I am her.
1. I am that mother that you spy out in the shopping centre dragging a child kicking and screaming.
2. I am that mother that follows her son while he is running around the park or the playground; yes a helicopter mother -- that's me!
3. I am that mother that apologies after my son has pushed, kicked or hit your child. I do try to get to my son before he hits but sometimes I am simply not fast enough.
4. I am that mother that catches your eye because she is singing a nursery rhyme badly and loudly to a child who is trying to hit her.
5. I am that mother who has dropped to the floor in the middle of a queue in good 'ol 'Pennys' and rocked her son.
6. I am that mother who has thrown her shopping bags, pushed past you and ran off screaming: "ETHAN."
7. I am that mother that looks tired... ALL. THE. TIME.
8. I am that mother that smiles at your little toddler while they are showcasing their tantrums for all to see.
9. I am that mother that stops to speak to your child, who happens to be clapping loudly sitting while in his wheelchair.
10. I am that mother that holds the door for you because the damn door will slam as you try to push your child's buggy or wheelchair out of it.
11. I am that mother that picks up your bags because you had to give chase unexpectedly to a toddler who saw something shiny.
12. I am that mother who see's your child is having a meltdown and not a tantrum; I'm the one who moves dangerous objects away, talks to your other kids and then disappears.
13. I am that mother who stares right back at you when you are discussing my child's behaviours.
14. I am that mother that has thanked you for all your help... with the staring and the pointing, let's not forget the "tutting."
15. I am that mother who never seems to be embarrassed when their child is throwing (what may appear to be to the untrained eye) a sh!t fit over a bag.
16. I am that mother that asks you "Can I help?" while your child is screaming, kicking, biting and your other children are just standing still, not knowing what to do, but knowing enough to stand back and to wait.
17. I am that mother that smiles at you and reminds you to "hang in there"; while your toddler is asking 50 questions, your other child begging for a new toy and your newborn crying.
18. I am that mother that smiles at your little family as you walk past mine.
19. I am that mother who is just like you; only different.
20. I am a mother to three wonderful boys.
Ethan introduced me to the world of "mother." He is my eldest son, yet in our little world he is also my youngest. Ethan has a syndrome that takes and takes; it will eventually take his life.
Ethan has shown me how easy it is to judge other people, especially parents. He has shown me "all may not be what it seems" -- he has shown me a perspective which I feel a lot of us, in our daily lives forget...
This Mother's Day, remember every single mammy you see is doing her best:
Smile at each other.
Share a look that says "I've been there too."
Hold that door open.
Pick up the damn bag.
Smile through the tantrums/meltdowns that you see...
Afterall, we are all mothers, some of us are just a little different.
This was originally published on Mummypages.ie http://www.mummypages.ie/blogs/i-am-her