The Sweetest Thing

Recently, Brookie came down with a more-serious-than-normal cold, complete with a fever and a very sore throat. She was home from school for two days, just laying on the couch, snuggling Piggy, watching lots of movies, looking very sick.

Being the good mom that I am, I continually forced liquids down her throat, checked her temperature more often than necessary and made sure she had anything she needed. These things included but were not limited to various stuffies, popsicles (not grape), extra ice for juice, extra ice for water, books, the remote, clean jammies, socks, slippers, lip balm . . . well, you get the idea. And as all good mothers, I began to anticipate her needs before she even voiced them. A certain look, an extra strong cough, a sigh and I could guess what request was sure to follow. It was exhausting.

On one trip to refill her water bottle and fluff her pillow, I leaned over and gave her a kiss on her hot little head. She looked up at me with her fevery eyes and said, “Mommy, I would give up Piggy for you.”

(Piggy is Brookie’s favourite stuffy in the whole world. She has had him since she was a teeny baby and he is the only toy Brookie cannot sleep without. Piggy has been with her through lots of good days and bad days, always ready to hug, to wipe tears, to listen. Whatever. Piggy is worn. He is barely pink anymore. His once-curly tail hangs embarrassingly straight from years of worrying it like a stone. So the fact that Brookie would give him up for me, well, that is quite something.)

I gave her a big hug and wiped the tears from my eyes on my way back to the kitchen. Being a mom is the hardest thing – just when you think you can’t do more, you are required to do ten times more. And then, one day your daughter offers to give up her favourite stuffed pig because she loves you that much. And then you can do anything.

~Mandy