Guest Author - Terrie Lynn Bittner
We often hear it takes a village to raise a family. While we certainly don't approve of turning over the primary responsibility of raising our children to others, most LDS moms are very grateful for the wonderful adult women who come into our children's lives, blessing them, and enriching them. For Mother's Day this year, I'd like to salute the LDS women who help the moms.
I remember sitting in Relief Society one day with a newborn and a toddler who couldn't walk or stand alone. The toddler pulled herself to standing, hanging onto my leg. Immediately the infant began to cry. I tried nervously to figure out how to safely help the toddler to the floor so I could stand up without dropping the baby. To my relief, a sister on the other side of the room noticed my dilemma and crossed the room to take the baby from my arms so I could get up and get both children out of the room. Until I mastered the art of handling two babies at the same time, I relied on other women to help me manage even the simplest of tasks at church. In any ward, you can count on someone to hold your baby or play with your toddler so you can enjoy a lesson or meeting.
Primary is filled with LDS women who bless the lives of mothers. One of the official goals of Primary is to assist parents in teaching the gospel to the children. Our children's lives can be changed when they hear the fervent testimony of a chorister about the doctrines of the song. Children's hearts and self-esteem grow each time their Primary teacher gives them a hug or expresses love for them. The presidency enriches the lives of children when they pray before choosing what to teach the children each month.
The teenaged years are complicated and the church has provided us with a multitude of leaders who can guide and mentor our children. Often at this age, teens will listen to someone outside the family better than they will listen to their own parents, so when a leader reinforces what the parent teaches, the child is more likely to accept the teaching. Our teens have dedicated seminary teachers, many of whom are rising long before dawn to teach a group of sleepy teens, leaders who sacrifice long hours to carry out the demanding youth programs, and Sunday school teachers who brave a room filled with teens instead of attending their own classes.
And then there are women who have no special calling, but who touch the lives of the children in their ward simply by knowing them, loving them, tending them, and spending time with them. Many adults are happy to sit and listen to a child's chatter in the foyer, greet a child by name so she feels a part of a larger ward family, or babysit so parents can get to the temple. Others support moms by sharing their years of experience with the mother, or by being available to reassure the tired and frazzled mom that she is doing a great job.
Some women in a busy mother's ward village have no children of their own; some have grown children and are happy to borrow the little ones of others. Some are simply dedicated women with room in their hearts for children, no matter who they belong to. Whatever their circumstances, we're grateful for every woman who supports mothers in their daunting eternal task.
Happy Mother's Day.
