The Circle of Life Through a Mother's Heart
Last week two experiences overwhelmed me as I witnessed the circle of life complete itself in a span of three days.
I posted last week the passing of a sister of a dear friend of mine. It was sorrow and overwhelming grief that me and my friends felt together with their family. The crying of her mother was something no one could bear, yet everyone can feel.
Less than 48 hours later, two beautiful little boys were born to my sister in law and her husband a week earlier than expected.
The reality of it all humbles me as a human being and scares me as a mother. How life was given to us, how hard it is for a mother to carry her child for 9 months and how easily it can be taken away from us regardless of age, religion, ethnicity, nationality and health.
Zara, the lovely girl who died was the sweetest, loving and most caring sister and daughter to her family and friends. She had perfect health and showed no signs that anything was bothering her. In fact I was just looking at their family's photos last Christmas, she's as candid and bubbly as can be. No one at all expected her to pass away this soon, this early. Especially not her mother.
Chat, my sister in law on the other hand, had two miscarriages already before this. Imagine everyone's delight and surprise when we found out she's having twins! Since she found out she's carrying twins she's had several false labors and threatened miscarriages again. She had to stay in bed during her 3rd month and on her 7th month until she gave birth to make sure the babies make it to full term. She was scheduled for C-section on the 23rd of February. When they told us she's in labor already last Valentines day, we were all nervous and scared both for her and the baby. She gave birth the next day to two wonderfully healthy boys.
On one hand, I still feel the grief of losing a sister or daughter even though I'm merely a friend, and on another you can't help but feel exhuberant and happy for the twin boys that just came out to the world even though I'm not the parent.
It's humbling and overwhelming. You don't know what to feel exactly. You don't know what to think even. Being a mother to a wonderful and sweet little boy, I know how it feels like to finally give birth and hold him in your arms, but Icertainly don't want to know what it feels like to lose him.
Yet I know I have no control over it. I know I'm only human, no matter how moms can be "super" in their own ways, no one can stop the circle of life from completing itself. It will happen whether we're ready for it or not.
I posted last week the passing of a sister of a dear friend of mine. It was sorrow and overwhelming grief that me and my friends felt together with their family. The crying of her mother was something no one could bear, yet everyone can feel.
Less than 48 hours later, two beautiful little boys were born to my sister in law and her husband a week earlier than expected.
The reality of it all humbles me as a human being and scares me as a mother. How life was given to us, how hard it is for a mother to carry her child for 9 months and how easily it can be taken away from us regardless of age, religion, ethnicity, nationality and health.
Zara, the lovely girl who died was the sweetest, loving and most caring sister and daughter to her family and friends. She had perfect health and showed no signs that anything was bothering her. In fact I was just looking at their family's photos last Christmas, she's as candid and bubbly as can be. No one at all expected her to pass away this soon, this early. Especially not her mother.
Chat, my sister in law on the other hand, had two miscarriages already before this. Imagine everyone's delight and surprise when we found out she's having twins! Since she found out she's carrying twins she's had several false labors and threatened miscarriages again. She had to stay in bed during her 3rd month and on her 7th month until she gave birth to make sure the babies make it to full term. She was scheduled for C-section on the 23rd of February. When they told us she's in labor already last Valentines day, we were all nervous and scared both for her and the baby. She gave birth the next day to two wonderfully healthy boys.
On one hand, I still feel the grief of losing a sister or daughter even though I'm merely a friend, and on another you can't help but feel exhuberant and happy for the twin boys that just came out to the world even though I'm not the parent.
It's humbling and overwhelming. You don't know what to feel exactly. You don't know what to think even. Being a mother to a wonderful and sweet little boy, I know how it feels like to finally give birth and hold him in your arms, but Icertainly don't want to know what it feels like to lose him.
Yet I know I have no control over it. I know I'm only human, no matter how moms can be "super" in their own ways, no one can stop the circle of life from completing itself. It will happen whether we're ready for it or not.
Jo
thanks Jo!