Middle-Pause Pump-Priming Prompt

Biology and Beyond: Who (or What) Are Your Babies?

Including the ones you never had…

Photo by Tom Schuller on Unsplash

I don’t have any kids.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t have people or projects that I claim as my progeny. In one of my early screenplays, I have a lonely, eccentric professor hug his literary creations to his chest, claiming, “These are my babies.”

For him, these articles and books are his offspring as much as actual children would be. The fact that he never had any children means he has no personal way to compare the two. But metaphorically, this is as close as he comes. And he’s not letting anyone come between him and them.

I know how he feels.

And in fact, even though he was old enough to be my father when I wrote his story, he is, in fact, one of my ‘babies.’

But he’s far from an only child. He’s got many siblings, though you might say half-siblings considering all these characters don’t live in the same story. Or even the same world.

I am particularly attached to the families in my work in progress, Man Pregnant! Especially the teenagers, as they grapple with their changing bodies and the changing world around them, that is not always kind.

The scene I’m working on today takes place on Valentine’s Day, 2018.

I didn’t set it in that year on purpose, rather I wanted it to be pre-COVID, so I wouldn’t have to deal with that issue. Then I did some research and discovered that the Parkland, Florida school shooting in fact happened mid-afternoon on Valentine’s Day.

As I’m showing seventeen year old Nona and at their all-church dance, I asked myself how would this news land for them? It’s not a hard question. The heart-stopping fear and heart-wrenchingly raw vulnerability, no doubt brings horror and anger slamming to the surface. And for some reason, the more I wrote, the more of her pain I felt.

Why?

She’s not just a paper doll who kicks her dad’s butt and moves my story forward with her penetrating questions and accusations, as well as her garlic-laden vegan concoctions. She’s my baby. The daughter I never had, but would have if I could have.

Which led me to this week’s **Middle-Pause Pump-Priming Prompt: **Biology and Beyond: Who (or what) are your babies? Including the ones you never had…

Some of you, of course, did have children of your own. Some biologically. Some via blended families. And some by adoption. All, your babies.

But it’s not limited to people. For many of us, our four-legged furry friends are our babies. Whether or not we have human kids as well. And whether or not they resemble us in any way. (Of course, you may have seen those images of how we end up looking a lot like our pets, by artists who no doubt had fun matching images of people with images of animals.)

This goes beyond semantics and metaphors. Pets play a huge and often vital role in our lives. Studies show that if we have a fluffy one to stroke, we’re less likely to have those CVA kinds of strokes. Or be depressed. They can lower our blood pressure, stress levels, the incidence of heart disease and yes, even dementia. Not to mention bringing joy and meaning into our lives on four paws.

Oh, that reminds me of our sister writer, Zaylen Claveria, who’s pet project (sorry!) is called MenoPawse. She writes and teaches about how having animal companions can ease some of the crazy symptomology we may experience going through the ‘change of life.’

Speaking of projects, they can be our babies.

Whether it’s a business we’ve sunk our hearts and souls into, a cause that makes the world safer, healthier, or freer, or some other passion.

Gardening comes to mind. All those roses, all those onions, all that basil, our babies, weeds and all.

Or trees.

Even if they were born long before we came on the scene and live hundreds of years after we’re gone, if we strike up a special relationship with one of them, named or unnamed, those are also our babies.

Arts and crafts come to mind.

And not just sculpture, which can take on human form. But paintings, drawings, books, stories, poetry, quilts, mosaics, textiles, jewelry, and many others too numerous to name.

Oh, and duh, SoulCollage®.

Babies for sure. They even talk back to me since I read my collaged cards for the message they carry to me from my soul.

Though I wasn’t thinking about them when I started this story, let me excuse myself for a moment and see what wants to emerge in the wild work womb of Canva.com. Don’t go away. I’ll be right back with my next child!

Okay, here’s what came through on Canva:

Photo of owl dolls by author, SoulCollage® card created by author in Canva.com

The girl on the left represents Nona, from my novel in progress. The owls on the right are a paper craft project I created, and had fun helping my grand niece and nephew make their own animal paper dolls with photos, drawing, and fabric. And that’s a baby hedgehog in the center.

When I read the card, this is what I heard:

I am the one who puts her protective arms around her ‘babies.’ And in my case, that;s my novels and their characters, old and young. My artistic creations, and as much of nature as I possibly can.

The message I have for you is, that while you may think you are protecting these trees, in fact, they are protecting you. Actually, it’s a symbiotic relationship. They give you life-sustaining oxygen, of course, as well as shelter, and a deep abiding sense of peace. They’re your safe harbor.

At the same time, you need to preserve and protect them from harm so they can continue to nurture and sustain you. Mutually interdependent. Which is how most of Mama Nature is. You, my dear, need mothering as well as your babies. It’s an endless chain of nurturance and life, and through your words, images, and most of all your love, you are a vital part of it. So know you and yours are deeply blessed. Namaste!

Wow.

Did not expect all that to come through me. Or my soul. I’m honored and humbled at the same time.

But now it’s your turn.

Again, the Pump-Priming Prompt for all you Creative Mamas and Grandmamas out there in Middle-Pause land: Biology and Beyond: Who (or what) are your babies? Including the ones you never had…

We look forward to hearing from you!

Marilyn Flower is a sacred fool who writes fiction, poetry, and blogs, inspired by the practice of SoulCollage®. Her books: ***Collage for the Writer’s Soul, [Developing Characters](https://www.amazon.com/Developing-Characters-Ways-Cast-Fiction-ebook/dp/B0CV4X97RN/), [Creative Blogging](https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blogging-Writers-Character-Development-ebook/dp/B09BLGQRTD), Bucket Listers. Follow her [Sacred Foolishness](https://marilynflower.substack.com/) or SoulCollage® for Writers, and [stay in touch](https://marilyn-flower.kit.com/3ec8eb3c16)!***

How to write directly from your soul every single time.