Wednesday, May 04, 2011

a mother's prayer




A Mother's Prayer


First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.
May she be beautiful but not damaged, for it’s the damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the beauty. When the crystal meth is offered may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half and stick with beer.
Guide her, protect her:
when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from acting but not all the way to finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes and not have to wear high heels.
What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the drums to the fiery rhythm of her own heart with the sinewy strength of her own arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a tiger flower blooming magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait. 
O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers and the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, for I will not have that shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.
“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a mental note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.


by Tina Fey Via figs and feathers
* me and Widdle, 5 hours old. By Nye. 

19 comments:

  1. this is beautiful and just made me cry! :)

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  2. that's so touching and i'm not even a mother. thank you

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  3. Isn't Tina Fey the best? Lovely photo too.

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  4. I read that before and somehow thought of you. And what a photo. Boy has talent (his subjects help of course).x

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  5. a)gorgeous photo
    b)I just read this aloud to my husband and laughed through most of it, then cried at the end. And he looked at me and said: "And you say your hormones are in check"

    fuckin' pregnancy.

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  6. This is hilarious and truly touching both at once! I'll need to bookmark this one ;)

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  7. Loved this. And beautiful photo!

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  8. How I love Tina Fey. This poem is perfect. Thank-you for sharing.

    And the photo, gorgeous.

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  9. Omg Tina Fey. Too good.

    "And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, for I will not have that shit. I will not have it."

    HAHA, I think my mother would enjoy reading that bit.

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  10. I sent this to my mum. She loved it. Obvs.

    (Also - loveliest picture ever)

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  11. I loved that poem when I read it a couple weeks ago. Tina Fey is kind of awesome.

    And that photo? It makes my breath catch. And (this week) makes me a little teary. xoxo

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  12. This rocks my socks off. I love Fey. I'm not a mom, but this makes me think (for a tiny second) that one day I could do it.

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  13. I just had to note that I did both acting AND finance AND now the thing where I can walk outside and not wear high heels and feel intellectually stimulated. So it works out.

    Those girls of yours are going to be great. Do great. I can't wait.

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  14. So very heart touching.Just loved it

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  15. Spoken like a mum ♥ I'm not a mum, but I am an adoring Aunty ♥

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play nice.