What a well written account of both your personal experience and the current state of western humanity. I really feel like any culture that doesn't value children and woman first and foremost is suffering from a sickness. I have a little 2 year old son and my second child on the way, already I have become such a better person through being a parent and so has my husband. I agree that the suffering and pain you go through raising a little one helps build strength of character. We become better people through rising up to meet the responsibilities of life, and raising children is the ultimate responsibility.
If there was anything I could offer you it would be to not let anyone touting ideas such as that man have even a second of your mental happiness. He didn't deserve to shake you up and make you feel on the verge of tears. His comment was way too pathetic to solicit a rise outta you. You are a strong Mama Bear, I have followed you on Instagram enough to know, he deserved a growl and perhaps the middle finger. Haha!
Oh thank you so much! I will say my own reaction did surprise me a bit but our feelings are our feelings and it’s all okay ♥️ I truly agree that current society seems to be moving through an illness of disconnect, and this is most illustrated by this child-hate and mother-disregard, which is reflected in a lot more than just my examples here. It takes doing it-parenting, birthing-to know the true value of this work, but I feel others should still have some measure of innate reverence for both the mother and the child and their unique perspectives and experiences. Thank you for reading this and for guiding by example in your own mothering, no doubt! Blessings to you and your family as well!
I appreciate this post so much! I was reflecting to a friend how much I love the community my family recently moved to because the people here respect children. If they hear your kid say something funny in a store they laugh. If they see you loving each other they smile. Being in a place where children are honored has shined a light on how they are being devalued elsewhere. But there are so many people everywhere who still hold children in honor!
What a beautiful and encouraging message, thank you! I love to hear things like this so much. If we cannot see joy in a child’s presence, we have lost something fundamental, and I am so encouraged to know this is still well and good in at least some places and spaces!
"It was not the first time my children were seen in a vulnerable moment by a stranger not as a noisy burden, but as a little soul in need of a little bit of help and time." This line brought tears to my eyes.
I am a mother to five, with twins joining us in a few months!
Oh wonderful! Congratulations on your twins and big family, that is beautiful. It’s so good to know we as mothers can see one another and our children and think those same sentiments that you quoted here.
A new mother I hope to meet and to be graceful like the woman who helped you. I’ve felt hateful eyes on me for simply existing before and I certainly wouldn’t want my child to ever feel that.
Literally tearing up while I read this at work. I feel like I'm trolling all your posts haha. I just love your writing. You have a beautiful way of communicating the truth in such a tender-hearted manner.
Children are absolutely precious. A lot of times what I see at work and where I live is disdain and ignorance for them, and that just breaks my heart every time. I remember seeing a video on Instagram (I think it was PragerU) where this guy walked around asking strangers on the street if we should stop calling mothers "mother" and call them "birthing persons". My favorite reaction was this elderly woman who said, "Why would you do that? It's the most wonderful thing in the world to be a mother." I love that so much.
So... children have the right to live, BUT, children who do not feel they were born in the body they belong are abominations? You cannot have it both ways, expect people to respect you and your choices, all while shitting on people who are just trying to live their lives. I get it, you don't like trans people, you don't understand what it is like to be born one gender and not feel like it's the right gender. Now, please, explain to me why i need to hate my now daughter because she was born male and at the age of five put on a dress during play (with NO outside influences, it was at another girl's house, and it was part of their game) and everything change in her mind. She wants to wear girl's clothes, grow her hair long, paint her nails, do make up, say she wants to grow up to be a princess. She gets very upset if anyone calls her by her male name, and even more upset if anyone says she was born a male and should act like it. I've done no coaching, no enticing, all i've done is support her decision. I don't hate women, or think less of them, i still support and appreciate my wife, and my wife who is a woman still respects women, all while still loving and supporting her son who is now her daughter. So there goes that entire rant about why you hate people who chose to be trans.
I do not subscribe the the cultural diseased and disembodied thought that children can be born “in the wrong body”. I do not hate any child and I certainly did not tell you to hate yours. Thank you for your comment, but I think my mention of not being “allowed” to ask questions surrounding trans ideology does not equate to hate.
What a well written account of both your personal experience and the current state of western humanity. I really feel like any culture that doesn't value children and woman first and foremost is suffering from a sickness. I have a little 2 year old son and my second child on the way, already I have become such a better person through being a parent and so has my husband. I agree that the suffering and pain you go through raising a little one helps build strength of character. We become better people through rising up to meet the responsibilities of life, and raising children is the ultimate responsibility.
If there was anything I could offer you it would be to not let anyone touting ideas such as that man have even a second of your mental happiness. He didn't deserve to shake you up and make you feel on the verge of tears. His comment was way too pathetic to solicit a rise outta you. You are a strong Mama Bear, I have followed you on Instagram enough to know, he deserved a growl and perhaps the middle finger. Haha!
Best regards to you and your beautiful family!
Oh thank you so much! I will say my own reaction did surprise me a bit but our feelings are our feelings and it’s all okay ♥️ I truly agree that current society seems to be moving through an illness of disconnect, and this is most illustrated by this child-hate and mother-disregard, which is reflected in a lot more than just my examples here. It takes doing it-parenting, birthing-to know the true value of this work, but I feel others should still have some measure of innate reverence for both the mother and the child and their unique perspectives and experiences. Thank you for reading this and for guiding by example in your own mothering, no doubt! Blessings to you and your family as well!
I appreciate this post so much! I was reflecting to a friend how much I love the community my family recently moved to because the people here respect children. If they hear your kid say something funny in a store they laugh. If they see you loving each other they smile. Being in a place where children are honored has shined a light on how they are being devalued elsewhere. But there are so many people everywhere who still hold children in honor!
What a beautiful and encouraging message, thank you! I love to hear things like this so much. If we cannot see joy in a child’s presence, we have lost something fundamental, and I am so encouraged to know this is still well and good in at least some places and spaces!
This is beautiful. Yes to all of this.
"It was not the first time my children were seen in a vulnerable moment by a stranger not as a noisy burden, but as a little soul in need of a little bit of help and time." This line brought tears to my eyes.
I am a mother to five, with twins joining us in a few months!
Oh wonderful! Congratulations on your twins and big family, that is beautiful. It’s so good to know we as mothers can see one another and our children and think those same sentiments that you quoted here.
I finished this with tears in my eyes. As
A new mother I hope to meet and to be graceful like the woman who helped you. I’ve felt hateful eyes on me for simply existing before and I certainly wouldn’t want my child to ever feel that.
I have the same hope for you and for us all! Congratulations on motherhood and welcome ♥️
Beautifully written Emily 🪞
I somehow just saw this and wanted to say thank you!
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Literally tearing up while I read this at work. I feel like I'm trolling all your posts haha. I just love your writing. You have a beautiful way of communicating the truth in such a tender-hearted manner.
Children are absolutely precious. A lot of times what I see at work and where I live is disdain and ignorance for them, and that just breaks my heart every time. I remember seeing a video on Instagram (I think it was PragerU) where this guy walked around asking strangers on the street if we should stop calling mothers "mother" and call them "birthing persons". My favorite reaction was this elderly woman who said, "Why would you do that? It's the most wonderful thing in the world to be a mother." I love that so much.
If you let some asshole making a brief dig bring you to the verge of tears, it's time to toughen up.
If you're exaggerating, you're doing the thing you decry in the woke monsters.
So... children have the right to live, BUT, children who do not feel they were born in the body they belong are abominations? You cannot have it both ways, expect people to respect you and your choices, all while shitting on people who are just trying to live their lives. I get it, you don't like trans people, you don't understand what it is like to be born one gender and not feel like it's the right gender. Now, please, explain to me why i need to hate my now daughter because she was born male and at the age of five put on a dress during play (with NO outside influences, it was at another girl's house, and it was part of their game) and everything change in her mind. She wants to wear girl's clothes, grow her hair long, paint her nails, do make up, say she wants to grow up to be a princess. She gets very upset if anyone calls her by her male name, and even more upset if anyone says she was born a male and should act like it. I've done no coaching, no enticing, all i've done is support her decision. I don't hate women, or think less of them, i still support and appreciate my wife, and my wife who is a woman still respects women, all while still loving and supporting her son who is now her daughter. So there goes that entire rant about why you hate people who chose to be trans.
I do not subscribe the the cultural diseased and disembodied thought that children can be born “in the wrong body”. I do not hate any child and I certainly did not tell you to hate yours. Thank you for your comment, but I think my mention of not being “allowed” to ask questions surrounding trans ideology does not equate to hate.