Monday 19 March 2012

Mums With Hairy Legs

Fenton?
Yesterday we had a wonderful Mothering Sunday (and once again, sorry for the wrong use of title - I blame my mothering). The whole day was a perfect reminder to pray for family life in all its array of colour, for the Blessed Virgin -  that beguiling teenager who gave herself away for the greater cause, the life of Mother Church in all her work of care and comfort, support and sustenance for the world at large. Flowers were duly distributed to all members of the congregation, without care for their status as parent or indeed gender. Mothering Sunday is a day for all, I think.

One of the great things about being a father to twins is that as a parent couple with two new babies, we both became single parents in tandem. In other words, we were called very often in the early days to one-on-one with a child while the other did the other. For one of the girls I did everything, and for the other, Mrs Acular did likewise. Despite the pressures that brought with it, it also presented a perfect opportunity for me as Dad to also be Mum - or put another way, to do everything, not just dip in and out to pick up the bits the other couldn't manage. I know several mates whose wives did or do the child-rearing while they did the bread-winning, bison-slaughtering and lawn-mowing - only to grasp a few minutes with junior at bath time.

This causes me, often, to think of parents who are left alone with children - through death, through separation, through many factors. More often than not, this arrangement is manifest in single-mums with their kids. Less often do we hear of fathers left to raise their children alone. 

The thing is, it just isn't the same. Arrangements for children (social, medical, educational, societal) are very mum-centric. I know the reasons why and I subscribe to them. However, being a dad with a kid (even if it is as a dad with kids just for the day while mum works) is tough at times. You only need try pitching up to a toddler group and you fast learn that as a testicular creature, you are in a tiny minority of (often) one. Even the toddler group in my last parish where I served as curate had me as the only male parent present. The school playground is another such place although to a lesser extent. You already know of my experiences trying to register my own children with a doctor surgery - "not without mum". Taking babies to clinics is much the same. I know why this is, and I accept it all - but neither is it easy.

And I am a man with a wife. I find it hard to comprehend how hard it must be to be a single-dad in this day and age. When toddler-groups are still familiarly known as "mother and toddler" groups, and many school networks find their genesis in NCT groups, it is easy to see that life doesn't easily provide for single dads without those men feeling like odd-ones out. The church is the same too, in part. The prayer and work for the maintenance of the family exists is whose Union? Not the Father's! 

Anyway, my reasons for writing this post (itself no more than a rumination typed) is not to judge the status quo, but to simply observe. I prayed for many facets more evidently presented in a normal Mothering Sunday, but overlooked to pray for those men who have to be mum too. For them I pray now. 

4 comments:

  1. Great post David. Particularly love the picture.

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  2. Thanks! One of our first visits to Richmond Park!

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  3. love the ruminations. My step-father had many problems with very little support over 30 years ago. Our society may move with lightening speed technologically speaking but in other areas I fear we plod like dinosaurs.

    Most of all I love the picture, I have had a conversation with Mrs Acular (do pass me love to her) on the love of such photo's and the quantity I have of Mr M & our girls in such. Why? Well this is my memory, a mum's. No-one else sees this view & gets such pleasure from it of a husband with our children, the best thing that either of us have done & we could not have done it without the other.

    Love to my family, now oh so far away, to yours. We miss you all.

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  4. I have said always that my husband is, and always was, so much better with the Pixiekids. When they were little he just seemed to know what to do, how to play with them and how to encourage and nurture. My memory of when they both had whooping cough he was the one who would wake even before the first whoop, he would be out of bed, comfort and support them. It isn't that I don't love them, I do and it easier now they are adults of course but I'm not a natural Mum.

    When I once admitted that there had been a few times when I had regretted having children there have been members of the Order of Mums who were horrified at my honesty. Their children may not have had such a super saintlike Dad who more than made up for my deficiencies.

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