Motherhood

The author uses Tiny’s experiences raising Chouette as the narrative soil for her explorations regarding motherhood. When Tiny first discovers that she is pregnant, she is unsure if she wants “this baby at all” (5). She not only fears the implications and struggles of birthing and raising an owl-baby, but worries that the baby will rob her of her life and identity. In Chapter 1, while lying awake next to her husband, she says, “I try to imagine adding an owl-baby to the mix. I’m a professional musician, a cellist, and I love my work” (6). Although she attempts to devise logical solutions to maintaining her career while mothering her child, her mind remains “flooded with broody owl-baby objections to [her] plans” (6). Even before Chouette is born, Tiny can feel her child intruding upon her life. Her trepidations about motherhood, therefore, are inspired by her fears of...