The Love of a mother

We accidentally ended up in an unsafe part of town. I was driving in an unfamiliar place, going off of my navigation, and when she said "take exit, stay left" I didn't even flinch. I got off just like she told me too… and as I looked around, I realized I should have stayed on the other road. It is moments as small as these that can change lives forever. Freak accidents have a way of finding you when you least expect them, after all. 

With my little boy strapped in the seat behind me, I could feel the worry in me rise. I watched every person within my sight, and kept both hands gripped tightly to the wheel. I could feel my momma senses tingling. 

In that moment, I knew exactly what being a mother was all about. It made me significantly better than my usual self, and instantly I was no long a factor. The only thing that mattered was my son. I was alert and felt as though all my senses were working harder than ever before. My job was to keep him safe.

Outside of the mundane routine (or slight little annoyances that cause a blip in time to seem horrible), those teething days or skip-nap-times are so small in the grand scheme. They are hardly enough to qualify as a bad day, as much as they might seem to be in the moment. There are so many other things that could go wrong.

I thought about the mothers who suffer harder trials. I reflected on the panic in my own mother as she watched her Marine Scout Sniper of a son fly off to his first deployment. I remember the worries, prayers, cries and screams she once shared with me over her baby. I have been their when a mother buried her baby way before their time. I remember those tears, her words, and that pain clearer than anything else. 

Being a mother isn't easy. There really isn't a concrete definition for what makes a good mom, but the second you hold that piece of you, your heart beats solely for them. And if everything goes as planned, you could be one of the lucky ones who gets to watch your child grow. I know that isn't always the case, and to those of you who didn't have that chance you are my heroes. I love and honor you.