You Still Matter, Mama

Even if everyone only asks about the baby

A clematis bloom after the petals have fallen. Photo by the author.

It’s a perfunctory add-on after the fuss is made. A question as you move to your seats and watch the little one kick or roll or crawl or wander. A question that is not meant to have a substantive answer.

“And how are you?”

It’s asked at least, though. Not that you can answer because the baby has figured…