Mothers or the part where I get all Joseph Cambell on you
A post about mothers a day late. Let's just say that I have an uneasy relationship with proscribed holidays. As well as including here that my relationship with my mother has been a movie long in the making. So in lieu of a praise of motherhood, I am going to share a thought I had about shoring up mothering. Indulge me.
When girls leave or break away from the sphere of their mothers, it is imperative that they find female role models out in the world. These are not surrogates or stand-ins, but strong women of their choosing - that they can admire, appreciate and love. These are women to listen to, lean on and learn from.
Everything cannot come from the mother. What comes from her - life - is the nexus in addition to the knowledge, influence and love she gives. Sometimes this is lacking, a cup that is half full, with others it is up to the brim. It is then our responsibility to fill that cup and to share, filling others.
To my mother and the host of strong women.
Comments (10)
Amen, sista!
Posted by claire | May 14, 2007 9:49 AM
Posted on May 14, 2007 09:49
not only was that an excellent post, but it was the best title ever. ever.
Posted by robiewankenobie | May 14, 2007 12:26 PM
Posted on May 14, 2007 12:26
I love this post. Thank you.
Posted by sarah | May 14, 2007 12:47 PM
Posted on May 14, 2007 12:47
I'm not a huge fan of the proscribed holiday, either. I tend to get rebellious about it. And I was saying to my mom the other day, maybe mother's day is really for people who don't talk to their moms every couple of days, and don't love their moms to pieces every day of the year, and never say so to them. But I do, and I do, and I do, and so I don't like being told to buy flowers on May whateverth.
Posted by Lizbon | May 14, 2007 2:17 PM
Posted on May 14, 2007 14:17
And I thought this blog was all about knitting! You have one of the most thoughtful yet understated blogs around. I love the wisdom and your concise delivery of it. Beautiful.
Posted by sulu-design | May 14, 2007 7:05 PM
Posted on May 14, 2007 19:05
I totally agree. I am so happy that the bulk of my friends are older independent interesting women. It is so important. My mom was great, but barely becoming a bit more wild in her mid fifties...So, having all sorts of wonderful women in my life made me realize what a long and fab life I could have too...
And, I am having a good one, cheers.. xxo,V
Posted by Vanessa V | May 14, 2007 7:59 PM
Posted on May 14, 2007 19:59
I feel this way, not only about Mothers, but about Family as well... I have built the family that never existed in my life from special people collected carefully over the years..
Posted by Lindy | May 15, 2007 6:10 AM
Posted on May 15, 2007 06:10
Oh sonya- given the many ways and days of life with mother, your words are so well said. It's so accidentally easy to turn into the "poor me." Your words said it perfectly and say exactly the truth.
Posted by becky | May 15, 2007 6:00 PM
Posted on May 15, 2007 18:00
i can't read this post without the chills running up and down my spine....and i've read it maybe fifteen times. beautiful sonya. may your cup over floweth.
Posted by kristin | May 16, 2007 11:23 PM
Posted on May 16, 2007 23:23
i cannot tell you enough how much this resonates with me--and how fortunate i feel to have my own group of women guiding, validating, and occasionally even learning something from me! and knowing at the end of the day, all i am is wonderfully made up of all of them. and it happen, happily, again and again everyday because i'm never finished. thanks for the post!
Posted by Enthusia | May 23, 2007 1:11 AM
Posted on May 23, 2007 01:11