In 1992, the foreign film Like Water for Chocolate stormed the scene and endeared the hearts of audiences and critics all around the world. It was nominated for 3 separate awards (although, I don’t believe it captured any of them): the 1994 Independent Spirit Awards®: Best Foreign Film nominee, the 1994 BAFTA®: Best Foreign Language Film nominee, and the 1993 Golden Globe Awards: Best Foreign Language Film nominee.
The film’s main character, Tita, falls in love but is not allowed to marry the man of her dreams. Instead, he marries her sister. Throughout all of this, Tita discovers that her emotions are being transferred into the food she prepares. When she is sad, everyone who eats of her culinary treats finds themselves in tears. When she is happy, the entire table is cheery and boistrous.
In 2004, this fanciful film took on a whole new meaning for our family. I had gone into labor with our 3rd child. I labored all night and called my mom in the morning to come get the older children. By the time she arrived, labor had stalled. I could not believe it. I was so angry, I began throwing myself into other projects about the house…anything to keep from thinking about the fact that my body had decided to go kaput on me. I had some okra from a neighbor on the kitchen counter that desperately needed pickling, so I decided that would be a good thing to do. I began slinging okra about the kitchen, boiling brine and canning like a mad woman. Shortly after the jars processed, labor began again in earnest. However, when we returned home with our new little one and decided to try some of that pickled okra, we discovered it to be completely inedible. It was decidedly the grossest pickled okra ever and we had to throw out all the jars. It became a family joke that my irritation spread to the poor, helpless okra…Like Water for Chocolate.
Well, here we are…4 years later. While the labor pattern is nothing like it was with baby #3, there is still a frustration there. How can I go hours with nice, steady contractions, only to have them fizzle out after a bit? Why do they not pick up, intensify, do something that even remotely resembles real labor?
So, it might be best if I do not cook today…I may have the whole family somewhere between crying, laughing, and screaming…Like Water for Chocolate. (hee hee)
Fruitful Harvest says
Hang in there girl! I had 2 labors(#4 and #5) that kept stalling. Both I think was because the babies were 10+#’s and my water would not brake so it took them a while to drop down and ingage. With baby #6 I was induced 4 days earily. She was 10# 11oz. My largest baby!I will be praying for you! I can’t wait to hear how this all goes for you!
Lynnette Kraft says
That was too cute…I’ve never heard of “Like Water for Chocoate” sounds very interesting. 🙂Yes, hang in there – baby can’t stay there forever!Maybe we’ll see you at church tomorrow after all… maybe you just need to see ME before going into labor – yes, that must be it! ha!Love,Lynnette
brandi says
hang in there Momma!
Liz says
i was exactly where you are (overdue, false labor) with my two year old- May God give you rest and peace in these last days before the birth!liz (a fellow MOMYS)
Rachel says
Soon, my friend…soon. I loved your last post…it had me laughing thinking about coming home to all of that pickled okra! When I was in labor with Elijah at four in the morning I went outside and blew up the outer pool ring (it would slowly deflate and if it got too low the pool would start to drain). I laugh at the memory of me squatting and blowing up that big tube while having contractions!!So what’s your big plans for today? Any canning? Chirstmas cleanup?Praying for you!Rachel
Fruitful Harvest says
Hey girl…Its Sunday morning and I thought I would check in on you! I see that there is no posting so I my guess is that you gave birth last night and will post in a day or two! Yippy!I will be praying and thinking about you at Mass. I hope I don’t cry at church….we sing the best songs at church and when I’m reflecting or praying about something,the words in some songs make me cry with JOY at how great God is! I pray all went safely! God Bless,Georgiann
The FitzGerald Family says
Sounds just like my second child. Two days of false labor, only to start up for real once I gave up “control”–it was my best labor. I used all those “pretend” contractions to practice. I had to be induced with my third because I refused to go home after we thought labor had started. If I had only remembered that my body takes some trial runs before it kicks in, I would have had a better labor with her. Go with your body, and allow this baby to come in his/her own time. I know–easy to say when you’re not pregnant. That third one was delivered around the time the restaurant Chilis had the theme song “I want my baby back, baby back, baby back [ribs].” I would sing, “I want my body back, body back, body back!” I’ll keep praying for endurance during these final days.Liz in CA
guinever says
Thought I’d let you know what worked for me for baby #5 12 days past my “due date.” I took cimicifuga and caulophyllum and my contractions started with the second dose and baby was in my arms 5 hours later=). C and C are the homeopathic forms of the blue and black cohoshes.
Lilyofthevalley - Tanya says
It can’t be much longer until you are holding your little one in your arms! 🙂