In Ireland we call our mothers “mammy” or “mam”. The bond with our mammy is unbreakable. Indeed, it is one of the most amazing gifts of life. In this episode we explore this bond through the lens of emigration and adoption in 19th and 20th century Ireland.

Sheila begins by telling us about her own experience of motherhood and about the bond she formed with her six children. We then look at the philosophical literature and see that this powerful bond is formed in gestation when both mother and baby are most exposed to the core of one another’s subjectivity. From the accounts of adoption and emigration we see how traumatic an experience the separation of mother and child was, and yet, we also see the power and joy of this bond in cases where both parties were reunited. In the final part, we draw on the words of the Irish philosopher & poet—John O’Donohue—to impart some wisdom and a blessing for mothers. 

Music credits: Sláinte by Sláinte is licensed under a Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

With thanks to the John O'Donohue Literary Estate for the use of the blessing titled 'For a Mother-To-Be'

See more at: https://www.thehutnearthebog.com/

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