It isn’t chaos because they don’t see the spilled milk, the unwashed dishes, the clothes that have not been folded for days, and the clutter all around the house. All they see is a superhero who comes to their rescue when they hurt themselves, an artist who helps them with art projects, a friend who listens to them when they feel down or feeling under the weather, a die-hard fan during school plays, soccer practices, and ballet performances, an amazing cook who ensures their tummies are full, someone who tries their best to be kind, forgiving, and patient—a mother who means everything to them.

They see you teaching them good values and showing them how to make the right choices. They see you as their safe space. They know that they can explore the world around them, make mistakes, learn, grow, and be loved all the same.

So when they say that you are the best mom in the whole world, soak it up and let it linger for a little while because they mean every single word. For them, you are enough.

It can be hard sometimes to look at the brighter side of things when you’re exhausted, and your patience is dangling by a thread but know that you are not alone in this journey of raising such valiant spirits. The Lord sees your efforts, even the ones that you think aren’t good enough, He hears your silent plea for help when you feel that all your energy has been depleted, He rejoices with you on every little milestone you have with your kids, and perhaps His hands are involved too when you finally get to spend a little time on your own to recuperate.

For Him, you are cut out to be a mother. For Him, giving your best is enough. For Him, you are enough.

There will be disappointments, frustrations, feelings of inadequacy, and heartaches along the way, but there will also be resilience, patience, strength, bravery, compassion, joy, and lots of little moments day after day, reminding you that you’ve done a good job, and that it is worth it. Don’t wish that feeling away. Pat yourself in the back because pulling it together even when it’s hard, makes you enough.

There’s no perfect recipe for motherhood. Please know that grilled sandwich or frozen pizza for dinner is okay, that late drop-offs to school sometimes happen, that it’s okay to be vulnerable with people you trust. You don’t have to have it all together all the time. It’s okay to need help, and seeking help doesn’t mean you’re incompetent, rather it shows that you’re aware that you need a support system. Know that you may not be a perfect mom, but you are enough.

If you look hard enough, you’ll realize that as your kids grow, you also grow. You’ll recognize that this journey, with its highs and lows, is a refining one, full of lessons that only motherhood can teach. You’ll recognize that the hardships of motherhood have prompted defining moments in your faith and trust in the Lord, and that rearing your kids is part of the Lord’s work “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of [His children]”. And perhaps the most important part of it is getting a glimpse of Heavenly Father’s love for us.

So breathe. Take it one day at a time. You are doing remarkable things. You are enough!

The post To All The Mothers Who Feel Inadequate: You Are Enough appeared first on morefaith.ph.

You ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this way? What am I doing this for?” Sometimes you might feel like you’re stuck in a loop of exhaustion, restlessness, and not having enough time for all the things you need to do, or for yourself.

That is normal and almost all mothers feel the same way. It can be exhausting.

However, He chose YOU to nurture the world and His children here on earth. He gave you this divine role and duty to build His Kingdom.

As an expecting mom or a mom of younger babies, you can get tired of all the sleepless nights and exhausting days doing childcare and household chores, among other things. But that exhaustion just bursts into thin air when you see your baby taking his first step, or hearing him say his first word, or just seeing him smile at you. Oh, that overwhelming joy in a new mom’s heart!

As a mom of older kids, you can get exhausted from chores and making sure that they are growing into responsible people and doing good things in their life. You worry if you’ve disciplined them enough or loved them enough, or just simply if you’ve done enough. But when they hand you that ‘I love you’ note out of nowhere, or kiss and hug you, or you see them do well at school, at work, or in life, no amount of hard work or tears can tarnish the happiness that you feel. Every tear will make sense, and even your worries can turn into joy.

You are the one with the power to make the home! You probably make the delicious meals your family enjoys every day. You bear the children that add happiness to the family. You might organize the family’s schedule so everyone and everything is in order. You are the reason why that child jumps up and down with joy upon seeing you. You are the reason why they try their best to make you proud and happy. You are the reason why that child is brave enough to face their fears and be brave because you taught them to do so. You are the reason why your kids leave the house presentable, tidy, and healthy. And believe it or not, you are the reason they always want to come home!

That’s how motherhood is! This divine role from God surely involves a lot of work, pain, and countless sacrifices, but the joy and numerous lessons it brings make everything worth it.

The role of a mother can’t be defined by how many chores she can finish in a day, or how well she can cook, or whether she works or stays at home, but by how willingly she cares for her family, and how she loves them so dearly. No mother is perfect, but you don’t have to be. Christ will lead and guide you in this most important calling, and He can make up the difference for the imperfections and mistakes that we all have.

The leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have taught about the importance Heavenly Father places on mothers, and the trust that He has in you, “Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.”

When you understand the divinity of this role, the difficult responsibilities become lighter as you ask God for guidance and help for each child. You will understand that more than the tasks you need to finish, you are shaping God’s child into what He wants him to be. You are building God’s Kingdom and preparing His children for their divine roles in this life.

The post The Joy And Divinity of Motherhood appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Like most parents, if not all, my parents exercised their informed judgment and authority and didn’t let me walk the wrong path. I didn’t understand their reasons until I was older and wise enough to understand that they knew then what was best for me, and I have them to thank for teaching and guiding me. It’s because of them that I became the person I am today.

One might argue that it’s their responsibility so why should we give them so much credit when it’s our life? Well, would you be okay to receive 80% on a test that you aced or a mediocre performance rating after doing stellar work? I don’t think so.

The truth is, our parents don’t even want the praise because most of the time they think they could have done better, but honestly, we should give them all due credit anyway because most of the time they are giving everything they’ve got as parents.

Here are 2 things so common we sometimes forget they count.

Hard Work. When I was 12, my mother had to leave home suddenly to work in the capital city. I didn’t understand why she had to leave her children for work. Little did I know that it was one of the most difficult choices she had to make for our future. She didn’t like being away from us but she had to make that sacrifice so we could afford to attend the best school in town. Both my parents worked hard, not only to give me and my siblings the necessities of life, but also to make sure we were prepared for the opportunities that life would present us. I am where I am now because they worked hard to make sure that I had what I needed to excel in my endeavors.

What my parents were earning then was enough to sustain our family, but with the economy evolving through the years, I think we all know how far PHP500 can go when buying groceries or paying for tuition these days. Because of that, I know many parents who are working 1-2 side jobs on top of their regular jobs to keep their families afloat. Not to mention the global pandemic which has shaken the economy, forcing businesses to close and let go of their employees. Imagine how a parent would feel at the possibility of losing a job, making things even more difficult.

So the next time you feel like your parents don’t seem to have time for you anymore or love their jobs more than they love you, give them the benefit of the doubt. This is not to invalidate your feelings of wanting to spend more time with your parents, but they could be working hard to keep their jobs or just exhausted from a 15-hour day of hustling. Try to have greater empathy and be open to the possibility that they are doing the best they can under current circumstances.

Give them a glass of cold water when they come home, help prepare meals, wash the dishes, and other chores at home so they can have time to rest and recuperate. Pray for them to have strength for the next day’s work. Expressing your thanks verbally can go a long way, too.

It is also important to recognize that not all of us have parents who work hard for their children. In this case, you can turn to Heavenly Father and rely on His help to direct and guide you through life. Know that in His own ways, He is putting in the work to ensure that your life will be blessed, maybe not with parents worthy of emulation, but with Heavenly Parents who love and care for you beyond comprehension.

Forgiving us seventy times seven. During a day at my sister’s house with her 3 toddlers, I started counting how many times one of them said the words “I’m sorry, mommy.” Long before noon, I had already lost count. Spilled milk, a broken glass, dirty clothes, a messy floor, and fighting over a toy were several reasons my nieces and nephew apologized to my sister.

As we grow older, we make mistakes far greater than spilled milk. And yes, it might require even more than saying “I’m sorry.” Looking back at the mistakes we’ve made in the past, we’ll likely find that they have forgiven us more times than we can count. They have extended compassion and love in their own ways, maybe not in the ways we wanted, but in the best way they know how to let us know that we had been forgiven.

Often we don’t often feel enough gratitude for our parents when they forgive us because it is so common, we don’t even give it much thought. But if we take time to think about how our mistake made them feel, we can understand how much their forgiveness means.

So the next time you think of breaking a house rule, do something beyond reason, or say something out of anger, pause and ask yourself, “Is this something worth hurting their feelings for?”

There are so many other things that our parents are doing that we might not give much thought. But if we take a step back and observe even the little things they do for us and how much effort these things require, we’ll realize that parenting is hard.

My sister once said, “I never really understood how much effort our parents put into raising righteous children until I was raising mine.”

We might not fully understand until we walk in similar shoes but understanding our parents with empathy will help us appreciate their daily efforts more.

The post 2 Things Parents Do Not Receive Due Credit For appeared first on morefaith.ph.

“You look so drained. Stop having children already!”

People see parents around them looking so tired taking care of their children and that is true. Having children takes much of our time and energy but please don’t tell us to stop having children especially if you do not know the whole picture. “Children are an heritage of the Lord…” (Psalm 127:3) The decision to have children is made by husband and wife and the Lord. However sincere our intentions are, we may make parents feel limited and guilty. When people tell us to stop having children, it makes us feel like it’s our children’s fault that we feel and look exhausted. It is so unfair for the little ones. It feels so unfair to us. We want to have children and we are paying the price to have them in our lives. I am sure parents who spend most of their time taking care of their children are happy. They may look tired but that doesn’t mean they do not feel rewarded for their efforts. A word of appreciation can go a long way if we want to help parents who seem to be spread thin. We can compliment their efforts and if they need us to, let us lend a helping hand.

“Stop feeling that way. It’s a matter of choice.”

Thank you for reminding us of our agency but please allow us to be human. We have all the right to feel angry, exhausted, silent, disappointed, elated – and these feelings need to be validated. It is already hard, and enough pressure is put on our shoulders, without thinking that we shouldn’t feel this way. Sister Reyna I. Aburto said, “My dear friends, it can happen to any of us — especially when, as believers in the plan of happiness, we place unnecessary burdens on ourselves by thinking we need to be perfect now. Such thoughts can be overwhelming. Achieving perfection is a process that will take place throughout our mortal life and beyond — and only through the grace of Jesus Christ.”

All of us are fighting battles, whether we can see them or not. Kind words of encouragement are very helpful. However, let us be more sensitive and remember that sometimes a listening ear weighs more than unsolicited advice. We can talk to them and validate their feelings of exhaustion or fear or anger. A simple word of appreciation for the good they do as parents will definitely brighten their day.

“Don’t worry! Everything will be okay.”

We are already worried and everything will not be okay – at least not right away. Things will sometimes – if not most of the time – go wrong. The plans we make will not always come to pass. Things will at times go bad and sometimes bad things will take a turn for the worse. That is part of our mortal journey.  If we worry, that is normal. Please don’t get us wrong. We want things to be okay all the time. Who wouldn’t? But if someone tells us, “Let’s grow through it!” that would make us feel a lot better. Let’s realize that every reason for worry is an avenue for lessons to be learned. We can work hand in hand as parents by asking each other how we can parent better. We may have different circumstances but we have one thing in common – we want to be the best parents for our children. So let’s use that common ground to plant the seed of empathy and compassion and reap the blessings of team work.

There are a lot of reasons why parenthood can be such a Herculean task. That is more so because of the different roles parents need to fill, especially in troubled times. Communication is a vital tool in all relationships. Through proper and sincere communication, walls between people are broken and relationships are strengthened. There are times when, however sincere our intentions are, we sometimes fail to put into the right words what we want to communicate. One thing we can do is to listen. Taking time to listen and to understand someone is an act of charity and when we do listen, we may better console and serve each other.

The post Things You Should Not Say to Troubled Parents appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Here are 4 things that might be causing sibling rivalry in your home:

Jealousy

Children are born with different interests and talents. Some excel in academics, some in arts, sports, or other extra curricular activities. Jealousy arises when the successes of each child are treated differently. Parents must know that children are very sensitive and observant. No matter how small the achievement is, parents must recognize and acknowledge the efforts of each child. It would also be helpful to celebrate the success of one child as the success of all.

Competition

When siblings are good at the same thing, competition may arise and may result in each one asking, “who’s better at it?” Parents have a huge role in helping the children understand that knowing who is better at doing something is not as important as knowing that everyone will be best at it if they work together, and help each other be their best.

Age Difference

Some households may have children who are 4-5 years apart. This age gap may cause some fights because their level of thinking, understanding and priorities are different. This is completely normal. Fights, if not avoided, can become minimal, when parents understand both sides and not blame anyone. It can be helpful if parents counsel the children together and let each child voice his/her concerns. This can clarify misunderstandings and help children understand each other.

Parental Praise

This may sound obvious but, children crave parental attention and praise. Parental praise if not given equally may result in envy and arguments among children. Every child in the house is worthy of praise and attention. If there is any child who needs special attention and care, parents must explain to the other children why.

These are just some of the causes of sibling rivalry. But if parents and children work together, there can be peace and harmony in the household, and the Spirit of the Lord shall dwell therein.

Read more at moronichannel.org

The post 4 Causes of Sibling Rivalry and How To Solve Them appeared first on morefaith.ph.

What does it mean to raise a righteous family in today’s world and society? How do we truly grow a family in truth and righteousness despite the differing opinions and false ideologies that surround us today? When things get hard, we can sometimes ask ourselves “Is it truly possible to raise a righteous eternal family?” The answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!”

In Moses 1:39, the Lord clearly indicated His desire and that is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” However, that does not happen in an instant. The Lord needs the help of the family to bring about this plan. That is why the call for more righteous families who build their foundation on the truths of the gospel has become urgent.

When the “true points of the doctrine” are taught inside the home, the father, mother, and children become more fully equipped to face the challenges of the adversary. One of the greatest anxieties of parents is raising children in today’s toxic world. Can we really raise good children in a morally-challenged world? President Boyd K. Packer (1924 – 2015), a latter-day apostle, offered this comforting advice for everyone: “One thing is very clear: the safest place and the best protection against the moral and spiritual diseases is a stable home and family.”

Nowadays, we can see the power of Satan in full force as he subtly demeans the role of motherhood, belittles the call of being a father, and makes couples believe that they can delay childbirth in favor of seemingly more important pursuits. He knows just how important the family is in Heavenly Father’s great plan and the role that we have to play in combating the false teachings of the adversary. The perception of a traditional righteous family is fading but still exists and is still possible to establish today.

Full article on how to raise righteous family: LDS.net

The post Raising a Righteous Family: It is Possible Today! appeared first on morefaith.ph.