Motherhood May Have Ruined Your Resume (but Not Your Influence)

Adelade and I watched a baby giraffe come into the world via a live feed from the Dallas Zoo.  We sat on our couch and struggled right along with that long, tall mama as she worked to help her (big) little one greet the world. We cheered when the spindly legs appeared, and we gasped when the baby dropped six feet to the ground, worn out and bewildered by this new world that she had suddenly encountered.

Since that day, we have had several talks about birthing babies and just how incredible women are.  At one point, Adelade had a sudden revelation, and she half-jokingly exclaimed, What is the DEAL with that?  We’ve never even had a woman president, and WOMEN are the ones MAKING PEOPLE! 

I laughed and wondered what such a smart and aware and in tune girl might accomplish someday. God has all kinds of roles for women like her, and sometimes one of those roles is motherhood.  Smart, talented, sensitive, and with it women make great mothers. And, I hope that someday, when she is faced with a decision like Should I run for president? she won’t be fooled into believing that answering yes is the only way to be accomplished. 

Some of the most accomplished women I know spend their days sorting laundry and packing lunches and changing diapers. They do this not because they can’t accomplish anything else.  No, they do it because they choose to apply their smarts and their awareness in the context of their home and their family.

I pray that Adelade will grow to understand that.

Women really are incredible people.  I have no doubt that one of us will make a stellar president someday. But, let’s never underestimate the influence of women who are doing the work of raising children, all day, every day. Their resumes may be sparse, but their work will outlive them by generations.

Womanhood is a broad and varied landscape. There is room for the mamas, for the CEOs, and for the seamstresses.  One day there will be room for the presidents. Whatever path God leads Adelade down, I pray that she will live in awe of motherhood.  After all, we make people.  And, while God rules the world, in many ways He uses the hand that rocks the cradle to do so.