Finn, love this- perhaps the curve of the meandering river is like the curve of your belly..always changing shape. The cycles of the flowers have SO much to teach us.
Despite how young women are taught about the cycles of their own body, it’s surprising to now be shown how linear/hierarchical the entirety of life is seen. In fact, once I had 2 kids, I was lost, like my life was over — the end of the prescribed story line of school, uni, job, marriage, babies. It was years before I was able to see that it was only the beginning of the next phase… no, the next curve in the labyrinth.
My kids both moved out last year (one got married; one going to college) and I read back through the journals I kept while I was pregnant and when they were babies. The story I told myself then was not at all how things turned out. Instead it was full of surprises and plot twists that made the story richer. Some of them were small things like, how does my child not like mustard? Others, I later realized, were things I wanted from my parents and my kids weren't as impressed with (college funds). Letting go of my narrative to let them have their own was difficult at first, but more satisfying to all of us.
I love that you're starting your life as a parent with this question. Also, thank you so much for introducing me to Ariel Gore's work <3
Fiddlehead, meandering river ... I am loving the shape of your narrative, Finn.
Finn, love this- perhaps the curve of the meandering river is like the curve of your belly..always changing shape. The cycles of the flowers have SO much to teach us.
So much yes here, Finn. So much!
Despite how young women are taught about the cycles of their own body, it’s surprising to now be shown how linear/hierarchical the entirety of life is seen. In fact, once I had 2 kids, I was lost, like my life was over — the end of the prescribed story line of school, uni, job, marriage, babies. It was years before I was able to see that it was only the beginning of the next phase… no, the next curve in the labyrinth.
My kids both moved out last year (one got married; one going to college) and I read back through the journals I kept while I was pregnant and when they were babies. The story I told myself then was not at all how things turned out. Instead it was full of surprises and plot twists that made the story richer. Some of them were small things like, how does my child not like mustard? Others, I later realized, were things I wanted from my parents and my kids weren't as impressed with (college funds). Letting go of my narrative to let them have their own was difficult at first, but more satisfying to all of us.
I love that you're starting your life as a parent with this question. Also, thank you so much for introducing me to Ariel Gore's work <3
Thank you ♡