As a mother, you always have context. Your context
is your family, your busy family’s life, your children’s
needs- food, sleep, cleanliness, discipline, instruction,
activity, friendships… Your husband is “in” this context,
to a point. Sometimes he is a nuisance in the arena
of family. Other times he is the enforcer, back-up, or
whatever. Later, or possibly suddenly, the context for your
life is upended. Your peeps fly the coop-marry, multiply,
flail, or. Your context as a mother is taken away- you are
adrift without a boat. You now have an oar, a life vest,
possibly a seat cushion to hold in the waters of life.
None of these can float for long- all the maneuverings
necessary don’t leave you a place to rest or abide.
So as a mother you have to be fairly ingenious. You
have to craft another context- boat, ship to launch
back in the water. Because launching into the water
is a must. Dry land isn’t life giving.
(Picture taken from THANKSGIVING AT THE TAPPLETONS’)
by Eileen Spinelli- Illusrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
TOH to Date: 145 hours and 11 min.
