Guest guest Posted February 23, 2002 Report Share Posted February 23, 2002 Thought you girls might enjoy this. It is so true. You all take care and have a good week-end. Be Blessed, Becky This may make you cry....but in a good way! Words about being a Mom > > We are sitting at lunch when my daughter > > casually mentions that she and her husband are > > thinking of starting a family. " > > > > > > > " We're taking a survey, " she says, half-joking. > " Do you think I should have a baby? " > > It will change your life, " I say, carefully > keeping my tone neutral. > > " I know, " she says, " no more sleeping in on > weekends, > no more spontaneous > vacations.... " > > But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my > daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I > want her to know what she will never learn in > >childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the > physical wounds of child bearing will > > heal, but that becoming a mother will leave her > > with an emotional wound so raw that she will > > forever be vulnerable. > > > > > > > I consider warning her that she will never again > read a newspaper without asking " What if that had > been MY child? " That every plane crash, every house > fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of > starving children, she will wonder if anything > could be worse than watching your child die. > > > > > > > I look at her carefully manicured nails and > stylish suit and think that no matter how > sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce > her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her > > cub. > > > > > > > That an urgent call of " Mom! " will cause her to > drop a souffle or her best crystal without a > moment's hesitation. > > > > > > > I feel I should warn her that no matter how many > years she has invested in her career, she will be > professionally derailed by motherhood. > > > > > > > She might arrange for childcare, but one day she > will be going into an important business meeting > and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She > will have to use every ounce of her discipline to > keep > from running home, just to make sure her baby is all > right. > > > > > > > I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions > will no longer be routine. That a five year old > >boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than > the women's at Mc's will become a major > dilemma. That right there, in the midst of > > clattering trays and screaming children, issues of > > independence and gender identity will be weighed > > against the prospect that a child molester may be > > lurking in that restroom. > > > > > > > However decisive she may be at the office, she > > will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. > > > > > > > Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to > assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds > of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about > herself. That her life, now so important, > > will be of less value to her once she has a > > child. That she would give it up in a moment to > save > > her offspring, but will also begin to hope > > for more years - not to accomplish her own dreams, > > but to watch her child accomplish theirs. > > I want her to know that a cesarean scar > > or shiny stretch marks will become badges of > > honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband > > will change, but not in the way she thinks. I > > wish she could understand how much more you can > > love a man who is careful to powder the baby or > who > never hesitates to play with his child. I think she > > should know that she will fall in love with him > again > > for reasons she would now find very > > unromantic. > > > > > > > I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will > feel with women throughout history who have tried > >to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. I hope > she > will understand why I can think rationally about > most > issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss > the threat of nuclear war to my children's future. > > > > > > > I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration > of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want > to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby > who is touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for > the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is > so > real, it actually hurts. > > > > > > > My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that > tears have formed in my eyes. " You'll never > regret it, " I finally say. Then I reach > > across the table, squeeze my daughter's hand and > > offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and > > for all of the mere mortal women who stumble their > > way into this most wonderful of callings. This > blessed gift from God that of being a Mother. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Please share this with a Mom that you > > know or a future Mom, or a Mom at heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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