Haitian mothers

There was surprisingly little publicity around Mother’s Day in Haiti. Perhaps they don’t celebrate it in May, or maybe we just missed it all. And yet... there are mothers everywhere! Every second girl that we see is pregnant, or holding a young baby, or taking a little one to school. In any conversation about family all you always hear is my mother is this, she sacrificed this much for me, I would do anything for my mother. Sometimes the phrase morphs into my sister raised me, or my grandmother takes care of my babies, my aunt let me moved in after the earthquake...mum, sister, grandmother, aunt... Elle...toujours elle.

It is a very sexist society, and yet has your country had a female presidential candidate? Contrast, irony, the inexplicable. That's Haiti.

Happy mother's Day! To all the mother's out there. The ones with the baskets in their heads, and the days-old baby on their knees at the market, holding them tightly in what passes as public transportation, grabbing the tiny hands in the dark while crossing the street at night.

To all mothers, our mothers, and grandmothers, our friends who have started a family and to the mothers to be that we are dying to see.... Valerie, this is to you as well, Happy mother's day my friend!!!