When you're pregnant, you can think of nothing but having your own body to yourself again, yet after having given birth you realize that the biggest part of you is now somehow external, subject to all sorts of dangers and disappearance, so you spend the rest of your life trying to figure out how to keep it close enough for comfort. That's the strange thing about being a mother: until you have a baby, you don't even realize how much you were missing one.
In Jodi Picoult's book "Vanishing Acts," the experience of motherhood is poignantly explored. During pregnancy, the anticipation of reclaiming one's own body can overshadow the journey of bringing new life into the world. However, after childbirth, mothers often find that their deepest connection lies outside themselves—their child becomes an extension of who they are, introducing a new kind of vulnerability and concern for their well-being.
This realization can reshape a mother’s identity, as she instinctively seeks to protect her child from harm and loss. The quote beautifully captures the juxtaposition of longing for independence while simultaneously discovering an intense attachment to the baby. It underscores the profound changes that occur in a woman's life as she navigates motherhood, highlighting the deep emotional bond and the sense of fulfillment that comes with having a child.
