I'm a Duck

Many years ago I attended a stake women's conference at which Alex Boyer spoke and sang.  I remember a funny description he gave of an LDS woman.  He said that they are like ducks…yes ducks.  On the surface they look like they are gliding serenely along the water, but underneath the surface they are paddling their little legs like crazy.

Today has been a duck day for me.  Jerry just got off work and took the boys to their basketball game.  He took the girls with him too to give me a break.  I nursed David and put him down for a short nap and now…I am breathing for what feels like the first time today.  I feel like I've been paddling and paddling and paddling to take care of everyone's needs.  I've tried to be "serene" on the surface, but definitely had a few less than serene moments. 
 
When I have days like this it is so good for me to remember this talk from April General Conference in 1997.  Jeffrey R. Holland gave a talk entitled, "Because she is a Mother." 
He really seems to understand what mothers of young children feel…

"…with night feedings and night teethings, often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island."

And he honestly appreciates all that the mothers of this world do.  He also gives us wonderful council as to how to better navigate our awesome responsibilities…

"The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work."

"...may I say to mothers collectively, in the name of the Lord, you are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you. He knows that your giving birth to a child does not immediately propel you into the circle of the omniscient. If you and your husband will strive to love God and live the gospel yourselves; if you will plead for that guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit promised to the faithful; if you will go to the temple to both make and claim the promises of the most sacred covenants a woman or man can make in this world; if you will show others, including your children, the same caring, compassionate, forgiving heart you want heaven to show you; if you try your best to be the best parent you can be, you will have done all that a human being can do and all that God expects you to do."

So when you fall into bed at night, utterly exhausted, just know that you are doing it right!