.  Not to mention I just feel better after getting outside in the fresh air and beautiful sunshine.

 

I have found my magic potion:

(GRACE + GRATITUDE + GARDENING) mixed daily = a happier and kinder Momma!