What Greater Calling

is there than being a mom?

I have heard much through the years that a woman who has children has a calling from God to stay at home and raise her children.  This has caused not only joy, but heart-ache at times due to people having preconceived notions about what a mom should do and be.

Aaron & Brian Cross - April 2011

While I applaud those who follow that calling - what about those moms who feel a calling to not only raise their children, but to also work, either full time, part time or anytime?

I am one of those moms who felt she needed, no, make that had to, work.  I found I was a much more productive person.  I don't feel that I short-changed my children or my husband.  My children are productive members of society.  They were raised in church and believe that God is, well, God.  They have learned to be self-sufficient and to rely on others if needed.  They knew they were loved and always will be loved.  They have seen what it is like to balance home life and work - sometimes work took precedence over my time, but never over my love for them.

I have found through the years that while I am working I keep my sanity.  I have always been busy in life - in school I was involved in lots of different things, all while working almost 40 hours a week.  When I graduated, I worked a full time job and a part time job (or two) at a time.  When Mike and I married, he was my life - but I still worked a full time job and a part time job.

When the boys were born, I worked a full time job and make sure the boys were loved and involved.  I did change from working in downtown Houston to working in Conroe - close to home and my sons.  I was involved in their lives, their school, their sports and everything else.  I had a school principal tell me that she wished parents were half as involved as I was.  Yes, my boys were and are my life - but I felt that they had more of me as a working mom than I would have been as a stay at home mom. 

Again, I applaud those women who do decide to stay at home, but please don't assume that those who work don't have a calling to do so as well.  Sometimes moms work out of necessity - but some also work because of their calling.  Either way, it doesn't mean we love our children any less than a stay at home mom - it just means that we show our love in a different way.

Love,
Forever and a Day