"Just a Mom"

I am a new contributor to this blog & for the past few weeks, I’ve been debating on what I could add to what others have already written. I finally decided to tell you about my favorite job in the entire world.

For those of you who don’t know me, I work part time as the weekend morning meteorologist for the local CBS affiliate in Salt Lake City. It’s a pretty fun little gig…but that’s not the job I’m talking about. The job I’m talking about is being just a mom. Why do I say “just a mom”? Because most the time, when I’m introduced to someone, something is usually said like, “This is Lindsay Storrs. She does the weather on Channel 2 on the weekends. Pretty cool, huh? And, then during the week, she is just a mom”. I’ve even caught myself saying "I’m just a mom" a time or two.

I think a lot of women who are “stay-at-home moms” (a term I hate by the way…what stay-at-home mom actually stays at home?) find themselves saying they are just moms. Why do we say that? What we should really say is “I’m a maid, chef, nanny, chauffeur, teacher, personal shopper, party planner, homework tutor, hair stylist, therapist, garbage collector, landscaper, computer technician, sports coach, personal assistant, fashion consultant, carpet cleaner, time manager, dry cleaning specialist, first responder & cheerleader…oh, and I specialize in getting gum out of DVD players with only a blow drier & a paperclip!”

We need to stop minimizing our role as mothers. We need to recognize the effect we can have on this world by being good mothers. Heber J. Grant said, “I stand here today as the president of the Church because I have followed the advice and counsel and the burning testimony of the divinity of the work of God, which came to me from my mother.” We need to stop looking at our careers (because that’s really what motherhood is) as just moms and start looking at it as being the CEO of our families, because that’s truly what we are!

Most jobs don’t give a whole lot back…other than a paycheck. I’m sure someday (sooner than I’d probably like), I will get a few wrinkles around my eyes & get a little pudgy around my waistline…and then I’ll be “let go” from my job because the station wants to “go in a new direction”. But, I will NEVER be “let go” from my job as a mother. It may not be the easiest job in the world, but it’s a job that continues to give back to its employee…with slobbery kisses, tight hugs, funny Mothers Day presents & sweet little smiles…and maybe (if we’re lucky) a “thank you” now and again. And, it has an excellent pension plan (a.k.a. grandchildren).