Why am I doing this?

In reflection of the sour week I had last week, and the frustration I am still feeling now, I remembered something someone told me a few weeks ago.

He said, "I need you to write down what I need to tell you to stay motivated. Or, in other words, why am I doing this? That way I can use your words against you because the way I see it, there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who want to quit, and quitters."

This popped into my head this morning and it made me stop for a minute. This applies to so many things. Why are we doing this? Why is it important? Sometimes we need a reminder. I often think about the selflessness of mothers. We give up our bodies by birthing them, social calendars, and sometimes our sanity in order to provide a good life for our children. We love them. But there are days that the laundry seems never ending, there are dirty dishes AGAIN!, the baby has another stinky diaper, there are Doritos crushed into the carpet and bananas squished into the couch, and though it's dinnertime, you haven't even made it into the shower yet because you were finishing up your kids school project that is due tomorrow. Those are the days I want to throw my hands up in the air and lock myself in my room yelling "I QUIT!" We start to ask ourselves, "Why did I want to do this again?"

Sometimes we need a reminder. Though I prefer the natural reminders like my daughter giving me a big hug and kiss while saying, "Wuv woo mommy!" Maybe on one of our "good days" we should sit down and write down what we need to tell ourselves to stay motivated. Or, in other words, why we are doing this. Here's my list:

• I do this to help my kids now that I am always here for them. That I am here for them now when they are still small, will hopefully be ingrained in their minds when they need help in the future.


• I learn more from my kids some days than what I actually teach them. Though I know that the calling of being a mother is a magnificent one, there are days where I feel more blessed by having them as my children than they are for having me as their mother.


• I am doing this to help provide as safe and comfy place for my children. I want them to WANT to be home. To feel comfortable bringing their friends over for YEARS to come.


• Though the saying is, "A clean home is a happy home" cleaning is not my idea of fun. But I'm setting a good example for my kids. My son will NOT be one of those guys that doesn't know how to cook anything except for Ramen Noodles. And he will know how to do his own laundry.


• More importantly, I do this for the kisses, the hugs, the giggles, the tea parties, the secret clubhouses, the tickle monsters, the snuggles, and piggyback rides. To make sure they KNOW they are loved beyond description.

Maybe I'm the only one that has days like this. But this idea can apply to just about anything we are trying to accomplish. As I have been reminded, sometimes the hardest journeys are the ones with the biggest rewards. What's my reward for countless loads of laundry, daily dish washing, nose wiping, and diaper changing? The adoration of two adorable kids that I have the honor of mothering. And it IS an honor.

So, go write your list so you can use it against yourself on your next "bad" day. I plan on using mine.

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