From: Clary (dialup-4.153.66.16.dial1.atlanta1.level3.net)
Subject: Mothers...
Date: October 6, 2006 at 10:51 am PST
In Reply to: Re: Baby Bethany posted by BuffyS on September 15, 2006 at 9:43 am:
Following is an e-mail I sent out recently. Wanted to
share it with you in response to your post here to me. Thank
you for the precious thoughts. I feel sure you are a wonderful mother to your two little GIFTS, and will be a beloved Grandmother.
************************
My email:
***
Hi folks--
The arrival of my latest grand daughter, Bethany Claire--Sept. 13; and the recent 4-year-old birthday of my first great-grandchild, Aurora Dellen--Sept. 12 (the birthDAY of her Great, Great, Great Grandfather, Arthur Raymond Parking, Sr. who was born 9/12/1899); and perhaps my age and stage of life (65 and Medicare! this recent Aug. 25th) and looking back over the years; has me thinking a lot these past couple weeks about Mothers.
--about having a Mother.
--about being a Mother.
I was thinking this morning of a poem sent to me and which I shared at Mother's Day last year. I like it enough to share it, and send it around again. My various experiences --births, loves, lives, and losses--with my birth children (7), my grandchildren (17), as well as my foster children (2), and adopted Vietnamese son, my nieces and nephews, and young students in schools and church; as well as with my own Step-Mothers (2), have taught me that "Mothering" can be a gift, a choice, a challenge, a style of living, available for any woman to enjoy (IN-joy!)--as the mother, or as the daughter, family of origin, or "chosen" family. I am eternally grateful for all I have learned and experienced, been able to give and to receive and to grow as a person, --through being a Mother, and as a Daughter, a step-sister, and Aunt, Grandmother, and Step-daughter; and I have ALWAYS Loved being a Woman!
Luv, "Clary"/Mom
**************************
*IMAGINE A MOTHER*
Imagine a mother who believes she belongs in the world.
A mother who celebrates her own life.
Who is glad to be alive.
Imagine a mother who turns toward herself with interest. A mother
who acknowledges her own feelings and thoughts. Whose capacity
to be available to her family deepens as she is available to herself.
Imagine a mother who is aware of her own needs and desires.
A mother who meets them with tenderness and grace.
Who enlists the support of respectful friends and chosen family.
Imagine a mother who lives in harmony with her heart.
A mother who trusts her impulses to expand and contract.
Who knows that everything changes in the fullness of time.
Imagine a mother who embodies her spirituality. A mother
who honors her body as the sacred temple of the spirit of life.
Who breathes deeply as a prayer of gratitude for Life itself.
Imagine a mother who celebrates the birth of her daughters.
A mother who believes in the goodness of her daughters.
Who nurtures their wisdom. Who cultivates their power.
Imagine a mother who celebrates the birth of her sons.
A mother who believes in the goodness of her sons.
Who nurtures their kindness. Who honors their tears.
Imagine a mother who values the women in her life.
A mother who finds comfort in the company of women.
Who sets aside time to replenish her woman-spirit.
Imagine yourself as this mother.
--by Patricia Reilly
