May 11, 2008

• Mothers Day

  Let me begin this post by saying Happy Mothers Day to all of you other moms out there.
  **Disclaimer-Also let me say that what follows may make you upset on this day of happiness and you might want to stop here. 

  I was reflecting on what this day means to me this year.  My mind thought of two very special women that I know from work. 
  The
  first is my friend, Deb.  She has two grown children and five
  grandchildren.  Her daughter was adopted and has some developmental
  problems.  She is the mother of three of those grandchildren, all
  boys.  She is in her thirties but acts as though she were a teenager. 
  She has a history of drug abuse.  Through everything, Deb has stood at
  her side and kept a very realistic yet optimistic outlook.  She has
  petitioned the court for custody of the boys and won, all the while not
  alienating their mother in the process.   Deb then analyzed the
  situation and realized she would not be able to keep the boys at her
  home.  She works full time and takes care of her ailing mother.  She
  also works for a nursing agency on her days off.  She contacted some
  friends that have taken in foster kids for many years.  She knows this
  couple personally and trusts them.  She asked if they would be willing
  to take in her grandchildren.   Her paycheck from the agency goes to
  the couple to buy things for the boys that aren’t provided through
  child support and social security. I marvel at how much this woman does
  and still finds time to spend on herself. Deb is unassuming, funny, and
  a good friend.  I hope she has a wonderful Mothers Day.
  The second
  mother I want to tell about is 20 years old. I work with her mother,
  and have known her for many years.  This young woman is amazing. She
  recently gave birth to her first child, a son.  She is single and was
  at college when she found out she was pregnant.   The father is not in
  the picture.  She has accepted that with grace.  Early in her
  pregnancy  the doctor told her the baby was not perfect.  He told her
  to expect the baby to born with physical problems and mental
  retardation.  She accepted this with grace also.  She moved back home,
  putting college on hold.  Her home situation is not the best either, to
  say the least but she had the undying support of her mother.  When the
  baby was born, he was whisked away from her to another hospital for an
  operation.  She had a c-section so it was a few days before she could
  even see her baby.  He made it through the surgery with flying colors. 
  Then the doctors delivered the news that he is more severely affected
  than originally thought.  They told her he would be lucky to live two
  months at the most.  Her son had a second surgery (Necessary to prevent
  infection) that he sailed through and she and her son got to come home
  yesterday.  He will be on Hospice care.  She has broken down and cried
  and now is looking forward to what little bit of time she has with her
  son.  This situation is far from over for this new mother and her
  precious gift from God, but she is strong.  She says she is going to
  cherish this time and focus on being the best Mommy she can.   She is
  going to need the love and support of her family and friends.  I hope
  she counts me as one. She does not go blithely through life but accepts
  what it has to offer and meets each challenge with a good attitude. 
  She does not ask “Why me?” but asks, “What can I do to make this
  situation better?”  I admire her right now.  And I always will for what
  she has been through.  She will have a tough time ahead of her.  For
  now, though, she is a mother with a newborn to love and she is content.

  • 10:46 am
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