A Mother's Sacrifice (Elizabeth)

A few weeks ago, I began my story with my parents and how they met. Today, I’m continuing with my story.

My dad had decided several years before that I would be named Elizabeth, after Queen Elizabeth I. My mom decided to go the natural route, so she had me without any pain medication. Mom said logically, she knew she wouldn’t die, but she didn’t know that in her heart. Afterwards, she was exhausted. When the nurse said she could hold the baby after I’d come out, Mom told Dad, “Get it, David.” When Mom first held me, she thought I was a boy because of my belly button.

The nurse patted her on the shoulder. “No, honey. It’s a girl.”

According to my parents, I was outgoing, determined, and noisy as a baby.

If I met someone new at the park, I would call them “friend.” My dad said that once I saw a group of 7 year-old boys and said, “Hi, friends!” They were making fun of me, since I was in diapers, but apparently I couldn’t tell and kept waving.

And determined is my mom’s nice way of saying short-tempered and stubborn. She said I hated to be “thwarted.” Whenever my parents told me “no,” instead of crying, I’d become very, very angry.

Both of my parents mentioned how frequently I used my strong voice. At the time, Dad worked at a flight line, so he would use flight line hearing protectors when he held me. On trips, they would take a swing with them, since I’d keep quiet when I was swinging. They said I had colic, and when I wasn’t crying, I was a very happy baby (see picture above).

A few months later, my mom began losing weight. At first, she was thrilled, but then she grew so weak, she had to put me on a blanket and drag the blanket around instead of carrying me. Eventually, Mom and Dad realized she had Graves’ Disease. The hormones during my mom’s pregnancy had altered her thyroid function. Her thyroid was producing too many hormones, so it was removed, and now my Mom takes pills to replace what her thyroid does. She shouldn’t have been able to have any more kids after that, but managed to have all four of my younger siblings.

Since Mothers’ Day was a little over a week ago, I’d like to give a shout out to my mom, who’s given up a lot to raise five kids!

What were you like as a baby/toddler? Do you have any stories your parents told you? Why did your parents give you your particular name? What sacrifices has your mom made for you?

Thank you for reading!

-Elizabeth Newsom