My mother was a wonderful woman. Unfortunately after five years of sickness she died at age 49. I was 24. Two months before her death she summoned up the strength to attend my swearing in as a lawyer 90 miles from home. I looked up at her seated in the balcony, knowing she had weeks to live. I was overcome with love and admiration. She knew what was lying ahead. Thus, Mother’s Day always brings on a panoply of emotions for me, some happy and some very sad.
Although I grew up in a big family and still cherish my presence in that family, I also grew up knowing that it wasn't just genetics that connected people. There was always room at the kitchen table for one more (or more than one). My parents were inclusive and welcoming and the kids loved that. I learned later in life that family also includes the people you choose to make family. I am lucky to have grown up in a big family and to still think of as family many people who do not share my genes. I think that's the way to live a good life.
That was beautiful and I felt every word of it. Family does come in all shapes and sizes. And blood doesn't make us family. It's the bonds we all share. I hope your family had a beautiful day and here's too many more Happy Mother's Days and Father Day's.
Wonderful sentiment, Allan, but lost on many of us not o blessed as yourself. I believe the time is long overdue for us to consider the future that lies ahead for any of the 168,000 children being born today, far too often to parents who do not consider the future facing their/our offspring. The stats on the mental health/stresses/worries of young folks today are deeply troubling: 47% of Americans ages 18-50 are choosing NOT to reproduce, for a wide variety of reasons, NONE of which have anything to do with the wellbeing of their potential offspring. We/you/and I are so very selfish and too often concerned only about our immediate happiness. Climate collapse, if the global heating continues at its current rate of 0.2 degC ANNUALLY over the 1991-2020 baseline used by C3S, then we/they may see a 3 degC increase by 2032, a world predicted to be unable to support life for one half of our current worldwide populations. Still want to blindly promote the pronatal joys of family life? In my 2018 e-book, "Stress R Us", available for free download as a PDF out at Stanford, I refer to the "nuclear family" as a momentary lifeboat being pounded fore and aft by the stresses of our modern world, now that the social structure we all evolved in, the clan/band, is mostly lost to our day to day experience. I have found no reason to change my opinion in Trumpworld.
One more thing that I want to add and it is that in the Jewish tradition and I don’t know if you were Jewish or not and it makes no difference. I’m just pointing out that in the Jewish tradition one of these things we say is l’chaim, which means to life
Greeley while I do agree with you that the future looks very dim because humankind is destroying itself. I still have to hold onto the hope that our children can reverse things. I believe in life and I believe in new life and I believe Ian new Young vigorous generations can bring about the necessary changes. How can I get a copy of your book because I am truly anxious to read it. He strange because I agree with you and I see it myself and I have no illusions. I have two daughters and they are twins. They are both married, but only one of them decided to have One child and that’s my wonderful grandson who is now 16. I worry about his future in this crazy world, but he deserves a chance because I think he can make a real contribution and make a difference. My other daughter and husband decided not to have children and my wife did her best to get them to change their minds but she was not successful. Their choice was not unusual all things considered. So I find myself in a strange situation where I agree with you and I agree with my one daughter and son-in-law and yet I am so pleased to have my grandson and I must believe in life I just must I must clean to that hope. Please help me to find access to your book stress or us it’s an e-book so I will look for it in any case thank you so much for your contribution. I respect you and agree with you, but we must give life a chance in my opinion and it’s my humble opinion
My mother was a wonderful woman. Unfortunately after five years of sickness she died at age 49. I was 24. Two months before her death she summoned up the strength to attend my swearing in as a lawyer 90 miles from home. I looked up at her seated in the balcony, knowing she had weeks to live. I was overcome with love and admiration. She knew what was lying ahead. Thus, Mother’s Day always brings on a panoply of emotions for me, some happy and some very sad.
Marc, this memory and story are filled with tragedy, intense motherly love, and a sense of triumph. My heart is with you.
Mark it breaks my heart
Although I grew up in a big family and still cherish my presence in that family, I also grew up knowing that it wasn't just genetics that connected people. There was always room at the kitchen table for one more (or more than one). My parents were inclusive and welcoming and the kids loved that. I learned later in life that family also includes the people you choose to make family. I am lucky to have grown up in a big family and to still think of as family many people who do not share my genes. I think that's the way to live a good life.
That is wonderful
That was beautiful and I felt every word of it. Family does come in all shapes and sizes. And blood doesn't make us family. It's the bonds we all share. I hope your family had a beautiful day and here's too many more Happy Mother's Days and Father Day's.
Thank you so very much
Wonderful sentiment, Allan, but lost on many of us not o blessed as yourself. I believe the time is long overdue for us to consider the future that lies ahead for any of the 168,000 children being born today, far too often to parents who do not consider the future facing their/our offspring. The stats on the mental health/stresses/worries of young folks today are deeply troubling: 47% of Americans ages 18-50 are choosing NOT to reproduce, for a wide variety of reasons, NONE of which have anything to do with the wellbeing of their potential offspring. We/you/and I are so very selfish and too often concerned only about our immediate happiness. Climate collapse, if the global heating continues at its current rate of 0.2 degC ANNUALLY over the 1991-2020 baseline used by C3S, then we/they may see a 3 degC increase by 2032, a world predicted to be unable to support life for one half of our current worldwide populations. Still want to blindly promote the pronatal joys of family life? In my 2018 e-book, "Stress R Us", available for free download as a PDF out at Stanford, I refer to the "nuclear family" as a momentary lifeboat being pounded fore and aft by the stresses of our modern world, now that the social structure we all evolved in, the clan/band, is mostly lost to our day to day experience. I have found no reason to change my opinion in Trumpworld.
One more thing that I want to add and it is that in the Jewish tradition and I don’t know if you were Jewish or not and it makes no difference. I’m just pointing out that in the Jewish tradition one of these things we say is l’chaim, which means to life
Greeley while I do agree with you that the future looks very dim because humankind is destroying itself. I still have to hold onto the hope that our children can reverse things. I believe in life and I believe in new life and I believe Ian new Young vigorous generations can bring about the necessary changes. How can I get a copy of your book because I am truly anxious to read it. He strange because I agree with you and I see it myself and I have no illusions. I have two daughters and they are twins. They are both married, but only one of them decided to have One child and that’s my wonderful grandson who is now 16. I worry about his future in this crazy world, but he deserves a chance because I think he can make a real contribution and make a difference. My other daughter and husband decided not to have children and my wife did her best to get them to change their minds but she was not successful. Their choice was not unusual all things considered. So I find myself in a strange situation where I agree with you and I agree with my one daughter and son-in-law and yet I am so pleased to have my grandson and I must believe in life I just must I must clean to that hope. Please help me to find access to your book stress or us it’s an e-book so I will look for it in any case thank you so much for your contribution. I respect you and agree with you, but we must give life a chance in my opinion and it’s my humble opinion