Sunday, May 14, 2017
When I started writing this column in 2012, I had no idea I’d end up having traditions.
This week happens to be one of those unintended traditions, as we recognize the most important group out there — our mothers.
Mother’s Day pieces have been a special way for me to pay homage to the moms in my life. I’ve shared stories of my mom and grandmas. I’ve touched on the role moms play in golf. I’ve even recalled the different mom personalities I still vividly remember from the junior golf circuit years ago.
This year, however, I’m going to take a more personal — and more serious — approach. This past month, my wife and I welcomed our second child, Vivienne, into our family. Beth’s pregnancy went relatively well. Delivery was fine. And baby and mom were doing great as we returned home from the hospital.
About a week later, we got a call that Vivienne had a potential problem from one of her initial screening tests. I won’t go into too much detail on what, but it was regarding a serious life-altering disease. We researched and were told that, in all likelihood, our daughter would be a carrier — which is separate from being diagnosed with the disease. But additional testing would be needed. We had to wait until she was a month old to have the test done.
Three long weeks. That’s a lot of time to sit and think about the way our life could possibly change based on a single test. At this point, please know this is not a “woe is me” story. I’m just sharing the worries we experienced with our newborn.
The three weeks felt like forever. I found us analyzing our daughter’s every move — extrapolating every good sign possible from a nursing session or a regular bowel movement. We tried to accept that we were unable to affect the outcome of the upcoming test and simply enjoy the first month with our baby. But it was difficult not to worry.
In the end, the percentages rang true, and Vivienne has only a recessive gene she’ll want to know about at some point in her life.
So what does this have to do with Mother’s Day?
For three weeks, I watched my wife cope with the unknown we went through. I have a message for the men out there: There is no emotion more powerful than a mother’s love for her child.
I’m not saying better or worse; positive or negative. I’m just going to use the term “powerful.”
It’s somehow both impossible to define with words, yet immediately recognizable when you see it.
Growing up, I always knew my mom loved me, that she cared for me, worried about me and had my back when I needed her. And I know a lot of my friends — the Ferrantis, the Wires, the Krichbaums, the Porters and others — felt the same way.
I just didn’t understand how much until I got to see my wife with kids of our own. So bride, happy Mother’s Day to you as a new mom of two wonderful and beautiful girls.
And to my mother and mother-in-law, to our special Gigi and to all the moms out there — thanks for always worrying about us kids.
We love you.
We wish you a very special Mother’s Day, and we appreciate you more than you know.
Jonah Karzmer is a former golf professional who writes a Sunday golf column for The Vindicator. In his spare time he sells commercial insurance and loves getting feedback on his weekly columns via email at jonah@thekarzmerinsurance.com.