That poem really got me. Having children who are now 25 and 27 and parenting them for all these years, I have felt how the power I have is both massive and microscopic. "They come through you, but not from you" was particularly liberating and jarred loose a hidden lonely spots in my heart that I didn't know I had. Thanks for sharing.
Dear Chris, I'm so glad that you found the poem moving and thought-provoking. The first time I encountered Gibran's work was when Susan gave me a beautiful copy of The Prophet on the first Christmas we considered ourselves a couple (1967) - we were college sophomores - babies... I found his ideas to be novel, beautiful, and inspiring. If you're not familiar with the book, I'd encourage you to take a look. For starters, I think you would especially appreciate his pieces on love and on marriage.
Lovely essay, Hal. My parents stuck to the traditional mother/father, husband/wife roles, once they married my mother stayed home while my father worked. My mother didn’t drive and that furthered her dependence on my dad. They were both happy with that, but growing up in the 60s and 70s
I love that you and Susan were each mother and father to your children.
I love mother and father as a verb.
I love Kahlil Gibran's poem. It was literally the frame for my parenting 3 daughters.
And when I parented them solo after a divorce I knew - viscerally - want it meant to be both mother and father, not in a tag-you're-it kind of way, but always both and for most of their lives.
And even now, when each of them are adults and living their own lives, from time to time, I need to remind myself, " Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself." Gibran's words still slay me today.
Dear Jane -- I always appreciate your thoughtful comments. Single parenting is so very difficult -- no one to tag-team with. No one to nudge in the middle of the night and say, "It's your turn." And yes, parenting never stops -- I guess until the tables are turned and we become the ones being parented. Honestly, I dread that.
Thank you, Hal! I agree! And I have always LOVED this Kahlil Gibran poem. We read it at Erin and Patrick's baptism. <3 May we strive and continue to be the strongest, loving bows from which to send forth the world's children as living, loving arrows!
Dear Rachel, I loved hearing that you read this poem at Erin and Patrick's baptism! Such a special time to be acknowledging our roles in our kids' lives! I'm really looking forward to singing it in a few short weeks...
I love your essay and the reference to the excerpt from the Prophet. Thanks for sharing thus with us.
Thanks, Ingrid! I'll be singing the piece a week from tomorrow and it has taken over my brain!!! I'm sure you know what I mean!
That poem really got me. Having children who are now 25 and 27 and parenting them for all these years, I have felt how the power I have is both massive and microscopic. "They come through you, but not from you" was particularly liberating and jarred loose a hidden lonely spots in my heart that I didn't know I had. Thanks for sharing.
Dear Chris, I'm so glad that you found the poem moving and thought-provoking. The first time I encountered Gibran's work was when Susan gave me a beautiful copy of The Prophet on the first Christmas we considered ourselves a couple (1967) - we were college sophomores - babies... I found his ideas to be novel, beautiful, and inspiring. If you're not familiar with the book, I'd encourage you to take a look. For starters, I think you would especially appreciate his pieces on love and on marriage.
Lovely essay, Hal. My parents stuck to the traditional mother/father, husband/wife roles, once they married my mother stayed home while my father worked. My mother didn’t drive and that furthered her dependence on my dad. They were both happy with that, but growing up in the 60s and 70s
Thanks Jennie. I suspect your comment somehow got cut off after "in the 60s and 70s," but I suspect I can predict the gist!
Beautiful, Hal. Thanks for bringing us the deep wisdom of that poem.
Thank you, Brian -- wisdom indeed.
Half, I love everything about this essay.
I love that you and Susan were each mother and father to your children.
I love mother and father as a verb.
I love Kahlil Gibran's poem. It was literally the frame for my parenting 3 daughters.
And when I parented them solo after a divorce I knew - viscerally - want it meant to be both mother and father, not in a tag-you're-it kind of way, but always both and for most of their lives.
And even now, when each of them are adults and living their own lives, from time to time, I need to remind myself, " Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself." Gibran's words still slay me today.
Dear Jane -- I always appreciate your thoughtful comments. Single parenting is so very difficult -- no one to tag-team with. No one to nudge in the middle of the night and say, "It's your turn." And yes, parenting never stops -- I guess until the tables are turned and we become the ones being parented. Honestly, I dread that.
Thank you, Hal! I agree! And I have always LOVED this Kahlil Gibran poem. We read it at Erin and Patrick's baptism. <3 May we strive and continue to be the strongest, loving bows from which to send forth the world's children as living, loving arrows!
Dear Rachel, I loved hearing that you read this poem at Erin and Patrick's baptism! Such a special time to be acknowledging our roles in our kids' lives! I'm really looking forward to singing it in a few short weeks...
Hal, a lovely essay. Moving. Thank you for a Mother's Day gift.
Thanks, Helena. I'm happy to hear that.