Mother Nana and Midwife

Do you remember when you first found out you were going to be a mother. I do...Going to the Doctors (or nowadays midwife), or seeing the pregnancy test change to a +. I remember the life changing experience and emotions of anxiety, excitement, joy, and apprehension. For me, the apprehension came primarily from how am I going to tell my family and friends especially how am I going to tell my parents.

I had one of those life changing moments when my oldest son (only 18yrs) and his partner came and told me they were having a baby. The same emotions came flooding back. Initially it was oh no, but then it turned to excitement, the joy and the apprehension for them Also the apprehension of being a Nana and not feeling very nanaish

The lesson for me is to remember those feelings. In my role as a midwife I see new new and expectant parents, grand parents, whanau and friends often, for me being aware of those emotions and the journey the whanau is taking is important. I think we can become blase when we are exposed the same thing day in and day out. For each whanau, no mater what the circumstance, expecting a new baby is truly a life changing experience.

When my son told me, it took a while to sink in so I wrote this verse...

You came to see me today, i thought you were going to tell me
Mum - i have a puppy or Mum - i'm moving away

You came to see me today, I thought I was going to say
Son, whatever makes you happy, or Son - we are always here to help you.

I only seems like yesterday, when you were a new baby
Lessons about life, love and mothering you have taught me
My first born son, now those lessons of happiness you will see
A blessing and a precious gift for our family.