Tender Moments Waiting

byreading

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Updated 10 years ago

So many people miss the experience of preparing for a new addition to the family. For one thing, how many nurses experience joy when a woman finds out she is expecting a baby? I remember when I had my first positive pregnancy test. The nurse came in and almost morbidly said, "....It's Positive." I said, "really? I am pregnant?" She looked at me and smiled. Then she said, "your happy?" "Hey, if you're happy I am happy."

That is why it touches me so much to read about a family who is all involved during the 9 months it takes for a baby to be born. I was priviledged to sit beside my student while whe read Before You Were Here. This is a great book that is mostly English, but is Spanish in a few areas. I like the way my student explained to me what the words meant when we came upon the Spanish words. Sometimes, I knew because the word was close to English or there was some visual cue. Sometimes, they knew the meanings, but they were not sure how to explain the meaning to me. They would use arm motions such as trying to show me a rocking chair. I loved that example and easily understood it.

We started out reading the dedication page which was to those who had been supportive during the writing of the book and the author thanked Mom.

This is a heartwarming story about a mother who is expecting a baby. Her husband who also lives in the same house, is involved throughout. He knows there will be a need for a rocking chair, so he goes out and cuts down a walnut tree. Then he puts forth much effort to build the perfect rocking chair for "cuddle time" that Mom will spend with the baby.

The brother asks mom "when will the baby be old enough to play baseball with me?" The sister draws a picture of the whole close family so the baby will have a picture to look at. The mother and the baby listen while daddy gets out a guitar and sings poetry, just in case the baby is listening.

The grandmother paints the bedroom with elephants, tigers, giraffes, and 5 monkeys so the baby can go on a jungle safari in his or her imagination. The grandfather listens to the baby and makes a neat comment about his perception of the baby's future. The sister listens to the baby and shares what she guesses the baby will like to do.

One of the family makes rice and milk or a rice pudding for the mother so the baby will have a good nature about him/her. One of the family makes mother beans and rice so she will be healthy. There is a time shown in the story where the whole family is on a porch swing in the front of the house while mother is eating a bowl of cherries.

It is a very touching book how everyone is involved and they eagerly wait for the coming arrival. I so see from my perception that the little things of preparation are very missed out on in today's society. Everything is so readily available to be convenient. BabyShowers are set up so needs can be met and that is all well and good. However, have we started to forget the family interaction when the baby is on the way?

Just a thought.