Jack Levine  of 4Generations Institute

A Mother's Day Lesson

Please pause with me for a few minutes to gather thoughts in anticipation of Mother's Day - this Sunday May 10th.  Let's consider a bit of "Mother's Wisdom" and remember what's best for children and families as we celebrate this special day.

Traditionally a day when we honor our mothers - in person, by phone, with a card or flowers, over a meal, or, as for me, in memory - Mother's Day also provides us an opportunity for reflection.  There are few more emotional bonds than that of a mother and child.  And while we know that difficult circumstances, negative behaviors, or other problems do arise between parents and children, we've all had the need for the nurturing love of a mother - natural, foster, or adoptive.

{sidebar id=1}In special honor of our mothers, may I suggest you share a special gift with a charity serving children, a program that works with teen moms, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, or perhaps an agency that serves elders. Wouldn't it be a wonderful tribute to our moms, in person, by card, or as a memorial, to give that gift in her honor?  This is especially needed in these tough economic times... sharing is caring... whether it's our time or dollars... or both!

As part of my 4Generations Institute work, I've been collecting family remembrances - stories passed across the generations - which provide a guiding light in my advocacy. I love family history because it's what connects us to our own personal selves. Recalling our family history also evokes a sense of responsibility to the future in order to create our own legacies. I'd like to share one of my favorite family stories with you...

Aaron Cohen and Minnie Golub, both Russian immigrants, lived in the same five-story tenement house on Mercer Street in New York's Lower East Side. They knew each other only by sight. Since a formal introduction was the respected custom, Aaron's sister dutifully introduced them in the Summer of 1915.

At ages 25 and 24, Aaron and Minnie were the oldest single children in their families. Many around them wondered "What are they waiting for?" as most of their peers were already married. Once the spark was ignited, however, they courted, married, and Minnie became pregnant in three months' time.

Minnie's pregnancy was without any unusual problems, but it was it decided she would not deliver at home in their apartment. She arrived at the East Broadway Laying-In Hospital a week before her expected due date and was led to a bright and airy ward which she shared with seven other women.

Two of the women had already delivered their babies but stayed on just to be certain all was well.  Minnie, at 25, was the eldest.  The two youngest were 16 and 17, one of whom had a complicated pregnancy. That girl was two weeks past her due date, hurting and afraid.

It was early morning when the sleeping women were jolted awake by the screams.  Two nurses rushed in and wheeled the 17-year-old girl off.  The others were silent, filled with fear. They looked to their "big sister" Minnie for comfort.

After 20-minutes punctuated by painful moans, horrific shrieks, and a brief chilling silence, there was a baby's yelp.  A nurse came rushing in to Minnie's beside and whispered that the young mother died after delivering a healthy girl.  Minnie immediately told the others who were paralyzed with shock. She ending the news-telling with plans for a breast-feeding system for the hungry newborn. Minnie was a natural networker before the concept was defined in the literature.

The next night, my mother, Ruth, was born.

{sidebar id=1}News of the birth spread to out-of-town family via telegram.  The next morning with telegram and sack lunch in hand, Minnie's cousin Hannah took the ferry from New Jersey to pay a visit.  Entering the large room she saw two babies at Minnie's bed - one suckling at the breast, the other crying bitterly in the rattan bassinet. 

The cousin said, "Minnie, the telegram didn't say twins!"  Minnie chuckled, and told the story of the young mother who died in childbirth.

The cousin looked at the nursing baby, then briefly examined the crying creature in the bassinet, and said, pointing to the baby at Minnie's breast, "Your baby is far prettier."

"That one is mine," laughed Minnie, pointing to the crying one.

"You leave your own to cry while you feed a stranger's baby?" the cousin whispered.

"Yes. There's a baby with no mother, maybe no home. Mine can cry for a few minutes. She has both."

She motioned the cousin to draw closer, her eyes darting around the room. "This is to show an example to them, those other girls.  If we think just of ourselves and our own babies, not only will others needlessly suffer, but so will our own. We all need someone else at sometime. This is good practise for being a good mother."

Hannah understood. Minnie's philosophy was simple. Care for your own, but care about others, too. Minnie believed we are all connected in some way under God's watchful eye, but we are obligated to take action to help others. The gifts we give reward the receiver and giver both.

Please honor me by sharing this message with family, friends, and colleagues in celebration of Mother's Day.

I look forward to keeping you posted on the 4Generations Institute. Through my public speaking, seminar leadership, and connecting with affiliated organizations, the 4Generations message of building bridges across the ages for mutual benefit is making a difference.  By promoting policy initiatives, sharing program models, and inspiring community commitments, the Institute's work is progressing well! 

I welcome hearing from you, just touch the reply key and you'll be replying to me!  Please be sure you update my e-address in your records to jack@4gen.org.

Finally... I recommend you receive The Writer's Almanac... a free daily message of poetry and delightful literary/historic information by Garrison Keillor.

Visit http://mail.publicradio.org/content/506927/forms/twa_signup.htm for secure sign up instructions.  I think you'll love this daily uplifting read!

All my best......

Jack
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Jack Levine, Founder
4Generations Institute
850.567.5252
Jack@4Gen.org (note new e-mail)
http://www.4Gen.org
P.O. Box 10875
Tallahassee, FL 32302
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This article originally published on May 6, 2009.

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Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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