Japan has a word for this feeling: Ma (間). It’s the space between things. The pause between the inhale and the exhale. The silence between two notes of music. Right now, my entire body is Ma .
Mata ne. (See you soon.)
That is the miracle of the second birth. You are not just bringing a child into the world. You are bringing a sibling. You are exploding one universe to create a larger one. Just before the birth again- Japan- Pregnant- U...
That is Japan’s gift to the pregnant woman: Anonymity. No one stares. No one touches your belly. No one asks invasive questions. They simply bow, step aside, and give you the priority seat on the train. There is a gentle, unspoken respect for the burden you carry. Japan has a word for this feeling: Ma (間)
This is the Ma . The sacred pause.
But this time? Just before the birth again, there is no sprint. The silence between two notes of music
I also know that my toddler will be waiting at home. He will be eating okonomiyaki with his grandmother. He will look up when I walk through the door and say, “ Okaeri ” (Welcome home) before he even looks at the baby.