All mothers have days–probably a LOT of days–where we say to ourselves, “This is it. This is all I can handle. I cannot continue.” And then we handle more, we continue. Why? How is this possible? In Laura Kelly Fanucci’s essay, this is heavy. but we are also strong., she offers a thoughtful, poignant answer that stems from her small son’s declaration of accomplishment after bearing the weight of a large melon.
She says,
He lunged for the melon’s slick surface, its round face bigger than his own head. His chubby hands grasped the sides firmly, and I watched his arm muscles start to quiver slightly as he raised it an inch off the counter.
“Ooo,” he marveled. “It’s heavy!”
“But I am strong.”
***
A professor from grad school used to remind us that the measure of maturity was the extent to which one could live with ambiguity. Why do I still find myself stuck marveling in adulthood how often I have to hold paradox in trembling tension? It grates at me not to resolve the unresolvable.
Maturity means growing into the space where the world does not make sense and yet we agree to live there. Because it can still be good. Because there is no other option. Because we are always asked to carry more than we think we can.
To read her entire piece (and it’s well worth your time!) visit her blog, Mothering Spirit.
Image courtesy of SOMMAI / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
