Mothering, motherhood. What is that. I find it fascinating that most parents agree that parenting is the most difficult, trying, challenging job in the world. I find it equally fascinating that as challenging as it is, it’s a job that comes with an ambiguous job description except one thing. BE PRESENT
Whether one is an estranged father or mother for one reason or another. Questions always come up, where is the mother? who is the father? Whether one considers the father or mother toxic, the question still comes up. As a Christian, l believe God created us and HE gave us children and He considers the parenting role crucial. I often ask Him/ myself, how come He did not lay out an a to z clear cut guide line. A dummy guide to parenting straight from the Creator himself. Yes we have the bible and its filled with wisdom and insight, however there are times that l turn to Him and say,
Seriously? How do l figure this? Where do l start? I get so confused that at that moment even the Bible that’s filled with answers becomes blurry. What is it about parenting, mothering ?
A father once said to his daughter, honey l wish l could just press the download button from my head to yours, that way you will fully understand the advice, the path, the wisdom shared and avoid making the same mistakes l made, because telling you the story, the consequences is not enough, life calls you to learn via experience.
Is mothering, mothering without a father? Is mothering validated by fathering, or mothering is mothering full stop.
During lockdown my reflections on mothering went deeper. As a single mother raising 2 strong girls, it requires my 150 percent of my attention and a call to be present and listen. Its not always easy…
Lockdown has had its beautiful moments were we sit down face to face and l see my girls like never before.
Listen Listening rising and falling rising and falling squeeze squeezing listen laying a grumpy grip on my head listening places my head straight onto my neck one two click left click front ramrod, tree trunk chin slightly popping up surrendered ear lobes catching every flying word
Listening at that specific moment my ears rose from the ground were they were they were snoozing. They placed themselves on point, one to the left, one to the right, just below my hairline my temples. They flipped and flopped like little birds, sat, neatly perched away from my head as if they were ready for flight. A rush a buzz of energy, wheezing every inch and lobe stretching out to capture every lyric
The supermarket sperm into egg to embryo head shoulders knees and toes ear nose mouth leg fingers wiggle wiggle blink blink grow grow grow look up to the sperm the egg both look down at me mom that's what they call me I see God
Coventry, UK May-June 2020
Model/Artist: Laura Nyahuye
Wordsmith: Laura Nyahuye
Designer maker: Laura Nyahuye
Photographer: John Whitmore
