Friday, March 2, 2012

Friday Wrap-Up


HELLO FRIDAY....what a week. 

Monday kicked off with a severe case of mastitis for this Mommy and an awful cold for my little nugget.  My husband was traveling, I wanted to curl up in a ball and stay there....for a very long time.  My daughter and I were quite a site to see on Monday; she with snot and drool running down her face and a cough that would make even the most seasoned Mommy shutter, I with a ta-ta the size of Egypt and flu like symptoms, barely able to pick her up.  

I found myself at the pharmacy Monday afternoon (finally getting some antibiotics for the crisis in Egypt), snot-nosed baby on my hip and wearing what was essentially pajamas (I managed to put a coat on before I left, thank goodness).  I was standing in line behind a pregnant woman when I noticed that "deer in headlights" look come across her face. In that brief glance I saw something all too familiar to me.  Shock.  Horror. Fright. 

I remember being that woman.  That Mommy-to-be who was convinced I would NEVER not allow myself to shower every day.  No, not this Mommy.  I would NEVER let my child be in public with things running down her face, bananas in her hair from breakfast (which in fairness I didn't see until I was standing in line with her on my hip), and in pajamas herself (which had a big brown stain from her morning vitamin on the front of them).  I quickly zipped up her jacket to cover the stain, did my best to remove the (now crusty) banana from her hair and tried to muster a smile. 

I remember being that woman.  THAT WOMAN WHO JUDGED. My pre-baby self would often see Mommies with crazy hair, no makeup, Uggs over their plaid pajama bottoms and the "dirty" children; and I judged them.  I ADMIT IT.  I JUDGED.  Never out loud and certainly never with ill intent, but judge away I did.  

Damn you karma.  

As I stood in line feeling more than slightly embarrassed I wanted to tell this woman ahead of me that I knew what she was thinking, I knew she was judging me.  I wanted to tell her that I was her not so long ago and to take a good look at me now. I wanted to tell her to buckle up because the ride (although the best one she will ever go on) was going to be ROCKY most some days.  I wanted to tell her no matter how hard she tried to avoid it, no matter how loudly she was telling herself right now that she would not be like me, eventually it would happen.

I wanted to tell myself her it didn't matter.  We were in a pharmacy, picking up medicine, not in line for the red carpet at some fabulous event.  I wanted to tell myself her not to judge what she hadn't yet experienced. I wanted to tell her that when she finally had that baby in her arms she has been carrying for 9 months, all she would care about is the way THAT BABY LOOKED AT HER

In spite of how awful she was felling, my daughter mustered a smile and grabbed my cheek as if to say "You look crazy, but you're my crazy."  That was all I needed to swagger up to the counter, smile at the pregnant woman (looking back for one last mental note of what she would NEVER do), and remember the pure joy I have knowing I get to spend every day like this.  With my little nugget, comforting and nurturing her, being her world.  

Take that Monday, take that mastitis and crazy pajama wearing, unkempt-haired woman.  You're welcome karma.

I gave her a kiss on the way to the car and promised her I would get it together before she was was old enough to be embarrassed by me.....I am hoping she doesn't understand embarrassment until she's at least 18 13, just to be on the safe side.
Linking up again with Yeah Write! Check it out - so many great blogs!

24 comments:

  1. Kudos to you for even getting out of bed with Mastitis! I had it twice with Anneliese, it's the worst! Hope you are feeling much better! Sounds like that sweet baby of yours has fabulous intuition to know just when you needed a smile :-)

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  2. Ugh, twice?!?! It is the worst! When my only option to get medicine was to go myself I had to suck it up....then subsequentlaid aound feeling sorry for myself the rest of the day! Thanks for stopping by:-)

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  3. Another great post!!!!

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  4. I see pregnant women look at me, all smug, probably thinking, "I'll never be THAT mom whose kid is throwing a tantrum at a restaurant!" and I think, karma's a bitch, bitch. :)

    I love that part about your daughter touching your cheek - I so get that and live for those moments when we stop caring about how other people see us. It's how our children see us that matters.

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  5. Thanks for stopping by Alison-I know all too soon my children will be the screaming food throwers in the restaurant; at least now I know it is just par for the course! And yes, our kids have a great abillity to pull us out of our Mommy haze and remind us why we put up with the crazy days!

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  6. Kids in PJ's are cute and my Mom has always told me that no matter what there is always someone that looks/feels/has it worse than you think you do!

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  7. So true Jamie - I like that perspective!

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  8. Parenthood is humbling, no?

    I've made that promise to myself a few times. I think the age is ten these days. I have a few years until I mortify them completely. And UGH to mastitis. I got it on Xmas Eve - and it got me out of all the prep! Happy day to me! (Not.)

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  9. I don't judge. I don't have kids but I know better. Kids are monsters, I assume.

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  10. Yes indeed Kristin - seems like mastitis is more common than I thought! Sorry you had it on Xmas Eve but glad you got to avoid the prep :)
    Gia - I wish I could be more like you and not judge; kids are amazing and are a frequent reminder of how to be better adults!

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  11. Argh mastitis AND a sick child - the only looks from stangers you should be getting are looks of sympathy! Certainly not disdain.

    Being a mom has been the best lesson ever in no longer caring what other people think. There's too many parenting decisions and judgmental people - it's a recipe for disaster adn the only way out it to not care anymore. Hope you all feel better soon!

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  12. So true Kim! Thanks for stopping by :)

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  13. I think I may be guilty of the judging. Hopefully, I'd be more understanding in a pharmacy line, though. I will, however, definitely think twice about it from now on. Great read. :)

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  14. You are superwoman for getting out of bed and getting yourself to the pharmacy. It's so hard to deal with a sick toddler and a throbbing breast the size of Egypt! It's too bad childless people can't see that as heroic rather than freakishly scary. Moms of the world know you are amazing. I hope you are feeling better!

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  15. I agree. It's all about the way your baby looks at you. I think we all need that reminder on those rough days. Mastitis. Ugh. That is no fun. Hope you're feeling better.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Stacey-so true, one look can make the toughest days seem so much better! And yes, the crisis in Egypt has thankfully passed:-).

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  16. Hahaha! You TOTALLY just inspired me to stop reading yeahwrites and jump in the shower before I pick up my kid from middle school and swing by the pharmacy for his pain meds.

    Thank you thank you thank you. And you kinda made my boobs hurt a little.

    ~The G is Silent

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  17. Oh you poor baby! Mastitis, a sick baby, and a traveling husband? You deserve a medal, a cookie, and good karma. I'm glad you got your sweet-baby-moment reward. Ellen

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    1. I could have used you last week, lol! I know all mommies have been there and certainly under much worse circumstances....but GEEZ it felt like a little bit of hell from where I sit :). Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. You may be crazy, but you're my crazy. Perfect.

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  19. Ah! Motherhood.
    It is the best of times & the worst of times.
    Feel better soon.

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  20. Awww. Great post. I have nothing but respect for Moms. Juggling a whole shift in the axis of their world. I think it's pretty amazing. And "crazy" looks good on you ;)

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