What Are The Qualifications For Motherhood?

Am I qualified? This is the question I have been asking myself lately. I am qualified to be a mother? My friend Andrea wrote a blog post about this recently and I could not believe that another mother was wondering the same thing I was. To be honest, I would have never admitted the fact that I was questioning whether or not I am qualified. But her post gave me inspiration on writing my own post.

I have been thinking about this for a while. What qualifications is there that make a person a mom? Is giving birth the only thing you need in order to be a mom? Or is there a difference between being a mom and a mother?  I am a mom. I am a mother.  I question if there is qualifications to motherhood. I carried him for nine months; I gave birth to him; I change his diapers; I make sure he eats his vegetables; I buy him his favorite snacks; I comfort him when he has a nightmare (yes 18 month olds have nightmares). I am there for his sniffles, tummy aches and fevers. I read with him and play with him. I love him unconditionally. The love I feel for my little boy is immense. I would throw myself off of a cliff so he wouldn’t have to feel any sadness.  

Andrea shared in her post a quote from Lysa TerKeurst “God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called”. I have posted this quote on my computer. This quote has made me realize that I just need to depend on Him to be the best mother I can be. He will show me the way. It is up to Him to tell me when it is time to have another child. He qualifies me to be a mother.

Just like Andrea, I too have had numerous meltdowns- more so since my son is getting closer to the terrible twos. Just like Andreas daughter Lila, Liam also hates having his diaper changed, he spills food all over the couches and floor, he screams and throws a fit every time I don’t give him what he wants exactly when he wants it. Yesterday Liam asked me for a cookie. He didn’t really eat his dinner and so I told him that he could not have a cookie until he ate more chicken. He then raised his hand in the air, said “spank” and hit me. Times like that make me question if I am qualified or not. Then I remember “He qualifies the called” and that is all I need to know.

I am the best mother I know how to be. My child is loved, taken care of and cared for like no other. Every child (and yes that means yours, all you soon-to-be mommies out there) will throw a fit, act up in public, scream, make messes and sometimes you will melt down. I remember before I was ever called to be a mother there was a child in the grocery store throwing the biggest fit because his mom would not buy him what he wanted. And I remember telling Donovan “I will NEVER let me kid get away with that. If he was my son I would spank his little but”. Well, I am now that Mom. And spanking isn’t always the answer. Sometimes it just makes them scream and cry even louder.

I love my son to death, and He qualifies the called. If you are a mother you know exactly how I feel. Thank you Andrea for your post!

Are you qualified if you let your son drag his blanket through the mud and water? I think so.