On the Threshold

Years ago, when I was studying midwifery, I had a dream where I was trying to catch my own baby being born. I was both mother and midwife. Pondering what it could be about, the thought that I was trying to birth something that wasn't ready to be born happened across my mind.

Tonight I sit on the threshold of an adventure that looks likely to happen. I've been working towards this for about six weeks. Last night, I was investigating alternatives. What will I do if it all falls through? So, what is this door that I am waiting to open?

I've arranged to take six weeks of leave from my job here in Australia in nursing with a small smattering of midwifery. During this time, I will travel to northeastern Canada and work for six weeks as a midwife. Today I learned that there is a place for me in an emergency obstetrics course to be offered at the hospital while I am there. My paperwork from Australia has been emailed to them. Papers from Ontario were also supposed to be faxed today.

In the beginning, I thought it was a crazy scheme: leave my husband and children here for a possibility. I became a midwife in Canada before there was any regulation of midwives. During the past twenty years midwifery has become a regulated profession in Canada while I've been midwifing and raising a family in Australia. With another province ready to regulate midwives, perhaps there is an opportunity for me to become a registered midwife in my own country! At the very least, it will provide me with experience that will be beneficial here.

Well, I can't keep writing until I know; it's off to bed for some sleep. The morning might bring a rather busy day: did I mention the proposed time for me to leave is on Monday, in four days time?

Susan