Leprechauns speak out!

Sunday, May 14, 2006

For your Mum and mine!


If you like this story, please feel free to share it with your friends and family. Especially your mom :)

Here's the story
Motherhood - It will change your life We are sitting at lunch when my daughter usually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family". "We're taking a survey," she says, half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations...."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a souffle or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation.

I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is alright.

I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of flattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years - not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children's future.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real, it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reach across the table, squeeze my daughter's hand and offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.

This blessed gift from God . . . that of being a Mother.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

News from Ireland



NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND

ROAD DEATHS CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON NON-NATIONALS

The increase in non-nationals working in the
Irish economy has had an adverse effect on the
road traffic accident statistics.

Despite representing only 9% of the workforce
deaths of non-nationals represents 25% of the
total number who have lost their lives on Irish
roads in 2006. Many of these were uninsured,
untaxed and possibly unlicensed. A recent
drink-driving blitz by Gardai revealed that a
third of those arrested over a particular weekend
were non-nationals.

New laws have been announced that will make it
compulsory for motor-cycle drivers to undergo
training, thus removing the ridiculous situation
whereby any untrained 16-year old could buy a
motor-cycle and take it out onto the road
without any training whatsoever.

The laws for 'provisional' driving licence holders
is to be changed also. The current situation
allows for drivers to drive their car while
waiting for a driving test when they can become
fully licensed. Some Irish drivers continue to
hold a 'provisional' driving licence for decades,
never having passed the driving test. The new law
will prevent the 'failed' driver from leaving the
test centre in their car and will make it illegal
for them to drive while unlicensed.

DEBATE ON NUCLEAR ENERGY IN IRELAND HEATS UP

The recent focus on high oil prices has prompted
the debate on nuclear energy to be revisited. The
island nature of the Irish economy has meant that
energy prices are even higher in Ireland than in
other EU economies. Some commentators have
suggested that nuclear energy is the only viable
medium-term solution, especially while alternative
energy supplies continue to be either too
expensive or low-yielding. Irish Taoiseach Bertie
Ahearn has ruled out any immediate investment in
nuclear energy.

GROCERIES ORDER ABOLISHED

The controversial Groceries Order has been
abolished. This law forbade the selling of grocery
items at below-cost prices as it was seen to give
an advantage to larger supermarkets who could
purchase in bulk. While this helped out smaller
retailers it did little to help put consumers who
could not benefit from the buying power of the
larger shops. it has been estimated that the
lifting of the ban could save as much as EURO 100
per month on the household shopping bill. Irish
grocery prices continue to be among the highest
in Europe.

IRISH INCOME TAX AMONG WORLDS LOWEST

A report by the Organisation for Economic
Co-Operation and Development (OECD) has stated
that Ireland has one of the lowest rates of
income tax in the developed world. Only 8% of
gross earnings of a one-income family with 2
children is taxed, when state benefits are
added back. Critics of the Irish taxation
regime point out that the exorbitant 21% value
added tax (sales tax) on most goods more than
makes up for the relatively benign income tax
regime. Unmarried workers earning the average
industrial wage face income taxation of 26%.

IRISH HOUSE PRICES CONTINUE TO DEFY EXPECTATIONS

The Irish property market continues to appreciate
at record levels. A slowdown in the rate of
growth in the last part of 2005 has been shaken
off as the market for new and second-hand houses
continues to boom. The average price of a
second-hand house in Dublin increased by
EURO 40,000 in the first 3 months of 2006 - a 10.4%
increase! Some real estate estimates put the
annual increase of Dublin houses at 25% in the
12 months up to March 2006.

Recent interest rate hikes by the European Central
bank have had little effect on the Irish market
where demand continues to exceed supply. Some
banks are now offering 40-year and 'interest-only'
mortgages.

IRISH DOCTORS UNDER FIRE

The problems of over-crowding in Irish accident
and emergency wards continues unabated. The
Irish Health Minister Mary Harney has criticised
local doctors for failing to provide out-of hours
service. Most Irish General Practioneers close
their surgeries at 5pm, Monday to Friday. This
has resulted in patients turning to Public
Hospitals as their preferred local doctor is
unavailable, claimed the Minister.

ICE CREAM MANUFACTURER APOLOGIES

Ice-cream manufacturer 'Ben & Jerrys' has issued
an apology for the insensitive naming of a recent
flavour of their ice cream. The 'Black & Tan'
flavour is thus far only available in the US and
is based on the drink of the same name. The Black
and Tans were a notorious and vicious British
militia employed during the 1919-1921 Irish war of
independence, led by Michael Collins.


Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

http://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi


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