Watching women gain strength ...
... is a beautiful thing to see.
It's especially beautiful for me to watch Korean mothers face the challenge of taking control of their futures. It will be no mean feat for them to do this, given the patriarchial nature of Korean society. But they're doing it all the same - standing up, speaking out, demanding the right to be mothers to the children they carried.
I often wonder what my children's mothers think when they read these articles. They undoubtedly read them, because the topic is one that's often in the Korean news. I'm sure they feel regret when they read stories about women who buck the system and keep their babies; resignation, too. And sadness mixed with a little fear, I think, when they imagine how their lives might have unfolded had they made the same decision. Yes, I'm sure they feel all of these and more.
I hope, though, that sorrow isn't the only emotion these articles bring to them. I hope that the experiences of the women in these articles gives my children's mothers the courage to do what they haven't allowed themselves to do before: Reach out to their children. I hope and pray that reading about women like Choi Houng-suk gives strength to those who couldn't find it before, to seek and hopefully find the children they surrendered.
I like to imagine my children's mothers reading articles like these, the possibility of reunion turning in their minds, hands reaching tentatively for telephones or paper to take the first tenuous steps. Whenever I read one, my thoughts and prayers inevitably start to say just do it.
It's especially beautiful for me to watch Korean mothers face the challenge of taking control of their futures. It will be no mean feat for them to do this, given the patriarchial nature of Korean society. But they're doing it all the same - standing up, speaking out, demanding the right to be mothers to the children they carried.
I often wonder what my children's mothers think when they read these articles. They undoubtedly read them, because the topic is one that's often in the Korean news. I'm sure they feel regret when they read stories about women who buck the system and keep their babies; resignation, too. And sadness mixed with a little fear, I think, when they imagine how their lives might have unfolded had they made the same decision. Yes, I'm sure they feel all of these and more.
I hope, though, that sorrow isn't the only emotion these articles bring to them. I hope that the experiences of the women in these articles gives my children's mothers the courage to do what they haven't allowed themselves to do before: Reach out to their children. I hope and pray that reading about women like Choi Houng-suk gives strength to those who couldn't find it before, to seek and hopefully find the children they surrendered.
I like to imagine my children's mothers reading articles like these, the possibility of reunion turning in their minds, hands reaching tentatively for telephones or paper to take the first tenuous steps. Whenever I read one, my thoughts and prayers inevitably start to say just do it.
Start looking. You will find your child. He is here. She is here. Safe and sound and waiting to know you.
More here:
Reaching out to unwed mothers
Raising child not a matter of choice
Unmarried mothers coming out of isolation
Helping our single mothers
Comments
"Like minds", I posted on this same article today. It is my hope that exactly what you wrote will happen...that Korean mothers will see the bravery and risks that the 50 women of Korean Unwed Mother's Support Network members are doing by sharing their stories. There are literally thousands of Birth mothers who ARE keeping their children now a days, yet many are keeping it quiet. I have met many of them and they are just incredible. Some of them do speak English and would love to hear encouragement from you. Please check my post to get their links.
I met Dr. Richard Boas, MD who helped to start the group KUMSN and I also linked articles from NY Times on him.
I believe it will take a long time but more and more Korean unwed mothers (Now 37%) are keeping their children. Everyday, though 1-4,000 are aborted, 21 are born, 7 staying with their mothers, 7 secretly adopted in Civil Courts, 3.5 to Domestic and 3.5 to InterCountry Adoptions.
That is just the way it is...
Also, I gave you an award because I love just these kinds of posts. I have learned so much from you. Do whatever you want about the award. I just wanted to express my appreciation.
Thanks for stopping by, Don, I will read that post!
And Cavatica, thank you! Totally undeserved, as I've been an incredibly lazy blogger these past few months!
Great post! Thanks for sharing this.
http://www.kumsn.org/main/
Dr. Richard Boas helped to start it. He is not against adoption but decided to support women to try to keep their children. I just met him and you might comment on the blog, some of the brave single mothers do speak or read enough to help the others.
Someone said, "it takes a village?"