The 'Middle Wife' by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher 

 

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, 

But the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade 

Classroom a few years back. 

 

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions 

With my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, 

Show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, 

Pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any 

Boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school 

And talk about it, they're welcome. 

 

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, 

Takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow 

Stuffed under her sweater. 

 

She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and 

I'm going to tell you about his birthday.' 

 

'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put 

A seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine 

Months through an umbrella cord.' 

 

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to 

Laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her

In amazement. 


'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, 

Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around 

The house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a 

Hysterical duck walk and groaning.) 


'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have

A sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in

Bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.) 

 

'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he 

Got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like 

Psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!)


'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe.

They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a 

Sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all 

Said it was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of Toys inside there. 

 

When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for Crawling up in there.' 

 

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. 

I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's 

Show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another 'Middle 

Wife' comes along.