The first time my wife Linda gave birth was in a hospital.
When Linda got pregnant (怀孕) for the second time, we wanted a home birth, not just for ourselves, but for our daughter. We are very open with our daughter. We want to teach her respect and awe (敬畏) for the things of bodies. So she was part of the process from the very beginning.
In the morning the midwives came just as Linda was climbing into the birth tub (盆). Our daughter offered her mom water and food while she rested. When she found the noise and activity of birth, she was too nervous to stay long, so she spent a few minutes next to the tub, then went into another room to play. The midwives called her back in time to see her brother come into the world. As Linda pulled our tiny newborn son up, our daughter and I rushed to her side. all four of us hugging and crying and very excited. That night, and many times since then, our daughter said. "I'm so proud of Mom for having a baby." She has seen and admired the effort it takes to bring a new person into the world. It's a part of her life, something that can happen in the same room where she colors and watches movies.
It was crucial that our daughter was part of that experience, not just for her, but for Linda and me as well. Everything we wanted for her—trusted care providers; a very familiar environment; continuing support; good food—were things we needed but didn't have the first time Linda gave birth. We crossed this threshold (门槛) together, as a family, and it was messy and scary and painful and unusual and mysterious and really perfect.
