Catholic Motherhood: 40 Days, 40 Weeks, 40 Years

Becoming a first time Mom has brought about all the standard questions: "How old is she?" "How much did she weigh?" "What's her name?" But the one that strikes me most of all is, "How is Motherhood treating you so far?"

While I had always dreamed of becoming a Mom, I hadn't necessarily thought about what these early days would look like. I always envisioned my children being old enough to communicate and ask questions. I look forward to the days our children ask, "Why?" over and over and over... Especially in regard to Doctrine. ;) My husband, however, still asks me regularly, "So, is Motherhood all you thought it would be?" My answer is invariably, "Yes and no."

"So, is Motherhood all you thought it would be?"

Here's how not:

Our sweet daughter is one who rarely cries. She does not care for having her diaper or clothes changed, nor does she like bath time, but when it comes to asking for food or letting us know that her diaper is, in fact, dirty, she tends to coo or grunt instead of cry. I thought our daughter was going to be a screaming, crying, blubbering mess for at least 6 months, but I was so very wrong!

Now, granted, I'm one of those moms who lets their baby sleep on her chest every night to avoid the midnight screams, but there's something within that choice that I believe gives our daughter a deep sense of security. And isn't that ultimately what Parenthood is all about?

"Isn't [giving our daughter

a deep sense of security] ultimately what Parenthood is all about?"

This little human just spent 40 weeks growing inside of me. I am all she has ever known. My heartbeat calms her. My scent brings her peace. The taste of my breast milk fulfills her.

Isn't that who Jesus Christ is to us? Or, at least, isn't that who He longs to be for us? That we would allow his beating, pierced, Sacred heart to calm us? That we would seek His land flowing with His nourishing milk and sweet, sweet honey?

Jesus spent 40 days in the desert. Moses led the Israelites for 40 years. Both were seeking the Father's will. For the 40 weeks our daughter was growing inside of me, I did my best to follow the Lord's will. Just as Jesus fasted in the desert, I fasted from wine for the duration of my pregnancy. Just as the Israelites followed the cloud by day and the fire by night, I sought any sign the Lord offered to lead me toward Him.

Now, with our daughter's 40 weeks at an end, and the arrival to a world where she currently operates only on instinct, it is up to me and my husband to continue to guide her down a path that leads to holiness. The hope and prayer thereafter would be for her to learn to overcome her worldly instincts, and choose to follow the path of righteousness. While temptations will come her way, it will be up to us, as parents, to continue to be guideposts and examples of what it means to choose God every time.

"...it is up to me and my husband to continue to guide her down a path that leads to holiness."

That is what Catholic Motherhood means to me; what Catholic Parenthood is all about.