A Note on Motherhood

During the Covid-19 pandemic

The other night my son and I drove home and saw a man in the park near our house passed out. I parked the car, grabbed the dog and told my son we would go to check on this man.

He wasn’t okay. He didn’t respond to my voice or to me shaking him. An ambulance was called. Eventually he responded and said he’d taken more speed than he could handle.

We left him in the hands of firefighters and hoped to goodness that he would be alright eventually.

My wee kiddo asked if we could stop by the park. I said no, because we have to go home and wash hands and faces because mom just had really close contact with a stranger during a pandemic.

He was pissed.

He was completely angry with me. I heard: why did you have to do that? Someone else would have stoppped! He was going to be fine!

My answer was honest and sincere and I’ve lived this promise since I made it to the Universe. I told my sweet boy that when he was born I made a promise to the Universe that I would stop for every man in distress that I meet. I stop for passed out people at the park, car accidents, falls, whatever. You need me, you’re in front of me, I’m there.

I told him that I made this promise because I want the world to be a welcoming place for him. I want it to be a place where people stop. I want him to have help when help is needed.

I can’t keep him from getting hurt or getting into an accident or having a flat tire, BUT I can actively make the world a better place always.

All the babies are my babies. I am a mother to one, so a mother to many.

And today, I read this in Untamed by Glennon Doyle: “What if we decided that successful parenting includes working to make sure all kids have enough, not just the particular kids that were assigned to us have everything? What if we used our mothering love less like a laser, burning holes into the children assigned to us, and more like the sun, making sure all kids are warm?”

Glennon, my dear, you get me.