A wonderful piece about the critical role that mothers play in our lives by Richard Rohr.
Sara Ruddick, in her book Maternal Thinking: Toward a Politics of Peace, speaks of the attentive love of a mother. In summary, Ruddick says mothers are characterized by attentive love. They have to keep watching this new life; they have to keep listening and adjusting to the needs of the child. It is necessary to recognize a new agenda with the growth of the child. If the mother cannot transform herself into attentive love, she quite simply cannot be a mother. She has to learn early on that life is about change, not about “standing her ground,” which is not going to help a child. All growth is about changing and adjusting to what is needed at this moment, with these tears, and by this child. The mother cannot run to abstract truths.
servingothersblog.com 
Did you post this specifically for me? 😉 This is something I’m continually working on. This is well written and a timely reminder. I think it also fits for a dad, and my husband could certainly learn something as he loves to “stand his ground” which is silly when you’re dealing with a 4 year old who doesn’t understand why he’s being so stubborn about small things that really aren’t a big deal.
Hi Teresa…glad you enjoyed. it seems so obvious when it is written out like this, but so difficult to remember in the moment.
Very nnice post