Friday, October 21, 2011

Birthdays

Today my first-born twin daughters turn 19.  Where did the time go?  One day they were small enough to hold their little butts in one hand and now they are grown, young women.  And amazing ones at that.  How did  that happen?  Their dad had something to do with it as did I.  Other people helped too;  friends, teachers, their friends. 

 I  am often surprised at how mature they are, despite lacking experience in so many things.  I really like them as people and I am glad they are who they are.  Each is a unique person and different.  That is what makes them so fascinating to me. 

They are full of ideas and enthusiasm but they are also feeling really angry because of the future they see ahead.  They saw their father and I struggle our whole lives only to be pushed back to the ground.  They have seen the disparity between the 99% and the 1%, the systematic rape of the planet's resources, the marginalization of gays and minorities and women,  and they are pissed off.  They feel love for all people and animals and the planet.  They want to get on with their lives but the economy and  patriarchy feel like huge, insurmountable walls, blocking  their potential.  They worry about money and the family and their futures. 

 They don't care  if someone is gay, bi, transgender, lesbian, Black, Latino, Asian, Native, Semitic;  these things don't matter to them.  They want gay marriages to be legal.  They want poly marriages to be legal.  What matters is how we all treat one another.    They see other young adults their age and they shudder because of the seeming shallowness, the lack of thinking, the sheep-like attitudes so many exhibit.  Both of them feel powerless a lot. 

As Occupy Wall Street gains momentum, their sense of empowerment rises;  I see it in their eyes.

 As their mother, I hope for their future and I offer them my support wherever and however they go and whoever they be.  It is what I can do and I hope it is enough.