by Mary Paliescheskey

Created on: March 17, 2007   Last Updated: April 11, 2007

Some days you wonder what does it mean to be a mother? Is it the playing, reading, art, and fun in the sun or is it the laundry, baths, cooking, cleaning, and mundane work? Or is it some combination of all of the above.

One Mother's Day, I had a revelation. The Saturday of Mother's Day Weekend a doctor said to me with sarcasm 'What a wonderful way to be spending your Mother's Day Weekend.' And I thought 'Yes. It is wonderful. I'm here taking care of my child who needs me. What could be more perfect?'

It all started on Friday. It was a typical day. I had errands to run, a house to clean, and a Mother's Day Tea to attend with my oldest son at school. When not even at 9 A.M., the day went off the edge.

There I was doing laundry and as usual my boys had popcorn without checking with me. Suddenly, the dreaded 'No Mikey! Not safe!' rings through the house. I drop the laundry and my stomach, as I run to the room. I find my two older boys yelling at the littlest one. One boy pulls the popcorn bowl away. The other is prying the toddler's fingers open. Then I'm told that my little budding scientist has chosen today to see how well popcorn kernels fit into ear canals. No problem. I'm a mom. How hard can it be to get popcorn kernels out of an ear?

A flashlight functions as a surgical light. I can see the kernel, but no way am I going to get it. We can make it to the doctor before kindergarten starts to take care of it.

Famous last words. Seems my budding scientist not only wanted to see if kernels fit, but wanted to test the physics of having two objects occupy the same place and time. He tried to get two kernels in his ear. The pediatrician says he doesn't have the tools to get to the second kernel pushed so far into an ear. So now we needed a second stop added to the day-an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Now we have a problem. They want me there right before Mother's Day Tea. Yes, Mother is the name for God in children's hearts, but I have yet to master being in two places at the same time. Dad comes to the rescue. He goes to the specialist. I go to tea.

I have tea and eat the treats my son has made for me and have a wonderful time. I was so glad that I made it to tea. While I was worried about Mikey, I also saw children whose mother's were late and one who never came at all. As I enter the class, I saw the child crying and holding his teacher's hand because a mother wasn't there. It broke my heart. I'm glad that in my mind heaven would move for me so I could have that

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