MOTHERING AND CAREGIVING
The Grace of Transitions There is a sense of frustration that arises upon entering the realms of mothering and caregiving and perhaps during many of other transitions in our life, that reveals to us how our societies and cultures, particulary especially in the west, have evolved to meet the needs of industry, not those of humans.
In his seminal book Sapiens, Yuval Harari explores how the industrial revolution precipitated a shift in human culture, where our societies were restructred to meet the needs of economy, rather than economy adapting to honour the needs and rythms of humans.
Its a legacy that remains true today where our collective values and societal structures remain orientated around capital.
That our societies are not structured around the needs of humans becomes abundantly clear within the transitions of caregiving, that can bring with it a sense of despair and urgency.
Yet paradoxically within this tension, our greatest strengths can begin to emerge. Amoungst the angst and frustrations, lies our greatest source of resilence and ingenuinity, our greatest source of grace. These conflictions are echoed through the poignant words of Gabor Mate. “Everything can touch us.. our most painful emotions point us to our greatest possibilities”.
9.July.2026
By H.Coutts
References and Further Reading
Harari, Y. N. 2015 Sapiens: A brief history of humankind. London: Vintage.
Mate Gabor, 2003, When the Body says No, The Cost of Hidden Stress, Scribe Publications, Brunswick Australia.
