Sunday, May 12, 2013

the birth of a mother

"The most difficult part of birth is the first year afterwards. It is the year of travail - when the soul of a woman must birth the mother inside her. The emotional labour pains of becoming a mother are far greater than the physical pangs of birth; these are the growing surges of your heart as it pushes out selfishness and fear and makes room for sacrifice and love. It is a private and silent birth of the soul, but it is no less holy than the event of childbirth, perhaps it is even more sacred." - Joy Kusek

I was in my late teens when I witnessed a beautiful conversation between an old man and a young mother. I was behind the counter in the bookshop where I worked when the mother of three young children attempted to balance the trolley, the shopping, a conversation with the cashier and calm her crying baby. The gentleman was trying to walk between the trolley and the bookshelf and the mother turned to him and apologised profusely which is when he held her hand, looked her in the eye and said: "Don't you ever apologise, you have the most important job in the world." She cried. Such powerful validation.

Happy Mother's Day to my own mother and to all mothers. We walk this privileged path together x

posted by: Jodi

64 COMMENTS

  1. Sabrina SchellkesMay 12, 2013 at 12:51 PM

    Such beautiful and honest words x
    Happy Mothers day to you :)

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  2. ImogenMay 12, 2013 at 12:57 PM

    Lovely Jodes. x

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  3. UnknownMay 12, 2013 at 12:59 PM

    Thanks for sharing this Jodi - what a beautiful story. Happy Mother's Day xx

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  4. amandaMay 12, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    that is so lovely~ thank you for sharing

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  5. AnonymousMay 12, 2013 at 1:06 PM

    What a beautiful story. You are truly beautiful...inside and out.

    Happy Mothers Day! XO

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  6. Alisa : Ink CaravanMay 12, 2013 at 1:08 PM

    So beautiful
    Happy Mothers Day

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  7. Elisa {With Grace and Eve}May 12, 2013 at 1:14 PM

    So beautiful. Made me tear up. What a beautiful moment to witness. Thanks for sharing it Jodi. Elisa xx

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  8. Jenny MMay 12, 2013 at 1:15 PM

    Now more than ever, now as our 2 beautiful children are in their 20s, I feel that my heart has grown ever bigger.....at times swelling with love for our children and pride in the way they live their lives. Once a Mum you know that you would give your all to nurture, protect and guide your children to live happy and healthy lives.

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  9. UnknownMay 12, 2013 at 1:18 PM

    Happy Mother's Day. That sure is one beautiful story. xx

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  10. Jenny MMay 12, 2013 at 1:23 PM

    Now more than ever, now as our 2 beautiful children are in their 20s, I feel that my heart has grown ever bigger.....at times swelling with love for our children and pride in the way they live their lives. Once a Mum you know that you would give your all to nurture, protect and guide your children to live happy and healthy lives.

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  11. SarahMay 12, 2013 at 1:24 PM

    Beautiful sentiments! Happy Mothers Day!

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  12. MichelleMay 12, 2013 at 2:25 PM

    What a beautiful story! Wishing everyone a joyous Mother's Day!

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  13. AnonymousMay 12, 2013 at 2:26 PM

    I feel my heart is still adjusting, and I'll well past that first year. Oh dear. It never stops.
    And what a darling that old man was!

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  14. UnknownMay 12, 2013 at 3:35 PM

    That just brought a little tear to my eye and gave me goosebumps. Today and everyday I feel blessed to be a mother. It's the most rewarding and challenging thing I have done in my life. Happy Mothers Day :)

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  15. leanne can blogMay 12, 2013 at 4:05 PM

    What a beautiful quote & such a lovely story. Hope you enjoyed your Mother's Day x

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  16. kate May 12, 2013 at 5:08 PM

    Thank you for a precious post - Motherhood is a beautiful, hard adjustment and is constantly evolving too... as our children grow from babies to toddlers to children to teenagers our mothering changes and grows as well... and continues to pull and tug at our hearts. I hope you enjoyed a blissful day. xx

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  17. Modern Day MummyingMay 12, 2013 at 6:06 PM

    Such lovely words and they speak such mountains of truth... Have a lovely Mother's Day Jodi.

    Sophie xo

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  18. Imogen EveMay 12, 2013 at 7:29 PM

    Beautiful. Both words and images.

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  19. LottaMay 12, 2013 at 8:48 PM

    Thank you for this.

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  20. Sarah HumphreysMay 12, 2013 at 9:41 PM

    You made me cry! That's not hard but still. x

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  21. Katrina@capturingmomentsMay 12, 2013 at 10:03 PM

    An elderly man stopped me the other day as I was walking with Ronan. He said "It is so lovely to see you enjoying him" and I thanked him and he said "No but really, it is so lovely to see, you are a wonderful mother, I can tell." It made my day and was possibly the nicest compliment I've ever received!

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  22. AmandaMay 12, 2013 at 10:20 PM

    What a truly beautiful story Jodi - thank you for letting us all share in the journey of motherhood with you. Happy Mother's Day lovely xx

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  23. Steph @ this brown wrenMay 12, 2013 at 10:37 PM

    Beautiful. Made me smile...and cry. Hope your week is grand :) xx

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  24. JanaMay 13, 2013 at 12:16 AM

    You made me cry! I often ask the 5th graders I work with what they want to be when they grow up. I talk to them about how great it was to be a stay at home mom and how it's a season and now I'm working again. I want them to value motherhood!

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  25. BriseidyMay 13, 2013 at 12:18 AM

    this is beautiful! I wish more people were like that old man....
    thanks for sharing!

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  26. MariellaMay 13, 2013 at 1:05 AM

    Never words could define better my motherhood experience than these ones...so thank you for sharing this quote with us, and happy mother's day to you Jodi and to all the mothers out there

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  27. ElizabethMJaocbMay 13, 2013 at 1:17 AM

    Happy Mother's Day Jodi.

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  28. Ladies in NavyMay 13, 2013 at 1:59 AM

    how gorgeous! happy mother's day!
    kw ladies in navy

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  29. Living on LoveMay 13, 2013 at 2:24 AM

    So lovely. Just wrote a post with this same title! :)

    http://www.disneybaby.com/blog/the-birth-of-a-mother/

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  30. SmykolandiaMay 13, 2013 at 2:49 AM

    beautiful story. In Poland Mother's Day is coming (26 May)

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  31. AstridkaMay 13, 2013 at 4:50 AM

    Thank you!
    Sincerly
    Astrid

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  32. Kiera JeanMay 13, 2013 at 7:22 AM

    Bless his heart!

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  33. krystaMay 13, 2013 at 8:51 AM

    What a beautiful story! I cried a bit.

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  34. Little Jane StMay 13, 2013 at 9:25 AM

    Beautiful words wise lady! Hope you had a wonderful day with your family x

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  35. mel @ loved handmadeMay 13, 2013 at 10:08 AM

    beautiful. happy mothers day to you jodi x

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  36. jennyMay 13, 2013 at 10:41 AM

    this brought tears to my eyes! so so beautiful. thank you so much for sharing.

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  37. Kate @ Babe & AbodeMay 13, 2013 at 11:00 AM

    A beautiful quote and a beautiful story. So grateful for the amazing Mums in my life and the chance to one day be a Mum myself.

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  38. AngelaMay 13, 2013 at 1:49 PM

    Such beautiful words and precious photos of your lucky children, to have you as their Mother. I absolutely adore the photo of Poet.
    Happy Mothers Day to you.

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  39. Preeti DubeyMay 13, 2013 at 4:40 PM

    Lovely words Jodi. Happy Mother's day! :)

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  40. MarloMay 13, 2013 at 5:00 PM

    Beautiful!! I'm a new reader of your blog & I am finding it delightfully lovely!! Thank you

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  41. tRiShMay 13, 2013 at 7:53 PM

    How beautiful and inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

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  42. Angela SteynMay 13, 2013 at 8:34 PM

    Beautiful! I'm about to give birth to my second child and I'm terrified and grateful and so full of love I feel totally lost :)

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  43. Megan.K.May 13, 2013 at 10:50 PM

    Just lovely
    Xx

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  44. jodyMay 13, 2013 at 11:20 PM

    What a beautiful story and that quote! Hope you had a very special day. xo

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  45. AnonymousMay 14, 2013 at 1:41 AM

    This touched my soul, thank you!

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  46. marciMay 14, 2013 at 6:47 AM

    so beautiful. both photos and words. happy mother's day to you.

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  47. AnonymousMay 14, 2013 at 7:52 AM

    so true! wonderful piece.

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  48. AnonymousMay 14, 2013 at 4:01 PM

    gosh I think I would have cried too...what beautiful gesture from the man.

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  49. AmberMay 14, 2013 at 5:14 PM

    I can't explain how deeply I connect with that quote. Beyond true. Beyond beautiful.

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  50. heidiMay 14, 2013 at 7:51 PM

    I printed this out & put it in my journal I loved it so much

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  51. UnknownMay 15, 2013 at 1:35 AM

    This is wonderful. I am in my first year as a mother and reading this gave me a boost. I hope you had a wonderful mothers' day!

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  52. emilyMay 15, 2013 at 11:20 AM

    gorgeous words as always Jodi. I was well-prepared for childbirth... but was NOT expecting the huge adjustment that being a mother would bring. So blessed to have made it through that first year and have such a bright shining light in my life and heart but whoa nelly, it was pretty hard!!

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  53. emilyMay 15, 2013 at 11:22 AM

    p.s. happy mothers day to you. you are a very inspiring mama :)

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  54. TjuhlMay 15, 2013 at 6:39 PM

    Ive had that desperate look in my eyes, and ive seen it in other mothers, when they rock a crying baby in their arms in a store, while everyones looking. God, this story really touched me.

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  55. EmmaMay 15, 2013 at 8:12 PM

    Oh this made me cry too. What a lovely and inspiring anecdote.

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  56. tinyparticlesoflightMay 17, 2013 at 3:34 AM

    What wise and wonderful words that sweet old man spoke.

    xo
    cortnie

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  57. Hannah NicoleMay 17, 2013 at 9:52 PM

    made me cry. how wise and beautiful. xx

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  58. UnknownMay 18, 2013 at 4:58 PM

    you caught me off-guard with this 1 and made me cry!

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  59. growMamaMay 18, 2013 at 6:30 PM

    Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it. Perhaps we each could be what that man was to that woman. x

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  60. ellieMay 18, 2013 at 10:13 PM

    My father has said this to me on many an occasion. "you have the most important job in the world". It makes my heart sing when he says it, and reminds me to stop and just be with those babies who have the best mama they need.
    I've dipped my toes in your blog over time, but have never had the time to explore. Oh - beautiful beautiful. I'll be back for more reading and soaking up. xx

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  61. T'liaMay 19, 2013 at 5:22 AM

    I love that quote you shared. I saw it on pinterest the other day, and it made me feel so relieved to know that I am not the only one who has struggled in my first year of motherhood, and it gives me hope that it was all worth something!

    Hope you had a lovely Mother's Day. :)

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  62. UnknownJune 23, 2013 at 3:11 AM

    This is such a beautiful post, brought tears to my etes.

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  63. UnknownMay 10, 2014 at 12:58 PM

    I cry every time I hear that bookshop story! Beautiful. And that quote is gorgeous, absolute truth. Happy mother's day gorgeous mumma xxxx

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  64. Dear LolaMay 10, 2014 at 2:30 PM

    This made my whole body tingle with goosebumps... for a long while after I read it - thank you xxx

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