My Tribute to Mothers

The time is approximately 3:30 am. We are stripping the sheets off of our bed. What began as a normal nursing turned into a diaper change gone wrong. And by wrong I mean our cozy flannel sheets are now streaked with a lovely shade of calf-shit yellow infant diarrhea which was forcefully pushed out by my sweet Eliza just before I had time to get the next diaper under her sweet bum. Did I mention it is on my pants as well? I love being pooped on.

Four years ago I made the decision to quit my job as a teacher to tackle what I consider to be an even harder job, a stay at home mom. I'm not sure what is more difficult...the daily juggling act of two children or the fact that I no longer have a lunch break or interactions with colleagues or an administrator telling me what a fine job I am doing.

We are now on week five of two children and I have found myself in many a predicament that cause me to want to laugh and cry and drink liquor all at the same time. And it made me think of all my friends who have chosen this same profession and are at home experiencing the same dilemmas. So to my dear Karla, Allison, Gen, Trish, Jayne Lee, and Katrina (you will soon be here) and anyone else I might be forgetting due to sleep deprivation, here is a little something to help you realize that you aren't alone and that hopefully your day is going better than mine.

In the past three days I have...

Worn the same clothes

Brushed only half of the things that someone should brush on a daily basis

Eaten with one hand

Typed with one hand

Washed dishes with one hand so the noisy child would be quiet so the quiet one could sleep

Pooped with one hand

Driven with two screaming children

Daydreamed of roadtrips in college

Shoved my face full of ice cream, chocolate, cobbler, brownies, cookies, soda, wine and anything that had any trace of sugar or caffeine or alcohol

Caught fresh spit-up in the palm of my hand

Caught fresh spit up down my chest only to have the remaining spit up sneezed into my face

Washed more laundry then should be legal

Allowed my three year old to poop and wipe and hopefully wash her hands all by herself

Breastfed in churches, stores, and parking lots

Taken showers and baths even when I didn't need them just because no one can bother me in there. I have stayed in there long enough to empty our hot water heater.

Changed diapers in the front seat of my car on my lap

Slept for increments of one hour at a time

Brewed more coffee and prayed that I wouldn't fall asleep

Taken an hour and a half to get ready for a 10 minute errand

Cleaned and wiped too many cracks and crevices other than my own

Contemplated driving in the direction NOT of my house and to keep going until my senses regain themselves

And then, in the midst of all these things, there comes this moment...when Isis decides she wants to hold the baby. And she is gentle and motherly and says things like "Hello Eliiiiiiiza! What a great smile!" And she squeezes her just a little too tight because she loves her just that much and from the tiny infant comes a smile meant only for her big sister. And for the moment, albeit short, I am able to forget about hunger, hygiene, fatigue, bodily fluids, and running away. It takes these little moments, few and far between, to remind me that this job is more important than my old one. And while I know it will get easier and better, it's always nice to know someones days is going worse than yours. Right now that day is mine, hope yours is better.