There isn't Enough Money to Pay a Mom...

Okay.  Imagine that being a Mom was an actual paying job.  What could an employer offer as compensation for anyone who gets hired for this job?  What  are the qualifications?  You have to be able to cook, shop for groceries, purchase clothing, repair or sew clothing, custodian duties (including toilets!), laundry, financial planner and accountant, psychologist, nurse, negotiator.... special skills to include the ability to clean up any mess or wipe butts without gagging.  What salary could an employer offer?  And what idiot would accept such a job?!

Me.  And many other moms.  Let me explain how my day started.  First, if you think that once your kids are adults that you are free from responsibility your are delusional.  Not that I am complaining.  It is wonderful to have someone available to help with errands, or when you need a ride somewhere.  At this point in our lives, it is a reciprocal relationship.  That being said, when the phone rings at 7:30 in the morning, something is wrong.  No telemarketer calls then.  Only a child in need.  My day started with a 7:30 am phone call.  Pook needed a ride to the eye doctor.  He couldn't see. He was sure something got in his eye last night when he was helping his cousin put in new flooring.  I needed to be ready to go in 15 minutes.  Small problem, the grandkids are due to arrive in 45 minutes.  One problem at a time. 

I immediately forfeit my relaxing morning alone to throw some clothes on.  My hair has that wild look, and I apply minimal makeup, throw on jeans and a t-shirt and head to Pook's.  He is already heading out the door, clearly having trouble putting his key in the keyhole to deadlock it.  His head is tilted to one side and he can only look to the right without being in pain. 

On the way to the eye doctor, I call the Admiral to tell him to bring the kids to they eye doctor instead of the house.  No problem, but he starts asking how many car seats I have with me because Max is staying home from school because she doesn't feel well.  No sweat, I have this on lockdown.

Pook is called back to see the doctor.  And the waiting room starts to fill with a lot of folks who have just had cataract surgery. I look up each time the door opens, anticipating the arrival of my three grandchildren.  Finally,  they arrive with their father in tow.  I should have known something was up as soon as the Admiral rolled his eyes at me.  Apparently two of the three had already vomited this morning. 
But anyway, I got lots of oohs and aahs from the other grandmothers in the waiting room and I swelled with pride.

We didn't wait long for Pook to be finished.  Good news, it was a piece of wood.  No damage but his eye is clearly irritated.  Bad news, he just received his third lecture about wearing safety glasses.  The first was from his professor who he called when he knew he couldn't get to class.  The second was of course from his mother.  There is probably a fourth pending from his father this evening.

We start loading the kids into my car, which involves a great deal of orchestration.  Max is able to get herself in the seat and buckled.   But this time she just stands there.  I have Pook put the baby seat in while I get my other grandson into his seat.  We are switching places so I can finish buckling the baby in and Pook heads around to do Stitch.  I get as far as the back of the car when I hear screaming from Stitch and Max.  Then Pook starts yelling that they threw up.  He goes around to the back of the car and starts to dry heave.  By the time I make it to the baby's door, Max spews vomit all over the floor, the back of my seat and her seat. 

All you can do is stand there and laugh.  Two kids crying, a confused baby and a 25 year old dry heaving.  Of course I have nothing with me for clean up and so I get all of them into the car and roll down the windows.  WE JUST NEED TO GET HOME!  Pook rides all the way home with his face buried in his sweatshirt due to the smell. 

Two baths, three loads of laundry and a scrubbing of my car and we are settled in for the day.  It is now 9:30 am.  How is your day going?  You couldn't pay someone to do this kind of work.  But a mother does it every day with love and devotion for free!  Hope you week is a little more in control than my day started.  God bless all the mothers of this world!!!