This morning, I woke up with a renewed determination to be the best mom I could possibly be. Juggling multiple jobs often leaves me drained, and my little boy, Liam, usually gets the leftovers of my energy, which, let’s be honest, isn’t much. But today was going to be different. Today was our special day.
After getting ready, we set off to McKinney for a car show and a visit to the petting zoo. He was thrilled (as long as I managed to hoist his 35-pound frame in my weak arms). It felt like a win—perhaps I’d even wake up tomorrow with newfound biceps.
On our way back to Denison, Liam took a nap, and I was riding high on my successful mom moment. With that momentum, I decided we would head to The District in Durant, a fantastic arcade for kids. What could go wrong?
As we stepped onto the porch for our little adventure, I turned to lock the door for just a moment. I was mid-complimenting myself on my parenting skills when, out of nowhere, Liam decided he could fly. “You’re doing great today, Mama, you go gir—… oh no.” I turned around just in time to see my baby take a nosedive down six steps, landing directly on his head. Fantastic.
With six years in the medical field under my belt, I’ve seen every kind of injury imaginable, but when it came to my own son, all my knowledge vanished. Instead of being the calm, collected caregiver I was trained to be, I turned into a panicked mess. He didn’t cry initially; instead, he let out a scream that felt like an eternity. I wanted to join him in that scream, but I had already exhausted my “bad mom” quota for the month.
Since this wasn’t our first rodeo with head injuries, I remembered the protocol: keep him awake for a few hours, watch for signs of serious issues, and avoid letting him sleep. So off we went to the arcade, thinking it might distract him from the mishap—what a mistake that was.
With a pounding headache and the drama of the terrible twos, Liam was less than thrilled about the chaotic environment of the arcade, filled with kids running around like zombies from a horror film. The ones who weren’t racing about were casting judgmental glances at me, their expressions clearly asking, “What happened to him?”
Fast forward three hours, a cheap prize later (we spent forty bucks on tokens and came home with a Tootsie roll), and countless questions from onlookers, we finally returned home. Liam was napping in the backseat, and I took a precious ten minutes to relish the rare silence, which I cherish more than I do finding four-leaf clovers. Spoiler alert: I’ve never found one.
Despite my perceived failures today, Liam still thinks I hung the moon. He’s become quite adept at asking for kisses on his boo-boo, then acting as if nothing happened right after. I know he’s hurting—after all, he just face-planted on concrete. How amazing is it that he can put away his pain to comfort me, the adult, and assure me that he’s alright? It’s truly remarkable; he’s simply incredible.
There are days when you muster every ounce of strength to be a stellar mom, and other days when it feels like you’ve completely failed. But the truth is, your child’s love remains unwavering.
So here’s to all the moms striving to provide their children with the best childhood possible, even when things don’t go as planned. Here’s to those who spend hours preparing meals only to watch their toddlers reject them, and to all of us who navigate the endless laundry piles and chaotic households. Here’s to embracing the messiness of motherhood, the exhaustion, and the love that makes it all worthwhile.
And here’s to the journey of parenting, which reminds us that sometimes the greatest blessings come from the chaos. If you’re interested in exploring more about parenthood and home insemination, be sure to check out one of our other blog posts at this link. For those looking into the science behind becoming a parent, this resource is an excellent choice. Plus, for anyone interested in at-home insemination, this authority on the subject is great.
Summary
Motherhood is a complex journey filled with moments of triumph and failure. Even on days when things seem to go awry, the love from our children makes it all worthwhile. As we navigate the challenges and embrace the chaos, we realize that every moment—good or bad—is a blessing.