Teaching Tuesday / Overwhelmed "Moo-ma"

The Overwhelmed little "Moo-ma", Olivia with BB -- Look at the determination on her face! LOL!

Olivia had been so excited about getting her baby calf. When he got here, her excitement and anticipation had a clash with reality! He weighed way more than her, was very determined to get his bottle, and nothing like the version of a baby needing her love and mothering that she had envisioned. Not to mention, it’s a lot of work to fix and then wash bottles 3 times a day.

Trying to fix it so the experience wasn’t a total loss to her, she gave Bossy to me. Then we bought her a much smaller calf. Even though she’s not as intimidated, there’s still struggles. For those that don’t know, calves will butt their bottles just like they do their mama cows trying to get her to let down more milk. BB (her 2nd calf), even though he’s smaller, still knocks the bottle out of her hands sometimes when he butts wanting the milk to flow faster or more. All in all not the cuddly, live babydoll she can mother to her heart's content. She still goes with us and really tries to help, but like I said JOYFUL ANTICIPATION has clashed with REALITY!

In watching her, it came to mind that that’s exactly what so many young mother’s experience! Totally OVERWHELMED with MOTHERHOOD! Because their expectations clash with the responsibility of the reality - this little human is TOTALLY DEPENDENT on me! I am on call 24 hrs. a day/ 7 days a week!!! And it can be physically, emotionally, and mentality exhausting! Not to mention overwhelming! Because the fact is that babies don't come with instructions! LOL!

Unfortunately because of our society dynamics, most young moms now days have no experience with the reality of child care much less training on how caring for this little one is supposed to take place. Most don't come from large families where they would have got to practice on helping to care for younger siblings. Many are thrown into all the attention and hype of a new baby, without a true reality filter of what life with a new baby is truly like. When that happens, just like with Olivia and her calf, you have a jolting clash of excitement and anticipation with REALITY!

Please, don't misunderstand me, I love babies and I believe that EVERY child is a gift from God - a precious, priceless gift! My purpose for pointing these things out is twofold! First, I simply want to offer a suggestion to the Body of Christ. Several years ago, the Lord said to me through an article I read, "Where are the Naomi's, the Ruth's are dying?' Meaning that the older women should be mentoring the younger women! If you older ladies with all your wisdom and experience would reach out to the young moms around you, it would make an amazing difference to them, and to their precious gifts from God. They need our support and encouragement! You don't have to mentor them all - just the ONE in front of you, across the street, or down the hall. Not only will it bless them, but you will be so blessed in return!

Secondly, you younger moms ( and some of us not so young), just look at Olivia's smile of victory!!! All her hard work paid off! Today was the first day that she was actually successful in giving BB his bottle by herself. She is one proud little "moo-ma"! If at 8 years old she can conquer her overwhelmedness, so can you!

I just want to encourage all you moms out there. You may wear a lot of hats, but you will never wear one more important, privileged, or powerful than when you wear your MAMA hat. Your child will get where he sleeps through the night. You will get your toddler potty trained. Your teens sanity will return (usually by the time they are 21 - lol). But seriously, I know it's hard. Motherhood is all about sacrifice! It will truly cost you everything! But having the honor of being chosen to mold another human beings life . . . well, it just don't get any better than that. You're going to make some mistakes. We all do, but God's bigger than our mistakes. He is perfectly God enough to make something beautiful out of our messes. He did mine. Keep crying out to Him for His wisdom and direction. He will gladly answer those prayers. You don't have to do this alone. He never intended for you to be overwhelmed. He is with you and for you in your mothering of His little ones.

#TeachingTuesday #OverwhelmedMooma