Roles as a Mother and Father

This topic seems to be a heated one recently. Everyone is so concerned with everyone being the same that if anyone mentions that there is a difference between genders so many people get "offended". Well ladies and gentlemen.... there is a difference between genders and that difference does not stop regarding the roles that a mother and father play in a child's life. Our roles as mothers and fathers have been given to us through the Lord and when we don't fulfill those roles we are not living up to the potential he has for us and we are not letting our children live up to that potential either.

So without further ado here are some of the roles that are bestowed upon a mother and a father!

Mother:
-Birthing children (this is one thing that men cannot do, an obvious difference between genders. I personally would never want to give up this great opportunity to establish a beautiful bond between myself and my child)
-"Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children" (2012). This does not mean that a father needs to ignore his children but mothers should be there at home with the children and will be the main source of nurturing for the children through play, love, and time spent with your children,
-"A mother's attentive love in this new relationship becomes the foundation by which all of the other tasks of mothering become effective" (2012)

-"the attachment between mother and child is critical for a child's healthy social emotional development" (2012)

These are just a few of the many important roles a mother plays in her child's life.

You may have the thoughts of the world running through your head "but these things are not important, why do mothers get the roles that don't amount to anything?". If this is what you are thinking than I have a few things to share with you to help change your mind, because the role of a mother is an irreplaceable role.

"Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind" (2012). You heard that right. Although the world has made motherhood out to be one of the least important jobs it is actually the highest job that there is, there is nothing holier than being a loving mother.

Another point that a lot of women seem to become offended by is that men have the priesthood and women do not. In regards to this "His daughters, "as divinely called, as eternally important in its place as the priesthood itself." (2012). Our roles as mothers is as important as the priesthood. So the next time you go to compare the two remember that we as mothers are have a role that is just as important as the role that the priesthood plays.

Father:
-To preside by providing love, teaching and directing.
-"moral responsibility to teach and care for his children" (2012)
-"spiritual leadership in family life" (2012)
-To partner with the mother, the children and all those involved in the child's life (extended family and those in the community)
-To be present. It is sad how common it is for fathers to not be present in a child's life, at all or just mentally there for the child by listening and being involved in the child's day to day life. This is where nurturance of the father comes in. It may not be as much of a presence as the mother's nurturance because the father is at work but it is still as important for the child's well being. It is a great source of security for the child.
-To provide. "to meet a child's temporal needs and make opportunities for him or her to grow and develop" (2012) This is providing those needs children need like water, food and shelter but it is also making sure to provide them with opportunities to grow both physically and spiritually.
-To protect and help the child feel safe and help them learn how to stay safe once they are old enough to be on their own by teaching them the skills they will need to do so.

Hopefully you have been able to see how important each of these roles play in the lives in children. Also that neither of these roles is more important than the other. Each role plays a very important part in a child's upbringing and the absence of one or the other can make a huge difference in the child's overall life.

Resources:
Hawkins, Alan J. , Dollahite, David C. , Draper, Thomas W. (2012). Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University