Ode to Mommy

Today is mother’s day, and I love my mom very much.

What’s one word I can use to describe my mother? Commitment.

How does a mother cope when their youngest child is in the hospital? What kind of person gets up at 4am to go to work until 5pm, then once they get home, make a home cooked meal, pack it in a cooler, then take the bus for an hour to the hospital where their daughter is…just so she doesn’t have to eat hospital food?

I know what kind of person. A person who has such a huge commitment to their child that it cannot even be described.

What kind of person rubs her daughter’s back when her daughter throws her back out while trying to open an impossibly tight 5 micron filter casing? I know what kind of person. A person who has such a huge commitment to their child that it cannot even be described.

What kind of person hugs you tight when you’re crying? Crying about dialysis? Crying about Lupus? Crying about a so-called transplant list? Crying in general? What kind of person has the ability to tell you that everything will be alright…and you actually believe it? I know what kind of person. A person who has such a huge commitment to their child that it cannot even be described.

What kind of person still calls all of their children “baby” in spite of the fact that their 27(soon), 30, and 35(soon)? What kind of person can’t fall asleep until she knows all of her children have eaten dinner? I know what kind of person. A person who has such a huge commitment to their child that it cannot even be described.

What kind of person holds your head while you’re puking in a toilet, while rubbing your back to comfort you? What kind of person gets you a hot water bottle, makes you toast and tea, and makes sure you’ve taken your tylenol? What kind of person runs out at 9pm just to get you apple sauce…just because you said you wouldn’t mind having some? I know what kind of person. A person who has such a huge commitment to their child that it cannot even be described.

I love my mother.