A POST MOTHER'S DAY HEARTFELT POST ...

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart.”
—CARL JUNG

Once again, I am reading a book about Jaqueline Kennedy.  Why once again?
Because, over the years, I've been drawn toward absorbing anything penned that may deepen my sense of insight concerning that which had caused the independent spirit of this courageous force of nature to develop such a deeply personalized sensitivity to artistic detail as to have elevated our First Lady's reputation to surpass Camelot's ‘haute coutured fashionista' in favor of being embraced as one of America’s most revered icons when considering the inner strengths of contemporary womanhood.

In addition to winning the world-wide admiration of heads of state, Jackie’s dazzling presence mesmerized the attention of 'the people' so that all she had to do to produce this mind-stunning effect was to walk into a room.  And each time her iconic presence had reason to comment or offer her opinion, glimpses of the caring nature of her heart were taken in by every ear graced with having absorbed the dignity of her self confident intellect's choice of words.

Quoting from the newest biographical study of Jacqueline Kennedy (which has recently been added to the portion of my library dedicated to the life and times of this high minded woman, whose place in American history is akin to royalty), I'd like to offer you the following excerpt from one of the essays comprising the revised and expanded edition of WHAT JACKIE TAUGHT US by Tina Santi Flaherty and Liz Smith:

“To many people, Jackie will be remembered forever as America’s queen, an icon and a touchstone for the wistful remembrance of 1960s culture and the Camelot dream. Yet she easily could have been merely a famous footnote to her husband, accorded no more recognition than that of any presidential wife. Why and how did Jackie leave such an indelible mark?

It begins with the fact that Jackie had a vision for our nation to which she held fast and would not let go. Just as President Kennedy declared a goal for America to put a man on the moon, Jackie imagined a transformed White House, alive with history and culture, and restored to its former glory as the First House of the land.  Within each of us lies our own vision for the way we want to live our lives. Like Jackie, we must recognize and hold fast to our dreams and refuse to be discouraged. One of Jackie’s favorite poets, W. B. Yeats, beautifully echoed these thoughts when he wrote:
“I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams ...”

Personally, I've held myself accountable to uphold Jackie’s personification of motherhood.  Though dedicated to public service by way of marriage to JFK, the dignified stance of our First Lady staunchly refused to adopt a quiet servile position whenever the subject at hand addressed the on-going welfare of her children.

"Seven years after they wed, Jackie Kennedy watched her husband give his inaugural address. She inhabited the role of first lady with grace, bringing poise and polish to her official duties and youth and a family center to the private side of the White House.

Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images

Jackie was protective of young John-John and Caroline while they were growing up in the White House. The president would on occasion allow photographs of them when Jackie was out of town."

Just as the world clearly recalls William and Harry walking sorrowfully behind the casket of their beloved young mother, my heart still skips a beat each time I envision John-John saluting the casket in which his virile young father, slain in his prime, lay in state while the world at large mourned in disbelief, and I believe the strength of Jackie's dedication to motherhood—which reached far beyond those dark days when tragedy demanded the impossible of a deeply grieving, beautiful, young widow, who would, from that day forth, parent her children alone—is best expressed in her own words:

Interview with NBC News Correspondent Sander Vanocur at Hyannis Port, Mass., October 1, 1960. 

Jackie's heartfelt conviction that throughout her childhood she’d been made to feel like an afterthought was based in the insensitivity of this sad reality:  Both of her parents maintained a long list of priorities that came before any consideration of what was best for their daughter ...

I was a fortunate child in that my father lived and loved us well until his eighty-seventh year while my mother lived to celebrate and dance at her 100th birthday, and twas my good fortune to bask neath the sheltered warmth of their love and friendship over most of my life ...
💖I miss you, Mom and Dad, more than words can express ...