Kimberly Morand

I came across a post from a writer who was responding to an article entitled Why French Parents Are Superior. I was immediately intrigued. The writer, to me, wrote an eloquent piece arguing that ALL Moms are trying their best to raise their children. No culture or ethnicity makes us superior.

I was curious to see what other readers of her post were saying so I scanned down the page, only to find one comment full of stigma that slapped me square across my cheek:

“I totally agree that (in the absence of mental illness or abuse) parents do what they feel is best for their children, even if it goes against ‘the norm’.”

What in the world did she mean by absence of mental illness? Was she implying that people with mental illnesses aren’t capable of knowing what is best for their children? Was she implying that people with mental illnesses aren’t capable of being good parents? I had so many questions. [Read more...]

A late summer night’s breeze passed through the nursery window, rattling the blinds. I held my breath, hoping that the noise didn’t wake the infant. I carefully turned my head and caught a glimpse of his pursed lips that had been whispering sweet breaths at the nape of my neck. His body curled perfectly upon my chest, as if my body was born molded for this exact moment.

The infant felt so trusting in my arms.

He on the other hand, felt so foreign in mine.

He was my son.

I was his mother.

And I didn’t want to be. [Read more...]