The Editor, Sir:

This morning in the rush to leave the house ahead of the traffic, I was feeding my five-year-old son super-fast, and imploring him to eat and not watch television while he was eating. I cannot explain how it happened, but the dish suddenly fell out of my hand spilling everything on the floor. Already flustered, I started to blame my son for the mishap and somewhere out of me came the words, 'I don't know where you come from!' It even annoyed me that he was ignoring me as I cleaned up while he focused on getting the most out of the cartoon before we left the house. He suddenly turned to me and asked, 'Where do you think I come from, Mommy?'

I did not answer his question, but at work his question nagged at me all day and I shared the incident with friends; we all had a good laugh. Then I read the papers and noted the articles/letters on the issue of legalising abortion in Jamaica. I thought about my son, how he had entered my life unplanned, and at a time when I did not know that I needed him, but my principles and background would have me think no other way but to continue on the path of bringing him into the world.

What an experience it has been, and I wish I could find one moment of regret. As my son grows from a helpless human being into an assertive, intelligent and soulful companion, I think of the blessing I have been offered in playing the role of nurturer and provider. I refer to him as a companion because I recognised him from he was in the womb as a possibility and a presence that changed my mundane and predictable way of living my life, to one where I look towards his future and the unfolding experiences which he will present as he contributes to world experiences.

I am drawn back to his question, 'where did I come from, Mommy?' as I realise that a baby in the womb is much more that the merger of a sperm and a fertilised egg. The experience, which is a very critical part of creation, is planned and presented to a parent not inadvertently, but to ensure nurturing in a way that the future of the world will be guaranteed.

So when my son asked 'Where did I come from, Mommy?' I regret that I missed the opportunity to tell him that God thought of him, selected him and presented him to me to be his Mommy. While I await the next opportunity to explain this to him, I pray the world will understand and respect this tremendous responsibility.

I am, etc.,

NADENE MARIE

rn_nn@yahoo.com