Great People: Other Mothers

As I was dropping my daughter at a summer activity yesterday, I overheard another mother's dilemma of the day. She had been trying to teach her son responsibility, but he ended up at camp with no shoes (been there!). She was trying to figure out her options when another mother piped up that she just happened to have an extra pair in the car because her son is taking swim lessons (and some supplies are just easier left in the car). So the first mother borrowed the shoes and her son was allowed to stay.

As I considered yesterday's post about how important it is for me to know my children are well-cared for before I can do good work, I thought about other mothers. Those women who I may or may not have known well who pitched in when a child is sick, I forgot something, or spilled something, or just needed to pee and there was someone talking on their cell phone in the only stall that was large enough for me and my finally-sleeping baby. Those other mothers have been through my challenges--and more--and have the compassion and compulsion to help, in any way they can.

So for those other moms who sympathetically cooed the first time I left my first-born or explained school policies for me or held the door when my hands were full of grubby fingers or who took my children when the sitter didn't show for the do-or-die client meeting or modeled real and effective parenting, working, and living techniques; I thank you. I promise to pay it forward.

Great People: Childcare Providers

After my first child was born, I happened upon the famous Elizabeth Stone quote:

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."

Of course everyone said, "Nothing will ever be the same...Kiss your freedom good-bye...No more sleeping in..." and all of those other things we already knew, but there were other truths we did not understand. We did not understand how messy the insides of our cars would become. We did not understand that you can live fully on less than two hours of sleep. We did not know how hard it would be to trust others to take care of our children when we could not. We did not fully comprehend that the care must be trusted and proven before our brains could let go of the worry about their care.

My work would not have been possible seven of the last 10 years without the care providers who taught ABCs and 123s, sang, played, kissed boo-boos, insisted on naps and nutrition so that I could contribute to the world through my work. Those wonderful people are: Nicole, Delia, Robin, Gio, Julie, Jill, Leanne, Pearla, Janessa, Jen, Jenny, Phil, Elaine, Krista, and others who were co-teachers, administrators, or support staff who made my children's days brighter for their presence.

Thank you for your loving care.