Africa: Summer Reflections (Thoughts from Mothers) · Global Voices
Paula Odhiambo

At what age should we begin to encourage compassion and giving in children? Isabella was shocked when one day, her daughter came home from camp and announced that she (Isabella) was a grandmother.
Obviously there was something I was missing, she could not have been pregnant and given birth while away at camp!! I could not guess how.
Well, it did not take too long for Isabella to find out what this grandmother business was about: together with a friend, her daughter had adopted a child. “His name is Miguel from the Democratic Republic and I am sure it must be the Congo”. When she did, she decided to support her daughter. “I was 6 years older than she is now when I had such dreams and there was not a soul to encourage me,” she says.
Ashe.Selah ponders talking about sex with her children, and gets candid about her own experiences.
We escaped to tell the truth another day.  And tell it we must, especially with all of our talks about honesty and how Mama and Daddy aren’t perfect.  But this scene took my mind back to those days.  Outta Mama’s house, on my own in college.  Boy, was I a trip.  Couldn’t seem to spell abstinence.  It was like I was on Soul Train at the scramble board arranging letters — the “i” was missing.  My approach to sexuality was both dangerous and unhealthy – to my physical and emotional well-being.
And, in closing, with joy in my heart, I announce: It’s another girl (with a ’fro?) for The Girl With A ’Fro! And, as she warns, it may take a while before we get another post from her…
I probably will have time to blog, but I’d much rather just sit and gaze at my daughter, inhale her beautiful heavenly baby scent and just marvel at the goodness of God in creating us the way He has :)
May God bless our mothers – their arms hold the future generation; their words counsel them; their eyes watch over them; their prayers keep them in check; their God protects and seals them!