Momma is my Plushie
It had been one of those challenging days from the start. The morning began around 5:30-6:00 when William, our son, informed us that he could hear a kitten meowing in the bathroom vent. This particular feline had wandered into our yard about three weeks ago, and naturally, the kids had grown attached to it, feeding it regularly. Somehow, the kitten had made its way into the crawl space under our house and found its path into the ducting. After a bit of maneuvering, we managed to free the kitten, only to be met with mixed reactions from our other resident cats.
Silver, our oldest and largest cat weighing 25 pounds, displayed immediate disdain, growling and hissing. Patches, weighing in at around 15 pounds, took on the role of caregiver to the kitten, while the youngest cat, Tiger Lily, followed Silver’s lead with hisses. After separating the cats, releasing the kitten outside, and sealing the crawl space, we proceeded with our usual morning routine.
My day at work turned out to be as disheveled as my colleague’s absence and the influx of emails and requests that awaited me. Amidst this chaos, my wife called, informing me that the car had started making unsettling rattling noises. Putting work on hold, I rushed to her location, examined the car, and found a loose spare tire and tire-changing kit in the trunk. A quick fix, and we were back on track.
Despite a fast-paced workday, I decided to take the rest of the day off to address the vent issue the kitten had exploited. Returning home, I crawled under the house, began repairs, and stumbled upon an unfortunate discovery—a deceased cat that needed proper cleanup. After wrapping up the repairs and house check, everything else seemed to fall into place.
However, the real test came during bedtime routines with the kids. William, my second son, demonstrated his black-and-white perspective, causing a humorous yet frustrating exchange about his sister’s ownership of Pokemon cards. Bedtime routines, a nightly source of stress, unfolded predictably, with each child attempting to deviate from the norm.
The night took an unexpectedly delightful turn with Benjamin, our plushie-loving son, offering me one of his beloved minions to sleep with. Politely declining and saying that I don’t need a plushie I have momma, he exclaimed Oh! momma is your plushie. His response brought a much-needed smile. Sharing the amusing exchange with my wife, she joined in the laughter, acknowledging the unique moments that arise amidst the challenges.
As a parent, especially to children with special needs, frustration often creeps in, only to be washed away by these singular and heartwarming moments. The unpredictability of parenthood, coupled with the distinctive traits of each child, truly makes for a rollercoaster of emotions—one that, despite its challenges, is undeniably rewarding.