Little kids are funny. If you asked them what they wanted to be when they grow up, their answer would bring a smile to your face- firefighter, doctor, cook, astronaut, princess, veterinarian, and in my case a cowgirl. But how many of those kids would tell you that they want to be a father or mother when they grow up? Prophets have told us that families are essential to the Plan of Salvation. Elder L. Tom Perry said, "In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities." Children bring joy into a household and for this reason, the Latter Day Saint culture is to get married and have children, hence the term 'the more the merrier' right?
I love kids. I love the way the are so pure minded and have the unfailing ability to make me laugh at the silliest of things. I hope to have a family one day too. I hope to reach my happily ever after.. But you know what? A lot of things are left out of that fairytale story phrase! Raising a child is hard work, especially if you have more than one kid. Happily ever after does not mention: sleepless nights, cascades of tears, mountains of diapers, and above all teaching this child everything you know, and hoping that one day he or she will become better than you. I, for one, am a fan of learning and responsibility, which makes the challenge of raising a whole new generation to be quite an exciting enigma. Nevertheless, I know that kids don't stay young forever and in the end once these kids grow up you will be able to look back and realize that you enjoyed every minute of their life. In The Family: A Proclamation To The World, a mother's job is to nurture and rear their children in righteousness, and the father's for assisting and presiding over the family. This is known among Latter Day Saint women, they know that the baton will soon be passed down to their girls. Therefore, the most popular job among the Young Women is - yes, you called it- babysitting! That's right. Temporary, and even recreational! It's an unsaid, unofficial rule and I can attest to it wholeheartedly.
Any woman who says differently was probably blessed with boys instead (teehee just kidding!). It's the perfect setup: sending our girls to watch over others' children to 1. learn what it takes to be a full time mom; and 2. learn that having chit'lens is difficult but so worth it. And it works too! Over the years, I've learned so many things that I wouldn't have otherwise learned if I didn't spend my weekends babysitting. Heck, I'll list some of 'em:
1. I have severely underestimated my own mother. I can see now that everything she has done was for my benefit and she went thankless for years!
2. I cannot say enough times how important teaching the gospel is to your children. The gospel principles asks us to teach our children about sacrifice, selfless service, loving others as Christ did, sitting still a full hour in Sacrament (Seriously this can be a toughie for rambunctious little ones), the power of relying on our loving Heavenly Father through prayer and fasting, and reading the Book of Mormon that gives strength.
3. Children are sent straight from God. And honestly I know it may sound funny, but I personally think that newborns aren't born speaking because they would reveal the secrets of heaven. They are pure for the first eight years of their life! If I was asked to remain innocent for eight years, I would immediately fail, but this makes young kids even more unbelievable.
4. As much as I want to have my own family in the near future, I have learned that I am nowhere near ready for it. I don't have the slightest idea of knowing where to begin teaching a small child. How am I supposed to teach someone to be better than me if I'm not better than myself already? The irony kills me! I should've brought a pad of paper and a pen to each babysitting appointment because it was more like I was the one being taught rather.
And I know I still have a lot to learn, more books to read, and lots of prayers to say before I can become a mother. But still, I can't help being thrilled to have my own family one day!
