Dear God... (the stick turned blue)

by Toni

Dear God, Universe, or Elves (I am covering all bases, I cannot afford to be picky here):

The stick turned blue. I'm 19. And a half. The stick turned blue. I think my brains just leaked out of my ears because THE STICK TURNED BLUE. It cannot turn blue. I only had sex once. Okay, maybe twice. That's in base 200. Or something. (Shut up, I am an English major, we're not expected to know higher math.)

Is this like... trial-sies? Practice run? Just to see how good my adrenal system works because let me reassure you right now, IT WORKS JUST FINE, though I think my neighbors might need a hearing aid after all the shrieking died down.

Signed,
Seriously, you're kidding, right?

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

This is pregnant? This can't stand to move morning sickness bloated pasty can't fit into anything anymore look like a whale and where the fuck is my GLOWY feeling? What? Were you out of Deep Fried Crazy Hot for the highs this summer and thought you'd just go ahead and substitute Miserable Seventh Level Of Hell like I wouldn't notice?

Signed,

So very not happy with you right now.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

It's a boy. Two-and-a-half weeks overdue. GET HIM OUT GET HIM OUT GET HIM OUT GET HIM OUT GET HIM OUT.

Signed,

Hate you and your shoes.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

HE CAN STAY IN, I swear, I will shut up, forever, please do not make me have to OHMYGODTHATHURT. If I die and there is a heaven, I am bringing a LEAD BASKETBALL and you'd better not bend over.

Signed,

Never having sex again, ever.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

Wow. I just... wow. He's perfect. Unbelievably perfect. And just... wow. Who knew?

Signed,

Okay, you're forgiven.

Dear God, Universe, Or Elves:

Oh, shit. How am I supposed to know what to do? How am I not going to break him? I don't know enough. Maybe when I'm forty. Or fifty. Maybe. I am so going to screw this up.

Signed,

What the hell were you thinking, trusting me?

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

Um, I hate to mention this, but there is one SERIOUS flaw in your design here. WHERE IS THE OFF SWITCH? I'd like to be able to shower, five minutes. Five. I don't think that's too much to ask.

Signed,

So bringing my stinky self to your doorstep in about three seconds if you don't FIX THIS.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

My husband came home and heard me arguing with our two-year-old and took me aside and said, "You're the adult. You have to outsmart him."

The sad thing is, I'M TRYING TO.

Signed,

Send brains. Quick.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

Okay, I get the whole "have sex, can get pregnant" thing, you can't fool me. And okay, I'm not wholly surprised that I look like I ate an entire football stadium, but they just told me they expect this one to be over nine pounds. NINE. That's like giving birth to a TWO MONTH OLD. WITH TEETH. Why not just go ahead and shoehorn in a COLLEGE GRADUATE while you're at it. Maybe you've got a couple of missing OCEAN LINERS from the Bermuda triangle you don't know what to do with; you can just SHOVE THEM IN MY UTERUS, I DON'T MIND.

Signed,

I hope your hair falls out.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

That was really freaking EVIL of you, playing that "cutest kid on the planet" card, twice in a row. It gets easy after this, right?

Signed,

Delirious.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

Look, I know you're really busy with all that famine and war and mythical alternate universe of Reaganomics and Wham!, but if you could just take a couple of seconds out of your busy schedule? Because my kids are infected with the HE'S TOUCHING ME HE'S LOOKING AT MY STUFF OH WOE!!!! disease. How much trouble will I be in if I duct tape them together?

Signed,

Duct Tape On Sale Now

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

He's never going to forgive me for wrapping him in multiple rolls of aluminum foil to turn him into the Tin Man for Halloween, is he? Or the eighteen blocks I made him walk (while re-wrapping him) because we were going to trick-or-treat and we were going to BY GOD HAVE FUN, DAMNIT. I'm still going to hear about this when he's twenty-five, aren't I?

Signed,

Seriously thought about tying the bathroom rug around him for "lion fur"--he doesn't know how lucky he is.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

They are sticking a needle in my four-year-old's back. A needle. They are holding him down in the other room, and he is screaming. They made me leave, because he was lunging for me and he's supposed to be absolutely still.

I just sat across from one of my childhood friends. She's our pediatrician now, and one of the smartest people on the planet. We made mud pies together when we were five and six years old. We even managed to sell them (well, she did, she is that smart).

I never dreamed I would be sitting across from her one day and that she would have to say, "meningitis." That the words "risks" and "death" and "possible brain damage" and "spinal tap" and "could paralyze him" would float, jumbled, over the space between us, that we'd ever talk about the fact that she had to stick a needle in my son's back. A pediatric emergency.

She is sending me to the ER. I'm carrying him (passed out), while my oldest son is clutching his brother's spinal fluids in some sort of glass flask, and I'm supposed to drive to the ER, because we do not have time for an ambulance.

She said to try not to stop for red lights. I CANNOT BREATHE right now, and there is no oxygen going to my brain and I CANNOT STOP FOR RED LIGHTS.

I don't care what it takes, do it to me, not him. I will give you anything. I will give you everything. Just do not do this.

Signed,

begging.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

Four days later, and his brother and he are making a slide out of the hospital bed's mattress.

It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Signed,

thank you.

(your hair grew back in nicely, by the way)

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

The oldest is fifteen, and in this state, he can legally drive. HAVE YOU FREAKING LOST CONTROL OF THE UNIVERSE, OR WHAT? How in the world am I supposed to let him drive? I can barely keep from hurling myself in his path to keep him safe while he's WALKING AROUND, BREATHING AIR, damnit. I have tried to remember that they are supposed to grow up to be independent, strong men. I have tried to remember to reinforce their decision-making skills. But this is just asking TOO DAMNED MUCH. It's too soon.

Signed,

Where is the time machine? Damn you.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

ANY PHONE CALL THAT STARTS WITH "Mom, I'm okay, DON'T WORRY," is NOT GOING TO BE GOOD, I don't care HOW earnest you make them sound.

Signed,

Like I am that easily fooled. Ha.

Dear God, Universe, or Elves:

I sat on the floor in the hallway today where I could see into the door of each of their rooms. They are empty, now, of boy stuff. One is an exercise room, and one a guest bedroom.

I did not break them. I screwed up. A lot, sometimes. I got self absorbed and busy and short tempered. I lost confidence and lost my way, but I did not break them. I remember the smiles, the laughter, the tooth fairy, the Christmas mornings, the late night talks. There were baseball games, wrestling tournaments, graduations and hysterically funny meals. I remember tears and heartache and not knowing if just loving them more than breathing was going to be enough. I remember too many close calls where it seemed like it might not be. But they are funny and smart and good hearted men. They have (mostly) outgrown the HE'S TOUCHING ME HE'S LOOKING AT MY STUFF OH WOE!!!! disease, and so get along pretty amazingly well. They make me laugh and surprise me and are fascinating people. They are kind. They treat people well, and they not only love deeply, but they are loved deeply in return. They are both the kind of men who, if I just met them somewhere, I'd like them tremendously. They have started families. Wonderful women I'm so lucky to have in our family. A granddaughter (the most beautiful, happy baby in the world).

You did not tell me when you gave me that blue stick that you were giving me my heart. You did not tell me that you were giving me everything that mattered.

Dear God, the stick turned blue.

THANK YOU.

Signed,

toni, a mom.

~*~

CONTEST: just stop in and say HI or wish someone a happy mother's day (your mom, someone else's, doesn't matter) OR tell me what did you do to drive your mother batty?

Remember, it's CONTEST MONTH -- every commenter on today's post will be eligible for a signed copy of BOBBIE FAYE'S VERY (very, very, very) BAD DAY as well as a hot-off-the-press, not available in the stores 'til the end of the month BOBBIE FAYE'S (kinda, sorta, not exactly) FAMILY JEWELS. Winner from this week to be announced on next Sunday's blog.

WINNER FROM LAST WEEK -- Angelle! (wow, you ALL were SO FREAKING AMAZING) -- thank you for all of the comments. I put all of the names in a hat and my neighbor got conscripted to choose. So Angelle, email me at toni [dot] causey [at] gmail [dot] com with your address and I'll get your signed copies mailed out to you this week!

Comments

[Natalie M. Roberts aka Natalie R. Collins]

Wow, Toni, so you went and made me cry. I went through the needle in the back thing with my oldest, too, and the whole "you know your child has spinal meningitis, right?"

Parenting is hard. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. Ever.

Beautiful blog. And funny, too.

Natalie

[kitty]

What a beautiful post Toni. I was a young mother, too and a lot of this stuff hits home with me.

Happy Mother's Day.

[Debra Guyette]

Wow, that was great. I did not go through the menigitis thing but I had a child who needed about 4 surgeries. It is just as bad.

[Becky Hutchison]

Great blog, Toni! I didn't go through the menigitis scare either, but my son was in the hospital four times with asthma. He's 17 now, and with shots, has outgrown the worst of it. I still worry though and tend to overprotect him, but he's a sweet kid and I think his dad & I have done a pretty good job raising him.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

[Catherine]

Can totally relate to the young mum thing...though remember being determined that if anyone was going to win a bout between either of my daughters at 2 and me...it HAD to be me. Because if I couldn't manage a battle with a 2 year old I had a really bad feeling about the teen years.

We all survived the teen years. A few stiches, and concussions through childhood.Tonsils out when one was almost 21, which in some ways was plenty scary still. Thank goodness no meningitis. Feel for all that can relate to that.

My girls have grown up in a combination new age yet sometimes deeply conservative, friendly community. So they would bypass 'she's looking at me', to 'Mum she's touching my aura, make her stop.' Cracked me up every time I'd have to say 'stop messing with your sister's aura.'

I'm at the tail end of Mother's Day here in Australia. Had a great day. Wishing all you Northern Moms all the best.

[Grandma Helen]

Thanks for a great Mother's Day read. I will be having my special Mother's Day treat later this week when my daughter takes me on a 2 day trip to complete two items on my bucket list - riding on a double decker carousel and visiting the Hershey Museum to see the Apostalic Clock!!

Happy Mother's (Grandmother's) Day to all of you out there in cyberspace.

[Michale]

Happy Mother's Day to mothers everywhere and especially my husband's nieces who have geven me a chance to be a surrogate grandmother!

Michale

[Roxanne St. Claire]

Toni, what a perfect way to start Mother's Day. Thank you. I have a fifteen year old boy who started to drive last week, and I could relate to everything you wrote. Beautiful and hysterical! Happiest of Mother's Days to you!

Rocki

[cj lyons]

Darn you, Toni, you made me laugh so hard I cried, then cry so hard I was laughing--and I don't even have kids!!!

[Charlotte Dillon]

Who told you it was nice to make moms cry on Mother's Day! :-) From a mom whose youngest just turned twenty. Where do the years go?

[Colleen Thompson]

Hilarious and poignant - Thanks for sharing this, Toni! I loved it and will spread the word.

[Faye Hughes]

Great post, Toni! (And thanks to CJ for the tip that I should drop by this morning!)

I wish you and all the other moms out there a Happy Mother's Day!

~Faye

[billie]

Wow - great post! Happy Mother's Day!

A little anecdote about my son, who introduced me early to motherhood. He is now 13. When I was pregnant with him that AFP test thing came back wonky, so my doctor suggested I get an amnio. I am terrified of needles. She swore she would be careful. I would never have to see the thing. They turned the monitor away, put up a shield of newspaper in front of my face, but they forgot, as did I, that my HUSBAND could see it and I could totally read his pie-plate sized eyes when she pulled that needle out. She convinced me to go through with it anyway. I have to say, it didn't hurt, but the pain is not what my phobia is about, it's more the idea that the needle is in me. So I was still as a statue but freaking out and asking her every second "how much longer, how much longer?" She had been very reassuring all along but suddenly she got quiet. I asked again, HOW MUCH LONGER? She said, "I'm not sure - your baby has grabbed hold of the needle and he's not letting go." He held it for what seemed like at eternity and this is entirely descriptive of his personality - he is now an active member of the National Youth Rights Association, LOL.

[Jen Apodaca]

Love it, Toni! I laughed and cried. So glad your son came through the menitgitis scare okay.

[Lori G. Armstrong]

You jerk, you had to make me go and cry first thing. It's amazing how we get through it all. My 18 yr old graduates in 3 weeks and I never dreamed when I looked at that red faced screaming little thing the first time, terrified out of my mind, that she'd be the joy of my life. She and her sisters (ages 16 and 12)make me proud to be their mother.

What a lovely, wonderful post.

[J.D. Rhoades]

That was amazing. Thank you, Toni.

[Donna]

Oh yeah. Having been a very young mom myself, I know how it goes. Now we are in the teen years, Lord help me. My son is 18 and my two daughters are 17 and 16. I guess this is practice for when my 8 year old son hits the teens. Maybe by then, I will have this thing down, lol.

[Kathy Sweeney]

Oh, Toni!

This is one of the most wonderful Mothers' Day pieces I've ever read.

You need to publish this so more people have a chance to read it. Seriously.

Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us - Happy Mothers' Day!

xo

[LaDonna]

Toni, I just loved this! I survived my two daughter's growing up, and now fret over our five, angel grandkids! So glad your story turned out well. Children are miracles, that's for sure!

[Linda Warren]

Wow! What a touching, funny Mother's Day post. I even had a tear in my eye. Just wonderful.
My mom, my number one supporter, passed away in 2000 and I really miss her today. Thanks, Toni, for making me smile.
Happy Mother's Day.

[Karen Olson]

What a great tribute to your children and being a mom!

I'm one of those OLD MOTHERS. I waited and waited for the stick to turn blue, but it didn't. Blood tests and being poked and prodded by doctors for a year showed that the stick would never turn blue.

My path to motherhood went down the road of social workers, loads of paperwork, a year of even more waiting, and finally a long, trying trip to China.

My daughter had turned a year old two weeks before we arrived. She weighed 15 pounds and wasn't even crawling. She didn't smile for three days and we worried she never would.

She's 11 now, 10 years since we brought her home. She's beautiful, talented, and smart, and is right this moment making me waffles for breakfast.

Sticks don't need to turn blue to be a mom.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL!!

[Michelle Willingham]

So true!! Loved this.

[Pattie Tierney]

Lovely post. Happy Mother's Day to you.

[Laura (in PA)]

Damn you, Toni - I'm in tears. What a wonderful tribute to mothers. My only child is 19, and just got home from her first year of college. She handled it like a champ, and made me proud. And since she knows her Mom, she gave me Judi Dench on DVD and espresso chocolate from Starbucks. :)

Hugs to all the Moms today.

Laura

[lynn]

from the bottom of my heart "thank you" and "Happy Mother's Day" to my dear Mom who passed away ..........too long ago!
and Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's all over the world who are still alive with kids who don't understand them!
Lynn