GENDER REVEAL

Learning, and Listening and Mystery

Creating a brand and becoming an influencer are all parts of what I’ve been told I need to do to gather and support the tribe of women who want to commit to nursing their little ones. Celebrity endorsements, book reviews, web sites, blogs, funnels, vlogs, TIK TOK, Tweeting, YOU TUBE production are all the skills and strategies I must use to reach my target audience.  Whether it’s online, or meeting up locally… I must create a plan, make a budget and define my nice so tightly.

Someone somewhere is looking for me as if I was the one that had the answer. Where are the mentors, the ELDERS, the healers, the storytellers in the room.  Who has crossed over to the otherside and lived to tell the tale. Went away, came back, Prodigal DAUGHTERS returning willingly, because this was indeed the next leg of the journey.

 I and the message have the solution to the perceived problem. Fear of loss, missed opportunity would drive the engine, create fear and lack and loss, purveyor / provider of the solution.  Something a “product” worth paying for. Subscribing to… Membership and belonging has its advantages. Loneliness, solitude and the fear of loss and abandonment, no one will like me if I don’t confirm, not good enough, not worthy, living up to the standard of perfection I may not meet. Can we honor the process, the progress we made.  I have been here before in this place and this feels different. I can and I will try a different approach, something I want… my heart’s desire.

I will be better at listening to the STORIES. I will watch the rituals, old and new and ask fewer questions and just listen.  I want to earn respect by being a good and patient and feeling no need to advise, cajole, convince, might I want to collaborate and co-conspire and co create with women that already know what it is they wish to be and do. Create  more content for a demographic I had deluding myself into thinking that I knew all about, and what it is they needed and what might be best for them.

My first grand daughter is newly 21, certainly of childbearing age, told me a story of her dear  friend certainly on the bestie category, the tales of age mates, and identity, and ritual. She went to a gender reveal party where the sex and gender was to be revealed to the community.   Her mother, and I and most of the ancestors I knew about certainly had had a child by then.  Women’s role in society and identity was defined by their childbearing status and of course directly or indirectly by default by their progeny or by their male non childbearing spouse.

Anthropologically, the rituals ascribed were  designed and perfected and marketing to provide education, and to secure a clear identity and membership and support for the group they would be joining.

In the act of holy listening… she told the tale of her experience of being on TEAM GIRL and an alternate if not an opposing TEAM BOY.   The instructions were clear based on the text invitation.

Team GIRL were to bring the gift baby wipes. Team BOY were to bring diapers!

Holy Listening...

the gender was announced with mini confetti cannons and surprise. with both parents revealing the gender of the child to the world. blue smoke for the boys, pink smoke for girls and the attachment and aspirations and welcome begins. Their new announcement to their shared parenting. How could I create content for mothers if I had no space or patience for listening.

Imagine how will you announce the anticipation of the birth of your little one. Who will be there? What help you would you require? How will I find the women that want to join the tribe to support to allow and encourage you to continue a close relationship honored your decision to continue the connection and your heart’s desire. I f we are willing to listen, you can tell us what you may need. Who will be happy for you if you are not able to share what allows you to stay with your little one. Discovery of the pregnancy and the gender of the baby and how you wish to parent your child are relatively new experiences in the lives of women. Creating new rituals and points of transitions are important components of the medical care you may receive as a part of your prenatal care, the delivery and how you care for yourself and your developing family. I had never heard of a gender reveal party. My grand daughter reminded me that what most people want is to be listened to and to share what’s important to them especially when they have a chance to choose parenting. Who will be there to listen and to celebrate you? They will watch you as you listen to your heart’s desire,

How might we find one another?