Fellowship...How Sweet the Sound

This morning the kids and I went to a coffee/lunch with some women from church. This is the second one I have been to and it is such a joy to get together with women who have so much in common. And just getting together with other women is satisfying; especially other women who are also mothers (though many of them have grown children) and knowing that they understand. Understand when my baby is climbing on a chair or my daughter spills a glass of water. Understand when my son whines because he is uncomfortable with so many new people around or when my baby throws a piece of cookie on the floor. No dirty looks or deep sighs or eye rolls. It is a comforting feeling being around others who just get it.

That understanding is not common, especially these days when motherhood is not a high calling, when often times it is frowned upon or stated as "just a mother". When being a mother just isn't enough. I think many of us can at least recall a time or two when we, as mothers out and about with our children, have been frowned upon just for being...well...out and about. As though we have the plague and should stay at home until our children are older. Whether it is a stranger at the grocery store giving you the evil eye because your child is overtired and fussing (while they loudly share their current life events on the phone giving everyone within 15 feet an earful) or the librarian (no, not you, Angie!) in the children's section of the library acting like how dare you bring children to this children's section of the library". It's uncomfortable. Because in reality we are doing nothing wrong and have every right to be where everyone else has a right to be. It is just how society has been trained to view mothers and their children.

I can't tell you how many times I wish we could zoom back about 70 years in history, when mothers were valued for the job (yes, it is a real job, one of the most important ones there is) they had. But do not be fooled, because for every five of those eye rolls or sighs you see and hear there is one of those precious gems folded in. You know, those young cashiers who ooh and aah over your gorgeous baby. Or those gentlemen who joke with your kids. Or those wonderful old ladies who stop their stroll through the grocery store to have a chat; no, a real conversation, in the middle of the aisle. The ones who praise your children for being on their best behavior, who stand there and tell you about their days of raising a houseful of young ones and how busy they were but how they were the best days of their life. The ones that tell you to really enjoy these days of having small ones at home because they grow up much too quickly. As they walk away they pat each of your children on the head and continue slowly down the aisle. And you stand there in awe and realise that there are still women who understand.