Motherhood inspires hope in fiction as in real life

By ANJELLAH OWINO

Meta l-Mkunga Twelled, translated to When the Mkunga Gives Birth, by Julia Farrugia, takes us through one of the greatest hurdles for mothers in Kenya; maternal death.

The issue is so alarming that the First Lady ran a marathon to help save the lives of women and children. It touches on the health complications women face during pregnancy and childbirth, which force them to give birth alone or seek the services of an untrained midwife. The book is among the many that speaks on issues related to motherhood.

Mothers get their inspiration from all sorts of literary sources. Daisy Ochieng’, a mother of three works as a customer service manager at a shipping company says: “I usually read magazines, mostly Eve Woman, and also the feature stories in the dailies. The stories about women who have gone through different challenges and come out stronger are inspiring. You then look at your own life and what you thought to be hard seems not so difficult.”

Many mothers I talked to mentioned the Bible and motivational books as the two reads that inspire their journey in motherhood.

“The Bible talks about God’s plans for you as a mother, how blessed you are for being a mother, and how important it is to raise children in the rightful way and in a good environment while instilling them life-long values,” says Corrine Nyamai, a financial advisor for an insurance company.

“My second best book is a self-help book, Home at Its Best which I recommend to every mother. It talks about the persistence of a mother, how a mother should handle her children, when punishment is unnecessary, and when a talk with the children helps, and much more. The book also changes perspectives on motherhood.”

Not Without My Daughter shares a story of sacrifice and perseverance, traits usually associated with mothers. It is a story of a woman who leaves America for Iran on a short visit with her husband and daughter.

Then she discovers that her husband has no intention of going back; he holds the mother and the daughter against their will, becomes abusive and threatens to kill his wife is she dares to leave. She eventually escapes with her daughter. The woman is Betty Mahmoody, and she is also the writer.

SELFLESS

This attests to the fact that they are a selfless lot, mothers. There are also those who will drop anything for their family’s sake.

Jane Clayson Johnson is one such mother. She left her enviable job as a co-host at the American TV station, CBS, for her family. Then she wrote the book I am a Mother, which depicts motherhood just as important as any other career in the world.

Such books shine a positive light on housewives, otherwise viewed negatively in an era when women strive for financial independence.

While some mothers drop everything for their family, others get up early to work and are still present in their children’s lives. An example is Kate Reddy, a fictional character in Allison Pearson’s novel, I Don’t Know How She Does It: The Life of Kate Reddy, Working Mother.

This book is a hilarious look at how Kate manages being a fund manager while creating time for her family by all means.

She also brings out the conflict surrounding working mothers, like the maternal feelings they often have to suppress, the lies they sometimes tell, jealousy on the connection between nannies and the children, and husbands who spend more time with their children.

All this leads to the dilemma between going to work and staying at home, feelings of guilt when a working mother does not bond with her children as much as she would want, and self-criticism of parenting ability.

Several women narrate their tales in The Good Mother Myth: Redefining Motherhood to Fit Reality by Avital Norman Nathman. Mothers are human, and at times they need assurance that they are doing a good job. Society often has high, and unattainable, expectations, but this books proves that it is okay being the mother you are without straining to meet ideals.

DOING ENOUGH

In What Mothers Do: Especially when it Looks like Nothing, author Naomi Stadlen highlights the day-to-day life of a mother as a way of appreciating their input in the society. It is a reassuring read for mothers, who often question themselves on whether they are doing enough.

Other books said to be a good read about motherhood are What to expect when you are Expecting by Heidi Murkoff, 10 Habits of Happy Mothers by Meg Meeker, Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer, The Other Mother by Gwendolen Gross, and Are You My Mother? by Louise Voss.