> Happy Mother's Day > > FOR ALL THE MOMS I KNOW > ----------------------- > > 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 McDonald'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. > > Mother's Day is May 14th > > >> Pusing milih POP3 atau web mail? mail.telkom.net solusinya << >> Belanja Info & Keperluan Balita? Klik, http://www.balitanet.or.id >> Info balita, http://www.balita-anda.indoglobal.com Etika berinternet, email ke: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Stop berlangganan, e-mail ke: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
