DownSyn Forum

jennifergg · Posted: January 18 2007, 9:55 AM Post subject: EA: "Mother" as a verb

On p.60, Beck writes, "This was my first tentative, wary encounter with one of the most precious gifts I would receive from Adam: the understanding that the word mother is more powerful when it is used as a verb than a noun."

(With all due apologies to fathers and fathering) what does this sentence mean to you?

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

queenk · Posted: January 18 2007, 8:57 PM Post subject:

I like the quote she includes from Patricia Holland, about how some women bear children but never mother them, and some women never give birth yet mother their whole lives. That really makes me think. I am mother to seven, but am I actively mothering them like they need? It's our actions that count.

_________________
Kathryn Lynard Soper
Mother of Thomas (DS) 10/2005
Sam - 2003
Matt - 2001
Christine - 1999
Andrew - 1997
Ben - 1994
Elizabeth - 1993

Author of The Year My Son and I Were Born: A Story of Down Syndrome, Motherhood, and Self-Discovery

Editor of GIFTS and GIFTS 2

jennifergg · Posted: January 19 2007, 12:33 AM Post subject:

Seven gets you a yes on both counts.

I particularly like this quote, for the reasons you mention. I also like it because it reminds me that we have the ability to change the world, even if it's in very small ways.

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

queenk · Posted: January 19 2007, 11:03 AM Post subject:

Sigh--if only quantity could comensate for quality! Laughing

_________________
Kathryn Lynard Soper
Mother of Thomas (DS) 10/2005
Sam - 2003
Matt - 2001
Christine - 1999
Andrew - 1997
Ben - 1994
Elizabeth - 1993

Author of The Year My Son and I Were Born: A Story of Down Syndrome, Motherhood, and Self-Discovery

Editor of GIFTS and GIFTS 2

jooniper · Posted: January 28 2007, 10:05 AM Post subject:

I love the quote about mothering. I remember being struck by it in my reading. I am being introduced to the idea that mothering is an artform and much like any artform, must be worked out. Unfortunately for my two older girls, this is a new idea for me.

_________________
Gillian
wife to Sergei and mom to Elaina ( Cool

, Zoya (6) and Polina (2 1/2 DS)
http://lintofpocket.wordpress.com/

ImperfectMe · Posted: January 28 2007, 3:08 PM Post subject:

I've never looked at the word "mother" as anything OTHER than a verb. Mothers LOVE. HELP. HEAL. CARE. These are all verbs. You can't mother by NOT doing.

I think the author put this into words perfectly.

_________________
CJ
Mom to:
B (10/96)
E (06/04: DS)
? (EDD: 11/10)

Little Miss Emmalee
The T21 Traveling Afghan Project
Don't Lick The Ferrets