Intentional Motherhood

My daughter, the Singer, recommended the book, Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell.  Hubby has been reading it and I will read it after he's finished.  But already the book has impacted my life by giving me new vocabulary.  I was a stay-at-home-mom for many years, yet that title never sat well with me.  Left-over 1980's feminism?  Possibly.  More likely, the title seems so wimpy.  I didn't just stay at home.  I was being a mother.  And I never liked the title of full-time mother, as if you could be a mother only part-time, even if you do go to the office every day.  But I never came up with a good substitute title.  Now I have, thanks to Sherry Weddell.  I was/am an Intentional Mother.  After listening to Dave Ramsey talk about purposeful spending another acceptable title would be a Purposeful Mother.  I approach my motherhood purposefully and with the intent of being a good mother.  It is not something I simply am through biology, but something I am striving to become more each day.  

Funny, that I am thinking of my days with my girls at home as they are both out of the house now, but with the Singer off to the convent in August, my role as her mother will greatly change.  I have never been one to talk to my girls every day.  Touching base a few times a week works for us.  But it is still hard to grasp that come August 15th, I won't talk to her again until visiting days in December.  We can write to each other through snail-mail (no smart-phones, email or Facebook).  It sorta feels like my job is officially over.  Definitely leaves an uneasiness in my heart (for how I will fare come August, not her).
 In case you were wondering, I totally support her in this decision for a number of reasons.  The top reason being I have watched her discern this decision over the last 3 years. She is not entering because of some vague, romantic notion of what sisterhood will be, nor is she entering to escape some harsh reality of the secular world.  Secondly, my prayer for my children has always been that they grow up to know, love and serve God.  I think this is one way that prayer is answered.  Additionally, if she discovers that this is not the life for her, final vows are not taken for 7 years. And much of her time the first 2 years will be active discernment of God's mission for her.  But, I will miss her.