My wife looked forward to Mother’s Day this year. Last year our son was largely a mystery to us but she felt his presence through kicks and viewed it through the necessity for a different type of clothing (maternity). This year our son is crawling, sprawling, crying, laughing, talking and playing. Mother’s Day was sure to be a joyous occasion. My son even helped me pick out flowers to be delivered to Mom on the special day. While there was much to be happy about, Mother’s Day extended long past Sunday this year.
It all started Saturday night. My son had just finished nursing with his mother when we heard the most horrible sound: he had puked all over my wife, our newly cleaned sheets, and the potential for restful slumber. Happy Mother’s Day! The next morning he awoke with a temperature of 103 degrees. This lasted throughout the day and ensured two things: he’d be hooked up to Mom all day long and he’d be unable to go to daycare on Monday. Someone would have to stay home. Since I had a huge academic evaluation on Tuesday it would by my wife who would miss work.
True to form, our son would remain with fever long enough for him to complicate Tuesday, my big test day, and simultaneously make my wife’s life difficult. On Wednesday we were having our “Big Day On Campus” and things were somewhat back to normal. If I’ve learned anything from all of this it is that my wife is always a mother. She has constantly been a mother since long before our son’s birth by taking pre-natal vitamins, monitoring her food intake, and carefully treading to ensure she never fell. To this day her commitment continues. She cares for him constantly. She attends to his every need. She loves him selflessly. While this comes a little late for Mother’s Day: Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. You’re the best!