importance – MamaBlogga

Why Moms Matter on Blog Talk Radio

We’ve been talking about how mothers are important ’round here, and we’re not the only ones. This month, Blog Talk Radio started a new show called Why Moms Matter. As soon as I heard about this show, I had to jump on the chance to get to know more about it (and promptly lose the email several times in spam filters and the haze that is sometimes motherhood!). Danielle Smith, one of the hosts, answered my questions and told me a little more about why they feel moms really do matter:

Why DO moms matter?

Moms matter because they are the soul of their families. They almost always put everyone else first and are willing to take the burnt piece of chicken, the smallest piece of cake, and the least comfy blanket. The forfeit their time, their energy, their sleep for the good of their family. And they do it willingly—not to be a martyr. Every day, Moms do a million ‘ordinary’ things that combine to make them the ‘extraordinary’ people we know and love.

What’s the hardest part for you in convincing individual moms that they matter?

The biggest challenge—moms don’t see anything ‘special’ or ‘unique’ in what they do daily. They certainly know they love their families and they know they would do anything for them, but it is hard to see those traits as ‘extraordinary.’ Most moms feel that they do their job, with love, but recognition makes them slightly embarrassed.

How can mothers support one another and show or remind each other that we all matter?

In the most simple ways—tell them! Or hold a door open for a mom you see struggling with a stroller, smile with understanding at a mom struggling to calm a rowdy 2 year old at the grocery store, offer words of advice and encouragement. You would be amazed how far a ‘I completely understand what you are going through’ will go.

How can fathers & others support moms and show that they know moms matter?

In much the same way mothers support each other. Words of encouragement are priceless. Being married to a man who appreciates the sacrifices you make, the bottoms you wipe, the noses you blow, the Dora you endure—that is priceless.

Sounds like they know what they’re talking about, eh? The new Blog Talk Radio show Why Moms Matter strives to give us moms more of the recognition and love we deserve. The show also highlights an ordinary mom with an extraordinary story every week (with profiles of these moms also available on ExtraordinaryMommy and WhyMomsMatter.com). To nominate a mom (“mominate”?), visit MomFaves.

Hosted by Danielle and Josh and Rebecca Unfried, Why Moms Matter airs Fridays at 12:30 Pacific on Blog Talk Radio. Tune in for the encouragement and support we all need (and be sure to listen to old episodes)!

Being a mother is important

Okay, I know, it’s kind of a “duh.” I mean, without our mothers, where would any of us be? Not here, I’ll tell you that 😉 .

My mother on Rebecca’s birthday

But other than that whole biological necessity thing, mothers are important—and not just to make sure that everyone is fed, rested, at school on time, and not without clean underwear.

In a couple minutes, I found a number of scientific studies confirming just how influential mothers are:

If you, as the mother, are the food buyer and preparer, you controls 72% of all of the food decisions of your children and spouse (Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Sept 2006).
Mothers’ behavior (specifically, treatment of tantrums/frustration in problem solving) has been linked to their children’s problem-solving abilities (Developmental Psychology).
Parents influence teens’ attitudes toward drugs, alcohol and substance abuse quite heavily (Child Development).
Moms even influence whether their teens seek medical care (The Journal of Adolescent Health).
Mothers’ disapproval of teen sex (surprisingly) discourages teen sexual and being close to a 14- or 15-year-old daughter also delays or decreases sexual activity.
This influence against sex, drugs and alcohol lasts through college, especially when parents and children are emotionally close (Journal of Youth and Adolescence).
In fact, mothers have been shown to influence their children’s psychological and physical health through old age—and I mean the kids’ old age, not just ours (The National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development).
Mothers even influence fathers, especially how involved they are early on in their children’s lives.

It’s easy to look around at the mountain of laundry, the mound of dirty dishes, the teenager’s filthy room we told her to clean fifteen times, the full plate of food the toddler refused to eat, and the grade schooler’s last-minute order of three dozen cupcakes for a class party tomorrow and feel like we’re not important—as if we don’t matter. Yes, being a mother does involve a lot—a lot—of grunt work.

stepping_stones But every once in a while, at least, we need to remember that motherhood is more than chores.

Motherhood is eternally important.

Motherhood is important because being a mother means teaching and guiding future generations. We do make a difference—they do understand and internalize the principles we try so hard to teach them—and they will be better for our efforts.

Why do you think being a mother is important?