Today's Reading Assignment

Living close to Clare as she anticipates the birth of little Simone, I have been able to vicariously re-live the long past days of my first pregnancy. Certainly I remember the swollen ankles, the heartburn and having to map out the location of every public restroom within five miles. But what I REALLY remember is wishing that Bill could be pregnant for just 24 hours.

Over the years, that desire modified itself according to where I was on life's little timeline. When I had four pre-schoolers I wished that he knew what it was like to be up half the night breastfeeding one baby, changing diapers on an eighteen-month old and trying to shush the others back to sleep.

When Bill was twenty-five he was called to the bishopric. We had a two year old and a newborn baby. He served as either a counselor or bishop most of the time until that two year old graduated from high school. Many Sundays I desperately wished that just once he could know what it was like to get five kids ready for church by himself.

Don't get me wrong--this is not a feminist rant. I fully support the goals and ideals of homemaking and motherhood. And so does Bill...in kind of a vague, pat-on-the-head sort of way.

As wives and mothers we are mostly okay with the tepid appreciation that we normally get. But occasionally, we would really enjoy the BIG GESTURE. I think the problem is not a lack of appreciation, but a lack of understanding. The way that we spend our days is kind of a mystery. They know it involves play groups, trips to Target and the regular use of household appliances, but the details are kind of fuzzy. What they need is some actual, hands-on experience to truly appreciate how indispensable we are.

And, of course, it's a two-way street. In return for a little more appreciation, we might consider changing our default settings from "automatic irritation" to "reasonable human being."

All of these deep thoughts have been motivated by an article in this month's Reader's Digest. It's hilarious and honest. I highly recommend it for everyone. (That includes husbands, if you can somehow trick them into reading it.)

Enjoy:

http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/from-the-guinea-pig-diaries-to-serve-with-love/article156365.html






***Bill would like everyone to know that not only does he know how to refill the liquid soap dispensers, he is more conscientious about it than am I.