[The following in an excerpt from Motherhood Matters: Joyful Reminders of the Divinity, Reality, and Rewards of Motherhood, by Connie Sokol. Purchase links are found below.]
“Part of divine parenting is stressful day-to-day mothering. No matter how patient and loving a woman is there will be those times in every mother’s life when she has had it.
President Harold B. Lee shares the experience of babysitting his grandson one night, but at a BYU football game. The little five-year-old began to be restless and with merry looks from his fellow apostles, President Lee felt some pressure to have the evening go well.
After the boy fussed and was disobedient, President Lee tried to make him behave but his grandson turned around and punched him in the face. President Lee wanted to take him out and spank him, as he felt that was what he deserved.
But then he remembered something his daughter would say: “You have to love your children when they’re the least lovable.”
So he took the boy in his arms and told him how much he loved him. His grandson’s little body relaxed and he kissed President Lee on the cheek. The boy had been conquered with love.
That’s what true mothering is: feeling one way—and justified in doing so—but choosing the higher path. Lehi and Sariah could have booted Laman and Lemuel out of the house—or overboard—and let them learn the hard lessons of life with a dose of angry retribution. And who would have blamed them. But their consistent, patient, and firm love made it possible for their wayward sons to have a clear choice in their behaviors, without anger getting in the way.
That doesn’t mean as mothers that we don’t set boundaries or give consequences. But it does mean that we think carefully about the emotion—or the approach—associated with it.
Love them when they’re least lovable—that’s what mothers do.”
[We hope you enjoyed this excerpt from Motherhood Matters: Joyful Reminders of the Divinity, Reality, and Rewards of Motherhood. Only 
Arguing with my 21 year old Aspergers syndrome son is often a reminder of futility. He does not give up when he is convinced he is right. there have been numerous times I have wanted to give up and have had to remind myself to love him anyway.