Seven Days in Haiti as a Midwife-Part 3: Bringing Haiti Lessons Home
With the tincture of time, I’ve been blessed with some perspective on my trip to Haiti and what it means for me now as a mother, midwife and world citizen.
In my family, Haiti is a lesson of appreciation. I’m grateful that I know where my children are right now, that they are safe and well-nourished. I know I am loved by my husband, and that he is a happy person free of worry about how to provide for his family. From Haiti, I am re-learning how to appreciate my role as a mother and a partner, and enjoy the simple preparation of a meal for my loved ones. I hope this will enrich my family life.
In my work, I’m learning to put women’s work into perspective. The work of pregnancy, birth and becoming a mother are huge life-changing events. In midwifery, we hold space for women to do their work while maintaining safe standards of care that are respectful of their autonomy. My experiences volunteering in Haiti help me to see the problems of the women whom I serve here with more clarity, with empathy but detachment, as I can see their paths are theirs alone, and that I am simply a witness for their great work. To take on more is not possible if one is to find the strength to work with women and their families daily. Honoring the diverse paths of the women I serve is still my goal, but I feel that Haiti has made me stronger in my resolve to do so without attachment. I hope this will serve my clients.
In my community, I found that true friendship and meaningful service are keys to happy engagement with others. I’m spending more time with a select few friends, rather than spreading myself too thin or cutting moments in their presence too short. I’ve become more discriminating, too, in my community service-searching for projects where I can invest my time while enjoying others and learning about myself.
In short, I’m learning from my teacher, Haiti, how to live a happier life, free of needless worry that originates from fear. Seeing hardship close-up, alongside resilience, has given me this gift of insight that I hope will continue to grow. I nurture it with careful reflection and thoughtful action. Thank you, Haiti, for showing me my limits, teaching me to honor them and carefully choose when to push on to new ground.
This is beautiful.