I said so

SOCIETY LIFE: What’s one of your earliest memories you have of your Mom? SUSAN MUEGGE: She was always a compassionate caregiver. She walked us to school, welcomed us home with home made cookies, and kept everything going.

SL: What is something you thought about Motherhood that was totally wrong? SM: I thought that Motherhood was hard, exhausting and unrewarding until the end. What I found out is that there is joy in every day, and even the hard moments yield rewards. And, teenagers are delightful and hilarious, contrary to common perceptions.

SL: What’s something you always wanted to do but didn’t and why didn’t you? SM: I always wanted to live in Washington State, but my family and friends are here, and there are so many opportunities in Texas—I can’t imagine leaving now!

SL: Was there something your Mom did when you were a kid that you swore you’d never do as a parent? SM: I swore I’d never move regularly. It was hard growing up, but there were definitely some great side effects, like resilience and grit, that I didn’t appreciate until I was older.

SL: What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up? SM: I thought I wanted to be a professional writer. I’ve done that periodically—it’s a great occupation!

SL: How have your notions of what it means to be a Mom changed over your lifetime? SM: Yes—a toddler mom has different demands on their time, activity, and intellect. As your kids mature, you have to grow with them to meet changing needs.

SL: What’s the best family vacation you’ve ever taken? SM: A few years ago we went on an extended summer vacation that started with a weeklong Trail Life convention and ended with a Washington, D.C. tour. I will never forget my kids’ first experience with steamed whole crabs.

SL: Is there a moment or event that radically changed the way you saw Motherhood? SM: I was walking in the grocery store with my four children—my six-year-old by my side, a three and a twoyear-old in the cart, and an infant in a carrier. I was barely making it through the produce section when a woman came up to me and said, “It gets so much harder than this.” I cried, right there in the middle of the grocery store. I knew at that moment I would not survive if it got harder than this! Fortunately, that mother was both wrong and right. Motherhood is hard—easily the most difficult thing I have ever done. However, it doesn’t get harder—it changes. If you’re walking with your kids, you adjust and grow with them, and y’all meet the challenges together. Right now, I have three teenagers and a 10-year-old. Everyone dreads the teenage years, but for me they are a joy, as I watch my kids grow up and become witty, interesting people in their own right. Thank goodness that woman was wrong and that my understanding of motherhood is flexible and has changed as my children have grown.

SL: When did you know you were ready to have kids? SM: My husband was out of the military, I had finished grad school, and we were looking at houses. It seemed like a great time!

SL: What’s your favorite photo of your family or kids? SM: I have a picture of us at Easter, when the kids were so proud of the book they picked out of me. They’re all gathered around and everyone is smiling— it is often my phone background.

SL: What was the first year of motherhood like for you? SM: It was harder than it needed to be. I was trying to work full-time at a demanding job, and I was still trying to do all the things I thought motherhood entailed—homemade baby food, cloth diapers, laundry, reading, classical music... I missed a lot because I felt like I had to do everything and be everything to everyone.

SL: What do you want or wish most for your kids? SM: I hope that my kids will know that they are loved and valued by their family and by the Lord. I want all my children to walk worthy of the calling they are given.