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Wednesday, April 15, 19:22:15Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1234567[8]910 ]
Subject: Re: Thanks


Author:
Pat
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Date Posted: 12/11/06 6:05pm
In reply to: Mary 's message, "Thanks" on 12/11/06 11:07am

Mary,

I understand your feelings. I had a pregnancy I felt distraught about. I wasn't very healthy, and I felt it would be a physical ordeal to be pregnant and give birth one more time. And yet, he is incredibly precious to me, and I am so proud of him! No, all our children were NOT planned. Several of them were not. In fact, most weren't, when you think about it. We planned three, adopted two (who were just as unplanned as yours), and had two more who were unplanned, and we lost one who was unplanned. It's not PLANNING children that makes you responsible, but how you care for the children you are given. Will you protect those children and care for them, or will you let some stranger rip your children from your body? Maybe you deserve something bad for getting pregnant under such circumstances, but does your child deserve for you to harm him or her? You ARE a mother. What will you do? Will you protect your child, or will you let some stranger do grave violence to your child?

I agree with you that ideally, you should have children with a loving husband (and don't assume that won't happen; there are women here who started out as single mothers, and ended up marrying a wonderful man who has been a father to their children in every way that matters). But a financially secure home? WE didn't have that. We thought we did, but you can't always order up prosperity and get it. We had long periods of time with no income at all. None of our children ever went hungry, or didn't have clothes and a place to live. We made it through. You can, too. You can get help we never even tried to get (because we didn't have to, in spite of our problems; God always provided). No matter how well you try to plan your life, life is something that HAPPENS. We are no longer taught how to survive adversity and uncertainty, but we need to learn to accept and deal with these things, because they happen.

What do you mean by dreams and hopes that you cannot realize? If you really want to do those things, you can! You can do them either in spite of being a mother or even because of it. I have accomplished just about everything in my life I wanted to accomplish even though we had children and hardship. And the children actually helped me realize some of my dreams, because I did things I wouldn't have done if I hadn't had children, things I am now very happy I did. Like learning to read a bunch of languages, learning to play new musical instruments, getting a beautiful piece of land in the wilderness as a place for our home, and many other things. I got a college degree after we had four children, three of them preschoolers. I helped found a civil rights organization and traveled (always with my youngest child) to speak and debate on behalf of the organization. The organization is now a third of a century old, and still going strong. I wanted to travel and do photography, and I have been doing that. And so on. I can't think of a single goal I have that I have never been able to touch, even because I had children.

As for having children by more than one father, well, because we adopted, we have children by three fathers. :) But my husband is THEIR father. Each and every one of them. He FATHERED them. He wasn't just a sperm donor! As for a broken home or whatever, let me tell you. I have four grandchildren. One of them was born to our son who is not married. He had a three week fling, and now he has a son. And his son, our grandson, is not any less precious to us than the other three. He's a beautiful child, and very well behaved, and very intelligent. I am thankful for him, and I told his mother, "Thank you for having him and letting us be part of his life." I cry tears of joy when I think about him. Our son and his mother are sharing taking care of him.

You should NEVER allow your obligations to force you to go against your own heart! If the people you are dealing with are humane, they will understand and appreciate you for being strong. If not, maybe you should find other people to associate with!

Why are you having trouble with your heart? It's because you are a mother, and your heart knows it! You have bonded with your baby (this starts to happen right after conception).

I appreciate very much the fact you feel safe coming here and letting out your feelings. We will be here for you, no matter what.

Follow your heart. Please protect your baby.

Hugs,
Pat

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Replies:
[> Subject: Re: Thanks


Author:
Melanie
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Date Posted: 12/11/06 6:13pm

Hi Mary, I have to echo what Luka is saying wholeheartedly, and she knows from experience what she is talking about!

I just wanted to add something regarding your feeling that you have goals that having a child would thwart. All I can say is that it doesn't have to. Can it delay some things? Of course. If the goals are worthwhile, there is usually a way to make them happen even if you have to take a different route or more time. At any rate, goals can be adjusted. A life lost cannot again be regained.

The apparent logic that says that the time isn't right for a child might make sense if the child did not yet exist. However, that is clearly not the case, and it is denial of that child's existence rather than logic that makes abortion seem such a logical decision right now. The premise is faulty if you start with the premise that there is no child. You know in your heart of hearts that something is there or you wouldn't be pregnant in the first place and this struggle would not exist.

I hope this doesn't seem in any way harsh, as it isn't intended to be at all. I don't want to trivialize anything that you are going through or tell you that life will be a piece of cake from here on out. I can't make that promise. What I can tell you having gone through pregnancies with less than perfect timing, that many of the struggles were temporary. However, the best things in life, the best lessons I've learned all came about because I was a parent. I hope you won't deny yourself that opportunity.

BTW, just because you are a single mom now doesn't mean you will never be find someone else to help you parent your child. There are a few ladies on here that can testify to that. :)

Oh.. and I am really pretty good at writing novels, so please don't feel bad if you want to write pages. Write as much or as little as you need.

If you need any help finding resources, I am happy to help.

--Melanie



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