An Acrobatic Extravaganza!

Hunger gnaws at me, tearing my insides apart. I should venture out for a nibble, a bite, a snack. Yet, I remain rooted, lost in a world that is not my own. Stuck between reality and nonexistence, I balance on a dew drop and one wrong move will cause my fall.

In one hand, I juggle the steal balls of work, family, and health. In the other, I juggle the flaming swords of writing, friends and recreation. As balls and swords intermingle in the air I hop between the thin wires of Mom, Writer, Manager, and Myself. All while blind folded. And such is my life, a never ending acrobatic extravaganza!

Sometimes I can manage with extraordinary dexterity. But every now and then, a ball with fall or a flaming sword will cut deep and the whole she-bang will come crashing down around me. I will fall into a pit of unknown doubts and nothing will come from it for a while.

But always I pick up the balls and swords, climb out of the pit and with a deep breath begin again.

Today, I feel on the brink of a fall, my reaction times are slowing and I catch the juggle with sweating finger tips. My shoes are wearing thin from the sharp wires. Should I keep up as I have been, knowing the pit awaits me? Or should I make my way to the edge, and take a break for a little while?

Character Take Over #3

I was there when the world ended and let me tell you it wasn’t at all like I expected it would be. There was no warning, no indication that something was going to happen that day. I woke up, got my kids all off to school and day care, day dreamed while stuck in the morning rush. You know, the basic everyday bump and grind. But then I got a call from my oldest son.

“Mom, something freaky is going on at school. The army is here, taking everyone onto buses. Anna is with me, we’re in the woods. What should I do?”

Of course my first thought was let them do their jobs and I’ll be there as soon as I can. But as I slung my purse over my shoulder, my gut twitched. “Get the hell out of there! Take your sister and run!”

“Where? Mom, I’m scared.”

“I know Seth, baby, just do as I say. I’ll get your sister and brother and meet you at that place we did that thing that one year with the honey. I love you so much.”

No matter what I tried, I was stuck. They had shut down every road leading out of the city. Every last one, and I knew I had to get to my babies before something horrible happened to them. But how in the world was I going to do that when men with gun mounted tanks blocked my way? When men and women were being gunned down in the streets when they tried to push through?

Just Another Day For This Mother

Today is a day to acknowledge all the hard work a mother does for her family. It’s a day to show her how much she’s appreciated and for some, it’s the one day out of the year that she can take off. For me, it’s just another day.

I woke up to a screaming baby and a 4-year-old demanding breakfast. So I dragged myself out of bed, despite the day or the ungodly pain. Today, I get to clean house, change diapers, cook meals, clean some more, wear spit up and butt heads with a stubborn preschooler alone.

And I get the baby giggles, “I love you’s,” slobber kisses, leg hugs, raspberries and cuddle bugs all to myself. I won’t have to share the ear-to-ear smiles, squeals of delight or sleeping angel faces.

Today is just another day for this mother, because in my life, everyday is Mother’s Day.