Fashion Stories & Dirty Laundry

Today I divide my life into two chapters of memories. The period of time when I was not a mother, and my life after Ravi’s birth in 2005.

I am ‘pre-Mom Christine’, and ‘Mom Christine’.

And although I have many similar traits and interests, there is a through-line in our heart and soul that changes when one becomes a mother.

Last Thanksgiving, we went to a large dinner and afterward, the whole group played games. One game was: each person pulls a card around the table and answers random questions. I forget the name of the game. You probably know it.

My card contained this question: “What is your biggest accomplishment in life?”

I spoke to the whole group from my heart, or at least tried.

I said, “Admittedly, I would have answered this question very differently in my youth and my 20’s than today.”

For now, I am in my Mom Chapter.

As a teenager, all I wanted was to make the Olympic Team, I got closer than most do, but I missed the team.

Then in my 20s, I pursued theater and the arts, fashion and some vanity to an extent. But then became bored with these pursuits. At 25 I was baptized in the Jordan River and that forever set my life on a different path.

I had my son at 35, and so you can figure out that I’m 50 now. Note: I’ve given up hiding my age because there is nothing I can do about it. I can buy tons of creams but I cannot stop the clock – !

So today I answer that question as this: “My biggest accomplishment is and will always be my son, Ravi, and being his mother.”

No gold medal, athletic record or Oscar, or any other accolade would I trade to not be Ravi’s mom. And yes, people can win awards and be great parents. I am not saying they can’t. But for me, being a Mom is my biggest accomplishment and always will be. I have a peace about that.

Today let’s honor all moms. Let’s bring back the joy to Motherhood and the accomplishment that it is. My heart winces when I hear women say, ‘Oh, I’m just a stay at home mom”. As if that is less than! Why do women apologize for ‘just being a mom’?

Let’s meditate upon C. S Lewis’ belief on motherhood:

“Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” 

May we embrace the nobility of Motherhood, today and everyday.

Happy Mother’s Day.

–Christine N. Smith