Blessing for a Mother-to-be

This was sent to me by a cousin when she found out I was pregnant. I think it is very sweet and wanted to share it.


Blessing for a Mother-to-be
John O'Donohue

Nothing could have prepared your heart to open like this.
From beyond the skies and the stars this echo arrived inside you and started to pulse with life, each beat a tiny act of growth, traversing all our ancient shapes on its way home to itself.

Once it began, you were no longer your own. A new, more courageous you, offering itself in a new way to a presence you can sense but you have not seen or known.

It has made you feel alone in a way you never knew before, everyone else sees only from the outside what you feel and feed with every fiber of your being. Never have you traveled farther inward where words and thoughts become half-light unable to reach the fund of brightness strengthening inside the night of your womb. Like some primeval moon, your soul brightens the tides of essence that flow to your child. You know your life has changed forever, for in all the days and years to come, distance will never be able to cut you off from the one you now carry for nine months under your heart.

May you be blessed with quiet confidence that destiny will guide you and mind you. May the emerging spirit of your child imbibe encouragement and joy from the continuous music of your heart, so that it can grow with ease, expectant of wonder and welcome when its form is fully filled.

In memory of my dad... and in celebration of my soon-to-be-dad husband

For many years, Father's Day was not a holiday that I celebrated. I would be vaguely aware of its passing because of the surge in advertisements for cool electronics and Hallmark cards. My father died suddenly in an accident when I was 12 years old. I started to notice other days - like the anniversary of his death - and I gradually, with some sadness, forgot about Father's Day.

In the last couple of years, I have added Father's Day back to my list of days of note, because I now have a father-in-law. He is the kind of person who is religious about sending cards and calling on important holidays. Without fail, he will sing "Happy Birthday to you" over the phone to us on our birthdays. I appreciate this celebration of the people we love, and I'm happy every year to make sure that we send a card and give him a call on Father's Day.

Today, I had the thrill of wishing my husband a Happy Father's Day. I didn't get a card or a gift, just acknowledged him and his role in our growing family. Next year, you can bet that I'll make a bigger deal of it. I welcome the return of Father's Day. I have certainly felt the absence of my father in my life. I always think of my dad the most on the happiest of days - like my wedding day - and cry a little that he isn't there to share it. I'm sure I will have the same sort of emotions on the day that my child is born. This sadness will be just one of many emotions, and I imagine I will mostly feel overwhelming joy. And so we remember the past and honor our family, but we celebrate the joys of today and those to come.

Why Science of Mom

I am formally trained as a scientist, but at the start of this blog, I am also a soon-to-be a mother. I have a PhD in Nutrition. In the lab, I study fetal development, so I should know a thing or two about pregnancy. My husband is in his medical residency. And yet, as we embark upon the adventure that is parenthood, we are faced with many questions. Within a week of learning that we were pregnant, I encountered big decisions: How do I limit my exposure to dangerous substances in the lab? Should I take fish oil and how much? How much should I exercise during the first trimester? Being a scientist, I am generally not satisfied to do a quick internet search and read a few random opinions. I don't even trust my husband's opinion half the time (drives him nuts!). I prefer to read peer-reviewed scientific literature - lots of it - and then form my own opinion. This is of course a time-consuming process, and I figure that if I am going to do thorough research on a topic, maybe I could share what I learn about science and parenting through a blog. My goal is to translate science – “The Science of Mom” - to a wider audience of inquiring parents who want to know what is best for their children. I also intend for this blog to serve as a record and journal of my own journey into parenthood.

I know I probably sound a little naïve to an experienced parent right now – because I am naïve. I have very little idea of what I am getting myself into with this parenting thing, and I know that I won’t be able to answer everything with science. I encourage my readers to comment with their own experiences, scientific or not, and to tell me when my science is just plain silly. This is also the point when I should say that I am not a physician, and I do not intend to hand out medical advice. If I should address a medical topic, please use it as a discussion-starter with your doctor. This blog is in no way a substitute for medical consultation. That being said, I will do my best to present the most accurate, science-based information possible.

Enjoy the site, and please, keep in touch and let me know how I am doing.