And it reminds me of what adrienne maree brown says, “small is all.” The small stuff—that is it. That is what matters.
In response to your question, I’m about to get small. For a decade I thought my work with the federal courts on death penalty cases was the thread. And maybe it was. But that thread ain’t unraveling any more, not from the courts. And it’s now feeling like complicity to me. So tomorrow I am giving the news that I’m leaving. To focus on my kids and my community. To find other threads. Small ones, because small is all.
Small scale, small scale… but welcoming 1, 2 or 20 babies into the world in a humane and profoundly respectful manner is forever. The mother, baby, family, everyone lucky enough to be touched by that experience carries that revolutionary care *for the rest of their lives.* And maybe they find a small thread that affects another one or two or twenty people forever. And the web spins outward. Is forever that small of a scale?
I too have recently stepped away from legal defense work. Nothing was unraveling, except me. My new threads are focusing on reparenting and parenting; sharing food with my small community; and getting in touch with my values now, as a mother (the most radicalizing experience of my life so far), so that my future professional efforts feel productive to me and the world I want for my kids.
The keening desire to do more maybe shouldn’t be sensed as worthlessness or despair or failure. (Aren’t those all personal indictments?) Maybe it’s the desire to keep going, the desire to soar up above the web and see how far the web has reached, to see how much farther it has to go. So of course your writing led you to ask others about their work. Your writing is magic.
Well, that is the very ethos behind my practice name, "Small Things Grow" -- I really do believe that the reverberations of birth are felt all through our own and our baby's lives but work their way out into our larger communities. I truly believe in birth and parenting's radicalizing potential. I hope the work I do ISN'T that small of a scale. I love this last paragraph you write, and the image of soaring above the web. It feels like more generosity than I deserve, but I'll take it. <3
And good for you in trying to live more in alignment. I have no doubt someone as intentional as you will find your threads and unspool them.
I absolutely loved this article. Thank you so much. Very inspiring and thought-provoking. The thought loop about the perfectionism of divesting from white supremacy was funny in a familiar way.
Also: 20 births a year?!?! That would be a lot even for someone who is childfree.
And I find your writing so helpful, as well as enjoyable to read. I have learned heaps. I would love it if you could write a book. Maybe one day.
Get as red as you want. But your writing is liberatory and life changing.
Well, shucks.
This is vital.
And it reminds me of what adrienne maree brown says, “small is all.” The small stuff—that is it. That is what matters.
In response to your question, I’m about to get small. For a decade I thought my work with the federal courts on death penalty cases was the thread. And maybe it was. But that thread ain’t unraveling any more, not from the courts. And it’s now feeling like complicity to me. So tomorrow I am giving the news that I’m leaving. To focus on my kids and my community. To find other threads. Small ones, because small is all.
Wow Lauren! Congratulations! That's a courageous mood. I hope you will keep me updated.
Small scale, small scale… but welcoming 1, 2 or 20 babies into the world in a humane and profoundly respectful manner is forever. The mother, baby, family, everyone lucky enough to be touched by that experience carries that revolutionary care *for the rest of their lives.* And maybe they find a small thread that affects another one or two or twenty people forever. And the web spins outward. Is forever that small of a scale?
I too have recently stepped away from legal defense work. Nothing was unraveling, except me. My new threads are focusing on reparenting and parenting; sharing food with my small community; and getting in touch with my values now, as a mother (the most radicalizing experience of my life so far), so that my future professional efforts feel productive to me and the world I want for my kids.
The keening desire to do more maybe shouldn’t be sensed as worthlessness or despair or failure. (Aren’t those all personal indictments?) Maybe it’s the desire to keep going, the desire to soar up above the web and see how far the web has reached, to see how much farther it has to go. So of course your writing led you to ask others about their work. Your writing is magic.
“Nothing was unraveling, except me.” You hit the nail on the head with that one, Meghan.
Your courage in stepping away and finding new threads is inspiring!
You two should definitely connect!
Well, that is the very ethos behind my practice name, "Small Things Grow" -- I really do believe that the reverberations of birth are felt all through our own and our baby's lives but work their way out into our larger communities. I truly believe in birth and parenting's radicalizing potential. I hope the work I do ISN'T that small of a scale. I love this last paragraph you write, and the image of soaring above the web. It feels like more generosity than I deserve, but I'll take it. <3
And good for you in trying to live more in alignment. I have no doubt someone as intentional as you will find your threads and unspool them.
I absolutely loved this article. Thank you so much. Very inspiring and thought-provoking. The thought loop about the perfectionism of divesting from white supremacy was funny in a familiar way.
Also: 20 births a year?!?! That would be a lot even for someone who is childfree.
And I find your writing so helpful, as well as enjoyable to read. I have learned heaps. I would love it if you could write a book. Maybe one day.
It's on the agenda! I'm hopeful I will finally finish revising this proposal over the summer.
amazing, thank you so much in advance