Children Quote by Ronald Rolheiser
““Certain vocations, e.g., raising children, offer a perfect setting for living a contemplative life. They provide a desert for reflection, a real monastery. The mother who stays home with small children experiences a very real withdrawal from the world. Her existence is certainly monastic. Her tasks and preoccupations remove her from the centres of social life and from the centres of important power. She feels removed. Moreover, her constant contact with young children, the mildest of the mild, gives her a privileged opportunity to be in harmony with the mild and learn empathy and unselfishness. Perhaps more so even than the monk or the minister of the Gospel, she is forced, almost against her will, to mature. For years, while she is raising small children, her time is not her own, her own needs have to be put into second place, and every time she turns around some hand is reaching out demanding something.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Holy Child, 2015
Raising children creates a contemplative, monastic environment that fosters empathy, self‑lessness, and forced maturity despite social isolation.
In simple terms: Motherhood can be a contemplative, self‑less path.
Key Takeaway
Value the quiet growth in caregiving.
Themes
parenthood
contemplation
empathy
self‑sacrifice
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- home schooling
- single parenting
- volunteer caregiving
Key Concepts
Monasticism
maturity
reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How does caregiving shape personal identity?
- What support helps mothers maintain balance?
A Different Perspective
May overlook personal needs and social connection.
