A Mother's Education

As I read this article in the BYU Magazine about women who have used their education in their nurturing as mothers I got thinking about what kind of legacy I might be leaving. I wasn't super impressed with what I came up with--mostly in comparison to the examples in the article. Thankfully my mind was filled with ways I could do better and I committed to tackle a few of those ideas. However, the thought then came to me that while my children can be more blessed by my education than they have been, I have been greatly blessed by at least 3 women's education.

My Grandma Bingham graduated with a degree in home economics education from Utah State back in the day when girls attending college was fairly uncommon. Surely her education largely influenced the way she raised her family. I've always regarded my Grandma Bingham as a promoter for education and have traced much of my strong desire to graduate from college to her. And It was because of her that my mom finished her degree. I owe lots to her.

My mom's home economic degree has also blessed my life. Ashamedly, while growing up, I resented to some extent, my mom's desire to pass these skills on to me. Cooking was okay in my mind, but I could have totally passed on the gardening, nutrition, cleaning, canning and sewing. Her suggestions to take Home Ec in high school fell on deaf ears. I just knew I was meant for bigger things. Now twenty some years later I can see that there isn't anything bigger or more important than raising a family. It is how you have the greatest influence. And you use homemaking skills daily in nurturing, caring for and maintaining a family. What little I gleaned from my mom's attempts to teach me have made it possible for me to apply the few things from my education that I have. Without these important skills I know I would struggle with much of this important work. Thank you, mom, for your tireless efforts!

Tom's mom's education has also been very valuable to our family---she has a teaching degree. Tom is so educationally minded and in any given day, he naturally teaches things from money management to reading skills to computer tips to life skills. He is also a huge proponent for education and expresses the value of it often. I know these skills and values stem from the way he was raised.

Oh how my life has been blessed by these women's educations! Happy Mother's Day, Grandma, Carolyn & Mom! Thank you for your influences and legacies!