I had an interesting set of experiences yesterday.  I had to take 1.5 yr old my son to the doctor’s to get a blood culture.  They pricked him three times and couldn’t get any blood.  He was screaming as I laid across him, trying to keep his small body still enough on the examining table so they could put the needles in safely.  We tried for at least 20 mins.  He was shocked by the pain, and also by the fact that I was letting this happen to him.  Once that was done, the nurses then gave him an antibiotic shot that they told me was very painful.  The poor little guy slept for almost four hours after the ordeal.

I wanted to cry, too.  On the third prick, I got tears in my eyes, but I knew I had to keep it together for my son.  Later that day I was in the grocery store and some child, probably around three, was having a whale of a tantrum in the check out line.  His mother was desparately trying to calm him, even as he started to hit her.  I’m sure it seemed to her that the whole store could hear him.  Finally, her eyes started to well up, too - clearly out of frustration, feeling overwhelmed, probably exhausted, and who knows what else was going on in her life.

I wanted so badly to help her but didn’t know what I could do.  The grocery bagger helped her out to her car, and the cashier gave her a hug.  I whispered to her that it would be alright at she walked by, but I think I just embarrassed her more.  I really felt for her and got a little teary-eyed myself.  Maybe it was just the day, but I really think all of us mothers are pulling for each other and fully empathize when we see another sister struggling.

It made me think about how much we love our babies and how we cry when they’re hurt, we cry when they frustrate us, and we cry when they shower us with unconditional love - from the scribbled drawing to the hug around our necks.  What a wild ride this is!

Our Mom Story of the Week is from Christie Arseneau, recent winner of our Road Warrior contest and a copy of our new book, My Mommy’s on a Business Trip.  Here’s an update on Christie’s latest adventure:

From Christie:

So, here is the conclusion of my trip to Michigan last week. I was in Muskegon, thinking that I could catch the earlier flight but ended up staying as the work with the client went just a little too long to catch that flight.  That was OK, I figured I still had a seat on my normal flight.  When all was done, and I was at my “bingo-fuel” time (pilot speak – the point at which a pilot either has to continue on to their destination or turn around and go back to where the nearest airport – either you “go” on or you “no go” and turn around to go back) and I had to go.  Read the rest of this entry »

Below is our Mom Story of the Week, from reader and recent winner of my children’s book, My Mommy’s on a Business Trip, Christie Arseneau.  The Story of the Week is becoming a regular feature on this blog, with Christie and other mom’s tales of heartache AND triumph as they balance work and personal lives, on the road and even at home.  What’s your story?

From Christie:
So, the story of the week is the heart-melting good-bye wave.  My daughter, 13 months old today, will on and off wave good bye to people.  She’s gotten in the habit of waving bye-bye when she goes to bed, but won’t wave bye-bye to perfect strangers (probably a good thing that I shouldn’t encourage, but it is just so darn cute!).  Whenever she waves, it’s usually on cue with the suggested “wave bye-bye, baby!”. 

This past Sunday morning, I was leaving on a business trip from Houston to Muskegon, MI.  The baby and my husband were packed in the car and dropped me off at the airport (side note – if time allows for it, this is a great strategy for a working mom.  You get more face time in with the spouse and you get to see the baby until the last moment when TSA kicks the parked car out of the Departure unloading zone!).  As we pulled up to Departures, the baby was sound asleep in the backseat.  Of course, I wasn’t going to ignore the sleeping baby and not kiss her good-bye, so I gently opened the backdoor and leaned down to give my little angel a kiss.  Just as I was leaning over her, she opened those beautiful big brown eyes and smiled.  Up came her little hands and she wave “bye-bye”.   I kissed her, wiped away my tears, kissed her again and closed the door.  As the car was driving off, I could see the little hand waving from the back seat….  This was the first time she’d ever waved bye-bye to me on a business trip.  My heart melted in a giant puddle right then and there. 

When I get back on Friday night, I will see her again – I would’ve seen her sooner in our normal round of Peek-a-boo Skype, but the home web cam was acting up.  I’m sure that she’ll be there, just after security looking through the crowds for mommy.  She’ll smile at some strangers, and bury her head acting all shy to other strangers.  But the biggest smile and cutest wave will come only to me….!  Till Friday night, I’ll have visions of “bye-bye” for now.