How times have changed. The essence of what a child needs hasn’t changed, but the expectations surrounding parenting sure have.
I am struck by the sheer beauty found in these black and white shots taken 50 years ago, and re-discovered just recently.
I love the close physical contact between the mothers and their children. I love the nakedness of the children. I love the warm hugs, that eternally nurturing posture. I love the ordinariness of their affection.
But most of all, I LOVE that these photos were taken in a time before the concept of the Yummy Mommy or the Hot Mama, in a time before the perpetually sexualized woman. These images have a carefreeness about them that betrays today’s misunderstanding of love, of womanhood and of motherhood.
Some progress.
by 
Seems to me these photos show a world that is of caring. Striking to see this post as four days ago the July 14th post was looking at; ‘Are kids worth it?’. Two different worlds: ‘Caring’ and ‘Worth it?’
Interesting observation David. When the perspective of motherhood began focusing on the mother rather than the child, it transformed what was valued, important and dispensable to the mother. Much to the detriment of the child part of motherhood.
I guess when the focus changes from some one else to one’s self then inevitably the self wants to know what is in it for me. It seems this ‘rationally’ leads to wondering if an involvement, relationship, vocation, etc., etc., is ‘worth it’.
I like the use of ‘transformation’ as I think when one looks at women and children within this transformation ‘mother’ disappears as a concept and is replaced with something like John Donne’s ‘island’, illusionary ‘independence’, and the child becomes optional. I do not agree with this understanding but I see it as a logical outcome of the changed focus.
Thanks heavens it is not true that we are ‘islands’ and mothers are not ‘mothers’ but sad that some believe it.
Well said. I couldn’t agree more.
Indeed. Indeed.