The Obstinate Twins

As I listened to the frozen rain beating against my house this morning, I was assured that yes, it was a day of inclement weather. Sure enough the phone rang to confirm that school would be closed. Turning back over in relief that I wouldn't need to rise so early, I began to ponder the power of weather.

There are few things in life that are so formidable as weather. Seemingly random in its nature makes me wonder if this is the inconsistent relative whose behavior can never quite be calculated. All it takes is the wrong word spoken to set it sideways.

And then there is the twin sibling named child birth, who can never be told what to do. She's so independent and non-conforming, like a teenager coming in at all hours of the night. We may try to hold the mandatory family meeting where all gather with ultimatums, but ultimately sister birth breezes in when she darn well pleases. Some say she is particularly fond of full moons, but the only thing you can count on with her is that she will arrive in her own sweet time, just ask any mom.

When I was a month out from delivering Josh, my second born, my girl friend Barb, also expecting, and I decided to fly our midwife friend from Oklahoma in to deliver both of our babies. Just as the obstinate teenager would have it, I delivered a day before she arrived and Barb delivered two weeks after she had flown back home. All to prove the point that birth won't be controlled. It certainly seems to be in cohorts with weather and works overtime to rearrange all of our plans and keep us on our toes.