Motherhood: An Inside Job
“You can’t be a mother and a high-powered career woman all at the same time.” JRM
Our culture short changes what mothers do. We see it everyday with the stares, repining the plight of motherhood: “What a waste...What does she contribute?”
In a world that pressures woman to perform economically, motherhood is relegated to the sidelines as simple physical care: changing the diaper, wiping the runny nose, making the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Can't such menial tasks be performed by anyone or anything?
Yet, the truth of the matter is that the maternal vocation does the greatest service to our culture, our world. Mothers create relationships with their children, establishing their identity, purpose, and vocation in the world. Mothers create a civilization of life and love at the most significant level of society, the family, actualizing the principle of subsidiarity in the smallest of moments. How can one provide a substitute to such a role, a person?
You can’t pay someone to have a relationship for you.
Motherhood is an inside job of forming hearts, consciences, characters...actors who can change the stage of a world gone awry.
As a husband and father, I'm sincerely grateful for my mother's presence and influence in my life; however, I'm ever more grateful for the mother in my home, my dear wife, who's daily efforts are reflected in the the faces and hearts of our children.
Listen to It Takes a Family to Raise a Village, Jennifer Roback Morse (JRM) for more...
Also see - Women, Work, and Culture
4 comments:
I know I'd prefer to be a full-time mom rather than a work-outside-the-home mom. Being a working mom only works somewhat when you can afford a nanny, cook, and housekeeper...and most importantly, being married.
I know a woman here who is married with one child (so far) at my office who does not have to work but does so. She has a nanny, a housekeeper, and someone to take care of their yard. She works from home when she wants and comes in when she wants because she is the owner's daughter. Not every woman has that. But she is of the mindset that if your not working, your not being productive. She is a product of a Catholic education at St. Agnes in Houston. She said at St. Agnes was empowering for girls. But in all the questions I ask her about the Catholic faith she cannot answer. I pray she has more children to see the beauty of motherhood. Because as you know, you can't serve two masters.
Now, I need to get back work. :)
Anna B.
I've heard more than one Catholic mom say that you can't be a mother and a homeschool teacher at the same time (if you have multiple children, not all of whom are school aged.)
What's your opinion on that?
Yes, you can do both. Parents are the first and primary educators. With homeschooling you are the boss.
Anna B.
Thanks Anna and Steve for your comments.
Anna, like I said, there is immense cultural pressure for women to perform, to produce economically. This woman you refer to seems to be manifesting the behaviors which point back to that. Perhaps “the owner” may be adding to the mix of pressure I mention. Sometimes people feel the cultural pressure from the closest of relations. I empathize. It’s evident that the empowerment of women as we know it today isn’t always so empowering, rather exhausting and dehumanizing. God bless her. She’ll be in our prayers.
Steve, thanks for raising this questions, surely a reason for or topic of another post. However, homeschooling isn’t for everyone. I’ve heard very few moms convey what you say “more than one” has relayed to you. Being a mother and a teacher is one in the same I would say. Mothers are the most intimate of teachers. Certainly homeschooling is a vocation that not all moms are called or drawn to. And I would add that the idea of what homeschooling is (being a teacher apart from mothering) differs from mother to mother to some degree. It’s a bit complex, left to the discernment of each mother. Catholics aren’t obliged to homeschool.
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