Posted on 07/30/2008 2:52:19 PM PDT by Jeff Head
She's revered as a trail-blazing feminist and author Alice Walker touched the lives of a generation of women. A champion of women's rights, she has always argued that motherhood is a form of servitude. But one woman didn't buy in to Alice's beliefs - her daughter, Rebecca, 38.
Here the writer describes what it was like to grow up as the daughter of a cultural icon, and why she feels so blessed to be the sort of woman 64-year-old Alice despises - a mother.
The other day I was vacuuming when my son came bounding into the room. 'Mummy, Mummy, let me help,' he cried. His little hands were grabbing me around the knees and his huge brown eyes were looking up at me. I was overwhelmed by a huge surge of happiness.
I love the way his head nestles in the crook of my neck. I love the way his face falls into a mask of eager concentration when I help him learn the alphabet. But most of all, I simply love hearing his little voice calling: 'Mummy, Mummy.'
It reminds me of just how blessed I am. The truth is that I very nearly missed out on becoming a mother - thanks to being brought up by a rabid feminist who thought motherhood was about the worst thing that could happen to a woman.
You see, my mum taught me that children enslave women. I grew up believing that children are millstones around your neck, and the idea that motherhood can make you blissfully happy is a complete fairytale.
In fact, having a child has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Far from 'enslaving' me, three-and-a-half-year-old Tenzin has opened my world.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Except far too many of these have an attitude and want to run (and ruin) things for the rest of society
Who knows, over years, particularly as her mother ages, perhaps the love of a young grandson will first touch and then melt her heart.
I know that the feelings between my six grandkids and myself...their Papa...are among the most joyful of life and I am grateful to be sharing it with their beautiful Nanna, my dear wife.
Only a tiny percentage of women are childless. This sort of extremism was hardly taken to heart by an “entire generation”.
***
While it is true that only a small percentage are childless, the attitudes of many women — and men — toward motherhood have been warped by the work of the feminists. Look how many view it a waste of time and talent for a woman to stay home and take care of her own children. Instead of pursuing the most important career in the world, a woman is expected to drop her child off to be raised by strangers while she is working outside the home.
Glad she is speaking out, but I hope she marries the child’s father soon.
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Interesting.....
My thoughts exactly...if they haven’t already. Hopefully, her father’s example with his second wife, will provide the path there as well.
I was raised to believe that women need men like a fish needs a bicycle. But I strongly feel children need two parents and the thought of raising Tenzin without my partner, Glen, 52, would be terrifying.Is this the future of things? Remember Obambi's talk of 'marriage doesn't mean anything, it's how you feel'?
I assume that her 'partner,' Glen, is neither her husband nor the father of her child.
Couple this with findings that stepfathers and stepdaughters are not always a good combination...
“Shows you the impact fathers have on daughters, even divorced fathers, doesn’t it?”
And the truth shall set you free. How wonderful that she was finally able make her life into what SHE wanted.
Ironic isn’t it, “Alice” is still encouraging other women to break free, yet is incapable of acknowledging her own daughter’s dreams... : \
Tatt
She has made a lot of progress and discovered happiness that would never have occurred with her mother's example...but she still has a ways to go to climb completely out of the web of feminism that had her tangled up.
As myself and anothe rposter on this thread just discussed, we hope that they...and they really need to..get married.
Hoepfully her father's successful, long term second marriage which influenced her so will provide the guidance there as well.
These liberal women are a strange breed, they live for themselves - me, me, me!
Yes, the experience with a large group of one year olds was amazing. You learn things you don’t ‘see’ with just one or two of them together!
I hadn't noticed the indication that he's the father. Out-of-wedlock has become almost de rigueur these days, it seems.
There have been studies regarding the oft lack of familial bonding between step parents and children which should get more exposure than it does, though given the bias of today's media and the push for 'gay adoption,' the lack of exposure doesn't surprise me.
Perhaps, but she stated at 20 she felt a desire to be a mother. I think it's a natural inborn desire for most women to want a baby. I think her "mother" tried to destroy it but wasn't successful.
And for those who didn’t read the entire article. This girl got birth control at 13-14, became pregnant at 14 anyway and the one “motherly” thing this woman did was to go with her daughter for the abortion of her grandchild.
At 13-14! The mother was aware and thought it was ok for her child to get birth control.
She couldn’t go to the any school events of her own daughter, but she did stand by her daughter in this one occasion.
"when I met Glen, a teacher, at a seminar five years ago, I knew I had found the man I wanted to have a baby with. Gentle, kind and hugely supportive, he is, as I knew he would be, the most wonderful father."
Not sure if they married...that's not clear. I hope they did. But it seems clear that "Glen" is the father.
It is the most likely conclusion though, I agree.
ping
Spinsters.
From what I’ve read over the years a number of the feminist leaders strike me not as civil rights crusaders so much as narcissists. Alice Waters sure fits that description.
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Strange breed indeed
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