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Modern Midwives Blog
“Children incline to happiness. That is their gift. They burst through the open door, they run towards the smiling face. They embrace what is offered, they celebrate the small things. For they will not be small things, themselves, for long. We have more power when we are older. We make choices. We make progress, we like to believe we make something of ourselves. But we were made, and we were marked when we were so much younger. When, if we were lucky, we were free to incline to all the happiness we wanted.”
Episode 7 dealt with several storylines: Nurse Joyce Highland faced her disciplinary hearing. There was a film premiere of “Bronco Bullfrog,” which was filmed in the East End with East End kids, and we even had royalty, Princess Anne, in attendance.
We met Jacqui and Laurence Berridge and witnessed the tragedies that can ensue with substance abuse (heroin). We met Ellen Briscoe with her myriad of health issues, which she used to keep her son, Mark, in close proximity. Patrick and Shelagh Turner went to the magistrate court to finalize and sign their adoption papers with May in attendance. Cyril and Rosalind spent time together over lunch and also attended the movie premiere together. And Sister Catherine was invited to take her First Vows with the Order; yet, she really struggled with her family’s withdrawal due to her desire to enter a religious life.
As a modern-day midwife, I felt a strong theme of family throughout the storylines in Episode 7. Call the Midwife does not steer away from showing the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of engagement! We can experience a family that we are born into, or maybe we enter a family through adoption. Similarly, we can embrace and choose individuals to be our family as we travel a life path.
There is a beginning and there is a path we travel in life. Just like a plant or flower, our bloom or path can be impacted by many factors. How are we nurtured and built up? We will all face challenges. They can feel so much harder if we lack that love and support or experience being torn down or ignored.
That base and how we start has strong impacts and implications. It can reverberate throughout our lives and can enhance or diminish our happiness and sense of self. Some are so lucky and always feel love, happiness, and belonging. While others are dealt a bad hand and suffer because of it. This beginning can also be the impetus to make sure your next generation does not have that path repeat itself.
No matter what situation we are dealt, I have always found that people want validation, love, and attention. And when it is not available they seek for that possibility of change. Everyone wants that happy ending. People want to feel safe, secure, respected, and supported. We all want to belong. It is important to remember that every challenge you’ve faced has shaped you into who you are today. It is important to always have hope and that people can build resiliency!
In our storyline, we have two individuals who struggle with family withdrawal of support. We have Jacqui and her family’s disapproval of Laurence, and her life spirals into substance abuse, recovery, and relapse. And, we also have Sister Catherine and her calling to a religious life, and her family’s anger and withdrawal of support. She struggles, and she has ups and downs. Yes, she has the support, love, and engagement from the nuns as a safe landing place; but they are not her immediate family, and she feels that void!! The sting is strong, and her heart is heavy.
The month of May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. It has been celebrated since 1949. The week of May 11-17th is National Mental Health Week. Mental health really does encompass every level of our being and affects how we think, feel, and act. There can be such stigma surrounding substance use and mental health issues, and we definitely want to promote understanding and be cognizant that mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
My heart really bled for Jacqui. Often shame, the feelings of being judged or discriminated against, along with the fear of repercussions can drive people into secrecy. These factors can drive an individual away from the essential care that they need. Substance use disorder is a complicated web, and people need a multi-disciplinary approach for treatment. It is a far-reaching problem, and pregnant women are not immune.
Over 40 million people experience substance use disorders. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) cites a statistic that 5% of pregnancies are complicated by alcohol or drug use, and often we see more than one addictive substance being used.
In our storyline, Jacqui did not win her fight, even with the help of the nurses and nuns. I really did hope that the positive changes from her husband, Laurence, would be the stronger pull and bring her back from the brink of disaster. But that hope is not always realized. Instead, Jacqui’s parents will take over custody of the children after the death of their parents.
In our other storyline, Sister Catherine reaches out to her family, and her sister replies and will attend the ceremony to celebrate her First Vows. Sister Monica Joan had stated, “Sometimes our prayers are answered, but not always in the way that we desire.”
This is so true. Sister Catherine did not get her entire family but she got a start…. She got her beloved sister. At times we need courage. We need to embrace our positive connections. Each of us knows someone who has issues, and hopefully, we will keep reaching out that hand of love, support, and hope.
I put some resources below for people who may need them for themselves, a friend, or a family member. It is important to remember we can build resiliency. We can learn ways to hopefully manage our challenges. We can go beyond just surviving and instead we can thrive.
“Babies are born, but families are forged. Year after year after year – shaped by life and its chances and demands. Created by love and all that we let go. And even in loss, new life is given back to us. There will always be another open door. There will always be another gift, another celebration. Something to pass from hand to hand. It may only be a small thing and the pleasure it brings may be entirely fleeting. But embrace it. Be at peace with it. And like a child, embrace all the happiness it brings.”
