My First Mother’s Day

 

An odd title, you may be thinking. Aren’t you in your late thirties? Well, yes. But today is my first Mother’s Day as a mother. My child may still be young enough to be aborted in Mississippi under the law under review in Dodd, but I am finally a member of the sorority stretching back to Eve.

I won’t spout any cliches about how “it’s only when you stop trying that it happens.” For the person desperate to be a parent, that offers no comfort whatsoever. I will say that when you accept that children are a gift from God that He simply doesn’t give everyone without that lack of a gift being a comment on your worthiness as a person (if the rain falls on the just and the unjust, so does the drought), that a childless life can still be one of meaning and purpose — when you can achieve that level of spiritual enlightenment and release, then the marriage bed can be freed from the sorrow, guilt, betrayal, despair, and pain that made it a mockery of its intended purpose. As much as every barren tear over the last decade scourged my heart as they carved their way into wrinkles around my eyes and bleached my brown hair silver, I can’t deny that they made me a better person, one who has a much better grasp of what is and isn’t in my control. 

As I’ve mentioned before, we simply cannot choose life. We can be as open to it as possible, willing to preserve and protect it with every ounce of our strength, but in the end, we are as impotent to command it as Job, who cannot tell bridle the behemoth. Becoming the shelter for this mystery has only made me more aware of just how miraculous, how precious, how awe-inspiringly magical the creation of a new person from two cells truly is. 

Published in Marriage
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 65 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Mexican Freedom Fighter Jack Inactive
    Mexican Freedom Fighter Jack
    @dnewlander

    Congratulations, Amy!

    • #31
  2. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    Congratulations and prayers for you and the little guy or girl.

     

    • #32
  3. Sandy Member
    Sandy
    @Sandy

    Best news of the day. Congratulations!

    • #33
  4. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    Wow! Congratulations! My children are a blessing so your post rang true. I was 36 when I had my second one. No problems. I think creating a new life is God’s gift and an amazing experience. I’m still in awe after all these years when I look at my daughters and see a little of my husband and a little of me in both of them. Fasten your seatbelt. Your life is taking on a whole new meaning. Your post overflows with your joy.

    • #34
  5. Samuel Block Support
    Samuel Block
    @SamuelBlock

    This is the best news! I doubt it’ll be beat until you’ll be able to show us pictures of the tiny one.

    Very happy for you and Chef.

    • #35
  6. Dave of Barsham Member
    Dave of Barsham
    @LesserSonofBarsham

    Happy Mothers Day!

    • #36
  7. GrannyDude Member
    GrannyDude
    @GrannyDude

    Amy, how wonderful! I’m so glad. Happy, happy mother’s day! 

    • #37
  8. kelsurprise, drama queen Member
    kelsurprise, drama queen
    @kelsurprise

    Happy Mother’s Day.  I am so happy for you.  

    • #38
  9. Blondie Thatcher
    Blondie
    @Blondie

    Congratulations!

     

    • #39
  10. Postmodern Hoplite Coolidge
    Postmodern Hoplite
    @PostmodernHoplite

    @amyschley shared the news with me a few weeks ago when I spent a few hours helping her with some chores; it’s been real hard to keep the news to myself. CONGRATULATIONS to Amy and @chef – they will be wonderful parents!

    • #40
  11. Postmodern Hoplite Coolidge
    Postmodern Hoplite
    @PostmodernHoplite

    GLDIII Purveyor of Splendid Ma… (View Comment):

    I guess I no longer have to keep this a secret.

    Me, neither!

    • #41
  12. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Kitchen remodeling. That’s what did it.

    Happy Mother’s Day, Amy.

    • #42
  13. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Congratulations , Amy!

    I feel like a special occasion such as this deserves, nay demands, a celebratory longcat:

     

    • #43
  14. Joseph Stanko Coolidge
    Joseph Stanko
    @JosephStanko

    Yippieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

    • #44
  15. aardo vozz Member
    aardo vozz
    @aardovozz

    Congratulations!🎈🎊🎉🎊🎊🎊🎈🎈🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎆🎆🎆🎆🎉🎉🎉☺️

    • #45
  16. jmelvin Member
    jmelvin
    @jmelvin

    Congratulations!  This is wonderful news!

    • #46
  17. Podkayne of Israel Inactive
    Podkayne of Israel
    @PodkayneofIsrael

    OMG!!!!! Take care of yourself and may G-d bless you and your baby with health and an easy birth in the right time.

    By the way, Israeli midwives say “Mazal Tov” only after the afterbirth comes out. Tfu-tfu-tfu, it should be in a good and propitious hour.

    • #47
  18. Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker Coolidge
    Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker
    @AmySchley

    Percival (View Comment):

    Kitchen remodeling. That’s what did it.

    Happy Mother’s Day, Amy.

    For those not in the PIT, Percy is referring to this: 

    Ikea Kitchen Remodel https://imgur.com/gallery/llLddUJ

    • #48
  19. The Cynthonian Inactive
    The Cynthonian
    @TheCynthonian

    I’m delighted for you and Chef!   Prayers and best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and smooth delivery.  

    • #49
  20. Podkayne of Israel Inactive
    Podkayne of Israel
    @PodkayneofIsrael

    Prayer is supposed to be an excellent thing for a good pregnancy. Some people recite Psalm 20 twelve times. And the Talmud mentions that wearing a ruby is a good for carrying to term, but make sure you take it off before birth. Nobody wants to stay inside forever.

    • #50
  21. lowtech redneck Coolidge
    lowtech redneck
    @lowtech redneck

    I’m so happy for you, Amy!

    It looks like its hubby’s job to clean the litter box for the next several months, so bonus!

    • #51
  22. MeandurΦ Member
    MeandurΦ
    @DeanMurphy

    Wonderful news Amy!  Many blessings on you and your family!

    • #52
  23. Cassandro Coolidge
    Cassandro
    @Flicker

    I just want to say that this is probably the most uplifting post I’ve read in two years.  (And all the comment make my chin pucker.)

    • #53
  24. Patrick McClure Coolidge
    Patrick McClure
    @Patrickb63

    May you and Chef know all of the happiness, joy, terror, and love that comes with parenthood. G-d is good.

    • #54
  25. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    This feels right. 

    • #55
  26. Phil Turmel Inactive
    Phil Turmel
    @PhilTurmel

    Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker (View Comment):

    Some Call Me …Tim (View Comment):

    Congratulations. When is the due date, if you don’t mind sharing?

    I should have a date by next Friday, but mid to late November is the time frame.

    A Thanksgiving baby! So very appropriate.

    • #56
  27. Caryn Thatcher
    Caryn
    @Caryn

    Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker (View Comment):

    Some Call Me …Tim (View Comment):

    Congratulations. When is the due date, if you don’t mind sharing?

    I should have a date by next Friday, but mid to late November is the time frame.

    May you then have a very happy–and healthy–Thanksgiving.  I’m so VERY happy for you, Amy, for all of you. Very happy, indeed.

    • #57
  28. Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker Coolidge
    Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker
    @AmySchley

    Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker (View Comment):

    Some Call Me …Tim (View Comment):

    Congratulations. When is the due date, if you don’t mind sharing?

    I should have a date by next Friday, but mid to late November is the time frame.

    Doctor visit done. The due date is November 15.

    You want pictures? Of course you do. 

    First Ultrasounds https://imgur.com/a/Jt4I1ek

    • #58
  29. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker (View Comment):

    Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker (View Comment):

    Some Call Me …Tim (View Comment):

    Congratulations. When is the due date, if you don’t mind sharing?

    I should have a date by next Friday, but mid to late November is the time frame.

    Doctor visit done. The due date is November 15.

    You want pictures? Of course you do.

    First Ultrasounds https://imgur.com/a/Jt4I1ek

    Excellent!!!

    • #59
  30. Hank Rhody calls me Perry Coolidge
    Hank Rhody calls me Perry
    @ltpwfdcm

    Wait, what? Congratulations!!!

    • #60
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.