Super Mom!!!

Mother's Day is rapidly approaching, and it's a holiday that should fall on a Monday. If anybody needs a three-day weekend, it's definitely moms. My house is one that stops running all together whenever I'm sick. So much so, that I dread the thought of falling ill for even half a day. God forbid I catch the FLU!!! I'm compulsive about keeping up with or ahead of my to-do lists and appointments. Though I tend to meet my own demands, there are times when I fall behind. This past week is the perfect example.

Friday evening my daughter came down with a fever of 103.5 F. I didn't sleep well that night, or any other night until it finally broke. That didn't happen until Wednesday at 2 AM. We tried everything. Alternating Tylenol and Advil. Antibiotics. Popsicles. Nothing worked!!! She only got worse. By Monday afternoon she was vomiting all oral medications. True to my millennial nature, I Googled "home remedies for fevers" and came up with a Top 10 list. I used 3 of the techniques and viola!!! It took 12 hrs until the Fever stabilized. Then 12 hrs later, Fever gone. 

During this process, I did NOT sleep during the night. Not fully, any way. Her fever ALWAYS rose during the night. She wouldn't eat or talk or dance. She would drink water and Ginger Ale, watch TV, sometimes eat grilled cheese and sleep. By Tuesday night, I was delirious. The anxiety of the fever rising again almost engulfed me. I sobbed, laid my daughter's head in my lap, stroked her hair and sang "You Are My Sunshine" until she fell asleep.

When she called out for me at 2 AM, I knew something was different. I could hear it in her voice. She wanted me to turn the TV back on and to fetch her another green tea with citrus. I checked her temperature and would have done a happy dance when I saw that 99.4 F if I hadn't been so exhausted. Now, at 36 hrs fever free, the drama almost feels like a lifetime ago.

Oddly enough, my husband did not go through the ordeal in the same way. He didn't clean the vomit or diarrhea. He didn't wake up in the middle of the night. He didn't even hear her. Furthermore, he didn't pick up the slack on the housework either. As far as he was concerned, things weren't that bad. But they were. I kid you not, they definitely were. But men don't process things the way women do. So it makes sense that dads don't process things the way moms do.

That's why this post is dedicated to all the moms out there.

Shout-out to the young moms. Motherhood changes everything, and this rings truest for young moms. Growing up while raising future grown-ups creates it own issues aside from 'normal' motherhood challenges.

Shout-out to the older moms. Society feels entitled to tell us when it's appropriate to lease our uterus. And Lord help if you 'still' don't have those material things that 'qualifies' one to be a fit parent. They will never shut-up then.

Shout-out to the single moms. I've been there. It's a hard life. You never want to ask for help, but help can be one of the greatest resources. You can't miss work. You work long hours, and then you feel guilty for working.

Shout out to the Step-Moms. You choose to love and you love hard. You may get disrespected like a mom because you're not the mom but you love like the mom without ever being called mom.

Shout-out to the working moms. Your dual existence requires the world's greatest balancing act. When you're at work, you're thinking about what you have to do for your home. When you're at home you're thinking about what you have to do for work.

Shout-out to the domesticated moms. You're greatly underestimated. Society wonders if you lack ambition, skills or education. Some people admire you, thinking it's a glamorous life. Your spouse wonders what it is that you do all day, but you're too tired to explain.

Shout-out to the moms dealing with mental illness. Pretending to feel good is one of the fastest ways to deteriorate. Talking about how you truly feel can be embarrassing and may cause guilt about not just having 'it' together.    

Shout-out to the GRAND-moms. Whether you watch through gritted teeth, or are raising your grands and everything in between. Your intentions are often misunderstood and your wisdom is under appreciated.

Shout-out to the pet moms. Some think you're wacky. You're questioned by people who already 'know' the answers. You're judged by people who don't want to understand the way you love.

A special shout-out to the moms who have ever lost a child for whatever reason WITHOUT losing your mind. You are the strongest people God has ever created.

To every mom of every kind, I salute you.
I see your strength.
I respect your wisdom.
I admire your courage.
I appreciate your perseverance.
I am on your team.
And I love you.

Signed,

A Newly Domesticated Lady