I stumbled upon this poem published in 1928 by Pam Brown. It spoke to my heart and I wanted to pass it along. So many mothers struggle with breastfeeding. Some get it all worked out just in time to go back to work and watch it quickly unravel. Others, no matter how hard they try, can't get it to "work." In western cultures, some will reach their breastfeeding goal and stand proud and at peace, but their numbers are small. I want you to realize that you will always do the very best you can given the resources available to you.
Perfect Mother
You mothers
have a habit of blaming yourself
for everything that goes wrong.
You were so determined to get it right-
to bring us up perfectly.
You forget. There's never a rehearsal
for every child is totally unlike the others.
Of course you made mistakes
but I don't want a perfect mother.
I want one who is human and can understand
and lets me make my own catastrophes.
You haven't feet of clay-
just ordinary human feet
subject to callouses and fallen arches.
I love you exactly as you are.
Mothers are amazing. The love thay have for their children is unmatchable.
Thank you to my mother who has loved me well.
Debbie