January 29, 2005

 

Yesterday Dante, Evan and I attended "Parents and Tots" Class at our local Waldorf School. We all liked the songs and stories and the appreciation for the nature and what it gives to us.

My mom was leaving for Croatia that afternoon, so I thought about the amazing gap between the "earthiness" we desire and try to teach our children and my own mother's very "earthy" childhood:

She lived in a village. Her family had a cow, some pigs, chickens (and a rooster) and a small patch of land for growing vegetables. They didn't have any of the comforts of the modern world, but the food they ate was so natural (talking about "organic"). The detail that most impressed me was the way they cooked the meals for their pig(!) - a mixture of special corn and selected vegetables. Now that's pork that must be good for you (especially when you drink a glass of your homemade red wine along with your pork-meal!)

My Mom is from Croatian Region of Zagorje. The people of that region are known for their generosity, their love for music, wine and food (much like Italilans). Mom's cooking tastes of all that. I'll miss my mom while she is away.

As I watched her leave through the security gates, I remembered how one of the mothers told about different phases of child's weaning - and that it is a process that happens over several years. I couldn't agree with that. I don't think we ever completely wean. Nor should we be expected to. A bond between a mother and her child is something that no matter what the circumstances are and no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves that we "don't really need her", lasts forever, beyond life's limitations.