All mothers have their own litany
of experiences. Of their hopes and disappointments and heart rendings and
heartbreaks and filled hearts.
Of the unending struggles and disappointments and ways they fell down on the job or made grave mistakes or kept persevering for the good of the kid or blew out their own health as they did.
When we have partners, sometimes we have with us someone who understands to a certain extent, sometimes someone who is willing to share the responsibility, sometimes someone who even shoulders it more than we do.
When we are single mothers, we are going it alone. We are holding up the kid and our lives and our livelihood and more than half the sky.
And our culture rains down upon us. Any unawareness of a populace simply exacerbates any assumptions or discriminations or obstructions.
But the one thing I do know is that we are not alone. As humans, as people, and as mothers.
In some manner, we are held and strengthened by all of those who went before us.
In some manner, we are held and strengthened by those we do not know the world over, who are determined each day to wake up and make the best of things, and love their kid the best they can.
In some manner, we each do the best we can, cleaving to ourselves, in the midst of everything, whether the kid is grown or not, living with ourselves with compassion.
Slowly learning, over a lifetime, to treat ourselves with kindness and patience and profound respect. With forgiveness for that which we did not do well, or those that we harmed. With delight at what we manage each day.
These are the ways of the wise ones, since the beginnings of time. These are the ways that we can live and breathe and be comforted by and held in greatest esteem with.
Of the unending struggles and disappointments and ways they fell down on the job or made grave mistakes or kept persevering for the good of the kid or blew out their own health as they did.
When we have partners, sometimes we have with us someone who understands to a certain extent, sometimes someone who is willing to share the responsibility, sometimes someone who even shoulders it more than we do.
When we are single mothers, we are going it alone. We are holding up the kid and our lives and our livelihood and more than half the sky.
And our culture rains down upon us. Any unawareness of a populace simply exacerbates any assumptions or discriminations or obstructions.
But the one thing I do know is that we are not alone. As humans, as people, and as mothers.
In some manner, we are held and strengthened by all of those who went before us.
In some manner, we are held and strengthened by those we do not know the world over, who are determined each day to wake up and make the best of things, and love their kid the best they can.
In some manner, we each do the best we can, cleaving to ourselves, in the midst of everything, whether the kid is grown or not, living with ourselves with compassion.
Slowly learning, over a lifetime, to treat ourselves with kindness and patience and profound respect. With forgiveness for that which we did not do well, or those that we harmed. With delight at what we manage each day.
These are the ways of the wise ones, since the beginnings of time. These are the ways that we can live and breathe and be comforted by and held in greatest esteem with.
No comments:
Post a Comment