Posted by:
exminion
(
)
Date: May 13, 2019 07:04PM
When I was a Mormon SAHM, I felt the making terrariums out of 2-liter bottles and bird houses out of Clorox bottles was not benefitting others, in any way. My callings as organist and teen Sunday school teacher were separating me from my family, instead of involving me with them. I began volunteering in my children's schools, as room mother, then tutoring the Spanish-speaking kids, then PTA president, then substitute teacher (paid), then as an elected member of the Board of Education. Oh--there was no way I was ever going back to useless, unsatisfying, demeaning church-work! I made the best friends of my life! I was happy and vital, and my children liked seeing me at school. This might be partly why my kids are so civic-minded now, as adults. I'm proud of our family. The school board made a difference! Whatever money we raised for our school(s), we would match with a poorer inner-city school. The Mormons were always trying to shame me into playing the piano and organ for them, but I played for some school performances, and for the Junior League women's chorus, who sang at rest homes and hospitals. This was cheerful music, and the patients knew the words, and sang along, and were energized. Mormon music was too monotone, brainwashing, and just sad. I played at some Junior League fashion shows. I was coerced into playing for the ward road shows, until during one performance, someone slammed the piano lid down on my hands. The piano light broke, and I could not see the music. I had rehearsed often enough, that I remembered it all my heart, and played anyway, even thought my hands hurt like hell. Never. Again. As with anything Mormon, the sacrifice was too great--for NOTHING.
Later, when I was divorced, my career became my "outside interest." You all know what the Mormon church's stand on working mothers was in the 1990's. Even though I was the SOLE breadwinner for my family, I still was criticized for working! Yet, when the money started coming in, the cult was happy to take my tithing. Yeah--being a Mormon was a no-win situation.