How to be a good mother? A good mother, oh yes that’s right, how to become a good mother. Well, if you googled either one of those words or somewhat similar then maybe you are not alone (sorry guilty). Yes, you are indeed a good mother even without always realising it (thanks guilt free). During pregnancy read lots about how to become a good mother.
When you were pregnant, what did you expect – a child? Did you think Mother Nature was just so kind to give you this beautiful gift? Or do you see motherhood as somewhat of an odd job for women? Do you sometimes feel a bit depressed when you compare your imagined Mother Nature with the reality of motherhood?
The truth is you are not so different from any woman other than perhaps you have the opportunity and the empathy to give love to your child. And that is what motherhood is all about. Not being a good mom but being a good mother. So many mothers go into motherhood without realising their full potential and that’s why we have the word ‘mum’ in our terminology.
What does it take to be a good mother? To be the kind of mother that teaches her children right from wrong, that values her family and that cares and loves her children more than anything else in the world. Is that something you can achieve? Yes, it is. If you have that you are on your way to motherhood.
However, you cannot expect to do all this whilst remaining a good mom and functioning within society and living amongst friends, siblings and co-workers. In fact, unless you have a big support network, which most of us do not, then you are going to need to make some radical changes in your lifestyle and that means removing any unnecessary luxuries you might possess. Or giving up alcohol and smoking in any form, or perhaps you should start exercising and eating better.
The reason I say this is that the whole premise of motherhood is about taking care of and protecting the life of others. If all you’ve got is a comfortable home and plenty of money to buy your way around, you are not a good mother. You are only a good mother if you have a good husband and healthy kids and plenty of money. But is that really the case?
It would seem so because of all the portrayals on TV and in the media of the evil single mother, most women don’t see a role model for motherhood in these roles. They are either a deadbeat mom or too busy worrying about their own families to take care of others. So what does it take to be a good mom? Being a good mom is about helping others and taking care of children, so that they can grow up to become healthy, happy adults.
Mary Harkler Smith’s newest novel, “The Good Daughters: Advice and Resistance” provides the required backdrop for a new awareness of motherhood and its many faces. The book’s central character, Mary, finds herself on the wrong side of the law when her own daughter is killed in a car crash. But instead of driving to a safe place on the high road, Mary makes the fatal mistake of walking the other way and meets the man who will change her life – and the future of her family – forever. This dark comedy is full of lessons for all women, especially those who have walked the high road, but chose to take a different route.
