PRESSURE

Lately I have been feeling pressure.
Pressure about being a mother.
Not in the sense that I am not like other mothers.
I don't care about that.
I have always known that I am happiest only doing what I can handle... being true to myself.
I am feeling pressure about everything I need to teach my children.
It sometimes seems like an overwhelming responsibility.
I need to teach them to be responsible.
I need to teach them to obey.
I need to teach them to be kind.
I need to teach them to become functional with out me helping them all along the way.
I need to teach them about God.
I need to jump start their testimonies.
Not to mention reading, tying shoes, and potting training.  
I need to teach them to be respectable men that work hard, respect women and are honest in all their dealings.
I am feeling pressure and it doesn't help when my son laughs in my face every time I try to discipline.
Seriously.  Laughs in my face.
Then I feel like I am failing him.
That makes me feel pressure.

After one particularly long night of putting Thomas to bed.  I was annoyed to the point of tears.  Daniel told me not to let my emotions get involved.  How can I not?  This is my job.  This is my responsibility.  This is what I do day in and day out.  I love it and want to do my best.  For myself and for my children.  This is why I am feeling pressure.
He mentioned that because this is what I am on earth to do.  That as a woman I have the divine responsibility to bear and raise my children in righteousness.  Maybe Satan is putting that doubt in my mind.  The doubt that I am already failing.  The pressure that I am feeling.  The pressure that my LOVE for them isn't enough.

When I was in Hawaii on one of my frequent Sunday trips to the temple visitors center I watched a video presentation.  I remember one thing that they said and it will forever stay with me.  As parents it is our responsibility to teach our children that they are loved.  That families are forever.  That they are children of God.
Today in response to the pressure that I am feeling.  I am going to focus on the three things I heard in that video.  I will love my children all the more.  I will teach them that they are children of God and that we as a family can be together forever.  I will try not to get discouraged.  I will try not to get overwhelmed.  I will try not to feel pressure but recognize it as a divine responsibility.  Because it is a divine responsibility I can ask for the Lords help.  I can receive personal answers to my questions and worries.  I will do this with Faith because I believe that my divine work as a mother wont go in vain.  I believe that these things I am teaching them will produce a certain outcome and that is why I will continue to do them day in and day out.