I fail at image finding

[rthstewart]

Mother's Day is a loaded thing, you know?  It's hard for those of us who wanted to be biological mothers and aren't, it's hard for those of us who lost mothers, it's hard for those of us who have become mothers to our mothers during end of life care.  So my thoughts are with you all.  Whether this is a good day or sad one, it is certainly one for reflection.  Some of us have had great relationships with our mothers and for some, those relationships have been really complicated.

As I see it, anyone, male or female, who has cared for another, in the home, school, community, or workplace, has been called upon to mother others who are in need.  Nuns, pastors, teachers, healthcare professionals, community developers and activists, all are called upon to mother others.  I wanted to spam this post with some of the awesome gifs and vids celebrating woman as protector and succor but I really suck at this.  So if you have something, go ahead and add it in comments if you are so inclined and I leave you with this example of mothering from Deathly Hallows Part 2.  (and no, not the one you are thinking of)

Comments

[autumnia]

And a Happy Mother's Day to you too. :-)

[(Anonymous)]

I would agree with your general point, Rth; Motherhood takes many forms and takes us in many directions we didn't expect to go..making this a sad day for many of us, and a more triumphant day for others...

I hope everyone has an excellent day!

Clio1792

[andi-horton.livejournal.com]

I like this Mother's Day wish. I didn't feel comfortable posting any general wishes to facebook or anything because of a few of the reasons you mentioned being present in my flist, and I wanted to respect that. But this one is affirming.

Thank you--and Happy Mother's Day to you :)

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

Thank you! When they are younger, you just want peace and quiet and get a macaroni necklace. When you are older, all you want is respect.

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

I hope you had a good day! I know a lot of people for whom this is a hard day. Mothering is such a broad thing, too. It's so much larger than I ever thought it could be.

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

It's a hard day for so many. It was very hard for me for a very long time. People mother in so many ways. And good luck to you!

[harmony-lover.livejournal.com]

Dearest rth,

I saw this yesterday and I didn't get around to responding to it; this is a brilliant choice for a Mother's Day visual in so many ways. Mothering really is a verb, and the Hogwarts faculty do it in so many ways in this scene. The first paper I ever gave at an HP conference was about connections between the female witches in HP and Wiccan traditions, and Minerva is very much the wise Crone of the HP books - but the Crone has also been a mother and a maid, and remembers how to mother. Of course, Molly Weasley is right there in this scene too, and she takes the cake for ultimate mother figure in HP. She's amazing in that respect; you really see it when she finally kills Bellatrix.

My own mother and Grammy are in Italy and Bermuda, respectively, for this Mother's Day, and I miss them, but I am so glad they are out enjoying the world and having adventures. I spoke to my mother on Friday, and both she and Grammy got their cards before they left, so I was happy. I was missing my Nana, as she just passed away last summer. My mother-in-law was very happy to have us home, as she knows that once we move that will be a rare occurrence. So it is a mixed day even for me, if primarily a happy one. I do hope that you got much appreciation and love for being the amazing mother that you are. :)

[animus-wyrmis.livejournal.com]

I meant to say something intelligent on this, but that clip has reduced me to simply staring wide-eyed and in awe. Maggie Smith, my hero.

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

AWWW. We'll I'm glad they are having a good holiday. I love the idea of Minerva as Crone! That was something that was captured in both Mists of Avalon and Dune -- the maid of magic who holds these things in tension until youth passes and she eventually becomes the wise crone. You MUST tell us more about this at some point!!

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

And she had breast cancer during all of that too. She's so wonderful. I love the music in that section too and these professors, Molly, and Minerva all mounting the defenses and setting up the protection spell, to protect their school and their children. It's a beautiful, powerful scene and one of those moments where the film transcends the book. I hope you are well btw! You've been so quiet!

[harmony-lover.livejournal.com]

I will try to remember to write a post about Minerva, Molly, and Hermione as Crone, Mother, and Maiden at some point. :)

[linneasr.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this post, and for the good wish. `Mother` is such a complicated idea for me, having one & being one. Thanks for the opportunity to think it over again, and to come to some new conclusions.

[linneasr.livejournal.com]

What an interesting view, looking at HP through the Maiden-Mother-Crone lens. Yes, please, more!