“Shoot, I forgot something,” I turned on my heel and
jogged up the last flight of stairs, Carys was tucked securely in the pack on
my back. All twenty pounds of her. It occurred to me as I achieved this physical
feat of parenthood that this is something that soldiers do all the time.
I
read an article recently discussing whether or not women should be allowed in
combat. I had thought that debate was
over, but I guess in some situations women are still not allowed on the front
lines. I suppose there is still discussion
as to whether or not women are capable of handling the rigors of combat, I
thought about this for the rest of the day.
I
have heard that in training Navy Seals are deprived of sleep and made to listen
to tapes of infants crying, because that is the most stressful sound that a human
can hear. Does this sound familiar? Apparently elite military training is the
same as parenting a newborn. Then I
thought to myself, ‘why would you induce that? Just send them to babysit for me.’
One
thing that soldiers must do is carrying large burdens far. Have you ever carried a thirty pound car seat
across a parking lot and up several flights of stairs? Because I do.
Then there is the Ergobaby, the device that straps your child to your
back, emulating that pack that I am sure soldiers carry.
Another point to the
debate is that women cannot handle the physical rigors of soldiering. After Carys was born I was complaining that
my bottom was no longer in the same shape that it had been before, in the typical
male fashion of trying to fix my problems rather than just sympathize, my
husband suggested that I do more squats.
What does he think I do with that baby on my hip or on my back? Squat to pick up things they drop, toys they
have spread across the room, etc. I
should’ve just punched him in the neck.
Bringing us to
violence; I have also heard people debate whether or not women are fierce and
violent enough to take on combat. I want
to find the creators of Yo Gabba Gabba, and I want them awake and alive so I
can make them feel the pain that they have caused me.
Logistical planning is
another skill that is required of men in the field. Every time I go to a store I have to strategically
plan where to park, (close to the carts) and how to get everyone in and out of
the car in a manner that leaves no child unattended and no baggage
unattended. I remember the first time I
pulled into the parking lot of a particular craft store after having my second
child. This store has notoriously small
carts, and those carts are never in the parking lot where you can get them, I
sat for a moment with my hands on the wheel and under my breathe hissed,
“How
are we going to do this?” I heard from
the backseat,
“We’re
stopped,” I hear Emma whisper, equally as quiet. After I recovered from a giggle fit I solved
the task and got everyone in the store and out of the store without
crying.
I
imagine that often soldiers find themselves having to function and make
decisions when they are in a compromised physical state. Say in pain from injury or fatigued from lack
of sleep (maybe that is why they call them fatigues), or with lots of
distractions and noise around them. I
feel like that sounds familiar….pain from perhaps birthing a child or having a
c-section. Lack of sleep from the baby
that wakes you up every up every two hours or the preschooler who has night
terrors. Perhaps trying to make a
decision in Target with a crying baby and a toddler who keeps asking for
toys.
I suppose before women get discounted and it is assumed that we can't do something you might look at what we do on a daily basis.
I
hate to admit it but I have become a fan of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, because they
are everywhere in New England, and they often have drive thrus. Any port in a storm. My life is a perpetual storm…and some days
there just isn’t enough caffeine in the world.
3 comments:
I feel empowered! Awesome perspective.
Combat and Motherhood are very stressful occupations. And both share many of the same skill set. However, if I was to be picky, and 'help' you have all the facts straight I'd lightly, helpfully, simpathetically mention:
Infantry carries a 50 pound backpack. Plus a 10# flak jacket. Plus 30# in ammo and a rifle. In 6# each boots. And a stupid helmet that doesn't stay in place. That's over 100# on your body.
And, in combat, you're getting shot at. I'm sure that cross eyed stares from others in Target make you feel like you're getting shot at, but the risk of death is just not there.
-Brett
Brett, I will point out that this was written tongue in cheek. I do not mean to suggest that moms and soldiers are completely alike. I will also point out that one should comfortably carry about one third of your body weight in your pack, which the military requires you to carry more. Maybe the military needs to rethink what it requires of it's soldiers; being overly physically taxed while in a survival situation is not a good idea. I, myself, have carried a 60lb. pack which is more than 1/3 of my weight.
You and mom responded in the same way,seriously guys, relax.
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