Today is Mothers’ Day, my first as an actual mom. Last year I was pregnant on Mothers’ Day, which doesn’t really count.
An astonishing number of my friends have had babies in the past year. Ladies, you know who you are, and I hope you are enjoying this special day with your little baby girls.
Like the Tom Stoppard play, where Guildenstern (or is it Rosencrantz) keeps flipping a coin, and each time it lands heads up, I know ten women who were pregnant at the same time I was, and each had a daughter. Whether they are American, German, Swiss or Chinese, each one is now the mother of a girl. Or twin girls, in one wonderful case.
I hope this isn’t a world-wide trend. It would send society into a “Children of Men” style dystopia, but with a lot more pink.
And since this Mothers’ Day America is still at war, I once again quote Julia Ward Howe’s Mothers’ Day Proclamation, written in 1870:
Say firmly:
“We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons [and daughters] shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”
Happy Mothers’ Day.
7 Comments
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I hope the female baby boom continues. Lots of countries - like China - desperately a boost in the gyno population.
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It’s funny that everyone you know had daughters– with the exception of one couple (who are now expecting their second girl) everyone I know has sons. I was even beginning to think that we were going to have a world of men. I’m glad your friends are balancing out my friends!
Happy Mother’s Day!
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Wonderful Mother’s Day post. Yes, Mother’s Day was started as a response to war and the senseless deaths it caused. We should let Hallmark know, so they can produce an appropriate line of pacificist cards. xoxox
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My wife and I are regular readers of this blog. Being ignorant of Chinese geography, we’re worried that the earthquakes have affected your family. Are you all ok?
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We are all safe and sound. The earthquake was in central China and we are on the East Coast, far away from the danger.
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Like Eliza, I was starting to wonder if anyone was having girls this year! Must depend on the collective frame of mind in each circle.
Thank you for the lovely proclamation. Just enjoyed my first mothers day as well; our little Atticus made it extra special by getting up on his hands and knees for a few moments (you’re right about 8 months olds: Blast Off!). Happy [belated] mothers day!
So glad you all are safe - our hearts out to your neighbors. — Mrs. B.A.
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Claire had a wonderful baby boy!!!! He is doing great and enjoying New York!! My friends are pretty balanced when it comes to boys and girls (babies). We all agree, however, that girl stuff is so much more fun; hands down. LOL