By ASHLEY A. HIBDON
'The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work,' said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, during the 167th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But along with the hard work come rewards.
'It's frustrating, tiring and exhausting,' said recent BYU graduate Sandra Tayler. 'But there's something about having a small person need and want you that's rewarding.'
Liz Anderson, wife of BYUSA President Dallin Anderson, is glad she's home with her two children and sees the benefits of being at home with them.
'Watching my kids grow and seeing them happy makes me happy because I can see the results of my hard work. If I'm at home, then when they mimic someone, it's going to be me,' Anderson said.
'My kids know they're loved and they know they can trust me. They have an attachment to me that they wouldn't get if I wasn't home with them,' Anderson said.
'Being a mother is definitely rewarding,' said graduate student Marta Brantley.
'I know it sounds funny, but my children relieve stress for my husband and me. They help us keep our focus on what we're really here for.'
Alison Craig is a part-time faculty member in the English Department and is a single mother. She says she wouldn't trade money or glamour for the rewards that being a mother gives.
'I have single friends who don't have children and their lives are empty. Being a single mom, my life is over full, but it's a lot more satisfying to be that way,' Craig said.
Cheri Loveless, co-author of 'What's A Smart Woman Like You Doing at Home?,' says the biggest reward is the one you least expect.
'You grow as a person and you find your limits,' Loveless said.
Janet Bradford, music cataloger in the HBLL, is the mother of one. She says that having children is more fulfilling than any career.
'Motherhood is worth waiting for,' Bradford said.
The rewards of motherhood are more prominent when children are young, but the rewards continue even after the children have grown up.
Marilyn Cowan, a resident of Payson is the mother of 12. She says she gets a feeling of fulfillment when she realizes what her children have accomplished.
'Seeing my kids grow up doing what they're supposed to be doing is a reward in itself,' Cowan said.