Never too old to need your mom

After a week of being sicker than a dog, I have a confession to make – sometimes I really miss my mama. As whiny as that may sound, it’s true. No one takes care of us like our moms did when we were growing up.

This emotion began to really hit me as I dragged my weak body to the pharmacy. Ever notice how when a bad bug hits, you never seem to have cold medicine around? Then when you feel hungry, you don’t have enough energy to make yourself something to eat. I handled this without much complaining because, after all, I’m an adult – who else is going to take care of me but me? Most of the time I do pretty well, but we all have our breaking point, and mine came Saturday night.

I had been fighting a horrible cough all week. An attack hit right after I ate, and the result wasn’t pretty. Running to the bathroom, I threw up everywhere. As I looked into the mirror, I burst into tears. Not because I felt sick, but because no one was around to help. It was a lonely feeling.

As I cleaned my mess, my dog Sammy giving me a supportive lick on my cheek, I thought, “Gee, I wish Mom was here.” I know it sounds like a baby, but I could have used her around to make it all better.

It took me what seemed like forever to clean up that night, but the time was revealing for me as some realities hit home. I am on my own now to clean up my messes, no matter how much I still feel like a kid at times. And with it came a comforting memory and one that I’d taken for granted: I remembered all the things my mom did right.

As adults we tend to spend more time complaining about our parents rather than being appreciative for what they did. We do this with those closest to us because they’re a safe target. Sure, sometimes I look back and wish my mom would have done things differently, but don’t we all?

My mom recently said she worries her two youngest didn’t get enough attention because our family was so large. But when it came to taking care of me when I got sick, my mom was the best. I can’t tell you how many times I didn’t make it to the bathroom. My mom’s worse complaint was, “Honey, can you please try and hit the bucket?”

She’d then give me 7Up and crackers to settle my stomach – a tradition I’ve passed to my evolved family. I don’t remember her ever complaining about any of it, and certainly not worrying she’d get sick being around me. But I sure remember complaining when she’d put me in freezing- cold bath water to get rid of a high fever! Although I saw it as pure torture at the time, I know even that crazy ritual was out of love. All of what they did, right or wrong, often was out of love, I reckon. And the reasons are becoming clearer as we age.

I feel much better now and, as always after a bit of rough go, stronger for it. But the lesson remains the same no matter how much stronger and wiser we become – we’re never too old to still need our mom. Thank God mine is just a phone call away.