“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you; Jeremiah 1:5
The day Ruth turned two, her godmother dropped by to celebrate her birthday. Since Ruth was very
articulate for her age, her godmother wanted to try an experiment she had about read in a hospital newsletter. The article stated if you asked a young child, when they knew enough words to communicate but before they were ‘too old’, they could tell you about their life in the womb. So we decided to test this premise.
Ruth was very tiny but smart, so she startled people with her excellent verbal skills. With her attention completely on her toy, my daughter answered in short, clipped sentences.
I felt a bit foolish as I asked her,
“Ruth, do you remember when you were in mummy’s tummy?
She answered, “Yaaa.”
So then I wondered if she remembered any details,
“What was it like?”
Again Ruth could only spare a one word answer,
“Warm.”
“What else was it like?” I questioned.
To which Jean answered quite succinctly, “Dark.”
Melanie Jean Juneau is wife and mother of nine children. The very existence of a joyful mother of nine children seems to confound people. Her writing is humorous and heart-warming; thoughtful and thought provoking with a strong current of spirituality running through it. Part of her call and her witness is to write the truth about children, family, marriage and the sacredness of life.She blogs at joy of nine9 and mother of nine9.
