In the Britannica World Language Dictionary (1956) the definition of Wife is a woman joined to a man in lawful wedlock. When you look up the word Midwife it says, a woman who assists at childbirth. In my opinion, neither of these definitions are accurate. It doesn’t capture the essence or expected tasks that being a wife means. A wife is a partner, a confidante, a lover, a spiritualist, an interior designer, a therapist, a culinary expert, a psychiatrist, a nutritionist, a doctor, a peer mediator …. I could go on. When the role of wife is defined in rudimentary terms the woman’s power, respect, and significance is lost. These terms put women at a disadvantage both mentally and physically in today’s society.
Women are now afraid of their strength and their own bodies. When I thought about having a child I always assumed it would be in the hospital, on drugs, ending with a cesarean section. Discovering the world of midwifery I can’t believe I ever accepted this as my only option. Having a child is something my body does naturally. I’m not sick, so why go to a place that only deals with illness? Won’t they treat my labor as an illness instead of a miracle? Reading Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin opened my world up to new possibilities. It made me realize that midwifery got a bum rap and it started with how it was defined.
I was trying to think of a new term for Midwife. Since my imagination is pretty wild sometimes, I thought about how Midwife and Midlife Crisis sound sort of similar. What if we defined the word Midlife Wife? How would that go? What could that show?
I think it’s safe to say that Midlife Crisis is when you reach a point in life where you look back on where you came from, where you are, and where you’re going. At times, this causes extreme reactions with some individuals and they do things so they can feel new, transition, and change their world. They want to feel alive. Midlife, describes the time in which this transition occurs for people. Doesn’t having a baby take up a good chunk of the middle of your life? Aren’t you in transition when you choose to have children? Doesn’t that mean constant change? If the word Wife was defined as a support, a friend, a project manager, a cleaning woman, a teacher, a counselor, a healer … then as a woman, wouldn’t you want a wife to help you through one of the most significant moments of the middle of your life?
I don’t know about you but that blew my mind! A Midlife Wife is there to nurture a fellow female so she can blossom and serve her true biological purpose. Childbirth is a miracle, a blessing, and a right of passage. It makes us one with the universe. As the universe creates life, so do you. It is a spiritual journey that only we can do. They say man rules the world, well ladies, we make it! You tell me which has the true power. Who would you prefer helping you? Face it ladies, childbirth is a big deal and every woman could use a Midlife Wife. There will always be a reason to appreciate the nurturing hand of a female that understands.
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Peace and Blessings,
Old Earth
