We Asked, You Answered: Stories of your mothers’ strength, compassion, and love
On social media, we gave you this prompt:
Tell us your stories of your mothers’ (or your children’s mothers’) strength, compassion, and love, especially as relates to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
You all shared many inspiring and touching stories. Below are a selection, but you can click on the links in the words “social media” above to see even more.
SS: I am adopted and was born the year Roe v. Wade became law. My birth mother had a “choice” and loved me more than herself by giving me life.
francesca.elena: My mother was a teen mom at 16. That baby, my oldest brother, is now a very successful grandpa-to-be. At 39 my mom had my little sister 3 months early due to preeclampsia. I remember visiting my baby sister in the NICU with my mom every day for the month I was off of school. My dad would go every day after work. My sister, now in her late twenties, has some lingering physical and cognitive issues but is a joy to everyone who meets her and has done much with her life so far. I can’t imagine my life without either of those siblings.
SK: My oldest came to me through foster care. But when I think about his biological parents, I don’t think about their mistakes—I think about the gift of life they gave my son, and how much hope lies ahead of him just because of that one choice.
KL: My mother had me at 26 weeks due to placental abruption and I weighed 1lb and 9.5 oz. The doctors told her to abort me and start over and were going to let me “die with dignity” because they said I wouldn’t survive, kidneys wouldn’t function etc. My mom told them that it wasn’t for them to decide if I died or not. I stayed in the NICU for about 3 months and then I got to come home.
CQ: My great grandmother was an untrained nurse who helped deliver many babies, nursed the sick ones, and closed the eyes of the dead, bathed, dressed, and laid out their bodies. When she got word of their nearest neighbors imminent ordeal during a blizzard, she strapped on a pair of home made wooden skis and set out to be of help . When she encountered drifts that stopped her progress, she took off the skis, lashed them together, laid down on them and performed the breast stroke to continue her journey.
nosirrom_aydan: I had visible birth defects, and she was in her 40s, so she could have easily aborted me, but she chose to have me and put me up for adoption. I got adopted into a family that I am incredibly grateful for.
rachaeluxx: My mom had 10 children, including the one who had a prenatal diagnosis of a cardiac condition. I remember the stress of her pregnancy (I was 10) and she never considered abortion for a minute. She only mourned deeply when he passed at 3 months old. But beyond birthing all the children, my mom is pro-life for the whole life- I’m almost even more proud that when our neighbor of 20+ years was suffering from a neurodegenerative condition, and considering physician assisted suicide, my mom would drop anything to run over to her house and help her out. She’d go over there and wash her bedding, brush her hair, scratch her back, drive her to visit her aging father… Any little task she could do to help her be comfortable. And I feel a bit of pride in my mom that our neighbor never followed through on the lethal prescription, and continues to live and thrive. Our neighbor has always been a joyful person, and my mom stepped up as a real community member to make sure we didn’t lose her light.”
selenaeve: My mom didn’t know I had spina bifida occulta when she was pregnant with me. The genetic testing came back inconclusive. I was born asphyxiated and had to be resuscitated which resulted in cerebral palsy. She never gave up on me, even when my prognosis was grim. Thanks to her perseverance and love, I now have a normal life with a baby of my own!
chelseambrenner: My mom gave everything for me. She got pregnant with me at 17 and never for a second thought about her other “options”. I was always loved and wanted. She faced prejudices because she was a pregnant teenager and was forced to drop out of highschool because her teachers didn’t want to teach her. She sacrificed it all for me. Her strength and resilience is what keeps me going now as a mother myself, if she could do it with the world against her I definitely can too.
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