American writer Washington Irving said, “A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” In celebration of mothers, the North Gwinnett Voice has asked several local mothers to reflect on motherhood, including both the joys and the challenges of such an important and influential role in the lives of children as they grow and develop.
North Gwinnett Voice: When did you become a mother?
Courtney Clark: I became a mother in 2018 with the birth of my daughter. I then had my son in 2022.
NGV: Tell us about your family.
CC: We are a proud military family. Our family focuses on God and while we are far from perfect, we do prioritize church and providing that foundation for our two children. Our family is also very active. We enjoy hiking Buford Dam trail or being outside at our local parks on a beautiful afternoon.
NGV: What have been some of the joys you’ve experienced through motherhood?
CC: I love the level of perspective my kids have taught me. Things I thought were important just aren’t anymore. What is, is time together. I also love seeing the world through the innocent lenses of children. So many lessons can be learned from their simplistic approach to life.
NGV: What about the challenges of being a mother?
CC: The responsibility of raising good humans in the world we currently live in. My goal is to teach my children to put others above self. I want to ensure my kids are kind and love all people. I also want to lead my children in their faith journey. I want to teach them to extend grace to others and realize it’s not all about them.
NGV: What does motherhood mean to you?
CC: Sacrifice, patience and love. To me, becoming a mother has meant not always having a clean house, putting the needs of the kids over my own, pausing when my daughter asserts her independence and loving my kids unconditionally.
