How to Know if You are a Successful Mom

Some days you just need a little pick-me-up as a Mom. For me, it seems like there is an endless number of possible things I could (or should) be doing as a mom. And it seems like there an an infinite number of better ways to be a mom. So often I find that I compare myself to other mom's...and get discouraged. And then those hard days come and it feels like all the efforts you are trying to make just aren't making a difference at all. You make mistakes. You get upset. Kids throw tantrums. Everyone says things they shouldn't.

But...then there is a new day. A new opportunity to love, to apologize, to forgive, to laugh, to try again.

Recently, I read a good section in Preach My Gospel about how to know if you are a successful missionary. Well, I am not a missionary (right now anyway), so I likened this little passage to my current role in life as a mother. So, here is How to Know if You are a Successful Mom adapted from Preach My Gospel: 

"Avoid comparing yourself to other [mothers] and measuring the outward results of your efforts against theirs. Remember that [children] have agency to choose whether to accept your [teaching and guidance]. Your responsibility is to teach [your children] clearly and powerfully so they can make a correct choice. Some may not accept your [teachings] even when they have received a spiritual witness it is true. You will be saddened because you love them and desire their salvation. You should not, however, become discouraged; discouragement will weaken your faith. If you lower your expectations, your effectiveness will decrease, your desire will weaken, and you will have greater difficulty following the Spirit. You can know you have been a successful [mother] when you: 

• Feel the Spirit testify to [your children] through you. 

• Love [your children] and desire their salvation. 

• Obey [the commandments] with exactness [to set an obedient example]. 

• Live so that you can receive and know how to follow the Spirit, who will show you where to go, what to do, and what to say [to your children]. 

• Develop Christlike attributes.

• Work effectively every day, do your best to bring [your children] to Christ, and seek earnestly to learn and improve [as a mother]. 

• Teach and serve other [mothers and families]. 

• Go about doing good and serving [others] at every opportunity. 

When you have done your very best, you may still experience disappointments, but you will not be disappointed in yourself. You can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when you feel the Spirit working through you." Don't you love that? "When you have done your very best, you may still experience disappointments, but you will not be disappointed in yourself." My favorite part, and this can be applied to any role or anything in life:

"You should not, however, become discouraged; discouragement will weaken your faith. If you lower your expectations, your effectiveness will decrease, your desire will weaken, and you will have greater difficulty following the Spirit." 

The most important part of becoming successful at anything is to involve the Savior. Start over frequently. Use the Atonement to give you the strengthening and enabling power to accomplish the work He has for you!

A little picture of my darling Grammie, a truly successful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.