Mothering the World
Love by Kathleen Grieg
Mothering can take many forms. Each of us - male or female - can mother. How can this be, you may ask?
Let's look at the verb form of the word - to mother. The late Old English meaning was, "that which has given birth to anything." Then, around 1863, it began to be used to mean, "to take care of, to act as a mother."
During this pandemic, we have all been challenged to "act as a mother," to each other and to ourselves. These actions are what a mother would do for her child - protect, nurture, encourage.
We have been asked to protect each other from this virus. This means wearing masks, as well as making them for those who do not have any. Protection also means staying several feet away from people, staying home and keeping everything sanitized.
Nurturing comes from our creative acts. For example, the ingenious posts we share on social media - group sing-a-longs, videos of social distance dancing, challenges to re-create art from home and family "depression" recipes shared from times when the world was in crisis and food was short. In addition, we nurture when we make signs thanking those on the front lines of the pandemic or drop off necessities to elders and those who cannot go out.
How we encourage each other during these days of separation can be as simple leaving notes in chalk on the road or sidewalk, creating heart designs in our windows or simply calling with words of cheer and kindness to family and friends. A phone call has become a lifeline to many.
As far as mothering ourselves, this takes a bit more practice. Many of us forget that we need self-care. We are used to going, going, going until we drop. We must realize that by getting sick, we cannot help others. In addition, we must consider our own risk factors of age or immune deficiency. While complying to the quarantine edict is difficult, it is making a difference where it is being practiced.
Mothering during this pandemic is tough, mostly because we want to be with those we love and do what we had done before this virus began wreaking havoc on the Earth. Thing is, on this Mother's Day, the best thing any of us can do is to stay home and stay safe.
Together, we can mother the world back to health. Together we can birth a new world. But it will take all of us doing what needs to be done - making the sacrifices that a mother would make for her children.
Let's look at the verb form of the word - to mother. The late Old English meaning was, "that which has given birth to anything." Then, around 1863, it began to be used to mean, "to take care of, to act as a mother."
During this pandemic, we have all been challenged to "act as a mother," to each other and to ourselves. These actions are what a mother would do for her child - protect, nurture, encourage.
We have been asked to protect each other from this virus. This means wearing masks, as well as making them for those who do not have any. Protection also means staying several feet away from people, staying home and keeping everything sanitized.
Nurturing comes from our creative acts. For example, the ingenious posts we share on social media - group sing-a-longs, videos of social distance dancing, challenges to re-create art from home and family "depression" recipes shared from times when the world was in crisis and food was short. In addition, we nurture when we make signs thanking those on the front lines of the pandemic or drop off necessities to elders and those who cannot go out.
How we encourage each other during these days of separation can be as simple leaving notes in chalk on the road or sidewalk, creating heart designs in our windows or simply calling with words of cheer and kindness to family and friends. A phone call has become a lifeline to many.
As far as mothering ourselves, this takes a bit more practice. Many of us forget that we need self-care. We are used to going, going, going until we drop. We must realize that by getting sick, we cannot help others. In addition, we must consider our own risk factors of age or immune deficiency. While complying to the quarantine edict is difficult, it is making a difference where it is being practiced.
Mothering during this pandemic is tough, mostly because we want to be with those we love and do what we had done before this virus began wreaking havoc on the Earth. Thing is, on this Mother's Day, the best thing any of us can do is to stay home and stay safe.
Together, we can mother the world back to health. Together we can birth a new world. But it will take all of us doing what needs to be done - making the sacrifices that a mother would make for her children.
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