As mothers, we go above and beyond for our children. From navigating the chaos of after-school activities to managing family schedules with military-like precision, we strive to provide unwavering support during their significant moments. Day after day, we exhaust ourselves to ensure our families receive the best care we can offer.
One harsh reality I faced as a new mom was the absence of sick days. This revelation hit me hard shortly after my son was born. I vividly remember suffering from a debilitating stomach virus, spending hours on the bathroom floor praying for relief while my infant cried for food. It quickly became clear that sick leave was not part of the motherhood package.
For years, I pushed through fevers, strep throat, and stomach bugs, convincing myself my family depended on me. I joked that if the captain left her ship, it would surely sink. I attended soccer games while groggy from medicine and sat through PTA meetings desperately trying to keep my stomach contents in check.
Everything Changed One Fateful Day
However, everything changed one fateful day in the school parking lot.
I had just returned from a business trip and had done some serious logistical juggling to make it to my son’s school play. He had a speaking role, and I was determined to be there, especially since guilt was weighing heavily on me. As I rushed through the airport, a familiar queasiness began to stir in my stomach. I ignored the warning signs, attributing my discomfort to travel fatigue.
Once home, I tucked the kids into bed and promptly fell into my own, shivering uncontrollably. That’s when it started — the vomiting, then the diarrhea, and soon both at once. It was an absolute nightmare.
Lying on the couch, I was furious that this virus had chosen the worst possible time to strike. Our dog brought me her toy, urging me to get up, but I lay there, trying to convince myself that I could power through. After all, the play was only an hour and a half long. I could surely manage to sip some Pepto-Bismol and make it through.
On the drive to the school, my son excitedly rehearsed his lines and costume details. I felt proud, but as soon as we parked, I lurched forward and vomited in the grass. There I was, on my hands and knees, giving him encouragement amid my dry heaves.
But I stubbornly believed I could still make it work. Wrong move. My stomach rebelled once more. As cramping intensified, I felt an overwhelming urge to fart. In a moment of poor judgment, I thought releasing some pressure might help. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say it didn’t end well.
I stood there, mortified, as I realized I had just soiled myself on school grounds. It was a new low in my motherhood journey. In that parking lot, I had a harsh realization: I was pushing myself beyond my limits. Not only had I ignored the signs from my sick body, but now I faced the very real possibility of missing my son’s big moment because I didn’t want to be the mom who showed up smelling like a disaster.
In my relentless pursuit to be the perfect mom, I literally lost control. It was both humiliating and humbling. However, looking back, that incident was a necessary wake-up call. I learned to let go of the unrealistic expectations of being “Super Mom” and embraced the idea of being just okay — the world’s okayest mom. It’s high time I prioritize my health and well-being, take a sick day when needed, and even recognize that sometimes, I need to cry uncle when my body is rebelling.
A Reminder to All Moms
If you’re on a similar journey, remember that it’s perfectly fine to take a step back and acknowledge your limits. After all, losing your composure as a mom is not what defines you — it’s how you recover and learn from it that truly matters.
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