The Day I Became the Mother of a Mother

On International Women’s Day I was asked who a woman is that inspires me or I appreciate and I said my daughter. 

And I can safely, after this past week, say that title still stands. 

I knew witnessing my daughter in birth would be one of the hardest things ever but I seriously misunderstood exactly how hard.

This woman is my hero. I am so inspired by her grit and strength. 

Watching and holding her while she was riding the waves of labour will be something I never forget. 

Being able to stand back and just be present because her man so deeply and powerfully had her held is something I wish every mother could witness. To see your baby girl so deeply loved through the process of labour is beyond words. 

When your daughter becomes a mother, something inside you transforms too. Or at least it did for me.

Birthing is such a powerful process that turns us into a mother. 

It’s the knowing that on the other side of the pain and pushing there is one of the most beautiful prizes you will ever receive. 

It’s something my daughter has desired for so long. Her partner getting a tattoo at 18 to put their child’s time of birth on once they had that baby. They just knew what they were going to become in the future. 

And that’s a beautiful family. Those 2 will and are being the most amazing parents. I saw it before I even left the hospital after my grandson was born. 

I’m now a Glamma of 2. And boy am I feeling the waves of emotion. 

But it’s different. Seeing my baby be a mum to her baby has me feeling all the things. My first concerns are how is she going. How is she feeling. What does she need?

On the way to her house I said to my hubby this feels so different. When I used the word transition he said “that reminds me of death I don’t like that word” and I said “that’s because it is a death. It’s a death of the woman she was to become the mother.”

It felt different because I was going to her house for the first time as the mother of a mother. 

And that’s no small thing. 

Witnessing her in the small moments. Watching her watch her baby. Watching her breastfeed her baby. Watching how her body is recovering while raising this tiny human already. 

Women are just such cool humans. The things we do and our bodies experience to become a mother really will never stop blowing my mind.

Witnessing my daughter in law give birth was a beautiful moment for me. Nothing ever gets better than seeing a grandchild come into this earthly world. I would do it again in a heartbeat. 

Yet witnessing my daughters first birth, and any subsequent ones she has if she wants me there, will forever be a Favourite moment in my life because those grandchildren were once a part of my body. Like how crazy cool is that?

This next phase of life is going to be the best. 

❤️ I mean it already is ❤️

Then I think about the grandparents who don’t care about their grandbabies and I wonder how? 

I couldn’t imagine a life now where I didn’t want to help if I can. And yet there was a time when I was younger, during my depression, where I said don’t have children expecting me to help it’s not my job. That makes me laugh. Because the idea that I would say No to anything to do with my grandchildren is so not a part of my psyche now. I guess that was the depression talking – that not needed in the world feeling – that better off without me feeling – all the things that come with mental health issues. 

I’m so glad I am still here to experience all of this. That will forever be my biggest gratitude for life. 

This is a whole lineage shifting one heartbeat forward.

And I’m here to be a part of it 🥰

Xo S