Mom, GodMother, StepMom, Auntie… Happy Day!… Sunday Musing
She looked so frustrated last week. I saw her in the airport. This young mother of twin rambunctious pre-school boys was definitely considering abandonment. The boys weren’t really all that bad. In her backyard, she would have been smiling indulgently. But this was an airport and her mothering skills were being questioned by complete strangers!
They were bored. And so were the rest of us. It was the third “new time” (the euphemism airlines now use for REALLY LATE!) in as many hours. Thunderstorms were delaying air traffic throughout the south. Not the fault of the airlines, certainly. But we had tired of airport food, checking email on questionable wi-fi connections, and we were done people watching.
I was grinning at the boys when the mother caught my eye and rolled hers. I sidled over to her and congratulated her on not losing her mind completely. I thought of a new country song now on the charts, “Your Gonna Miss This” by Trace Adkins. I told her how much I miss when my step kids were five. How there’s nothing more wonderful than a little one slipping their hand in yours when you’re having a bad day, or making you a drawing of some creature you’ve never seen. Alisha once drew me a ‘grasshelper’ that I’ve kept to this day. Liandra’s Thanksgiving Turkey was sent out as a holiday card; Chenty’s “Poam” made with the letters of my name, and Chaude’s “Angel” all have found places in my books.
I told her not to worry about the rest of us. People who have never had little ones in their lives may never get it. Parents in the room are either waxing nostalgic, or they’re just happy it isn’t them trying to entertain a couple of bored boys.
There are moms today who’ve lost their kids in the war, or to drugs and alcohol. There are moms who look back today and regret not spending more time, not taking the kids on a plane trip, not being more present. So, if you have little ones who frustrate you, take the time to get down and look’em in the eye and tell them you love them. Give them a dose of high attention. You might be surprised how quickly they settle down.
And if they don’t? Oh Well. They’re acting out how the rest of us feel, but are too dang civilized to show. And the good news? Boys who act up in the waiting room will sleep when we finally get on the plane.
If you’re a Mom of any flavor – a woman who gave birth or one who supports others in a mom kind of way, My love and best wishes to you all on this day.
Now, go call your mom.
Beth
~~~
@2008 Beth Terry Seminars, Inc. All US and International Rights Reserved.
