A Mom Like Me

There’s nothing like a sunny early spring day to give you hope. Spring is the epitome of new life. The snow has melted, grass begins to return, and the warm sun feels oh-so-good on your face.

Tristan and I have been spending a lot of time outside, splashing in the puddles and welcoming home the flocks of geese as they pass overhead. It’s amazing to watch everything through a child’s eyes – nothing gets old or boring. Even though it’s the 20th flock of geese to fly by in the last half an hour, Tristan enthusiastically points and calls out, “Geeee!!” (toddler-speak for Geese) every time.

Every new mud puddle is an exciting discovery and the joy on his face, each time he throws a new pebble into the water and watches the resulting splash, never lessens.

Springtime we love you!

Having no energy the last couple of days and a couple hours free during Tristan’s naps, I’ve been reading some blogs that I’ve been hearing a lot about. First I shed many tears for Kelle Hampton while reading her marvelous and beautiful birth story. That is one mother I shall never forget.

Then I came across the tragic and heartbreaking story of Layla Grace. OH MY GOD. I sat down on the couch a couple evenings ago and read the entire blog from the first entry to the heart wrenching last. The blog was written primarily by Layla’s mother documenting her sweet baby’s diagnosis and treatment of cancer, right down to her last days.

The strength and courage of that little girl, incredible. What her parents endured, watching their precious daughter’s struggle, inconceivable.

Maybe it’s because Layla Grace was just five months older than Tristan, or maybe it’s just because I’m a mommy, but this story hit me HARD. I honestly do not remember a time where I cried so hard and felt so distressed. I finished reading and leaned into Luc’s shoulder and just let it go. I cried thinking about the loss of those poor parents. I cried thinking about the suffering that sweet little girl had to endure. And I cried because I just could not imagine ever being placed in those shoes.

This was such a tragic loss, but this story had a positive impact on my life. It brought me perspective.

Tristan has been in the habit lately of waking up several times a night, needing mama, needing milk. I’ve been dragging my butt from my bed, cursing in my head, sluggishly and resentfully making my way down the hall to his room.

Last night, I wasn’t so bitter about being roused from my pleasant sleep. I lovingly scooped Tristan up, at which point his tears immediately ceased. We sat in the chair, rocking in complete silence, and enjoyed a special snuggle. And I even held him for few extra minutes, though the clock was ticking slowly toward dawn. I admired his sweet face nestled up against my chest, and I felt completely and utterly blessed to be his mama.

Because even at 3 AM, my sweet boy is not an inconvenience to my sleep. He is a precious child who wants nothing more in the world that a few minutes of comfort with his mommy. How lucky am I?

I know there are so many mama’s out there who would give their last breath to wake up just once more in the middle of the night to a  cry they will never hear again. I will never again take that cry for granted.

Thank you God for my son. And please take extra special care of little Layla Grace.

Copyright http://www.laylagrace.org

Weeping. Sobbing. Sputtering all over the place. We are not just talking about a few tears here.

This is how you will find me as I finish reading the most beautiful, inspirational mommy blog I have ever been blessed to come across.

I have just finished reading Enjoying the Small Things, a blog and birth story by Kelle Hampton. Oh the tears I have shed for this woman and her family.

I can totally relate to Kelle’s excitement and anticipation to soon be meeting her second daughter. Imagining all the precious moments to come, wanting desperately to be able to soak everything in. Imagining how everything would unfold just so. This mother thought of everything. Heck, the woman even made gorgeous favours for the guests who would come to meet Nella at the hospital.

And then it was time. The beautiful moment of birth arrived, and this lovely mommy knew right away…. her precious baby had Down Syndrome.

She recounts looking down into those sweet newborn little eyes and understanding the pleading that was in them, “Love me. Love me. I’m not what you expected, but oh, please love me.”

Incredibly poignant and beautifully written, Kelle took me through the rollercoaster of emotions she has experienced since that fateful day, where everything she thought she knew wasn’t really as it seemed. Reading her majestic account, I have felt those soul wrenching sobs that she survived through that first night of Nella’s precious life, and I alternately felt the heart-bursting love as well. Kelle has triumphed and proved yet again, that a mother’s love knows no boundaries.

But don’t just take my word for it… check out this powerful story yourself. Just make sure to grab a box of kleenex!

Photograph Copyright  www.kellehampton.com