The combination of those experiences has me reflecting on the opportunity parenthood gives us to learn and grow into our best selves -- while giving ourselves grace for the missteps and tumbles.
I claim no direct experience as a mother. As a father? Yes. I read with my son. When I returned from work I remember starting a record (that long ago!) and placing Nate on my chest as I sunk into a poofy beanbag! Nate attributes his love for classic rock to that early stage of his life. 😊
I didn’t have a womb in which I carried him pre-birth. I did buy a Snugli for strapping him to my chest for hands free transport. Later I purchased a slightly different device that strapped to my arms/back and allowed me to bring him with me for mountain trail tromping. Sweet memories all.
None of the preceding remarks are intended to say, “Same.” An experimental psychologist named Harlow studied the impact of touch on young Rhesus? monkeys. Surprise! Contact, even being able to touch soft, furry material, was vital for overall health and intellectual development. The ones deprived of that contact exhibited a host of developmental disabilities. 😔
Loving kindness is effort well spent both for newborns and grownups. Followed closely by buttercream frosting…
🙃 🙂 Another three-step reply. Write it. Lose it. Re-write it. I have zero difficulty believing that you have been watching this music video. I was electrified! So down the rabbit hole. 🤷🏽 I wondered, What did this firecracker become in her life? A famous dancer? Ballerina? A prominent sports star? Whirling dervish? (That was a thing in Rumi’s time.)
Continuing my search revealed people with indefatigable love for community. Not only in the family, but in their community In Connecticut. She became the All State softball pitcher for her division. Her brother I think was a star in baseball or football. And so??
The connecticator of this was her dad. He regarded sports as a crucible to prepare youth for adult life. He believed in community, within both his family as well as the community at large. And the town community believed in him. As his life reached an end (an innate feeling of unfinished business?), he dedicated time, energy, and human relationship to building a modern Field House for the town’s high school. He got a team of townsfolk to raise $$ as well as a good chunk of in-kind contributions. With plans and resources in place, the Field House was finished in 3 months! He passed at 62. Type A and burned out? Or he might have been needed to build more “field houses” for different purposes. Shelter for the impoverished? Modest grocery stores for long established communities whose stores migrated to the high dollar parts of their cities (food deserts). Far fetched? Not impossible.
A note from LoveLetterist:
On Sunday, I went to a baby shower. (The cake was sooo grand!)
On Monday, Jay Armstrong and I interviewed Cathy Shields for an upcoming One Line, One Love podcast.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cathy+shields+shape+of+normal&crid=3FQYBYIN87A44&sprefix=cathy+shields%2Caps%2C110&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_13
The combination of those experiences has me reflecting on the opportunity parenthood gives us to learn and grow into our best selves -- while giving ourselves grace for the missteps and tumbles.
Yes!! Motherhood gave and continued to give me courage! Thank you for this today Gail.
You’re welcome. My pleasure!
Parenthood is gift
Children teach as well as learn
Reciprocity
Speaking of cakes ...
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/i-am-your-fruitcake
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/tattoo
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/pink
Wonderful, LoveLetterist!
I claim no direct experience as a mother. As a father? Yes. I read with my son. When I returned from work I remember starting a record (that long ago!) and placing Nate on my chest as I sunk into a poofy beanbag! Nate attributes his love for classic rock to that early stage of his life. 😊
I didn’t have a womb in which I carried him pre-birth. I did buy a Snugli for strapping him to my chest for hands free transport. Later I purchased a slightly different device that strapped to my arms/back and allowed me to bring him with me for mountain trail tromping. Sweet memories all.
None of the preceding remarks are intended to say, “Same.” An experimental psychologist named Harlow studied the impact of touch on young Rhesus? monkeys. Surprise! Contact, even being able to touch soft, furry material, was vital for overall health and intellectual development. The ones deprived of that contact exhibited a host of developmental disabilities. 😔
Loving kindness is effort well spent both for newborns and grownups. Followed closely by buttercream frosting…
😁
I’ve been playing this song a lot …
https://youtu.be/9tXzlVjU1xs?si=v-0YOVdbNPYpYrdG
🙃 🙂 Another three-step reply. Write it. Lose it. Re-write it. I have zero difficulty believing that you have been watching this music video. I was electrified! So down the rabbit hole. 🤷🏽 I wondered, What did this firecracker become in her life? A famous dancer? Ballerina? A prominent sports star? Whirling dervish? (That was a thing in Rumi’s time.)
Continuing my search revealed people with indefatigable love for community. Not only in the family, but in their community In Connecticut. She became the All State softball pitcher for her division. Her brother I think was a star in baseball or football. And so??
The connecticator of this was her dad. He regarded sports as a crucible to prepare youth for adult life. He believed in community, within both his family as well as the community at large. And the town community believed in him. As his life reached an end (an innate feeling of unfinished business?), he dedicated time, energy, and human relationship to building a modern Field House for the town’s high school. He got a team of townsfolk to raise $$ as well as a good chunk of in-kind contributions. With plans and resources in place, the Field House was finished in 3 months! He passed at 62. Type A and burned out? Or he might have been needed to build more “field houses” for different purposes. Shelter for the impoverished? Modest grocery stores for long established communities whose stores migrated to the high dollar parts of their cities (food deserts). Far fetched? Not impossible.
Thank you for sharing what you found! 😁