Friday, August 13, 2010

The Rookie Mom and Me

This past week I flew to Maryland to pick up Jace and Brynna.  It pretty much went down as expected; the baby Moby-wrapped to my body, the full-sized convertible car seat I carried with one arm, and the over-sized purse that preferred to reside on the crook of my arm instead of my shoulder, pretty much put a damper on my mad dash to embrace my kids like I anticipated.  The Wife Swap running reunification will have to wait for another day.  My imitation of a pack mule left my arms aching for two days following, but it was all worth it to see my oldest kids.  I'm not sure how it was that they grew so much in six weeks, but they did.

As anxious as I was to see them I was a little nervous about traveling by myself with Sadie.  I had only done it one other time with an infant by myself and that was four years prior with Keely.  It went off without a hitch but I didn't want to be encumbered by anything additional that might not be needed. So I pared down.  The purse housed my everyday purse items in addition to baby food, snacks, diapers and wipes.  However it lacked two major items that are a necessity with babies - clothing and toys. It was unintentional, my lack of preparation regarding wardrobe and fun things, and I didn't realize until I was on the plane digging in my bag for something to entertain Sadie.  My finds?  A pen and a spoon.  How does this happen?  Me, a mom of six.  I'm supposed to know something about kids; I should be a seasoned professional and instead I thought I'm like a rookie.  As her affection for plastic-ware waned, I handed Sadie my lip balm, and I rethought my rookie idea, realizing it wasn't true.  After all a rookie mom would have had a well stocked diaper bag in addition to her purse.  The first time mom is prepared for all life has to throw at her and even factors in situations that won't ever arise in the natural world.  She has more toys than FAO Schwartz, she has brought changes of clothing that will take her little one into the pre-teen years.  She has stockpiled food to the extent that if the plane was stranded on an island they collectively could survive at least nine days.  Here I was with one purse and a prayer, hoping that Sadie preferred Bics to rattles and that she wouldn't crap through her clothes.  What would I have done if my supplies didn't satisfy the situation?  Well, I would make do with what was on hand.  It wouldn't be the first time I would have made my child look like a little mummy as I wrapped the bum of their clothing with paper towels.  It wouldn't be my inaugural performance of a myriad of children's songs as I looked the part of a fool in hopes of stifling cries and getting a smile or a giggle.   My phone is no virgin to baby slobber, as many a child has gnawed it, I will take the chance of it no longer working.  I could mass produce creations from cups and miscellaneous trash.  I would make happen, what needed to happen, when it needed to happen.  I'm no rookie mom...I'm MacGyver Mom!

7 comments:

Riahli said...

I love this post...{I'm a MacGyver mom}...that needs to be a bumper sticker! I'm constantly missing some element of the diaper bag (or in my case a backpack or giant purse) and having to improvise.

Quiet Sky Design said...

Awesome. I especially like the fact that if this is true, I'm a seasoned mom too! On mothers day Alex pooped through his onsie and he ended up in a diaper and his little jacket at dinner. Needless to say, we fit right in at the white trash-ish restaurant we chose! Don't know what would have happened if we didn't have the jacket... Guess he would have showed off his manly little bird chest.

"FAITH" said...

Erica, you're great.. MacGyver Mom. I agree with Riahli, It should be on a Bumper sticker. It was so nice to have your kids for a while when they were here, and to see you and finally meet Sadie. She is just precious. Can't wait to see all of you in Oct. love you sis.

Anonymous said...

You should publish your blog.....
I love reading it!

Anonymous said...

You are indeed MacGyver mom. I watched you answer questions from Jace and Brynna, carry on a conversation with the rest of the family and hold and comfort Sadie all while eating steamed crabs.

One word....AWESOME!

Aunt Linda

Tonya said...

Love it! And, I think the rookie mom has TIME and ENERGY on her side, things I miss dearly. Glad to know that with experience comes CREATIVITY, something I've always lacked!

Oh, I blogged, just for you.

Kasie said...

I know you are happy to have your babes home!