My Life Right Now

Let's face it, I'm not as young as I once was. I thank the heavens that I have been physically active for the last 5 years. Who knew it was training for this new gig of mine. I am a stay-at-home grandma. I feel so old at the end of the day. I do everything I can for the 5 other people that live in my house. I love them. I nurture them. And I wouldn't trade it. But man I am tired. When I read this poem by Annie Flavin I instantly felt connected. I only have one to chase and wrangle and love...but it feels big. I love what I do but by the end of the day....

Bitches Get Shit Done

by Annie Flavin

It’s 4pm, also known as

Mama’s So Tired and Kids Are Crazy o’clock.

I want nothing more than to hide on my couch

with the covers pulled tightly around me.

I want to close my eyes

and drift off

with no other human body

touching my own.

There will be none of that, though.

They are heckling me

with arguments over scraps of paper,

or garbage,

if you were the judge,

and complaining of

hunger and

weather and

clothes that are not just so.

Where is their mother?

Oh, that's right.

I rise up

even though I am

bedraggled,

befuddled and

so, so weary.

He won’t be home soon enough that I can coast.

The TV isn’t cutting it.

I channel

women who are not me;

wise, strong, capable, creative, nurturing

mothers

who push through difficult times and

get shit done.

I channel them,

I become them,

I am them.

I march into the kitchen,

I turn on music and

I find something, anything,

that looks suitable enough

to be called dinner.

They flock to me now:

do I sense a bewilderment in their eyes?

Mom is moving. Mom is happy.

“Mom, I’m a super hero! I save people from pirates!”

he yells as he zooms

around our tiny kitchen.

I am, too, I think to myself.

I get shit done.

Happy Mother's Day my friends. Mother's rock!!