Why I Enjoy Being a Mom
April 20, 2011
I am fairly certain that the role of a mother is likely the most underappreciated job in the world… it is certainly the most underpaid! We are CEO’s, CFO’s, ops managers, project managers, master chefs, chauffeurs, doctors, janitors, referees, judges, etc… all wrapped up into one!
Like each of you, we have our days… those in which we wonder if we can possibly make it to bedtime with one ounce of sanity left! Squabbles, messy rooms, bikes left in driveways, lights left on, open doors, and negotiations on dinner consumption litter our days as well.
{Interestingly enough, our main punishment for our girls is much different than most. It does not consist of grounding from priveleges, extended timeouts, or corporal punishment… all I do is tell them that I may not have time to do their hair the next morning! You would have thought that I told her that we were leaving her home alone from a family trip to Disneyworld! She panics at first, and then… she quickly turns to her absolute best behavior!}
I see life a lot like I see a chocolate chip cookie… yes, a cookie! It consists of a huge mass of dough sprinkled sporadically with absolutely yummy chocolate chips. The dough, of course, represents the boring part of daily life, the mundane, problems, while the chocolate chips are the absolute joyous moments that make the rest all worth it.
Now, elaborating further, I believe the yumminess factor of the dough itself is directly correlated to the amount of chocolate chips throughout. The fewer the chocolate chips, the less “calorie-worthy” the cookie becomes… the more the chocolate, the better the whole cookie tastes and I justify eating a few more! {Hi, my name is Mindy, and I am a Chocoholic!}
I think a lot of times our judgement on the “deliciousness” of the cookie itself is limited by our own perspective. Meaning, a lot of chocolate chips are present… but that we often allow the dull flavor of the dough to overrun the amazing chocolate chips! I mean, who in their right mind would ever allow that to happen??? Ladies, it happens!
What are those chocolate moments in the day? They are the unsolicited “love you’s”, hugs, and kisses from our children. The suprise breakfasts in bed, hand-drawn cards/drawings, and the snuggles. They are the simple toothless smiles, giggles, and angelic profiles as they sleep. Yes, it is even the tiny handprints on the windows that you notice when the children are at school! Because one day… they will be gone!
Over the weekend, I had the cutest chocolate chip moment happen to me. {I mentioned it while we were filming yesterday our Egg Tails hairstyle, so you can hear it there.}
Now, as you are all aware, we just adopted our #6 child and all of them are very good children and well intentioned. But, there are still six children! A lot of times, it is more the scheduling along with my other commitments that gets to me.
On Saturday, after a week of Spring Break, I was not feeling well and my two youngest had the flu. My hubby was doing his best to back me up, but it all seemed a bit much for us to endure on what should be an enjoyable weekend. The kids seemed to be in my hair all week, begging, etc… so Saturday morning was one of those moments when I was shouting in my head… I am underpaid as a mom!
So, my #3 daughter (age eight) received her Highlight’s magazine in the mail that day and she began reading it. After about 15 minutes, she grabbed an empty Kleenex box, some paper supplies, markers, and foam stickers and ran up to her room. In the process, my #4 daughter (age 6) saw her and followed her into the room and together they locked the door. They were up there together for a good solid hour or so, giggling and laughing which is normally a good indicator that they are up to absolutely no good and making a huge mess!
When they were finished, they opened their bedroom door and ran down the stairs to the family room where I was feeding the baby. They told me that they had a surprise for me. They pulled this wonderful gift from behind them and presented it to me, both of them just as proud as could be (they had even opened a full pack of pencils and sharpened them just so that I knew for sure that it was a pencil holder!)…
It was such a tender moment, and something that I wished I had caught on video for all of you. It made my eyes well up with tears as I read the scribbled text “World’s Best Mom“.
I am so proud of this little gift, and my heart swells at its tiny imperfections. I placed it in the kitchen where I can see it every day! This little chocolate chip, so to speak, made the whole mundane, doughy week well worth it!
When I take a step back, I notice more how often these joyous moments occur. I feel a responsibility to cherish and remember them. I love each of my children tremendously, and I absolutely LOVE being a mom!
Ladies, it is all about the chocolate chips… right? Let’s make a concerted choice today to… “Choose the Chocolate Chips!”
Happy Hairdoing!
* Note from Mindy: Don’t forget to follow us on BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader!
*Note from Mindy: Feel free to read here for a wonderful article on Motherhood!
that is so sweet it made me tear up! Yes the days can be super long with my crazy 3 daughters and I feel like I never get a break (well I kind of dont I am a widow) but anyway those amazing moments when someones draws a loving picture just for me, or you get a hug with “you’re the best mommy ever” for no reason those are so so amazing and I do cherish them
you have a beautiful family thank you for sharing this blog and your videos I just love them.
Beautifully written and expressed! I too, indulge, in my chocolate chip moments on a regular basis!
This was absolutely wonderful to read! You have a way with words that draw the perfect picture in ones mind. You are an inspiration to me. We have four kids, 2 girls and 2 boys. They are a handful! I don’t get much myself from my kids, but when I do, its the “I love you mom!” notes written on school paper.
Sometimes it comes after a hard day with that child, or because they are sorry for something, or I’m not feeling good so they want to make me feel better. No matter what, it seems to be the perfect timing. In reading your piece, I swelled up with tears, as I pictured those sweet little faces of yours doing this, and then mine. 
The analogy of the chocolate chip cookie was wonderful with this story! Thank you, thank you!
my chocolate chip moment was this morning…which was total chaos…in addition to making all 25 goody bags for my daughter’s preschool easter party and then making chocolate dipped strawberries for her teachers…then getting my 11-month out the door to the doctor’s…and everything needed to be done for easter….ready to pull out my hair…
took my daughter to school and watched how proud she was of the gifts i made for her teachers and hearing her say how beautiful they were and that her mommy made them…never thought a 4 year-old would notice, but made my day so much brighter to hear and see that moment
WELL SAID Mindy!! I needed to read this today, it has been a very “doughy” day so far. You are such a great mom and you have amazing children!
Thanks! I am having a doughy week, I needed a reminder of why I need to find some patience even if I have to dig deep. I wish I new how you moms of many do it.
Yes our children are the chocolate chips of our cookies. I have a toddler and she just drives me bonkers and a 6 month old son but those little precious moments just make everything worth while.. It’s just hard to always remember those chocolate chip cuz the dough can over run the cookie
Good post – I love those moments too
Funny though – my favorite part of the cookie dough is the dough – the less chocolate chips the better… 
Mindy, Thanks for writing that! Ironically, at this very moment we are pulling chocolate chip cookies out of the oven. (I too am a chocoholic!) What a great analogy! Though we are underpaid as mothers, each of those “chocolate chip moments” are worth way more than any $ – when we choose to find them! Thanks again. Our daughter loves your site and we choose a new “doo” each morning! You guys do a great job!
Thank you….oh thank YOU for this post. You are so beautiful and inspiring.
Thank you for sharing this!!!! I have been looking for the “Daughters of God” talk from Elder Ballard but couldn’t remember who gave it or when (I knew it was a few years ago). I REALLY needed to read your post today and the talk by Elder Ballard….an answer to my prayers! THANK YOU!
Thank you for the inspirational post. I have journals for each of my children that I will give them on their wedding day. I write all my “chocolate chip moments” in them. I tell them how proud I am to be their mother and how amazing it is to be a part of thier lives and how much they have enriched my life. Being their mother is the best job I’ve ever had and although your right we never get paid in cash I believe we get paid in “chocolate chips!”
OOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGG MMIINNDDYY THAT WAS SSOOOOO SWEET AND CUTE I NEARLY CRIED WHEN I READ THE STORY BECAUSE IT WAS SO CUTE AND SWEEET I CANT WAIT 2 BE MOM!!!!!
Thank you for sharing!! We had spring break this week and I nearly lost my mind. In fact, one night was more than I could handle, but just in time my oldest gave me a beautiful card letting me know just how much she loved me. Thank goodness for chocolate chips.
egg tails are so cool maybe you could do hair roses for easter tommorow cause thats what im going to do and its sort of a spring time hair do.
You have beautiful daughters that are also beautiful on the inside! I’m going to make my mommy read this! ^.^ I like to think life as a giant bowl of paella! You have some sad or not so good moments, and you have some good moments, but the thing is, they are all mixed together! In paella, you can throw everything together with some rice and it will still taste good! You are awesome!!
Thank you for sharing your chocolate chips moments with us, I too love these moments, makes all the stress in life worthwhile.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog and you tube channel!!! Thank you for sharing all that you do! You have made a difference to me!
It is so true! Chocolate chips in life make it worth it. I’ve felt tremendously tired so many times and then my kids just say a simple sweet word and suddenly everything makes all sense. Genuine love.
I just wanted to thank you for your tutorials. I have two kids, a boy and a girl. I have already managed to do two of your hairstyles on my girl and she looked so gourgeous. I am still practicing on the waterfall braid though; I couldn’t get it right but I hopefully will.
Thank you.
That is soo sweet! Made me tear up too! Yes, let’s be chocolate chips cookies! You’re a big example for me of being a great mom and managing so many things at once! PLUS doing their hair every day! I have only two girls (the third one is on the way!) and I have enough with that in the morning! But we are all trying right?! Thanks for showing us how and thanks for your stories in between!
Just wanted to tell you how great your post was … and that I wanted to share this with the ladies that I visit teach. You can go on my blog and check out the post – it links back to your site. Thanks!
http://jolleychaos.blogspot.com/2011/05/chocolate-chip-cookies-mothers-day.html
your girls are sooooooo sweet!!!!!!!
Awww!! I used to get that magazine too. My brother is 10 but is is both physically and mentally disabled, so he’s more like a 6-year old in a wheelchair (that’s about his attention span, what he’s learning in school, interests). I need those chocolate chips. Some days I can only taste the dough.
Hi Mindy, just wanted to say that you seem like a perfect Mom, and a lovely person to be friends with. I love the section of your blog which is about your personal life! I have just moved to London from New York and I am missing my children! My new boyfriend promises me that one day, we will have more children, and I can forget the old ones
hi mindy! i dont know you or anything but i think you are the perfect mom! is sweet how you enjoy life this make me wanna have children and beatiful like yours who are just gorgeus… but im only 11 and when i grow up i want to do their hair pretty i want to have girl twins and another daughter and 2 sons.
un petit bonjour de france ,je suis mere au foyer comme vous et je vous trouve super..ici en france etre mere au foyer n’est pas trés bien vue,enfin pour moi , la vie est si belle, profitons de nos enfants… de ce que la nature nous donne .. super votre blog mindy
That made me feel like eating chocolate chip cookies
i LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!