The Middle Wife

'The 'Middle Wife'by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacherI've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself,But the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second-gradeClassroom a few years back.When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessionsWith my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, Show-and-tell is pretty tame Kids bring in pet turtles, model Airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that.And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If theyWant to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid,Takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow Stuffed under her sweater.She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke , my baby brother,And I'm going to tell you about his birthday.''First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol o f their love, and then DadPut a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for ninemonths through an umbrella cord.'She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to Laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh,Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans.'She walked Around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' Now this kid isDoing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn'tHave a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie Down in bed like this.' Then Erica lies down with her back against the Wall.'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in Case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilledall over the bed, Like psshhheew!' This kid has her legs spread with her little handsMiming water flowing away. It was too much!'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, Breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten.Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yuckyStuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, so there must beA lot of toys inside there.'Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat.I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's Show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in caseanother 'Middle Wife' comes along.Live every day as if it is your LAST chance to makesomeone happy!