Thanks Goodness I Was the Only

My Mom graciously volunteered a few weeks ago to attend a memorial service with me for a dear friends Mom. I started to think about how truly lucky I am to have a Mom so willing to drop everything and move her plans to come here and there for me.  She babysits, attends kids concerts, is my memorial service date, and that's just to name a few things.  I started to wonder how I would ever be able to manage the same level of Motherly aid with three.  I'm only one and I'm sure I keep my poor Mom busy enough. But I can only imagine when my girls are grown trying to juggle all they will want me to be a part of (well hopefully).

Just the other day the girls and I were driving in the car and each one was spilling the contents of their day through stories and songs and even that I was having a hard time giving my full attention to.  I remember one time my Mom talking about her best friend who was the Mom of five children.  She basically just said that she couldn't do everything for everyone.  I mean I get that.  There is only so much time in the day. And people do need to have their own lives.  However, my Moms (heck my parents in general) involvement in my life has been enriching for not only me but my kids.  I hate the idea of not being able to be as actively involved.  I hate thinking a little thing like time will get in my way.  And God forbid if I'm working that will really cramp my style.  I think Rick and I both hope that someday we will be those Grandparents that take their grand-kids to the park and pick them up from school.   

We've also been fortunate enough to always live in the same state.  Will the adventure bug get a hold of any of my girls?  I can't imagine they will all end up being home bodies like Rick and I were.  We all love California, but there is a big world to see and they know it.  That definitely throws in a whole level of complexity.  I can still remember calling my Mom from San Jose State to come pick me up when I had the "flu" (yep we've all had that kind of flu before).  She just had to drive up the street and then I was home in my nice bed getting the TLC only Mom can give.  With three they are dependent on me but definitely not the same way an only child is.  They need me, but they are already more independent than I ever was even in college.  I love that about them. 


Maybe what I'll discover through raising these wonderfully independent strong women is that they won't need us quite as much.  They will want us to come visit but a phone call every couple weeks instead of every day will suffice.  Their wings are small, but already strong.  Sadly, I've raised them to be this way.  I'll probably wish to be more involved than they will ever want me to be.  Sure I will most likely have one that needs more attention than the rest.  Or they will take turns at different times in their lives needing the comfort of ole Mom and Dad.  However, the juggling that I am thinking I might have to do might not ever happen.  Part of me will be sad. The other part will take joy knowing we raised some tough cookies.