The Special Mother

[Davros]

The Special Mother

by Erma Bombeck


Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit.

This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint.give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

"Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."

"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has her own world. She has to make her live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'". She will never consider a "step" ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"

"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".

"And what about her Patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."

[coddychops]

is coddy

[ScummyMummy]

No, Erma, no...

[Davros]

REPEAT: Just explaining, I hate these poems and said I would post them all here so they have less reason to appear elsewhere (will repeat this disclaimer wherever necessary!)

[DrWho]

STOP!

[Jimjams]

vomit

[Davros]

OI! Who let Dr Who join MN?

[serenequeen]

please stop now

[DrKnow]

if we have drwho then i must come and see wot all this capper is about

moment please while I examine

[DrKnow]

no not coddy

"I will permit her" - oh gee thanks god for the permit and allowance!

[anorak]

Davros, what happens if people want to post decent poetry here? Favourites they think other people might like? Is it just going to drown in your sea of dross? Most of which isn't poetry anyway, regardless of the standard.

[Davros]

Anyone can post whatever poetry they want, these threads will just go down the line. I posted these because, believe it or not, some people with SN children find the uplifting and I didn't think it was fair for me to say that I couldn't tolerate them on SN boards unless there was somewhere else for them.

[anorak]

But Davros, most of it ISN'T poetry, is it?

I was thinking of posting a serious poem in this section and asking if anyone would like to discuss it. But there's no way I will do that now until all this has died down.

If all this got on your nerves in other sections, you can scarcely be surprised if your posting reams of it with the misnomer 'poetry' gets other peoples' backs up. You can repeat your 'explanation' as many times as you wish, there is a total lack of reasoning here.

[lou33]

I think what defines poetry is different for every person, and ther are many different styles of it. Many people love this sort of stuff, but many do not. Likewise Anorak, people may have the same feelings about the stuff you may post. You both have an equal right to post what you want, as long as it isn't against netiquette.

[anorak]

In that case lou, you could say that what you've just written is poetry. Davros doesn't want this stuff on SN threads...?

[lou33]

You could anorak . Davros may not want them on sn threads, but of course if people choose to post them there, then they can. But I think the poetry section came about because she suggested a place where all sorts of verse could be posted in one place.

[anorak]

lou, I know what you're saying. I'm just exercising my right to post what I think about it.

What's that old quote...I don't agree with a word you've said, but I'd defend to the death your right to say it...something like that

[lou33]

I was just jumping in to try and stop fisticuffs that's all. Bad attempt at playing peacemaker .

[anorak]

I never indulge in fisticuffs lou. Unlike you bouncer types

[lou33]

I have never scrapped in my life, I will have you know!

[Davros]

Oi you two, stop it!
Lou's right, there's nothing to stop anyone posting more of the same on SN or elsewhere, I just thought that, if we had an alternative place, we might not get them on SN where sometimes we can find these upsetting and offensive (on a low day). However, this lot has given us all a good laugh!
Anorak, I think you should go ahead and get this section sorted, I'm sure there are MNers who will respond once they see the drivel has stopped.

[lou33]

Sorry mum.....

[anorak]

Affirmative, Capn Davros