Eucharistic Motherhood: hibernation

Monday, February 28, 2011

hibernation

   In homeschool today, we read about the hibernation of bears.
   Maybe that is why my kids are absent-minded to a ludicrous degree these days--maybe they are in a wintry hibernation brain state. Broken glass ever day; CHRONIC but innocent disobedience or lack of follow-through; failure to get through any given math problem if it has more than one step; lots of blank stares. Maybe my homeschool is failing. Maybe they are going to be ruined for life--if they do not complete the grade they are in well, then that will have a domino effect through their whole lives. Maybe I should look into other schools. Maybe they should be punished more. Maybe I am a horrible mother. Or maybe they are horrible children.
   All of this was put to rest when I read about the hibernating bears. "Thank goodness! An explanation!"
   I suggested this, with great relief, to my kids.
   Mary looked up and said, "But Mom, we're not bears."

1 comment:

AlexieMarch 1, 2011 at 6:26 AM
How I love this post! I think every mother asks herself those questions at least once a day. I know I do.
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About Me

Born in Texas, raised in NYC, I earned my Ph.D. in philosophy and married a gorgeous theology student who rides a motorcycle and looks like James Dean. We now have six kids, are based in Irving near the University of Dallas where my husband teaches theology and where I sometimes teach philosophy. We currently live in the Castelli Romani, just outside of Rome, Italy. In addition to teaching some semesters and raising our 6 wonderful children, I am studying theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Passionate about the vocation of motherhood, I founded a Catholic mother's ministry, Mighty Is Her Call. Our retreats and blog can be explored here: https://mightyishercall.com.

My book, Motherhood: An Extraordinary Vocation was released August 2021.

What's Special about Motherhood?

Motherhood is patterned on the life of Christ, particularly the Eucharist, in a way that no other vocation is. Some mothers shed blood for their children in childbirth--just as Christ shed his blood for us, a gift we celebrate in the Eucharist. Some mothers nourish children with their own bodies--just as Christ nourishes us with his body in the Eucharist. Mothers give themselves up in countless ways for their children--just as Christ gave himself up for us: "This is my body, given up for you." Every aspect of our day, from feeding our children, to cleaning up their messes, to disciplining them, to listening attentively to them, to hugging them, to laughing with them, to cherishing them, reflects the ways Christ gives himself to us. Motherhood is a role fashioned in the image of Christ, more so than perhaps any other vocation. It is singularly close to and reflective of the Heart of Christ.