Little Women

Like my mother, I am the mother of 3 Little Women.
Occasionally, well, more than occasionally, these smaller versions of our complicated adult selves feel the need to practice their womanish-ness on me, their mother.
That doesn't really go over too well.
What MY 3 girls fail to remember or just don't understand is that I came from a household of women. I got this in the bag.
Being a woman takes an incredible ability to nurture, multi-task, organize, and direct (or BOSS). not to mention a big ol' dose of plain ol' grit.
While men can be very focused (or tunnel visioned, however you choose to look at it) individuals, women bear the cross of having to do it all, all at the same time. And even the quiet, reserved woman tends to have strong ideas about what and how to get things done. I'm not that quiet or reserved. I'm not that challenging though either and really wasn't as a child, just ask my mom and sisters. They WOULD tell you I was the mother hen of the 3 girls.
While I certainly appreciate these blossoming abilities in my daughters, I sometimes feel like stomping my foot and screaming "I'M THE MOM, DANGIT!!" Ok, Ok, so sometimes I really do it............
My girls are blessings from above and the burr under my saddle.
They truely believe they know exactly what we should be doing ALL the time. And frequently challenge my "Mommy Knowledge". Sometimes, often too late, I realize I've engaged these forward thrusts of will from my girls and allowed it to continue far to long.
So, lets just slow those wagons down, shall we girls. I AM the Mommy. And I will bring you up in the way you should go. Rod and all.

These testings lately have started me thinking about the amazing abilities women have. We really are quite amazing creatures.
Along with the all of the other "women's work" we must accomplish, setting the tone of the household, really does fall on Mom's shoulders. Some days are easier than other's.
A visiting prophet to a church I attended several years ago, once laid his hand on my head and said, "You are tender in tenacity." Some days I need a little more of one than the other, but for a woman these things must go hand in hand.
I pray the Lord gives me the insight and wisdom, tenderness and tenacity to know how to handle my Little Women and to encourage those gifts He gave them while molding the not-so-desireable traits.
I can understand, in a very small way, how my heavenly Father must feel when I challenge His will for my life. Sometimes I don't mean to, but I do it anyway. I'm glad He's a much more skilled parent than I. Somehow, I just can't imagine He ever stomps His foot and screams at His children. But I bet somedays He wants too ;-)