The Little Red Stroller

Back and forth and back and forth: the pattern was endless. Among the crowd of hundreds at Saint Peter’s Square who were listening to the Papal address was a woman who never stopped moving. She appeared to be in her thirties with a short pixie haircut and a gray t-shirt (not the best fashion choice considering the blistering sun that morning.) The reason for her constant repositioning was the little red stroller she was pushing. While the baby did not appear to be making any noise, it was clear that the woman feared if she stopped moving the child’s relaxed state would crumble. Even though she was visibly exhausted she did not slow her pace, she was dedicated to hearing the Pope’s message and keeping her child happy. Considering the baby’s tiredness, it is possible that he or she had refused to sleep through the night, and thus also kept the mother awake. This all probably took place in an uncomfortable hotel room. Now they were both fatigued to the extreme and surrounded by clusters of noisy enthused Catholics. As a result the child could not be lulled to sleep – that is, without the constant motion of its mother. The woman appeared to be a devote Catholic herself, as she tired to turn her head towards the Pope at every opportunity she could. Considering she was alone during her many laps through the throng of people maybe she is a single mother. This would be especially poignant considering the theme of the Pope’s message that morning was the purpose of engagement and truly getting to know and understand your partner before marriage. Perhaps she was previously married and fell out of love with her spouse, they had changed as individuals over time and no longer understood each other. This could have been her first major trip alone with her child, once again discovering who she is as a woman and a mother. Whoever she was her love and commitment to her child was obvious as she continued to travel around Saint Peter’s Square through the swarms of bodies.