Mrs. Wang- an update

Today I arrived fifteen minutes early to pick up Miriam. It was pouring rain outside- which always makes pick up fun on the bike! I was just groaning that I had to stand outside in the rain. That was until I felt an arm around me. It was Mrs. Wang telling me hello and wanting to share my umbrella. I was so thankful to see her!

 Because a whole group of Grandmas were discussing me, my belly, our family ect. I could feel the anger that (again) they will not talk to me about these things. When dear Mrs. Wang put her arm over my shoulder. It was like God was saying- stop being angry and just talk to your friend!

"Raining a lot today" I said
"Yes, and I need an umbrella" Mrs. Wang said

Silence....

"So you don't have to pay a fine then." She said to me followed by,
"Will you find out if it is a boy or a girl?"

"No, will not find out -and some hospitals will not tell you the sex at all they are scared you will not want the baby."
(abortions for the 'wrong' sex of baby are very common here and so most hospitals now have rules banning telling you what sex the baby will be) I replied back to her.

"Having three kids is really unheard of in my hometown (Mrs. Wang is not from Shanghai but a nearby city)" she said.

"But even to have two kids you have to pay 50, 000 Yuan (or almost $8,000). If you have three there is no chance for them to have a Hukou" (this is kind of like a Social Security Number- it allows you to be know as a citizen)

Mrs. Wang has two kids- two boys actually. She did not divulge if she had to pay that fine. But she did tell me people sell their homes sometimes so they can pay this fee.

More silence. More rain. Then the gates open.

Mrs. Wang puts her arm around my very pregnant waist and we walk in together under the same umbrella to Miriam's school. My mind if racing with the simple fact that I could have as many children as I want, in any country I want, anytime I want and probably never sell a house, bribe an official or really sacrifice much. And here stands Mrs. Wang who probably gave up more than I will ever know to have a second son and not abort him. In the silence, in the rain as we walked into school together I felt sad for China- but happy for her friendly arm around me in a very strange place like- China.