Your friend Belle sounds a lot like a friend of mine who has three little girls. She had her first in the hospital with drugs, and I know that still bothers her so much. She had her third up here in Alaska, naturally, and that baby is one of the sweetest babies I've ever seen.
I think the main factor for a lot of women is fear. I mean, they're told one thing all their lives; they're made to believe that doctors can always help you. Also, so many people really do seem to believe that ignorance is bliss. It's sad, but I understand that they're afraid. Sort of like I was afraid not to go back to college right away. I mean, I'd been told my whole life that if I didn't go to college, my life would be worthless and entirely devoid of happiness. It's hard to break away from that.
That said, I think it is very silly not to try to be as informed as possible, not just about childbirth, but about anything that is relevant to your life.
Childbirth and child psychology have always been interesting to me. All through high school, I worked in a daycare, so I got to be around children and watch them grow up. (Not to mention the fact that I am the oldest of four children, so I ended up being a second mom to some of them.) I love watching children develop; it's amazing how smart they really are. Plus, kids still just have all this hope and faith that so many people lose as adults. It's wonderful because when I'm around them, it sort of 'recharges' those batteries for me, I think, and I find myself looking at the world with more hope and faith.
Gosh, I wish I could come down there and see all of those babies! I heard about Anna's birth on facebook and have gotten to see some photos, at least. Facebook is great, as far as that goes; it's nice to at least feel a little bit in touch with family, even if I'm really not, because I live in the most isolated place in the world. At least it's beautiful here. Right now, I'm walking around feeling like I'm in a scene from the Nutcracker, or maybe Narnia, or something. Just gorgeous. I'll have to figure out a way to show you more of where I live. Like, maybe by showing you photos or something? I don't know.
Oh, look! There's one, now. It was taken from the cabin I stay in for part of the summer while I work as a counselor at a camp. Of course, that doesn't really capture the wintery beauty I'm talking about right now... But this is the photo I just happened to have sitting on my computer, so there you go!
I meant to actually talk more about childbirth in this post, but I daresay I got a bit off topic. So... perhaps next time. Also, when I am on my other computer at home, I'll post more of that fairytale/fantasy/novella/whatever-you-want-to-call-it. It isn't on my laptop, which is silly, because it if were, I would probably have finished it much faster. Oh, well. I suppose I'm learning for next year...
5 comments:
oh man! it cracked me up! and you just kept saying it! all kinds of hilarious!
and i agree about the fear thing, but i still don't think that's a valid reason to be misinformed. before i started learning about it and seeing how birth could really be, i was afraid of it too. i didn't even want kids because i was so afraid. but after i learned about it, i let go of most of my fears. i'm not concerned about the actual birth now. the only thing i can really say i'm afraid of now is the fact that something could happen to the baby (even though it not really that likely). so i think if people just ook the time to learn more about it and get the facts straight, they'd at least be less likely to be fearful.
and facebook is awesome! i get to talk to anyone i want on there. it's really useful since i don't have a phone. :(
i'd really love to visit you in alaska. me and aunt jenny were talking about going sometime...but i'm not sure if that's going to happen any time soon! ^_^
AHH. I would be soooo stoked if you and Aunt Jenny came. That would be pretty much the most awesome thing ever.
It's expensive, though. That'd be why I don't come visit often.
I'm thinking it's about time for me to get out of here for a while. I *love* it here, but the thing is... anywhere gets tiring if you're there for a very long time without a break. And Juneau, while beautiful, is pretty small. So seeing the same thing every day for years gets a little old, eventually.
It was never much of a problem when I lived 'down south.' You can drive and be in a whole new place. It's definitely not like that here.
I agree that fear is not a *good* reason not to do something, but it is a *big* reason people don't. I think the best way to break that cycle is to point it out - a lot of people don't realize how silly their fears are until someone TELLS them.
It's sort of like Girard's scapegoat theory - the people involved don't even see that they are until an outside party tells them they are.
In other news, I have the stomach flu, so I'm living in happy-fun-land, as you can imagine. It seems like I always get sick this time of year. Blah.
i understand. i love idaho, but i'd really like to travel. i'm pretty sure i'll always want to live here, though. or maybe montana. i couldn't live in a big city, that's for sure!
and that's exactly what i try to do. if anyone mentions something about it that i know is myth, i'll try to point it out. it's hard for me to do, though, because i don't want to offend people. and a lot of the time people don't take kindly to new information when they think that they're correct in the first place. but what really matters to me is that i try to help people make more informed decisions and if it works, great! if it doesn't, that's too bad. even if i only help to change one person's mind i'll be happy about my efforts. ^_^
i'm sure you're just having a wonderful time with that stomache flu (ugh!). that's pooey! well, take it easy (i almost just wrote take it 'east'!where do you think you would be going?) and get better soon!
Well, if I were going East, probably Canada, technically.
If I were going West, well, I guess I'd probably end up in Russia. If I were going East to wherever I wanted, maybe Paris? Maybe Edinburgh. Maybe Narnia. It's probably East. Or something.
Actually, I'm feeling quite a bit better today, though not 100%. Hopefully I'll be fully recovered in time for Christmas!
haha! GO TO NARNIA!!!! GO GO GOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
i'm glad you feel better!
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