Motherhood is complex and takes many forms. This is the first in a special three-part series devoted to exploring the nature of motherhood.

[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]ou know how on Mother's Day a few men in the ward walk around after sacrament meeting passing out a little treat to the mothers in the congregation? It's usually chocolate or something with flowers. Maybe not every ward does thi,s but I've seen it in Arizona, Sydney, and London, and I'd wager about Utah does it too.

Every Mother's Day since I turned 18, I've been offered this treat. Sometimes I took it because Church used to be three hours and I'd get peckish. Sometimes I'd tell them no thanks - I'm not a mother.

I never meant for this to be awkward or to put some poor guy in the position of offering a chocolate to me anyway for the sake of inclusivity. It just was a fact - I do not have children.

In Relief Society lessons and General Conference talks, leaders have addressed motherhood as a calling for all women whether or not they have children. In 2001 Sheri Dew gave a talk entitled, "Are We Not All Mothers?" She said this:

Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us.

For many women, this is a comforting idea: Motherhood is intertwined with our divine womanhood. And yet it is confusing to others, myself included. We've been told that you are still a mother to those in your ward. You are an example, a teacher, or maybe you listen and comfort those who need someone to talk to.

Those are things a mother does do, but what makes it mothering? Isn't that being Christlike or being a friend? You are an example or a teacher or a good friend in those moments but not necessarily their mother.

So I've been wondering what definition are we operating within the Church? What makes a woman a mother?

In an attempt to answer this question, I spoke with many women who have all had different experiences with motherhood which makes me think, maybe there's no one way to be a mother, but then, what is motherhood?

Josie

[3:12] Maureen likes to say she's a true-bred Kenyan.

Family roots go back for Generations in the country she moved to Australia for University to become a doctor and there she met her husband Chris a fellow medical student.

Maureen works as a CMO a career medical officer and a private hospital before starting a family.

[3:35] I really look up to Maureen she's who I think of when I imagine what a super mom would look like.

At least from the outside looking in she's even tempered patience and generous with her time she's the mom who seems to have it all figured out.

So I talked to her but my questions of what defines a mother.

But she started the conversation out with a dilemma she's currently facing but I think many mothers will relate to.

She has four kids ranging from six to sixteen and she is ready to go back to work but that goal isn't exactly going according to plan.

As a quick note you'll hear a few names without introduction those are Maureen's kids.

Maureen:

[4:19] Subbing full-time stay-at-home mom since I'm having Eli and the last two-and-a-half years I've been trying to get a job I've been trying to get back into the workforce and I'm seeing I'm realizing

how identify was just naive before or things have changed I'm not sure but how difficult it is,

getting back into the workforce after being away for more than well at that time was 2 years when I started looking for another position