I was recently reading a book titled 5 – Where will you be in five years from today? when one of the pages really struck me. It was a quiz that some of you might’ve seen before (evidently it’s been all over the Internet), but it was new to me.

At the top of the quiz it said, “How do you want to be remembered?” and under that were five questions. See how you do in answering these:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman Trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

If you’re like me, you might’ve been able to answer a couple, but most of the names of the people that fit these categories slipped my mind.

Which is exactly the point: none of us remember (for very long) the “headliners” of yesterday. Over time, glory fades!

But following those questions were another five, very different. See how you do on these:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name three people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of three people you enjoy spending time with.

As I read those questions,  the people who have impacted my life immediately came to mind.

Because it’s the people who care and take time with us that we remember.

When I spoke to a group of moms a couple weeks ago about pursuing dreams, I ended with a quote from Steve Jobs (from his 2005 speech to the graduating class of Stanford): “Do what you believe is good work.”

And I just want to take a minute to remind you that being a mom is good work.

It’s the best work of all.

So while we should definitely pursue our dreams and live with passion and not be scared to say yes to things we long to do, we should never lose sight of the impact we are having on our kids along the way, just by being their mom.

Day in and day out,

through the good parenting times

and the bad,

we are molding, shaping, and forever impacting our kids’ lives.

Every minute we spend rocking our babies, changing diapers, kissing bruises, wiping tears, cleaning up the house, folding laundry, cooking dinners, volunteering at our kids’ schools, driving around, watching practices and games, helping with homework, listening to heartbreak, encouraging, cheering, praying…loving…

every minute counts.

And I bet,

when our kids get older,

if they were to take this quiz,

and answer those second five questions,

I bet the words “my mom” would be in a lot of the answers.

In fact, I’m sure of it. :)

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