Sometimes midwifery is overwhelming to think about.
Before you, a whole new person, with 10 fingers and 10 toes, and a head of new hair and bright eyes and helpless cries.
And a whole new mother, glowing with pride at the result of her hard work, and a new father, gazing down at the impossible creation of their love.
And if you meet these new parents in 3 years time, they’ll have a toddler. In 5, a child at school. In 15, a teenager. In 30, they could be grandparents.
And sure, this new person could grow to be the person to cure cancer or solve world hunger or land on Mars. Maybe they will do all kinds of wonderful things. But maybe, just maybe, the miracle of it all is to catch a glimpse of a photo a year later, or to meet them in the street next summer, and see a family. To see the baby you saw first, the person you guided into the brightness of the world with gentle hands, and to see happiness. To see love.
Maybe that is the greatest reward after all.
