Showering Blessings

I'm gonna go out on a limb here
and tell ya' how I really feel.  I know I am going to offend some folks.  Sorry.  Here goes:

I hate baby showers.

They totally freak me out.  I hate the games... honestly, a crossword with the word "cesarean?"  Are we trying to scare the mom-to-be into early labor?  Must we really sniff tiny diapers filled with synthetic poo?  What an insult to perfectly good chocolate.  I get it that I am unorthodox in my birth practices.  I don't want to be shut off to my baby and body, and so the thought of an epidural does not bring to mind "Lifesavers" candy.  I get a braincramp trying to act like every present is cute.  I mean, babies in hot pink leopard print with black netting? Tiny leather mini-skirts???  I want my births to be private and sacred, and I guess I feel the same way about most things relating to the coming of a new little soul.  I don't like to see it being made fun of.  I know, so weird.  You can stop reading now.

Oh, you're still here, waiting for my point?  Well, here it is:  Sweet Kathy, exercise and gardening partner extraordinaire, is having a baby soon (and, by the way, is also STILL doing Jillian Michael's Ripped with me... modified, but still!  There goes your excuse to not exercise!).  I asked if I could host a "shower" for her, all the while knowing I had no intention of throwing a shower, not in the traditional sense, anyway.  She is so soft spoken and gentle.  I couldn't imagine her being put through a big, noisy shower.  So I hosted a blessingway.

A blessingway is created for a mother to honor her unique spirit and her divine roll as a mother.  Though gifts are shared, they are almost an afterthought to the many thoughts and tender feelings showered out upon the mama-to-be.

 

I recruited Krista to help, with her great color sense and her easy way with high-tech decorations.  Each woman arrived with a frozen casserole for Kathy to put away until after the birth, already a wonderful start!  Next we introduced ourselves (though the group was small and we mostly knew each other), by stating our name and the names of our mothers and grandmothers, and then sharing a quick story about one of them that honored the example they set as a mother.  Next we shared how we knew Kathy, our thoughts about what has inspired each of us just from being her friend.  We each brought a note of encouragement or an uplifting quote that was written on a butterfly that is being made into a mobile for the baby.  We told Kathy, each in turn, what we saw in her that makes her a wonderful mother.  We listened as Kathy shared the tender story of her and Bishop's decision to bring this little one into their family, and we gave her a flower foot bath and hand massages.

We then enjoyed Kathy's favorite - Thai food prepared sweetly by my hubby.  It was soooo yummy.  As we visited, we created a baby blanket with our hand prints on it, to remind Kathy on hard days of the wonderful community she has ready to support her.  We ended with a simple piece of string that was wrapped around each of our wrists, connecting us all as mothers and daughters of God in a circle of motherhood.  Then one by one, the link of yarn between each woman was cut and a small strand tied to each wrist to remind Kathy's friends to pray for her in the days ahead.  When they hear that Kathy has had her baby, each woman will clip off her string, offer up a little prayer of gratitude, and stay connected to Kathy so that her babymoon can be as sweet and unfettered as possible.

I am so grateful for the wonderful women that surround me on my own mothering journey, especially Kathy.

Steph and Madelaine

 

Joanna, Mary, Kathy & Krista

Amanda & Steph

*******

(Of course, now I must show off the food!...)

Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Spicy Coconut, Lime, Cilantro and Chicken Soup

Citrus Coconut Salad

The Thai people are sorely lacking in pastries, so cupcakes filled with chocolate ganache and topped with citrus frosting made their appearance.  I will apologize to Thailand later.